Software for spinning music on computer

[DJFreddy]

1-4 sound good, 5 is new to me but I like it. Please add any more you can think of - this is my 20th year of DJing and I've still got a lot to learn.

Sure can.

* Bring extra pair of pants or shirt.
* Wear an undershirt while you are setting up and then change to your normal clothes before you begin.
* Always have cards of your business on you since many times the one asking do not come back again to ask.
* Check all your cables every year if you don't replace them for wear and tear.
* Make sure you have a replacement tire in case of a flat.

I will add more if needed. LOL..... too many to think of now.

in most venues I can say the difficult one is hide ALL the cables. Helps a lot having a nice covered table and shorter cables, specially for speakers.

also bring an extra amplifier, mixer, CD players, mics and cables of all kinds.

sometimes I get annoyed by a colleague or the guys from a live band or the photographer that aren't equally prepared. finally, you got to save the day playing the Mini-Radio-Shack role.

I hear you Abayarde. My comment was catered more to the mobile jocks although I worked at many clubs that the cables were thrown all over the place. It just gives a better image of the place or the DJ when everything is organized and away from view. Nowadays they have so many ways of allowing you to hide the cables. many clubs do take advantage of them but the smaller clubs just flat out don't care.

 

[DJ Yuca]

Gracias.

 

[t0mt0m]

Just wondering - for those with Traktor/Ableton (Live) - has anyone hooked up an iPhone/Touch to try the controller capabilities? Just seen some videos, and looks great!

 

[DJFreddy]

You can by Velcro straps at your local hardware store or buy a facade that will hide all your equipment.

Expensive but awesome!
Uplighting Fasade

Or this one:
Facade

The cables from the speakers you can Velcro them to the pole so they will not hang out. The power cables can be taped down with Gaffe tape. Try not to use duct tape as it will leave residue on all floors and you might be liable to remove it like I once was. Gaffe Tape

It is more expensive but worth it since it will adhere down to most places that
duct tape will not.

 

[DJFreddy]

Yes DJ Nick, I now see where you are coming from. Thanks for clearing that up.

I however shoot for every show to be as perfect as possible. Not because I am better then you or anyone else because I was taught that way.
I was taught:

1- You never leave your booth on auto pilot unless it is an absolute emergency.
2- You never argue with the client.
3- Always look like you are having fun behind the booth at all times.
4- Play for all crowds not for yourself.
5- Hide all wires out of view.
I could go on...........email me for the rest.

I was sent an email to add to this marvelous thread.......so here goes.

6- Dress professionally and appropriate for the event you were hired to do.

7- Don't drink alcohol if it will impair your performance. (My Opinion... no drinking on the job! especially if you work for my company

8- Take backup equipment so the event won't end if your equipment fails.

9- Always have a song ready in a CD player in case it is needed in a moments notice. (I usually have a Custom CD made every now and then of greatest hits that I can play if needed.)

10- Never disrespect your dancers or client's no matter how annoying they are.

11- Make sure you have a backup plan in case you have an act of God on your way to the event. Can you provide a replacement DJ?

12- Always have the special songs of the event either the First Dance or the Songs of a special performance on a CD not only on your laptop. If your laptop goes down you have a hard copy of their songs on a CD.

Do I need top go on? LOL....I am giving away too many DJ secrets! ;-)

 

[El Conguero]

OK, so I'm not a professional DJ by any means, but one program I've used a bit is WinAmp. As far as free stuff goes it works pretty well. You can have the end of one song blend into another, or have the endings "sharper" (like on a CD when switching tracks). I prefer the first, because the transitions just seem like they're always "smoother" to me, if that makes sense. It also handles MP3, though iTunes will do that too. Just putting it out there 4u.

 

[Hermanito]

I used Virtual DJ and never had problems. Check it out

 

[DJFreddy]

I used Virtual DJ and never had problems. Check it out

Love to wake up this thread for the dead.

VDJ also gives issues just visit their forum and see how many complaints are there. The matter of a fact is that all softwares have their issues, some benefit some and others benefit others. It's a matter of taste and preference. I myself am a long time happy SSL user.

 

[TwoCentsTipper]

I use SL2. I think it's the top of the line, then comes Traktor.

 

[Abayarde]

VDJ has serious issues with HD Videos, even if you run it in the most powerful computers (check VDJ forums for details).

