DJ Masterminds

Archive for the ‘DJ Equipment Tips and Techniques’ Category

How do you collect the right club songs for your DJ library?  It really depends on what type of music you like and what type of club you would like to DJ in.  Only you know what you like.  Be sure to visit MixesThatWork.com for actual lists of songs in SET-LISTS that you can use to DJ the heck out of any party or club you perform at.

Want to learn How to beat mix?  This is how you do it.

With the current song playing, the DJ would cue a new song only using the headphones to monitor the sound.  The DJ would then match the BPM of the new song to the song currently playing. The beat shouldn’t vary more than 8-10 BPM (current song 130bpm – the new song 120bpm and then raising the BPM to 130bpm might be o.k.). Drastically changing the BPM of a song may make the song sound odd.  It is advised to press the “Key Lock” button or “Pitch Lock” to keep the track in the original “key/pitch”, unless however the DJs purpose is to speed up the song AND change the pitch.

It’s time to find a beat. If the song begins directly on a good down-beat, the DJ can hit the cue button (or play button) and hold it for a few seconds to test it. If the beginning of the song is not use-able OR if the DJ would like to use a different section in the song, the DJ would use the Jog wheel to search to the desired section.  

The stutter button is very useful when cue-ing a new section on the song.  It will stutter the beat when the track is paused, and the jog wheel can be used to find the perfect beat.  With the new song only playing through the headphones, the DJ will find the very beginning of the beat,  It will most likely be the kick beat in the beginning of a phrase.

When the song is ready to be beat-mixed, the DJ will hit the play button on the new song while paying attention to the timing and beat location of the song currently playing. The DJ will then raise the volume on the new song ensuring both songs play at the same time. The DJ will then lower the volume of the first song and continue playing the new song.

Digital Media Controllers (CD players + Digital Audio Files)

Certain Digital Media Controllers play CDs and have USB connections to play digial audio files through the use of external hard drives. There are even digital media controllers constructed with an internal hard drive PLUS external capabilities.  A recommended Media Player that is great quality yet affordable is Denon's HD2500.

While digital media players are ideal for playing CDs, the ability to play digital audio files (through external/internal hard drives) makes these controllers very versatile. Some controllers can even be used to control certain software on a laptop through a MIDI function. (example DJ products are the Pioneer MEP 7000 and the Denon HD2500)

These digital media players are used more often by professional DJs. It's not to say that an amatuer could not buy this system and learn to use it. These systems cost more than a basic beginner DJ system and have more capabilities which may confuse a DJ just starting up.  DJ's just starting up could just purchase the player without the CD components, as they are optional.  Although DJs are using digital audio files more often, it is important to have CD decks for reasons we will discuss at a later time. 

Check here to see our inventory on the TOP digital media controllers in the industry

The Pioneer MEP-7000 Professional Multi-Entertainment Player is the Mercedes or Bentley of Consoles within the world of DJ'ing.  It does just about everything except make your morning coffee.  It is sleek, looks great, sounds great, plays anything your throw at it, and the MEP-7000 truly feels like a high quality piece of equipment. 

The Pioneer MEP-7000 reads just about everything.  It plays CD/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM and Even any USB connected to it.  Unlike many other lower standard players, the Pioneer MEP 7000 accepts MP3/AAC/WAC/ and Even AIFF Files.  This is the best piece of DJ equipment any professional DJ can own.   It is perfect for the DJ who is limited in space but wants access to a wide array of media.

Other Features of The Pioneer MEP-7000

• Big COLOR LCD display with video output for connecting an external monitor
• Controls Pioneer's DJ software and other PC applications
• Auto Mix: Playback tracks registered on the "Play List" automatically
• High Quality Touch-Sensitive Job Dial, Perfect for Scratching and Cuing
• Industry's first Area-Color OEL display
• Excellent Push Button Effects (FX) – Reverb, Echo, Jet, Flange, etc….

Stay tuned for more reviews about the Pioneer MEP-7000. I've had some great experiences with it but there are some things you should be aware of while perfecting your performances.

by JJPeterson

­More Info and Special Pricing on the Pioneer MEP 7000

It amazes me when I go to parties and see dj's still with crates and books of cd's. We are now in the 21st century and the only reason why dj's still use cd's is that they have not updated their dj system. I do understand this as buying new equipment is not always affordable.

