I just need some advice.. - Digital DJ Tips

This topic has 17 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by durtyjerzy609.

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February 15, 2012 at 1:10 pm #14956

Derek
Member

im not the one to give you advice here but i can suggest you to talk that to those other djs and maybe you can get one of them to be like your tutor.
About the money, well, i guess what you can do here is decide what kind of dj you want to be…
Theres a whole series of articles posted by D-JAM talking about the different kinds of djs out there. If you are planning to buy lights and audio then perhaps you want to be a mobile dj, in that case maybe you should start saving some money. On the other hand if you want to be a club dj i guess it shouldnt be a problem since clubs have their own lights and audio system. Correct me if im wrong.

February 15, 2012 at 1:11 pm #14957

Derek
Member

very interesting post id like to hear from the big djs of the community

February 15, 2012 at 1:52 pm #14960

VinnyBlanc
Participant

I too have have an NS6 (also have Technic 1200mk2 turntables now too =)

To Answer your first question about plugging the NS6 in at the club
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/08/over-to-you-how-to-plug-into-a-club-mixer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+digitaldjtips+%28Digital+DJ+Tips%29

Using CDJs for the first time…
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/forum/threads/over-to-you-help-i%E2%80%99ve-got-to-use-cdjs-for-the-first-time.1320/#post-8560

As for using your Music with CDJs…
Depending on which model CDJs they have installed you may

1) Need to have your music on CDs if you don’t have a DVS or their CDJs don’t have USBs
2) If you have DVS/Scratch live…bring your laptop and play off that
3) Bring your music on external harddrive/usb stick(s) if their CDJs have usb port

No, Itch will not work with CDJs

Let me know if you have any additional questions or I may have missed something.

Regards,
Vince

February 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm #14962

eros
Member

If you have never used CDJ’s before then you will need to familiarise yourself with them. Depending on the make and model some do take USB sticks and SD cards so you won’t need to burn CD’s however older models may not. You need to find out exactly what equipment they will have, particularly what the club mixer will be.

The easiest and best case scenario for you (seeing as you havn’t used CDJ’s) is if they say its ok to bring your NS6 (I can’t for the life of me think why they should say no). Then you can just plug into a spare channel on the club mixer and play out on your NS6 as you would do normally.

I won’t go into the details of how to plug into a club mixer as that thread has been done here before and here is the link:

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/11/your-questions-plugging-my-controller-into-a-club-mixer/

Just make sure you take a torch, have the necessary cables, plug into the CD not Phono input and make sure there are plenty of power sockets (bring your own board if need be).

February 15, 2012 at 2:10 pm #14963

DJ Hane K
Participant

Also – and this should go without saying – regardless of what you play on, you really shouldn’t take 147k songs with you for one gig! Depending on how long your set is going to be prepare a setlist accordingly, and make sure you know each and every tune to the boot. Otherwise you’ll be digging through your enormous library trying to find the next tune, and not paying attention to the more important stuff like mixing, feeling the crowd and, yes, having fun yourself.

February 15, 2012 at 2:40 pm #1003002

VinnyBlanc
Participant

DJ Hane K, post: 15031, member: 444 wrote: Also – and this should go without saying – regardless of what you play on, you really shouldn’t take 147k songs with you for one gig! Depending on how long your set is going to be prepare a setlist accordingly, and make sure you know each and every tune to the boot. Otherwise you’ll be digging through your enormous library trying to find the next tune, and not paying attention to the more important stuff like mixing, feeling the crowd and, yes, having fun yourself.

+1 I also thought that went without saying…

February 15, 2012 at 5:10 pm #14982

DJ Jaquay
Member

Awesome. Everyone so far has been VERY helpful.

Derek; I want sound and audio because like that show he played they had him bring his own stuff. If I don’t have my own, I’m missing out on that show.

DJ Hane K; I have a 2TB external that warehouses my colossal library, I actually enjoy thinking of songs to play. If I get stumped on rare occasion I have a cheat sheet crate to pull from. or could goto a top40 crate, genre crate ect. Also love having it all with me incase I’m playing a track and get a song come to me that I wanna play, I know I have it.

Any more advice anyone? Thanks so much!

February 15, 2012 at 5:42 pm #14983

DJ Hane K
Participant

Well, to each his own, I guess… If your library is well organized and you’re used to working with that, who am I to tell you differently 🙂

I could never work like that, personally, but that’s just me. For instance, I’m playing a 4 hour set this coming saturday, and my virtual dj-bag for that gig currently consists of 135 songs, which I feel is too much already. But I know every beat and every drop of each of those songs like my own pockets which, to me, is the most important thing.

