Strictly T
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Strictly T
Participanthaha this is why it is so difficult. You have people saying don’t wait and then others saying more tech is on the horizon. So hard to know when to jump in.
It is an interesting discussion. I don’t mind doing some prep work on a laptop, but I just hate bringing it around with me. I don’t know why but I hate having my whole library in front of me. I get really overwhelmed. I like the idea of loading up a memory stick with some tunes and being a bit more limited in what I can play, even in my own house.
I’ve really appreciated the input here. It has cleared things up in my mind a bit. I think I am going to invest in some vinyl decks and mixer next. I have an increasing vinyl collection I can’t play at the moment. Then I can spin my vinyl and also plug in my current digital system (just a Z1 and an iPad, or K2 and a laptop). I’ll wait a bit longer to see if the no laptop gear develops further, if not I think I’ll eventually grab the RX.
ParticipantThanks for the input guys, but I should say, I already have stuff to DJ on so I am not in a rush to get some new equipment. That is why I would be happy to wait if people thought the market was going to develop quite quickly for this type of gear. It sounds like there is not much else on the horizon though, so may well just take the plunge! I like the idea that the RX is also a standalone mixer as I can plug some vinyl decks into it too.
ParticipantActually don’t worry 🙂 I have decided to go even more streamline for now and use Traktor DJ on the iPad. Then if I find i need a controller I think I will buy the Kontrol Z1 so it will plug and play with the laptop and iPad.
ParticipantAny specific reason why?
ParticipantI’m really struggling to decide here, seems like many split opinions. Just to clarify I know monitors/pa would be better (I actually have a pair of half decent monitor/dj speakers at the moment) but I think they are too big for this apartment. I don’t mind playing with them in the day for an hour or so but I am pretty sure the bass can be heard by those up or down so I cant play at night, and also I need to invest in some more things to position them better,
Maybe what I want doesnt exist? I just want some speakers with half decent sound, which in all honesty are slightly lacking in the bass department. Possibly a fairly decent pair of normal speakers is the answer or some smaller monitors than my Pioneer SDJ 60x.
My other idea is to run the midi controller through a mixer or EQ and take off some of the bass if I cant get a speaker recommendation.
ParticipantThanks for the replies guys, sorry I should have been a bit clearer in my original post.
I do actually have a rubbish stereo and speakers in the flat to make do. However I cant handle using the speakers now because the sound quality is so poor and even more noticeable since buying a set of good headphones. I can play music loud enough for me to be DJing without pissing off the neighbours. I dont like things too loud anyway at home as I have tinnitus and poor hearing in my right ear.
I’ll check out the speakers already mentioned anyway. So thanks again 🙂
ParticipantI only play small parties and have found on numerous occasions it can sound awful from where you are DJing when in reality it sounds fine. The DJ then tries to overcompensate to what they are hearing and makes it worse.
I guess if I was to play out properly I would hope that the club had good monitors and bring along my own if neccessary to make sure I can get a better feel for what it is like on the floor. I guess you can also keep dipping into your headphones to check the sound as well in these situations.
ParticipantD-Jam, post: 41093, member: 3 wrote: For me, the key to smoother blends is to go beyond beatmatching.
- Use your EQs. I’ll see many DJs barely touch them, but they should. I usually bring in a new tune with the bass turned down, and then gradually blend the volumes while raising the bass on the new track (and lowering it on the old one).
Your point one here really interests me. I play techno and I really struggle to swap the bass when blending in a new track with the bass turned down, the switch doesn’t sound right. Do you have any tips for this?
My expectation is that for this technique you need the songs matched perfectly so you turn the bass up at just the right time as to not disrupt the flow of the mix.
Could this also be down to the fact that my speakers at home are not made for DJing? When I play out I find EQing the bass much easier for some reason on a proper sound system. Sometimes I am shocked at how much bass some of my new tracks have haha
ParticipantI must admit I am not consistent with transitions, I play techno and have been watching a few videos of some producers mixing recently and they seem to keep things very simple, no FX and almost all EQ at full, slowly taking away some of the sounds from the outgoing track. I think knowing your tunes inside out seems to be the key so they flow together and the energy levels dont drop when they shouldnt.
I dont know if there is any professionals on here but I get the feeling less can be more sometimes! Is this correct?
ParticipantShaun Pearcey, post: 40381, member: 6431 wrote: That mix is awesome, what genre is this? I’m completely oblivious to this amazing genre! May I add the progression through the tracks is what makes this mix very smooth!
There is lots of little sub-genres in there from what i remember, but it is mainly house music. You should check out his label Ostgut Ton as a starting point if you want research more.
ParticipantTraktortips, post: 40351, member: 3773 wrote: I think if you get the balance right – loops can be an excellent way of ‘producing’ on the fly. It’s like “micro-dj-ing” – mixing parts of the track together to make the track, it’s like going into the microscope.
But then on the other hand – this set from Nick Hoppner uses no loops and is amazing….. [media=youtube]HXL7qvFYU5Q[/media]
It really is a great mix. If you watch how he mixes he keeps it ridiculously simple. From what i remember the only real eq he does much with is the bass. Most of it is the timing of the tracks so the bass gets swapped when the next track really kicks in. I think with House or Techno this is the way forward really, where song selection is the real key to creating an interesting set and progressive set.
ParticipantI have poor hearing and tinnitus in my right ear. Not sure how it started think after a ear infection when I was a teenager. Since I got back into DJing I have started to look after my ears and always wear ear plugs when I go to a club or DJ anywhere loud.
My main problem is that beatmatching can be a struggle with one bad ear and my right ear can’t hear all the sounds in a track. But digital Djing helps me a lot with the sync button 🙂 I only Dj for fun so I don’t really care what people think about that haha
I must admit I am scared that DJing could still ruin my hearing even with the protection so I try to rest my ears a lot and not do it every day. Tonight I mixed for the first time in ages because I have been busy but after 2 hours I have called it a night!
I am very keen to hear more about how people with hearing problems can DJ it might give me more confidence that I wont destroy my hearing for good 🙂
ParticipantSync button is ace i use it a lot but then i usually just djing to myself at home. haha but i do think mixing on cdjs/vinyl is very helpful for learning your tunes properly as you have to listen to them closely.
Personally i think CDJs will be on their way out soon and it will be just digital and vinyl. Sync on digital, beatmatch on vinyl. I notice a lot of techno i like is vinyl only at the moment so i am going to reinvest in some vinyl decks and i will be forced to carry on learning to beatmatc! Remember at the end of the day DJing is about music not sync or beatmatching.
The average person dancing doesnt care how you mix the music I cant stress that enough.
April 18, 2013 at 9:06 pm in reply to: Serious About Professional Level DJing: Promo/Record Pools #39336ParticipantHi DJ Shoni I am not sure exactly what scene you are involved in but for the techno that I play, the tracks are not really rare, it is more likely that a lot of the DJs are producers and using them in their own sets, perfecting them, swapping them with other producers and DJs before they go on general sale to the public. Also some labels are releasing vinyl only so it is impossible to buy on MP3. I am starting to get into production as it feels like this is the sure fire way to get involved with the latest goings on and it also means I can have some tracks that noone else in the world with have 🙂 (although I think my production techniques need to improve a lot before I play them out haha 😉
Participanthmm that is interesting, I will post it to the Xone forums at A&H to see if there is a fix, not had much luck here. I suppose it is a good thing in a way that we both have the same issue, it indicates the hardware is not faulty and hopefully there will be a fix:)
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