I actually have cd decks in my system just in case someone at a party wants me to play a cd. I also have learned how to burn a hundred mp3's on to one cd, as a backup. Digital DJ music systems can get quirky and freeze during a performance but this rarely happens. During the transition from CD's to digital media, I do still think it is important to own a cd player or have a cd deck in your digital system. I just don't see the need to bring crates of heavy music when a 30,000 song data base of songs can fit on a 1 pound external hard drive.

The Digital DJ – Using an iPOD

What to buy, what to buy? Now is the time to really think about how you would like to play your music; through an iPod, through a Laptop, or through a media player with a controller. A good dj will have an effective digital dj music system. By this, I mean the dj will need to be able to control 2 songs at the same time to either fade-cross mix or beat mix. iPods and Laptops will play music files through the "audio out", but this will leave the dj with only one channel of music making it impossible to crossfade or beat-mix, therefore being an ineffective dj

An iPod itself cannot split it's audio into 2 channels, but there are media players that you can plug an ipod into, like Numark's IDJ and IDJ2 which turns it into a music database. The music can then be loaded into separate tracks, A and B. These media players are not too expensive (between $300-$600), are decent quality, and can turn a person who just owns an ipod, into a person who now owns an ipod and DJ's!!!

The Digital DJ – Using a Laptop

I love laptops! I use Apple's Macbook which I think is the greatest computer ever made. PC's are pretty awesome too but they tend to have more glitches that can interfere with performances. I actually have a Macbook with dual processors, which means I have my Mac operating software and Windows when I need it. Why? Some software I utilize only works on a PC. When I get the Mac versions, I will be switching over.

Someone can DJ an entire wedding or club event on just a laptop connected to speakers, but how cools does it really look "spinning" with a mouse and a screen. Not Cool DJ's! Most dj software makes it easy to play songs and control the audio but programs like Virtual DJ, Traktor, and Serato Scratch provide the best cross-fading and beat-mixing visual and audio technology. Without any DJ'ing experience whatsoever, a person can look and sound like a pro just by hitting a button on the track called "SYNC".

This "SYNC" button will match beats automatically and then allows you to seamlessly fade the other track in. However, there are possibilities of even doing this wrong. If the BPM (beats-per-minute) range is too wide, the song may not sound correct when fading in. For example, a song with a 130 bpm cannot be properly beatmixed to a song at 100 bpm, it just wouldn't sound right.

The Digital DJ using a Media Controller

I actually have an iPod that if I need I connect to a mixing board with a 1/8" to 1/4" cable, A Laptop to play background music and other necessary songs, and I use my Media Controller with external usb to do my beat-mixing. I use a Denon 2500 and I love it! It's not the most expensive controller on the market like Pioneer's MEP7000 but it does great for me. It has the 2 sides with scratch wheels, pitch controls, and all the usual dj stuff that dj's need, but it accesses my 360 gig hard drive with all my music (30,000 songs). it has a big screen in the middle and I can pull up any song in a matter of seconds with the usb keyboard attached to it. It even has flange, echo, braking, reverse, and some other cool effects that I can use by pushing some buttons. I like the feel of cuing songs, playing with tracks with the cue buttons, and using skill to beat mix.

It's not the same when a computer can beat-mix for you. As you consider a Digital DJ music system, consider really learning how to dj and learn the in's and out's of the industry. Even if you decide to dj on just a laptop, know your music and know your mixes. After you pick up a system, be sure to check out MixesThatWork for song ideas, great mixes, and the most popular techiques being used in the industry.
 

original author:  jjpeterson

For Everything You Need To Know About DJ'ing, Click Here!

An Event DJ is an entertainer that travels to locations to provide entertainment for a specific events usually with good DJ equipment.  Where will you see an event DJ? You’ll see an event DJ providing entertainment for Birthday Parties, Sweet 16’s, Bar-Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, Class Reunions, Graduation Parties, Corporate Parties, etc. 

Event DJ’s weren’t so mobile before the turn of the century.  Their dj equipment consisted of large turntables, a big mixer, big amplifier, big speakers, huge heavy crates full of 78’s, lots of wires, and just too much stuff and not easily mobile. Although Big Club DJ’s and some “old school”  DJ’s still love spinning on turntables, it’s just not efficient for a typical Event DJ.  As technology gets smaller and more efficient, Good DJ Equipment is becoming much easier to transport, set-up, and operate.

The DJ’s that use the larger turntable systems look and sound amazing while beat mixing but you won’t see many of them DJ’ing smaller events that may just require some background music.  A kid with an iPod, with a good playlist, and speakers can probably provide decent songs while a big turntable mixing system is just overkill.  A good event DJ with good DJ equipment can be very profitable and successful at these events and can even begin building a reputable DJ business.  As the business builds, and gigs begin to accumulate, it’s important to have DJ equipment that is reliable, easy to set-up, and effective.

