• CDJ-3000X - Huge

• Ableton Live 12.3

• Amazon Joins The AI Playlist Party

• Apple Unveils The New Lineup

Meet the CDJ-3000X — Evolution or Just Cloud-Flavored?

What’s New:

Just when you thought your CDJ-3000s were the endgame, AlphaTheta shows up with the CDJ-3000X — basically the 3000 but with a six-pack, a LinkedIn Premium subscription, and a cloud account. It’s not a ground-up revolution, but it’s the kind of update that quietly makes your current setup feel like it’s still running Windows XP. If you’ve ever wished for less USB juggling, more stability with streaming, and browsing that doesn’t make you want to hurl your flash drive across the booth, this might be the deck for you.

Key Features:

• Cloud + Streaming Built-In

  Forget USB hoarding. The 3000X lets you log in via NFC, QR, or password and instantly pull tracks from Dropbox, SoundCloud, TIDAL, or Beatport. It even caches full tracks locally so your set won’t implode when the Wi-Fi does. (Yes, we’re looking at you, “DJ booth in the basement.”)

• 10.1” Touchscreen Glow-Up

  Higher-res, more responsive, and now showing 16 tracks at once. Bonus: playlist editing and on-deck search with copy/paste. If you’ve ever rage-scrolled through a festival set with sweaty fingers, this is your redemption.

• Cueing Tools for Grown-Ups

  Touch Cue (preview via waveform), Smart Cue (auto-updates cue points), and Gate Cue (play while pressed). Translation: no more awkward “Did they just double-trigger?” moments.

• Audio & Build Upgrades

  A redesigned ESS DAC, low-noise power, tighter bass, and an aluminum top plate. Plus, the play/cue buttons are tested to survive 500k+ presses. That’s more button-mashing than your average Fortnite streamer.

• Next-Level Browsing

  The new Quick Loop screen lets you jump between loop lengths without digging, and editable Smart Playlists keep everything synced across your AlphaTheta cloud account.

• Modern I/O

  USB-C finally makes an appearance (RIP SD card slot), with USB-A still around for the stubborn flash drive loyalists.

Why DJs Should Care

The CDJ-3000X is less “reinvention of the wheel” and more “wheel now has Bluetooth, GPS, and a lifetime of Spotify Wrapped data baked in.” The takeaway:

• For working pros → you get faster prep, smarter browsing, and real redundancy for cloud sets.

• For skeptics → you can still live happily in USB-land, but now you’re officially behind the booth flex curve.

• For gear heads → this is the tightest integration of Pioneer/AlphaTheta hardware and cloud yet, showing where the ecosystem is headed.

Worth It?

At ~$2,999, this is more “refinement” than “revolution.” But if you’re ready to ditch your USB anxiety, edit playlists on the fly, and trust your decks in a Wi-Fi dead zone, the CDJ-3000X is basically your booth insurance policy.

And let’s be real: in five years, streaming-ready decks will just be the decks. Early adopters get bragging rights. Everyone else gets Craigslist listings for their CDJ-3000s.

In last week’s poll we asked “Which DJ software are you currently using — and are you considering switching?” and 36% responded “Still rocking Serato – ride or die”

Building a LGBTQ+ Crate Tonight

Tonight, we’re teaming up with the Female DJ Council - DJ Stephanie Stardust, She-J Nicole, DJ Jess, DJ Jackie Mason, DJ Coyote, and DJ WHYSHAM617 to build the ultimate LGBTQ+ crate

This is about representation, inclusion, and energy - songs that light up dance floors. Let’s bring that representation into YOUR crates.

Join here at 8pm ET

Ableton Live 12.3 Beta Brings Stems & Splice

What’s New

Ableton isn’t just dropping another “small update” — Live 12.3 is basically throwing producers and DJs a crate full of shiny toys. The biggest headline? Built-in stem separation. Yep, no third-party hacks required anymore. You can split tracks into vocals, drums, bass, and “other” right inside Live. That means you can grab an a cappella from your favorite track, pull out the kick for layering, or rebuild mashups without spending hours bouncing files through external apps.

Also new: Splice integration. If you’re one of the millions sitting on a graveyard of unused Splice credits, now’s the time to cash in. Live 12.3 lets you browse, audition, and drag samples directly from Splice into your project without leaving the DAW. No more downloading, renaming, or moving files around like it’s 2005.

Other goodies include:

• Quantize to Groove – snap MIDI clips into real swing feels.

• Automation transformations – stretch, skew, or invert curves like a math teacher with rhythm.

• Spectral devices – filter, gate, and resample audio based on frequency bands.

• Browser tagging & workflow tweaks – faster sorting, searching, and previewing.

Why It Matters

For DJs and producers, this is game-changing:

• Stems built-in means easier prep for live edits, remixes, and custom transitions.

• Splice + Live = instant access to curated samples without breaking your flow.

• Together, they make Live a serious prep weapon for anyone juggling DJ crates and production projects.

This update basically closes the gap between digging for material and flipping it into something usable on stage.

