Just got my first gig – advice please!

If you have a Mixtrack Pro you are all set. You have two options:

1a) You have a knob called CUE MIX – Turn to mix between Cue and Program in the Headphone channel. When all the way to the left, only channels routed to CUE will be heard. When all the way right, only the Program mix will be heard. (straight from the manual)

1b) The Mixtrack Pro has two audio RCA outputs. So you can use one for the main console and one for your booth set.

2) Dude. Who cares? If the sound you produce is straight and the floor is bumping you fellow DJ’s should be giving you fistbumps instead of making fun of you for your Mixtrack Pro. IF someone tries to go down the road of vinyl vs. CD’s vs. digital with you just smile and nod politely and remind them we are all in this together.

Basically if you use booth monitors you are at a place that’s pretty isolated from the main dance floor. So if you were trying to listen to you earphones and match it up to the set it would be “off”. Not really sure how to describe it more elequently and English is my second language (I’m Greek) so I apologize in advance. 🙂

So having the ability to have an input mapped to your booth monitors enables you to really listen to what’s going on out there.

If the mixing area is not really that isolated then you probably won’t need it though. In that case I’d make sure that your earphones are comfortable enough to really glue to your ear. I usually have one ear to the earphone, leaning my head so my shoulder is pressing the cup that is in turn pressing against my ear and listening to what’s out there with my other ear instead of wearing both cups and using the cue mix knob.

Additionally, remember that most clubs are set up so the main monitors are pointing towards the crowd. Unless you have a weird setup where you are in the middle of the dance floor (I’ve seen it like that in a club in Greece and it was pretty weird) you will not be right smack in the middle of the decibels.

Again, my apologies if it’s not clear enough. I think the point I am trying to get to is that unless you are going to have a jet taking off near your setup I highly doubt you have anything to worry about. 🙂

Oh and BTW, CONGRATS ON GETTING THE SET!

Firstly ….Congrats mate !!

1) Headphone volume level – I know what you mean mate, at the current moment in time I am using a traktor kontrol S2 when gigging out, and I have a similar problem with the volume in my headphones. When I use CDJ’s and DJM setup, there is no problem at all with the volume level. The way I got around it was to get a pair of headphones that sat on my ears nice and snug so that it helped isolate external noise.

I also use the same technique “Nicko D” uses, pressing the cup of the headphone against my ear. You do get used to it, and I don’t find it a problem at all now.

2) Digital haters – you will get this where ever you go, I had a lad comment on my s2 at one of my very first gigs “if he walks into club with that….. Everyone will laugh at him!”…….. hahahahahahaha….erm no!. This lad doesn’t DJ no more, he used to years ago, and in his view he believes everyone should still be spinning vinyl. Fair enough that’s his opinion and he is entitled to it. But I am having the last laugh, as I DJ at a club 4 nights a week with my s2 and the place is the busiest place in town! ….. Also to top it all off he keeps asking for copy’s of my Promo Mix CD’s.

I have a CDJ timecode set up at home, and i would love to playout on it at my residancy, but it’s simply not practicle to move around…..to be fair i can’t knock my controller, as it has not let me down yet.

anyway the point i am trying to make is, if you do get that sort of attitude towards you, then just ignore it or do the opposite and think “you know what, i am going to prove them wrong”, and the way to do this …….. drop an awesome set.

hope this might help…… all the best mate, let us know how it goes for ya 🙂

Use your stronger ear to hear through your headphones, and use your other ear to hear what you are mixing into. That’s what it’s for. You can use split cue if you have it on your mixer as well. Read the instruction manual of your mixer to find out how to do it. If you have 2 outputs on your mixer, use one set as a monitor or booth out, and just bring one of the speakers you are using at home and set it up at the booth or table you are dj’ing at.

Have Fun. That’s what it’s about. If you are an opener, don’t worry to much about things, just play some good tracks but not bangers, get people in the mood. That’s your job as an opener. Be flexible and prepare a playlist, but don’t lock down an entire set, you want to be able to go places musically, and adjust to the crowd.

Also, I’m not trying to dis your gear, but eventually you might want to look at replacing that mixtrack with better gear in the future. It’s hard for old school guys to knock on a Traktor NS4, because so many established acts use them, or Denon gear or what not, but the Mixtrack does look somewhat toy-ish.

Practice your heart out these next two weeks. It’s like cramming for an exam. Crunch time man, get on it.

Hey mate I started playing out on a Mixtrack Pro – my advice – go to a music shop and buy a headphone amp, they are cheap. I couldnt hear a thing in my headphones when mixing at all. It is the best purchase I have made:)