bob6397

+1 for Vintage’s response – Don’t put the compressor on the master output (unless it was being used as a limiter and not a compressor in order to protect the speakers) – I would use it on any mics being used though as it will help the speakers to be heard better, as well as compensating for bad technique that comes from not being a pro…

Any questions, just ask.. The 2 responses above are rather long but they make good points.. If you are new to this, it’s better to ask than break anything 😉

<EDIT>

In response to some points that Caleb made…

1) DO NOT switch the output from the crossover to -10 rather than +4dB. This will give out a louder signal, yes, but it will also make it much harder to mix at the desk – as everything will now be effectively more sensitive – and probably will end up in the amp or sub being damaged due to a clipped input into the amp or the amp clipping due to being sent an overly hot signal. It is not necessary and will potentially wreck your kit.

2) Don’t bother with the compressor on the master output, unless it is being used as a limiter (and only a limiter).. Anything else will make the system sound worse.

3) Don’t connect the sub to the AUX OUT – for 2 reasons. 1) This still sends the full range signal to the mains, which sort of defeats half the point of having subs in the 1st place and will mean that the system will be really hard to balance. 2) Different levels being sent to the sub for each channel is not the correct way of doing things. Send a proper, complete master output to a properly tuned system and it will sound right.. Send everything through all the speakers. Besides, I suspect that in the church, the people who use the kit the majority of the time are not trained audio technicians. Keep it simple and the less you make all those strange coloured dials do, the better. They won’t be able to mess it up if you don’t let them..

</EDIT>
bob6397

All the data for BPM, Cue Points etc. is stored in the database file for Virtual DJ. Find it in Documents -> Virtual DJ and then copy the database.xml file (might be called something different for V7) – that is your backup. It’s probably worth backing up that entire “Virtual DJ” folder if I’m honest – it’s the quickest way to get all your data and settings back afterwards if you need to use a backup..

When you want to use the backup, install Virtual DJ first and open it. Then close VDJ. Then replace the “Virtual DJ” folder it has created – the new, blank, one – with your old one. Then open VDJ and all your data should be there.. 🙂

Different Note – I do not know of any way to turn VDJ cue points into a Recordbox compatible format – the format you need to transfer them to CDJ’s. Note that this only works with Nexus enabled CDJ’s anyway…

bob6397

Specs you want

Processor – i5 or higher, preferably over 2.0GHz

RAM – 8GB or higher. Most DJ’s can manage on 4 but 8 will mean that you will never run out..

Hard Drive – SSD preferably. They are faster and (important), have no moving parts.. Meaning that they cannot skip due to vibrations from the speakers.. Size? Over 256GB, Maybe even 1TB if you want to avoid using an external drive… I have a 500GB HDD personally and use about half of it day to day.. (Windows Laptop) If I had a 256GB HDD I would struggle..

Screen – 13″ or 15″? Retina or Non-Retina? All Macs 2012 and later have a Retina screen – which I think is worth paying for, it’s just so sharp… I would also go for a 15″ screen if you can strech your budget to one – It will make things easier to see..

bob6397

Music from Apple Music is DRM protected – meaning that, like files downloaded through Spotify, you can only play them through the streaming software and not through anything else.. If you want to be able to play the tracks, then you will have to buy them..

bob6397

I’ve been away for a few weeks.. Back now!

Found this (well, I shazamed it..) whilst out DJing over the weekend during someone else’s set.. Love it – Different from the original and nice, chilled vibe..

bob6397

I’ll third that.. A hifi amp with 5 low powered (for PA work) channels is not in the same league as a half decent pair of active speakers or actual pa speakers and an amp..

I would go down the active route – look at Alto TS115A – You can get a pair for under £500 and they sound decent.. Otherwise, look at Mackie Thump 15’s or (slightly more expensive), FBT X-Lite 15’s..

bob6397

Restart your PC, without the SB plugged in as you turn it on.. Then plug it in and check that the default soundcard in windows IS NOT the SB. Then launch VDJ..

Does it work now..?

The reason it does that often is that windows likes to run everything at 44.1KHz sample rate but the ASIO drivers will likely run at 48KHz or 96KHz – the irregullarity causes the tracks to play really slowly. It’s caused by having the SB as the default device in windows, which means that the ASIO drivers are locked to 44.1KHz but are being fed 48KHz by VDJ..

bob6397