February 15, 2012 at 6:53 pm #14987

Sumir
Member

DJ Jaquay, post: 15013, member: 1491 wrote: First off I have a NS6. I live in a spring break/tourist town All of the top/well known DJ’s here spin vinyl. I’m wanting to start playing clubs but all the booths I’ve seen have vinyl or CDJ’s. So here are the list of questions I have

If I bring my NS6 to plug into their house setup is this going to be a big hassle? (more trouble than its worth?)

If for some reason they won’t let me bring the NS6 How exactly do cdjs work? Do I have to have all my music on CDS? (I have 147k)

Will CDJ’s work on my laptop with ITCH for NS6? or will I have to get regular Scratch Live? (last time I had both ITCH and Scratch Live, I got alot of missing file errors I had to fix)

Also a few more tips, I’ve been pretty shy as far as putting myself out there to network with other DJs because they are all vinyl, last week I went to an event and networked. The DJ had a huge trailer outside and informed me he brought everything. His setup, the lights, the audio. All that discouraged me and made me want to give up because I don’t have my own audio yet, I’ve sunk all my money into my controller and music.

Any advice or pointers on this?
Thanks in advance!

I say just switch over to vinyl, 147k in vinyl should not take too long to gather :-D. Actually why not? Not 147 k, but maybe give vinyl a shot.? If you’re lucky enough to be around in an area that has DJ shops with vinyl, which it seems you are. Nothing like it…

But I guess the other option is getting gigs where you can use your own digital set up route, if it’s not possible at the clubs there. Or ask one of the resident club DJ’s, see what they think of the possibility of getting your own set up in there. Good luck dude

February 15, 2012 at 7:01 pm #14988

Sumir
Member

I don’t know much about today’s lighting set ups, but I do recall the hell of having to set up our lighting systems back in the day. We had trusses, strobes, etc,etc,etc,etc. Plus all the crates, decks, mixers. It was hell (but fun in it’s own way..because of the memories now.) in our war wagon (197? oldsmobile station wagon). Point is , having a residency would be a good route to go, esp for not having the money to get lighting gear. Of course getting a residency isn’t gonna happen over night, chase it if it’s where ya wanna play. Or if there are one offs, where everything is there and taken care of..maybe look for some. If you’re still a beginner , then don’t worry ..just get what gigs you can @ house parties /smaller events and such.

February 21, 2012 at 11:23 am #15345

DJ Jaquay
Member

eros, post: 15030, member: 536 wrote:

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/11/your-questions-plugging-my-controller-into-a-club-mixer/

Just make sure you take a torch, have the necessary cables, plug into the CD not Phono input and make sure there are plenty of power sockets (bring your own board if need be).

In reference to this Link, I have a few questions..

Do I HAVE to plug into the clubs mixer? I cant just use the one built into my NS6?

And if I DO have to plug into their mixer can I still crossfade ect on my NS6 or must it be done on their mixer then?

Also the options on the NS6 are PC and Line/phono Should I still use the line/phono setting? While DJing parties I have channels 1&2 on PC and channel 3 on LINE for my mic.

How exactly do I need to wire it up? RCA’s from my master out to their mixer? or RCA’s from each channel on my NS6 to their own channel on the club mixer?

If it helps my goal is to get to play at the club that has this mixer…

Although I’m sure I’m gonna have to make a name for myself before that happens

February 21, 2012 at 1:47 pm #15351

durtyjerzy609
Member

you can go from the outs on ur NS6 to a LINE in on the Rane 68… the channel you put your NS6 thru… will however be effected by the EQ’s, gain, and faders… think of it as like playin an ipod thru a hi-fi… same thing…but tbh that Rane 68 is a sexy beast and if u have scratch live on your laptop and sum control vinyls… youre sure to have a good time and have sum fun

February 21, 2012 at 1:53 pm #15352

DJ Jaquay
Member

Those tables aren’t mine. I only own the NS6.

Using the NS6 and using the Rane 68 crossfader is going to be awkward.

February 21, 2012 at 2:14 pm #15354

durtyjerzy609
Member

you wont need the rane crossfader at all except to make sure it on the channel youve selected to imput the NS6 into

February 21, 2012 at 4:55 pm #15362

Todd Oddity
Participant

DJ Jaquay, post: 15425, member: 1491 wrote: Using the NS6 and using the Rane 68 crossfader is going to be awkward.

You’re thinking it is more complicated than it is. 🙂 You use your NS6 as you always would. The main out from the NS6 goes into a single channel on the club mixer. The only thing you do on the club mixer is set your volumes (and possibly control the booth monitor depending how things are wired).

It’s actually a very quick way to set up and do a show.
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