The Pro Take

Traktor and Serato may have been first to the “stems party,” but Ableton has just flexed hard by building it directly into the production workflow. Add in Splice, and suddenly Live becomes not just your DAW, but your crate-building hub. The result? Faster edits, smoother prep, and less time playing file manager.

👉 The Ableton Live 12.3 beta is open now. Just maybe don’t trust a beta version as your only tool for next weekend’s wedding set… unless you like explaining to the bride why her first dance is stuck in “spectral gate mode.”

Amazon Music’s “Weekly Vibe” (AI playlists, every Monday)

What’s new

Amazon Music launched Weekly Vibe, an AI-powered playlist that refreshes every Monday based on your recent listening and evolving “musical moods.” It lives under Library → Made for You, ships with a fresh title/descriptioneach week, focuses on a theme/genre, and can be saved or shared like any playlist. It’s rolling out in the U.S. across all tiers on iOS and Android. 

Why DJs & creators should care

• Set fodder, on tap: A weekly scan of what you’ve actually been vibing to = instant ideas for open-format and warm-up sets. Think of it as “algorithmic crate digging” for Mondays. 

• Discovery without the doom-scroll: The AI also sprinkles in similar tracks you haven’t played yet—handy for rotations and playlist hygiene. 

• Ecosystem play: Weekly Vibe builds on Amazon’s Maestro (prompt-based AI playlists) and Explore (AI artist deep-dives), signaling Amazon’s broader push to meet Spotify’s AI features—useful if your crowd lives on Amazon’s platform. 

How this stacks up (quick take)

• Versus Spotify: Similar weekly personalization vibe, but Amazon’s framing is “recent mood + discovery” with simple sharing built in—good for pushing mixes to clients/fans who use Amazon. 

• Versus Apple Music: Pairs nicely with Apple’s growing DJ-ish features (AutoMix), but Weekly Vibe targets listening + discovery, not mix automation—different jobs, complementary outcomes.

Open Amazon Music → Library → Made for You → Weekly Vibe, press play, and let Monday set ideas write themselves. If you build sets for clients, consider screen-capturing Weekly Vibe updates to show your music direction each week. 

Fast CTA: Want this in your crate flow? Save Weekly Vibe → skim for keepers → tag in your library → test in a short practice mix. Rinse next Monday.

Apple’s New Gear Every DJ Should Watch

Apple’s fall showcase didn’t just give us the usual “new iPhone”—it offered a glimpse into a sleek, connected future that’s inching closer to DJ workflows. Get this:

iPhone 17 Series + iPhone Air

• iPhone Air — At just 5.6 mm thick and built from “spacecraft-grade” titanium, this is Apple’s slimmest, most eye-catching iPhone—yet still durable and packing serious battery life. Priced at $999 and shipping September 19. 

• iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / Pro Max — All powered by the new A19 chip, offering improved battery longevity and enhanced performance. The Pro models include three 48 MP rear cameras (Main, Ultra Wide, and 8× Telephoto) and an 18 MP “Center Stage” front camera that’s ideal for group shots and livestreaming visuals. The Pro also adds deep blue, cosmic orange colorways, and is designed with more recycled materials. 

AirPods Pro 3

• Upgraded with foam ear tips, best-in-class ANC, and built-in heart rate sensing (powered by a tiny PPG sensor). Bonus: live in-ear translation via Apple Intelligence, improved durability, and five size options for perfect fit—all at $249. 

Apple Watch Upgrades

• Watch SE 3 (starting at $249): Adds always-on display, faster S10 chip, improved battery life, and features like sleep apnea and ovulation tracking. 

• Watch Series 11: Now 2× more scratch-resistant, includes hypertension alerts, 5G, and the new Liquid Glass UI skin from iOS 26. 

• Ultra 3: Rugged redesign with satellite emergency connectivity and up to 42-hour battery life—catering to high-impact, outdoor performances. 

Why it matters for DJs and creators:

• Ultra-thin yet powerful iPhones: The iPhone Air and 17 Pro are obvious partners for livestreaming, set visuals, and mobile doodads like AirPods streaming.

• Pro camera upgrades: The Fusion and Center Stage cameras are going to elevate behind-the-scenes videos, Instagram content, and vlog-style edits for promo.

• Next-gen headphones: With foam ANC and heart-rate tracking, the new AirPods Pro 3 are both fitness-aware and crowd-aware—great for cardio-heavy DJ sets.

• Watch upgrades that matter: Portable health tracking (heart, sleep, hypertension) with rugged Ultra support can keep dub steppers safe when playing festivals. And Liquid Glass UI? Sleek and easy on the eyes during long hours prepping mixes.

The Bottom Line

This wasn’t just hype—it’s practical progress. For DJs thinking streaming visuals, fan engagement, and pro-level mobile performance matter, today’s lineup offers devices that fit the booth almost as much as they fit the palm. Apple may still be trailing in AI, but if you’re building with hardware in mind, it’s easy to start thinking ecosystem—because you may soon multi-tool everything with your wrist, ear, or iPhone.