My choice with 720p and 1080p videos is VLC. hope someday VDJ could work videos like VLC. I run it from a MacBook with 4GB's of RAM; it never freezes or crash.

Tested recently Traktor and love it. But it goes just for live music performances; No playlist shuffle/automix, no videos and no karaoke here.

 

[El Caobo]

I'm using a Traktor. Love it so far. I still have a lot to learn about it.

For now, I'm using a Toshiba computer, but I've been getting a periodic "pop," which sounds a lot like some sort of power surge. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I believe that I need to get a MAC.

Any thoughts?

 

[DJFreddy]

I'm using a Traktor. Love it so far. I still have a lot to learn about it.

For now, I'm using a Toshiba computer, but I've been getting a periodic "pop," which sounds a lot like some sort of power surge. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I believe that I need to get a MAC.

Any thoughts?

I think that is happening because of the power supply, I would try and use another laptop if possible and see if it continues to do it. Most probably is the power supply of the laptop so I would run it on the batteries only for a bit and see of it continues to do it. If it still does it, the next step I would do is disconnect the battery from the unit and run it with the power adapter connected, if it still does it, it's time for a Mac.

Hope this helps. Let us know what happened finally, I would like to know what caused it. I am positive it is a power related issue though.

 

[matty]

I'm using a Traktor. Love it so far. I still have a lot to learn about it.

For now, I'm using a Toshiba computer, but I've been getting a periodic "pop," which sounds a lot like some sort of power surge. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I believe that I need to get a MAC.

Any thoughts?

I would also suggest that it may be caused by the wifi adaptor
I have two laptops (acer & toshiba)
And the wifi on one of them conflicts with my sound card causing a crackle sound. Tech support cannot explain it and the only solution is turn off the wifi before a gig. This is not ideal since wifi is sometimes necessary during a performance , depending on what you are doing.
The other laptop there is no problem.

I'm not a believer in the "just buy a Mac " solution just yet. Since I can buy two good windows laptops for the same price or cheaper. Though I'm not against it either, if it fixes the problem , so be it

See this video for some details on optimizing your pc, take from it what you will

 

[DJFreddy]

Yes Matty Wifi should be disabled. I had that issue at first with SSL and had to turn off Wifi

 

[Smejmoon]

For now, I'm using a Toshiba computer, but I've been getting a periodic "pop," which sounds a lot like some sort of power surge. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I believe that I need to get a MAC.

Do you use external soundcard? If not that would be a major improvement.

 

[El Caobo]

Wow! You guys are fabulous! I was able to find the problem! Amazing!

I was so seriously planning to return to spinning from cds. Now, I'm feeling so much better about finally making the switch!

 

[El Caobo]

Do you use external soundcard? If not that would be a major improvement.

Please tell me about this.

Keep in mind that I am not at all technically savvy! I pretty much only now how to turn a computer on and off! Believe me.... that's only a very slight exaggeration!

 

[Abayarde]

Please tell me about this.

Keep in mind that I am not at all technically savvy! I pretty much only now how to turn a computer on and off! Believe me.... that's only a very slight exaggeration!

check out Numark's DJ IO in numark.com/product/djio

you only need to install the software in your PC and plug it in a USB port.

instalation video: youtube.com/watch?v=_RrukKIXZLE

with this baby you can use your headphones to cue next songs and bring a better and louder sound from your PC. this will require some changes in the setup section of your DJ software (output specs).

 

[DJFreddy]

So what was it Caobo and how you fixed it?

 

[Smejmoon]

Please tell me about this.

Keep in mind that I am not at all technically savvy! I pretty much only now how to turn a computer on and off! Believe me.... that's only a very slight exaggeration!

The inside of computer and especially laptop is filled with all kind of electric gear. So next to your sound card there will be other devices with magnetic fields, same power supplies, generate heat and what not. Also inside the laptops they put cheapest components. If you use usb sound card you remove bunch of possible sound problems, since now you have only one cable connecting it with the rest of computer and that is not a sound cable, but data/electricity cable. Also from DJ perspective you get more outputs you can use for monitoring, mixing. Nowadays they come with all kind of knobs, I have no specific suggestions, but in general using external soundcard is a big win. Some gadgets have phantom power for microphones, which I guess you might find useful.

I googled a bit and it seems there are things like USB DAC (digital to analog converter), external interfaces and specific DJ gadgets.