When looking for good DJ equipment as an event DJ, it’s important to look for “name” brands.  Even with name brands, a DJ has a choice between lower quality-lower prices, higher-quality, higher-prices.  For MP3 and CD Players, names like Gemini and American Audio are cheaper “name” brands but they are lower in quality than Denon or Pioneer.  Numark, previously a mid-level quality company has been reaching new technology (check out Newmarks, NS7FX) that is beginning to compete with the big boys.

Here are some of the most popular Dual CD/MP3 Players with example-averaged prices being used by DJ’s:  Gemini CDMP-6000 ($399.95), Gemini CDX-2400 Rackmount ($170.00),  American Audio CK 1000 Table Top Dual ($399.00), American Audio Velocity Professional Dual  ($599.00), Numark CD Mix-1 Dual (199.00), Numark CDN22 Rack Mount Dual CD Player (149.00), *Denon DN-D6000 Dual CD MP3 Player ($850.00), Pioneer CMX-3000 Dual Rackmount CD Player ($1,000).

You can obviously see a price difference but you will experience a noticeable difference in quality between a cd controller selling for $200 as opposed to the Pioneer CMX for a grand.

Some Event DJ’s have even decided to make their set-up even more mobile by doing away with CD’s and purchasing MP3 Players that have external hard drive or iPod connections.  I run all my parties with MP3’s no CD’s. Although I have a Denon 4500 CD player in my system, it is only used if someone has cd they want me to play.  

Here are some of the most popular MP3 players with example averaged prices. Numark’s IDJ Mixing Console for iPod ($160.00), Numark’s IDJ2 DJ Console for the IPod and External Hard Drive connections ($399.00), Numark’s D2 Director Mass Storage Player and Manager,  Denon DN-HD2500 Hard Disk Media ($599.00), Pioneer MEP-7000 Professional Media Player with CD Decks ($1400)

Some of these units can be used as controllers for popular Laptop Mixing Software like Traktor, Virtual DJ, PCDC, and Serato Scratch.  There are popular controllers like the Vestax VCI-100MV Mixvibes Edition DJ Controller that is specifically designed to control laptop software. Numark’s NS7 DJ ($1300.00) is getting some big attention from Serato users.

If DJ’ing on a laptop, consider using that laptop solely for DJ’ing. Other programs or files on the laptop can slow the necessary processing speed.

Once the DJ has a player, now a good mixer has to be considered.  Again, there are good name brands with lower quality-lower prices and good name brands with higher quality-higher prices.  Behringer is a dependable brand on the lower end.  Consider the Behringer DX626 Pro Mixer ($100.00), Vestax PMC-280 4 Channel DJ Mixer With Digital Effects ($499.00), Denon DN-X1100 4 Channel DJ Mixer ($700.00), or the Pioneer DJM-800 Professional Mixer ($1,700.00).  A DJ can’t go wrong with any of these selections but the pricier mixers do offer more features like effects, more mic inputs, talk over, etc.

Once a Player is selected, and a Mixer is selected, all that’s left are some good powerful speakers.  The best type of speakers a mobile dj can use is Active/Powered Speakers.  Passive speakers would require an amplifier or a powered mixer with more weight added to the rig.  A Dj can run an XLR cable out of the mixers, plug directly into the powered speakers, plug the speakers in, and voile, sound!  ‘

There are a few decent companies that I could suggest. Here are a few products: Behringer Eurolive B208D Active PA ($180.00), American Audio XSP-10A Powered Speaker ($200.00).  Here are the companies that I highly recommend: Mackie, JBL, and RCF.  Mackie SRM450 v2 Active PA ($500.00), Mackie SRM350 v2 Active, JBL EON515 450 Watt 15” Powered ($800.00),  JBL PRX535 3 Way 15” ($1000.00), RCF ART312A or RCFART315A Powered Speakers 15” ($1100.00).

A Event DJ should have a pretty simple Set-up.  At this point we have discussed a Media Player (CD/MP3 or only MP3), Mixer, and Powered Speakers.  I have mention a lot of really good DJ equipment that professionals use often.

The final piece that needs to be considered is a sturdy rack case ($200-$400).  The Player and Mixer will be screwed down on the top, and in the front of the rack you’ll have the dual cd decks (if a cd player is purchased) and a power strip to plug everything in.  Now the rig is; 2 speakers, the case with all the components all safe and secured, a bag with wires (xlr cables, rca cables, etc.), and speaker poles.  

