If you have ever tried to learn a new skill on a budget, you know that the start up cost is often the biggest hurdle. In the world of DJing, that usually means three things: the software, the hardware, and the music.
While I’ve spent the last few months building the Mixxx Controller Explorer to solve the hardware side of that equation, I recently turned my attention to the most important part of the craft: the tracks.
My goal is to create a comprehensive DJ Starter Pack. I want to provide potential students with a free software (Mixxx), a guide to finding an affordable second-hand controller, and a curated folder of 20–30 high-quality, legal tracks to start mixing immediately. But finding music that is not only free to download but also legally “shareable” for use by those new to the community is a rabbit hole of its own.
The Problem with “Free” #
We often see “Free Download” buttons on platforms like SoundCloud, but these are usually for personal use only. If I want to build a resource folder for students around the world, I need to ensure the tracks are released under Creative Commons or specific artist-sanctioned licenses.
After some serious digging into the “Netlabel” and “Netaudio” scenes, I’ve found three reliable pillars for sourcing legal, high-quality House and Techno.
| Source | Genre Focus | Legal Status | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Squirrel | Minimal, Techno, Dub | Creative Commons | Massive “Netlabel” archive; great for underground sounds. |
| Moby Gratis | House, Ambient, Film | Non-Commercial | Professional studio quality; multitrack stems available. |
| Audio Library | Modern House, EDM | Royalty-Free | Clear attribution rules; built for social media sharing. |
1. Sonic Squirrel: The Netlabel Archive #
Sonic Squirrel is like a digital library for the underground. It’s a distribution platform for “Netlabels” — labels that release music for free, usually under Creative Commons. Some of these date back to the early 2010s, and can be like stepping into an internet time-machine.
- The Vibe: It is a goldmine for experimental Techno, Dub Techno, and Minimal.
- Why it works: Because it is built on the philosophy of “social sharing,” almost everything here is safe to redistribute to students as long as the artist is credited.
2. Moby Gratis: Professional Stems #
Moby Gratis is a unique project by the artist Moby. He has made a massive catalog of his music available for free for non-commercial independent projects.
- The Vibe: High-fidelity, professional studio tracks.
- Why it works: The license is strict — you must credit “mobygratis” specifically (and not “Moby”)
3. Audio Library: The Content Creator’s Toolkit #
Originally a staple for YouTubers, the Audio Library has evolved into a massive database of royalty-free music, allowing you to search by genre (cinematic, ambient, reggae) and mood (happy, calm, inspirational). However we will focus on the Dance and Electronic section.
- The Vibe: Modern House and Electronic music designed for high-energy content.
- Why it works: Every track comes with a clear attribution block. It allows me to teach students the “minimalist attribution” style—how to credit an artist professionally in their mix descriptions without cluttering the page.
💡 Pro-Tip: The Power of Multitrack Stems #
One of the coolest things about the Moby Gratis resource is the availability of “Multitrack WAVs.” For a beginner using Mixxx, I would suggest sticking with Singletrack audio. However once you gain a bit of experience, these can become quite helpful when learning about how tracks and layered and produced.
Instead of one file, you get the individual “stems” (the drums, the bass, and the synths) separated. This allows you to load the bass of a track into the first deck and the synth of another track into the second deck, giving you the ability to mix and match layers (as long as the tempo is matched) and see how a track is built. It can also help you practice EQ-mixing, and how each knob (highs, mids and lows) affects distinct layers of the track.
Building the Starter Pack #
I am currently compiling these tracks into a curated folder, ensuring each one has the correct metadata and is legal to share. This isn’t just about saving money; it’s about lowering the barrier to entry so that someone with a laptop and a passion can start DJing, recording and uploading sets without worrying about copyright strikes or high costs.
Like the Controller Explorer, this project is born out of a desire to centralise obscure information and make it visual and accessible.
I am still in the process of vetting these tracks to ensure they are “DJ-friendly” (meaning they have those long, 4/4 drum intros we need for learning). I’ll be uploading the DJ Starter Pack soon alongside the Mixxx guide.
If you know of any other “Netlabels” or archives that intentionally release music for DJs to share and use, I’d love to hear about them. Drop me a line at: contact@beatform.com
