The Listening Practice

DJ Mixer Shoot Out - Which DJ mixer is worth the Hype?

Support the channel, get VIP music promos and exclusive early access to more content: Patreon.com/cofloCheck out my original music on: coflo.bandcamp.comCheck out my edits on: cofloedits.bandcamp.comFollow me on IG to see when I'm performing in your area: @coflothesoulshifterCoflo dives deep into a DJ mixer shootout comparing legendary analog and modern digital mixers, exploring harmonics, coloration, transparency, compression, and how different mixers actually affect music.# Chapters00:00 - Intro — A DJ Mixer Shootout01:46 - JV Velasco + Patreon Shoutouts02:52 - How The Mixer Test Was Set Up05:43 - Why This Test Is Not Fully Scientific08:37 - What I’m Listening For09:37 - Breaking Down The Test Track12:52 - Dynamics, Compression & Loudness16:55 - The 100Hz + 1kHz Test Tones20:27 - Level Matching The Mixers24:58 - Why Test Tones Matter26:35 - Harmonics, Saturation & Coloration34:38 - Starting The Mixer Analysis35:35 - Rane Empath Rotary39:42 - Rane 201643:24 - Urei 162045:36 - Rane MP24Z47:19 - E&S DJR40053:24 - Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus54:24 - Pioneer Euphonia58:56 - Pioneer V101:04:33 - Listening Tests Begin1:05:43 - Rane Empath Sound Test1:12:19 - Rane 2016 Sound Test1:20:49 - Urei 1620 Sound Test1:31:57 - Rane MP24Z Sound Test1:38:44 - E&S DJR400 Sound Test1:48:13 - Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus Sound Test1:55:33 - Pioneer Euphonia Sound Test2:07:47 - Pioneer V10 Sound Test2:12:53 - Testing The V10 Compressor2:25:33 - Comparing The V10, Euphonia & E&S2:33:40 - Mixer Feel, Ergonomics & Performance2:43:08 - Best Sounding Mixer Reveal2:44:44 - Why The V10 Wins2:45:40 - Runner Up: Euphonia2:46:56 - Biggest Surprises From The Shootout2:48:47 - Outro + Support Links

Inside a Real DJ Spaceship

🎧 Follow Jayvi Velasco on Twitch:  / jayvi_velasco   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEEzRmYyWERsRTdWYUhmUmxLdElsWElmc0NKQXxBQ3Jtc0ttWXo4V2VvdWp0QkkxbEJhanNxV015ZGM3ZUl4TGMza1F5MURPXzMzb3MzQzZEZG1lWEZoN3pCSWd2R0dtR2hMVFNWMXFfQjNDbVVZRnpzYmpnS2JkMHAxUVFqd21xNXF0YXVvMHFPN2xFdUZsMlhTUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitch.tv%2FJayvi_Velasco&v=G_NMg-otFVU]💿 Support The Listening Practice on Patreon:  / coflo   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjZvNzhBVkxkd0tjd0Y2UU1sVHhVdmZSR2M4d3xBQ3Jtc0tteUpHY2NWVjRSbThkOS1UeHloZEFDcVY1RUpROTJieHBQc2t5SUNGWmVjdnJ4QmpuVTlxSmVSNWlkaWFuWTJhQUFBcEI1Z2FNZVNaMDlZTmtNVVJCMklqRXZoQnpFRDItZ2tDdG1YSE9wQXpoX1NlNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpatreon.com%2Fcoflo&v=G_NMg-otFVU]In this long-form, uncut episode of The Listening Practice, I sit down with San Francisco legend/House DJ - Jayvi Velasco inside his personal DJ booth — a fully realized hybrid setup built for vinyl, CDJs, live performance, and weekly streaming.We walk through Jayvi’s entire signal flow: how everything is routed, how he monitors, how streaming changes decision-making, and why certain pieces of gear have stayed while others came and went. This isn’t a flex or a highlight reel — it’s a real conversation inside a booth that’s been refined over decades of DJing.We cover:• Vinyl, CDJ-3000s & hybrid workflows• Mixer philosophy (V10 vs rotary classics)• Monitoring, speakers & sub integration• External FX loops & isolators• Streaming setup, cameras & audio capture• What gear actually matters — and what doesn’tIf you’re a DJ, producer, or someone who cares about how sound really moves in a room, this one’s for you.

The Situation's Situation (my biggest remix of 2025)

Episode 3 — The Situation’s Situation In this episode of The Listening Practice, Coflo breaks down his most popular remix of 2025: The Situation by Stranger Danger featuring Tony Soul, released on Moulton Music. What started as a single remix turned into six atempted versions, each exploring a different relationship between groove, dance, vocal delivery, and intention. Rather than a simple track breakdown, this episode looks at the real work behind remixing: endurance, decision-making, abandoning good ideas, and trusting feel over formulas. Coflo walks through each version—some abandoned, some will get repurposed, one almost released—before landing on the final cut that unexpectedly became his most widely shared and played track of the year. Along the way, he dives deep into rhythm as language, call-and-response songwriting, dancer-first composition, and why popularity often has very little to do with intention. This episode is for producers, dancers, DJs, and anyone curious about how dance music is actually built—not just technically, but philosophically.

Is AI Ruining Underground Dance Music?

Is AI actually ruining underground dance music — or is it exposing something deeper? In this episode of The Listening Practice, I dig into the uncomfortable, nuanced reality of AI in music — not from a hype perspective, and not from a fear-based one — but from the lens of someone who has lived inside underground dance culture for decades. We talk about: * Why AI isn’t killing creativity, but exposing gaps in it * The difference between generative AI and traditional music tools * Why some AI-written music feels “too sweet” — and why that matters * How digital retailers and streaming platforms are being flooded with AI-driven releases * The shrinking retail and cultural space for the next underground genius * Why sound quality and fidelity still matter on real systems * The danger of confusing tools with authorship * Why Bandcamp’s stance on AI actually makes sense * How AI can be used responsibly as a creative assistant * And why human intention, spirit, and collaboration still define great music This is not an anti-AI rant. This is not a hype piece. This is a conversation about culture, intention, longevity, and soul — especially in underground dance music where those things still matter. If you’re a producer, DJ, dancer, label owner, or lifelong listener — this one’s for you.

Salutations: Inside the Making of a Record

In this first episode of The Listening Practice, Coflo breaks down “Salutations”, a track from the EP Infinite Salutations. This is a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how the song came to life — from the original idea to the final arrangement — created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated artist Emmaculate and featuring QVLN. Coflo explores the story behind the record, the creative decisions that shaped it, and dives into individual parts and stems to unpack the rhythm, harmony, and emotion that make the track work. This episode isn’t about tutorials or presets — it’s about listening deeper, understanding process, and learning how records evolve through collaboration and intention.