Harold Tan
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Harold TanParticipant
The Retro Party Continues
Mix Sessions – The Retro Party Continues – Full Set by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Harold TanParticipant2 hours live mix of party starters or warmers in the 80’s to early 90’s era. Range: 90 bpm to 113 bpm
Mix Sessions – Retro Party Starters – Full Set by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Harold TanParticipantHarold TanParticipantHarold TanParticipantHarold TanParticipantYou cannot DJ using Serato without a Serato-supported controller or mixer. In short, you cannot DJ with Serato on a laptop-only setup. I never got to use a Numark DJIO but the Behringer U-Control UCA-202 is still with me though I don’t use it so much lately after switching to Serato.
Mixxx is the best DJ software out there for laptop-only setup. And it’s free and works across Windows, IOS and Linux
- This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Harold Tan.
- This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Harold Tan.
Harold TanParticipantActually, Windows 10 will come as a free update to those running Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1. Once you upgrade to Windows 10, it’s forever yours to keep as long as your computer or laptop is alive.
If you are running Windows 7 but not SP1, or Windows 8.0, you need to upgrade to Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1. They’re free as updates.
When Windows 10 arrives on July 29, 2015 as a free upgrade, you have the choice to immediately upgrade or upgrade at a later time on or before July 28, 2016. I intend to take advantage of the free upgrade before July 2016. I have to let Microsoft get through the bugs first and for Serato to be compatible with it first before I actually upgrade.
Harold TanParticipantI came from turntables and a standard mixer before the mobile DJ group hung up the headphones in the early 1990’s. I came out of retirement and was a resident DJ for a ballroom dancing place in 2002 and used a Dual DJ CD player or the type that was side by side with trays to load and eject, with pitch control (key lock was not available) and the jog wheels were miniature. It was not easy to use but I got by with a standard mixer that had no crossfader, only volume faders. And then went back to retirement. This thing called life interrupts by DJ career twice now.
And then in 2013, I Googled across Phil Morse and his articles about Digital DJing. Well, I started with just a laptop (this one that I am using) and ran on Mixxx for 15 months. No real gigs came out of that except two reunion parties. I used sync a lot and it was fun for a while. Eventually, I realized that laptop-only DJing had a serious disadvantage. Sometimes, the software can still get the BPM wrong. I mean the DJ software will read the BPM say at 125. And here you have another song at 125 BPM as well. But even if I use the sync button, even if cued and timed properly, they drift after two bars or so. And nudging in a laptop-only set up is way too noticeable.
In 2014, I got myself a Numark controller. And though I still paired it with Mixxx, it was a lot easier to mix on a controller. (Yes, Phil Morse is absolutely right about that). I still used sync a lot. And then I noticed Mixxx would a little more than occasionally freeze or crash. So I tried the Serato DJ Intro that came with the Numark. And Serato was absolutely more stable than Mixxx. There. I switched.
And now that I have Serato DJ, I wanted to try beat matching without using the sync because of songs that even Serato can get wrong in terms of BPM. So I learned not to rely on Sync. And I did learn. But I also later learned I can visually beat match even if the BPM was wrong. No matter Mixxx or Serato, there are certain songs that both software will get the BPM wrong.
Using Sync is OK. The crowd would most likely not notice it at all. I do agree it’s one of the tools a DJ Can use. But I have learned not to rely on the Sync button. And I feel I have improved my digital DJ skills without having to rely on Sync
Harold TanParticipantMore compilations:
Disco (1970’s era)
Mix Sessions – Disco! by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
That 80’s Feeling! Pop songs of the 80’s mixed up
Mix Sessions – That 80's Feeling by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Retro Night Out. Dance floor fillers of the 80’s and 90’s
Mix Sessions – A Retro Night Out by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Retro Midtempo Classics. Nothing less than 95 BPM. Nothing more than 112 BPM.
Mix Sessions – Retro Mid-tempo Classics by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Nineties Niceties. Pop songs of the 90’s mixed up
Mix Sessions – Nineties Niceties by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
That 80’s Feeling Again! More pop songs of the 80’s mixed up.
Mix Sessions – That 80's Feeling Again! by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
A Short 80’s Mix. 5-track mix
Mix Sessions – A Short 80's Mix by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
House Rules! House music mix
Mix Sessions – House Rules by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
New Wave Mini Mix. 5 tracks of New Wave songs mixed
Mix Sessions – New Wave Mini Mix by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
That 80’s Party. 80’s party music
Mix Sessions – That 80's Party by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
’88 to ’96 Dance floor hits mixed
Mix Sessions – '88 to '96 Dance Floor by Dj Harold T on Mixcloud
Harold TanParticipantThe 80’s had plenty of songs remixed. You just have to hunt them down. You just need to get to the bresks. The remix or extended versions (as they called it) of 80’s dance tracks had plenty of room for breaks. Then there are the remixes of 80’s tracks today many of which are EDM-ized
- This reply was modified 9 years ago by Harold Tan.
Harold TanParticipantCongratulations! You’ve stepped up and got yourself an unexpected gig and probably more coming your way.
I own a Numark Mixtrack Pro. It cost me 11,000 Philippine Pesos. This DJ controller has a built-in sound card so you may not need to buy one. I got it from a guy who sells DJ equipment on Facebook and OLX. If you have a Facebook account, look for HotSaleForYou. I also bought a DJ laptop stand (generic) for PhP 1,500.
Of course, you can also choose from other brands like Pioneer and Stanton.
The software I use is Mixxx although I also use Serato DJ Intro on my PC. Virtual DJ is fine too but I prefer Mixxx (it’s absolutely free and you can record mixes) and Serato is also quite good.
Many are limited to being bedroom DJ’s with a rare few gigs if any at all. If you have plans of getting more gigs, you need to save up and invest in a DJ controller or maybe a CDJ later on.
Good luck
Harold TanParticipantHarold TanParticipantHarold TanParticipantSomething different this time. A proper house music mix. 2000’s.
https://soundcloud.com/hitman531ph/mix-sessions-dj-hitman-h-house
Harold TanParticipantCompiled:
New Wave 1:
http://www.mixcloud.com/hitman531ph/new-wave-1/
New Wave 2
http://www.mixcloud.com/hitman531ph/new-wave-2/
80’s/90’s Impromptu Mix
http://www.mixcloud.com/hitman531ph/80s90simpromptumix/
80’s Dance 1
http://www.mixcloud.com/hitman531ph/80sdance1/
The Not-So-Fast Mix (80’s)
http://www.mixcloud.com/hitman531ph/danceclassicsnotsofastmix/
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