Archive for Dj Equipment
Choosing the Best DJ Equipment Speakers
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Are you looking to be the best DJ the club as ever seen? Do you want to get the party jumping when you step in the building? Well before you can do all that you have to first have the proper DJ equipment. One of the main essentials that you should worry about is the DJ equipment speakers. You want your audience to have the highest satisfaction possible.
If your speakers are not clear, and sound like crap, do you think you will get another call to do another gig? The answer is NO! You need to have the crowd jumping, with clear, crisp sound. So if you're trying to be the best you have to have the best, so let's get familiar with some DJ equipment speakers, and what they do.
Let's start off with Monitor speakers. Monitor speakers allow you the DJ to be able to hear yourself and what you're mixing in a loud bar. You also have to know what you're playing; if you don't like what you hear do you think the crowd will.
Now let's move on to PA speakers. PA speakers are what you are use too at school, or church like the intercom. Let's say you want to get the crowd hyped even more by saying a few words, there is a certain speaker that is used to get that message across, without distortion.
Now let's talk about Power speakers and passive speakers. Power speakers which are also called active speakers; they are speakers that already have amplifiers built in so that you can minimize all the wires from the speakers to the amp. Passive speakers are basically the opposite. They don't have an amp built in; you will have to connect an amplifier to them which would require more wires.
Choosing the right DJ equipment speakers is key to being the best out there. When checking out speakers you need to check the sensitivity rating. You want to select a speaker with a high sensitivity rating. A speaker with a high sensitivity rating will allow you to play high volume tracks without drawing crazy amounts of power from your amplifier.
Another area you should look at is if the DJ equipment speakers that have high impedance. These types of speakers won't damage your amp, because they are made to handle strong signals.
Everything here that you just read is important in becoming the best DJ out there today. If the sound that is coming out of your speakers sounds like crap, you will too. So to keep getting gigs you have to choose the best DJ equipment speakers on the market. After you have proven to be the best, and have the best you won't have to look for gigs they will look for you!
DJ Speakers – Choosing Your First DJ Speakers
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DJ speakers are essential part of your DJ equipment setup. The speaker's primary purpose is to play sound and music that comes from your DJ mixers and turntables. If you are really serious about being a DJ, it is advisable that you choose the right one. Remember, a good DJ is someone who chooses his equipment well in order to give his audience complete satisfaction. You need to know the different types of speakers and familiarize yourself about what they are and what they do. This way, you will be better informed when you buy your first DJ speakers.
Monitor Speakers
Monitor speakers are used by DJs to hear themselves and their mixes in a loud bar.
2-Way Speakers
They are speakers with a woofer and a tweeter. They are not advisable for DJing though, because of too much distortion over very high sound volume.
PA Speakers
PA speakers are public address speakers just like the ones that are commonly used in schools' and churches' intercoms to broadcast a prerecorded music or a person's message to the general public within a building.
Active Speakers
They are also called powered speakers. These are speakers with built-in amplifiers so there is no need for messy cabling from a speaker to an amplifier. With active speakers, you don't need to worry about matching the speaker and the amp's impedance. Keep in mind that powered speakers require extra electrical outlets so think ahead if you have ready access to one.
Passive Speakers
Passive speakers are those that do not come in with built-in power source and draw power from somewhere else. They are usually cheaper than active speakers but you need to run lengthy cables between the speaker and the separate amplifier. You also need to know how to match the right power amp to the speaker or you'll get low sound quality at best and damaged equipment at worst.
Knowing and understanding how these types of speakers work is a good step in becoming the best DJ you want to be. It is very important that you choose the right DJ speakers for your gigs. That said, you want to make sure that you choose a DJ speaker with a high sensitivity rating. This type of speaker will allow you to play high-volume sounds without drawing extra power from the amplifier. It is just as important to select a speaker with high impedance. Speakers with high impedance won't damage your amplifier because they can handle strong signals very well.
A DJ can only be as good as the sound that comes out of his DJ speaker, so go and get a decent one.
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DJ’ing on a Laptop – Equipment and Necessities
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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 the next section.
You have your laptop and DJ Software, now you need a 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.