Now all you’ll need is music and set lists.  Besides learning how your equipment works, this is the most challenging part of DJ’ing.  Good DJ set mixes and great music is what separates good dj’s from poor dj’s no matter how expensive or elaborate their dj equipment may be.  Dj’s who have been entertaining for a long time have learned from experience what songs work for specific sets.  

Where do new DJ’s or Intermediate DJ’s go to learn set-mixes that work?  A website has been developed for Event/Mobile DJ’s called http://www.MixesThatWork.com to give DJ’s immediate access to Set lists for all types of parties; Weddings, Birthdays, Kids, Sweet 16’s, Graduations, and great mixes for popular dance music, updated monthly.  It is also a resource site for DJ’s to go and get all types of helpful tips, how-to’s, and information, song programming techniques, and event forms.  

Being a mobile DJ is fun, exciting, and very profitable!  As technology gets smaller and easier to use,more and more people will be trying to master DJ’ing.  Buying good DJ equipment  is only half of the battle.  The other half of being a great DJ is knowing your music and being confident in your set lists.  Ve sure to Visit www.mixesthatwork.com and sign up to receive valuable information and music programming tips that the most experienced DJ’s are willing to share!

original author: jjpeterson

For Everything You Need To Know About DJ'ing, Click Here!

DJ'ing has become very popular in the last few years especially since technology has allowed a non-technical person to become a Pro DJ in a few weeks when equipped with the right Digital Scratching Tools available on laptops.  This article will teach a person to DJ and what equipment they will need after the purchase of a laptop to start mixing beats like a pro.

Purchase a laptop:

Look for a good brand Laptop that you know will not crash during a gig.  If you are looking for a PC, I would recommend closely looking at customer reviews, talk to electronic store sales people, and even ask your friends what laptops they may recommend.  The great thing about a PC is that a consumer can get a phenomenal computer with all the bells and whistles for a very affordable price.  The problems PC's face are viruses that infiltrate that operating systems and crash the hard drives erasure program, music, and important data.

Consider a Macbook.  

They are absolutely more money and don't offer all the bells and whistles the new PC's are coming out with, but they do offer stability, consistency, optimal performance, and are not nearly as susceptible to the viruses a PC can get.

Demo (trial) DJ Software before you buy it:

You can get a bunch of free DJ programs to start with BUT these programs do not offer what the paid programs do.  There are so many free programs that they are unnameable at this point but the ones that you should look into are Virtual DJ, Traktor, etc.  These are programs that must be bought but offer things like, playlist controls, beat mixing features, sync mixing features, skins that look like real mixers, etc.  The free programs will not do what you really need to do as a laptop DJ.  

You can stop here if you just want to practice before getting into the equipment you'll need to start DJ'ing gigs. You can even DJ smaller partied with good laptop speakers any time you want.  To become an advance DJ with good sound equipment, move on to step 3.

Mixer

You have to plug your laptop into a mixer of some sort.  You will output the speakers from your mixer. Mixers are fairly inexpensive and can be bought at your local music store. A 4 channel mixer would be fine.  Some DJ Software Programs offer an USB external sound card.  These sound boxes allow for separation of the Left and Right Channels.  If you do purchase a usb external sound box you would run a 1/4" cable out from the LEFT channel to channel 1 on the mixer.  You would run a 1/4" cable out from the RIGHT channel on the box to Channel 2 on the mixer.

IF you DO NOT have an USB external sound card, then you will be using the "OUT" or "Headphone" jack and run an 1/8" out of the computer to 1/4" into Channel 1 on the mixer.

DJ Speakers

To keep you set-up simple but still powerful, invest in POWERED (Active) speakers. (Speaker that you need to plug in to get to work).  If you get passive (non-powered speakers) you will need separate amplifiers connected to you mixer.  Powered speakers are more expensive but will punch/kick your music better and your dj set-up will be much simpler.
You will need 2 XLR cables.  The female end will get plugged out from the mixer and into the speakers (Left/Right outputs).  Buy 2 Speaker stands if possible.

Recap

You have your laptop, dj software, mixer (optional usb external sound card box), 1 1/'4 – 1/8" cable, powered speakers, 2 xlr cables, and speaker stands. You just need your favorite music and you are ready to start practicing to become a pro DJ.

original author:  JJpeterson

For Everything You Need To Know About DJ'ing, Click Here!