You have your laptop, DJ program, Mixer, now you need 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 have your laptop, DJ program, Mixer, now you need 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.
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 MIXES and you are ready to start practicing to become a pro DJ on a laptop.
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How to Buy a DJ Gift
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The gift giving season is here and if you have a DJ on your gift list you are faced with a daunting challenge: What kind of a gift can you get a DJ? Well, if you want to take the easy way out, you could always go with some cologne or maybe even a tie. DJs wear many ties.
If the DJ is a lady, candy, flowers and jewelry is always welcome.
But, c'mon. Can we get a little creative this year? How about something that a DJ would love to get? The problem is, unless you are a DJ yourself, you don't have a clue. And I know you're not a DJ, because 2 DJs never live together. (There is a one-DJ-per-household limit.)
So, with a little help from yours truly, let's get started.
First, there are quite a few stocking-stuffer-type gifts that all DJs need; even if they already have the item now. DJs need mic cords; lots of them. And, mic cords go bad. So you can never go wrong with a couple of medium quality mic cords. Other stocking-stuffer gifts include: gaffers tape (kind of like duct tape, but doesn't gum up the cords and equipment), blank CDRs, velcro cord tie-downs and gift certificates for music downloads.
If you want to get something a little more serious, you could always buy your DJ a spare mic (SM57 or 58 please), an equipment cart, or maybe a spare set of DJ headphones. Headphones are another item that go bad once a year, or so, due to wear and tear.
If you really want to go all out, pick him or her up a new pair of speakers... just make sure they are a significant upgrade from what he or she is currently using.
If you have someone who wants to be a DJ, but hasn't got off the ground yet, a pre-packaged system works pretty good. Although, usually nothing in a pre-packaged kit is extremely high quality, it's a good start. As the beginner moves up in the world, they can replace each item one-by-one with high quality DJ equipment. By then, they will have a better idea of what they want.
If you're still stuck, or need some ideas, be sure and check out my website. I suppose you could also just ask what they want, but there is something cool about having no idea that you are about to be blown away by an incredible gift.
It's a great time to buy because prices are low and deals abound. That means its a great time to give!
DJ Equipment Tips For Building Beginner DJ Sets
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Here are DJ equipment tips for beginners to build their own sets.
For the beginner it can be a bit much to take on the wild world of DJing when you don't have a clue and even if you do you may be skeptical of spending so much money for something you may only do as a hobby. I put together some tips to help ease your mind.
I can tell you from personal experience that you don't have anything to worry about. These tips will erase all second thoughts.
We will step aside from the "DJ in a box" stuff and get right into building a real set with personally selected equipment.
There first thing you need to ask your self is how or in what capacity will I be using my equipment? How much do I want to spend? Where will I buy all of this equipment, and most importantly what equipment do I need? I have tips to answer all of these questions and more.
Say you want to be an all-purpose DJ. Meaning you want to be able to be a club disc jockey and turntablist. You allowed your self a budget of $600. You found that Musician's Friend has the best selection and prices that meet your needs.
But let me make this perfectly clear. There is no substitute for high end high quality equipment. You'll only be kidding yourself if you think you can go pro on cheaper gear. If you want to pick it up as a hobby then this is a good place to start.
Now you want to select your gear but you want to make sure you get the right gear.
Tips for selecting your gear.
You need to make a list of the minimum gear you want to buy. Now keep in mind the budget. You are only going to buy equipment to fit your need so turntables like the Numark TTX1 turntable and the Technics SL1200 MK2 turntables are out of the picture. I'll save those for the experts.
Two turntables.
Stanton T.60 Direct-Drive Turntable with Stanton 500B Cartridge.
Remember you need DIRECT-DRIVE turntables. They offer the best torque for cueing records. The Stanton T.60 Direct Drive Turntable has enough power to get you started.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Stanton T.80 Direct Drive Turntable costs $249 and offers much more features including digital technology.
So for this tutorial you can go with the T.80 Either way they will fit this budget.
***These turntables have straight tone arms that are made primarily for scratching. If you want to scratch and mix you need to upgrade to something like the Stanton ST-100 or Numark TT 500 which have S-shape tone arms.***
I'll stick with the T.60 for the sake of remaining budget conscious.
Your total cost thus far is $399.98 for the Stanton T.60 Direct Drive Turntable.
Two slip mats at $20 dollars each. Get the Stanton DSM-6 Yellow on Black Slipmats with Scratch Discs.
You can make your on slip mats out of felt for about $5. Go to your local fabric store and get about 2 yards of felt fabric.
Take a record, place of on the felt, out line it in fabric chalk or with a marker and cut along the line you just made. Presto! A perfectly usable custom made slip mat.
By the way, you know the plastic that your vinyl comes in? Cut a piece the same size as the slip mat. Place that on the turntable platter first then place your custom made slip mat on top of that. I found that reduces the friction even more.
Two cartridges.
In this case you don't need to buy and cartridges because they come already mounted on the head shell with the Stanton T.60 Direct Drive Turntable. So you probably saved another $160 on a pair of cartridges.
Follow the manufacturers guidelines to installing your cartridge. There are different tone arm settings for turntablist and club disc jockey's.
One mixer.
The Numark DM1002X MK2 Scratch Mixer.
This mixer costs $99.99.
Break in your mixer slowly. Learn all of its features to maximize you skills as you build them. Later on you should try experimenting cutting the music in and out with different mixer settings. Try to develop your own unique style.
So far the grand total for building your set is 539.97. If you make our own slip mats you save $40. So that brings your total thus far to $499.97.
One pair of headphones.
Since you have over $200 to spend lets look at one of better mid price range headphones.
The Technics RP-F550 Headphones are the low end Technics model but they are mid price range for many other manufacturers. They cost $49.99.
Your headphones should be light weight to reduce ear fatigue and closed ear design to avoid outside interference with your mix.
Assuming you have a way to amplify your set such as a stereo system that should be it.
You grand total for your beginner set is 549.96 without slip mats. With slip mats your total is $589.96. Did I mention free shipping? If you use your ASCAP membership card you can save an additional 5%. And if you buy from the b-stock you can save up to 57%.
This is right on target with your budget of $600. Not bad for building your first set with different gear.
Congratulations!
Buy Cheap Beginner DJ Turntable Package
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If you are considering a DJ career, you have to invest in a turntable. This is where the beginner DJ turntable package comes in. There are different manufacturers that provide you with the following materials that you need so that you can become one of the best DJs out there.
For a DJ who is just beginning in the business, he has much to take on the wild world of DJ.
But this wouldn't be hard if he already has a clue on what to do and how to do it - which the beginner DJ turntable package can easily provide for him. If he is considering this to be just a hobby, he would realize that there is so much to learn on the art.
There are a lot of tips to consider and he shouldn't be overwhelmed. Despite the information overload, he should do what he can to ease his mind.
The beginner DJ turntable package gives the DJ what he needs to have the feel of a professional DJ. This package is touted to be the "DJ in a box" because it is built as if it were a real DJ set and has personally selected DJ equipment.
As a DJ who is just starting you must ask yourself, "how will I use my DJ equipment?" "Will I be using this frequently?"
Above all, "what kind of DJ equipment do I need?" Is there a way for me to get everything in just one package so I wouldn't have to spend as much?
Let's say that you want to be an all around DJ who wants to be constantly booked in different bars. That is possible if you invest in a beginner DJ turntable package.
Because you already practiced as if you were a professional DJ with this gadget, you can easily handle the real thing. Always remember that there is no substitute for good quality, particularly high end quality.
If you want to be the best, you might as well invest in gadgets that would make you the best.
Even if let's say that this is a hobby that you would want to start. There's no harm in getting the beginner DJ turntable package because who knows what kind of button this will press in you.
Always think of your budget. If you are going to buy a beginner DJ equipment package, choose one that you could definitely afford.
You should also read the product reviews written by the other customers so you have an idea of what you are getting into.
Booking a DJ With the Correct DJ Equipment For an Event
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Disk Jockey's are normally booked through an agency. The agencies act as agents for the DJs. The services of a disk jockey with DJ equipment are often offered globally. The DJs are prepared to work anywhere in the world irrespective of the number days they are engaged. It does not matter whether the invitation is to be one day guest DJ or to be an exclusive resident DJ. Every agency has several scores of DJs for you to select from.
If you wish to hire a DJ for a private event, it is better to follow the procedure listed below:
First get some names of DJs of good standing. These names can be obtained from your family members, friends, local clubs, entertainment company listing or yellow page. Select a few among them. Have an interview with each of them. They will be happy to give time for interview. See video clippings of their performances. Take special note on their reaction to the requests of audience and how the DJ interacts with them. At least some think that they know best which songs are to be played for any occasion and do not take any request. Avoid such DJs. You can also assess the capabilities of the DJ equipment they have. Directly see the DJ equipment and also watch how they perform in the video clippings. You can explain your needs to the DJs whom you approve. They must be told of the type of people for whom the DJ is expected to perform. If you prefer, suggestions for changes or improvement in DJ equipment also can be made. Ensure that there is backup DJ equipment in case of equipment failure. It is also important to see the collection of CDs belonging to the DJ. This is required to make sure that the DJ has the right songs for the occasion. A truly professional DJ has a very large collection of songs for any occasion. You must ask about his/her past experience and get references. Call up at least two or three of the references and enquire about the DJ's performance. Enquire whether the DJ is familiar with protocol of the occasion for which you want the DJ. The DJ's sensitivity for the event is also to be checked. In other words, you must ensure that the DJ understands the sentiments of the audience. After making sure that you found the right DJ, negotiate for the price. Bear in mind that the rates are not the same round the year. At weekends the prices usually go up. It happens during the busy season also. Put everything in writing, including the timing, the date and venue. Do not leave anything for guesswork.
Do not take the hiring of a DJ lightly. He/she is the star performer of a party. Normally, a professional Disk Jockey welcomes suggestions by the clients. The DJ knows that such suggestions will only improve his/her performance. So do not shy away from making any suggestion. It may add to the color of the occasion.
Cheap DJ Systems – The Art Of the DJ
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At one time the DJ was out in front with the MC rocking shows and moving the crowd. Now days it just looks like the MC is the only individual needed to make a show happen. But that is not so. DJ's keep the show moving whether in the show or in the studio. Most DJ's have migrated from being the background beat keeper to producers and song writers. DJ spend hours or even weeks or months trying to find that distinct sound that will as once said will move the crowd. But what is a DJ?
The DJ aka disc jockey has been rocking shows and parties for years and they will be rocking even more parties in years to come. In the seventies and eighties the DJ was the one who brought the beat to the parties. The one that could speak with his hands, who would cut and scratch songs together to make one continues melody with multiple songs that never stopped till the end of the party. The DJ controlled the mood and the tempo of the party. Weather he/she felt the mood needed to be slowed down or speed up, the disc jockey would make that decision.
Also, DJ equipment has changed over the years. At one time DJ equipment was only 2 turntables and a mixer. Now, everything is getting digitized and some DJ's are turning away from the turntables to digital turntables. Music producers are not even releasing vinyl records anymore. For true DJ they have to rely on vinyl stores to get new beats.
But a great disc jockey is nothing without reliable and proficient equipment for their hands. Equipment like a good pair of turntables. Like techniques.. If you are spinning vinyl records then a good pair of techniques is what you want. How about if your producing a beat.. You will definitely need a good drum machine. Whatever the reason as I said before, a DJ is nothing without a quality equipment.
Popular DJ Equipment Brands
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When it comes to DJ equipments, a few brands come to mind. The ones that are most popular Numark, American DJ Supply, Pioneer, Denon, Gemini, Odyssey, Stanton, M-Audio and Chauvet. These are the brands to look for when investing in DJ equipments.
When it comes to DJ equipments, a few brands come to mind. The ones that are most popular Numark, American DJ Supply, Pioneer, Denon, Gemini, Odyssey, Stanton, M-Audio and Chauvet. These are the brands to look for when investing in DJ equipments.
Numark is a global brand that manufactures a wide range of mixers, turntables and DJ CD players. One of their latest introductions is the DJ DVD Mixing Console. It is also one of the pioneers of Computer DJing through its first mixing software called Cue. PT01 is a one of its most popular product, a belt-driven turntable with a built-in cartridge and removable stylus. Among other popular products are the iDJ mixer, Dimension 3 and 4 amplifiers and Numark Total Control software controller.
American DJ Supply - this brand is widely known for its lighting products. It produces the best lamps, lasers, oscillators, centerpieces, fog/haze machines, L.E.Ds and many other intelligent lighting systems that have long life and low in power consumption. The Accu LED MH is one of its latest products.
Pioneer is mostly known for its DVD Video /CD decks with MP3. DVJ-1000 is one of its famous table top players. It allows playback of MP3 files recorded onto DVD discs and has a preview monitor which displays a wide range of info eliminating the need to switch display modes. This brand also produces high-end speakers.
DN-HS5500CD is one of Denon's latest products. It is a direct drive multi-media player and controller that has 2 decks, a built-in slot-in DC drive unit and has a USB interface. Denon is known for producing compact equipments.
When it comes to quality turntable/mixer/ console cases and a wide range on accessories, Odyssey is the one that produces the best.
M-Audio is manufacturer of digital audio work station and MIDI interfaces. It also boasts DJ software systems. One of its latest releases is the Torq® DJ which is Windows XP SP2, Vista (32-bit) and Mac OS X compatible.
Andreas Niklasson is the associated editor to the website DJ cd equipment a website dedicated to everything a DJ need. All information is free and updated very often with the latest tips and products.
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Things To Know About Different DJ Equipment
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If you are interested in becoming a Disc Jockey (DJ) you have come to the right place. To become a DJ you have got to first learn the art of mixing. You have to be well versed with the rhythm and remixing. But before you start you need to own a set of DJ equipment, which includes turntables, headphones, mixer and a good set of speakers.
These DJ equipments are costly and therefore it is important to do a thorough research before purchasing them. The following details the basic equipment that you need before starting your career as a DJ.
A turntable is generally a rotating platform maintaining a constant speed motor driven phonograph or a gramophone. This DJ equipment is used to mix and scratch records. It has given rise to the term turntabilism and has led to professional CD players with the same capability. When you are looking forward to buying a turntable make sure you consider the features, which include the following.
- Direct drive to give you better control over how fast the record will start and stop.
- Tone arm feature gives you the option to adjust your tone. The tone arm up and down in combination along with the anti-skate mechanism can produce a proper tone arm balance.
- Anti-shake feature gives the tone arm just enough balance as not to skip when playing.
- Make sure your tone arm has a counterweight feature, which is used to give the proper balance for the tone arm itself so as to not damage the needle while playing your vinyl.
- The pitch control is needed because the 33 and 45 RPMs (Revolutions Per Minute) settings are not enough. Your pitch control should be on the right hand side and have a positive and negative range of 896.
Another important part of DJ equipment to make it a complete system is a good set of speakers. You need to buy quality speakers, but you need to know exactly what you are looking for. Some of the important features that you need to look into while buying this DJ equipment is the watts, dimension of the speakers, quality of the speaker box itself, and magnet size. The most important thing to do while buying speakers is you need to hear how it sounds with a quality mix tape.
Another DJ equipment that you cannot do without is the DJ mixer. It is a full-featured DJ and beat mixing system to create your own custom DJ style music. They can include both audio and even video player with two independent decks and professional sound quality. It can sync beat and has pitch control. It has 2 to 6 stereo channels for connecting and mixing audio sources. Each channel has a phono input with RIAA equalization for turntables. It also has one or two lines level input options for other sources such as CD players and laptop.
Besides that it has 2 or 3 microphone inputs, peak meters to aid matching levels between channels and monitor the signal for clipping. It also has a headphone jack plugs and a headphone volume control.
Besides the above-mentioned DJ equipment, there are other software programs that can support the best DJ solutions with pro quality. They can add to your DJ equipment and give extra advantage to your DJ work. It can enhance your creativity in creating music on your PC as well.