Ipods,smartphones and such

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bizzyb53

bizzyb53

DJ Extraordinaire
Jul 20, 2008
455
62
65
Pittsburgh,Pa.
Guys,do you let people plug their ipods and iphones and all that sort of stuff into your rigs if you don't have their song they want? I did a wedding on Saturday and the tune that I had wasn't the right version. Dudes got bent out of shape cause I wouldn't let them plug their stuff in.Should I cater to this bull sh**t or not? If so ,what kind of cords do I need? Maybe I am behind the times.I have an extra channel on my mixer.Any help would be appreciated.
 
bizzyb53 said:
Guys,do you let people plug their ipods and iphones and all that sort of stuff into your rigs if you don't have their song they want? I did a wedding on Saturday and the tune that I had wasn't the right version. Dudes got bent out of shape cause I wouldn't let them plug their stuff in.Should I cater to this bull sh**t or not? If so ,what kind of cords do I need? Maybe I am behind the times.I have an extra channel on my mixer.Any help would be appreciated.
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I allow it all the time with the warning that if the audio quality is bad that I will immediately fade it out. I also tell them I will not play a series of songs from their device. It is just a piece of gear! I have even allowed people to come up and do a mix on my gear with my direction or add a few songs to the active list of songs. Patrons love the interaction.
 
I have used iPods, iPhones and other MP3 players. Reluctantly at first because I know the sound quality is poor due to the cheap mp3 player codecs and many people still having 128kb files. But as Canute said, people love the interaction and they are usually very grateful that you played it from their iPod rather than not having the song. That said, I limit the use to songs that I don't have and can't buy if I have internet access. You want to make sure iPhones are muted and I typically set the volume to about 80-90%. You also needs to watch the levels closely between songs and no one other than DJs use mp3gain and you never know what the gain will be from song to song.
 
What kind of cord do I need? 1/8 inch to rca?
 
In all reality, it's not that bad to set it up, but we don't allow it regardless. Poor quality files, other stuff running in the background, etc. Also, I don't want to be held responsible if anything happens to the device.
 

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ahoustondj said:
I allow it all the time with the warning that if the audio quality is bad that I will immediately fade it out. I also tell them I will not play a series of songs from their device. It is just a piece of gear! I have even allowed people to come up and do a mix on my gear with my direction or add a few songs to the active list of songs. Patrons love the interaction.
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I find it interesting that a guy so anal about everything will allow a potential customer make your performance look like crap by fading out a song 20 seconds after it starts (what would the client think?)...what about F-bombs....So you're one of those guys who doesn't push play; you allow hacks and amateurs to push play in your place...HMMMM!

Bizzy B - I don't allow any outside music sources to be plugged in other than say extra mics, or a guitar..if discussed in pre planning. I had an event where the B&G first dance was played and sung by a friend.....

What do you say when there's 5 people lined up with their phones to get their special request on?
 
DJ J Mac said:
In all reality, it's not that bad to set it up, but we don't allow it regardless. Poor quality files, other stuff running in the background, etc. Also, I don't want to be held responsible if anything happens to the device.
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SemiRetired DJ said:
I never allowed them to hook up their gear to my system due to sound issues plus I didn't want the liability if their device was broken or stolen or even if their device caused an issue with my stuff.
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Thats why there is processing such as Gates/Limiters/Compressors. When I hook up other peoples stuff it goes direct into my Live Mixer which has a set gain on that channel. I have not yet had an issue. The person stays with me while the song is played and takes his device immediately following the end of the song.
 
I think I will stick to my guns and say I don't have the ability to hook that stuff up.Be done with it!!
 
its nice to see some stand on their limitations. I hate to dress up my gear and have to reset things to make last minute connections etc. Though I will do it if needed.
 
bizzyb53 said:
What kind of cord do I need? 1/8 inch to rca?
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1/8 inch headphone jack to whatever is on the open channel on your mixer.

I do it. Not a big deal. If it's a phone, put it on airplane mode. DONT ASSUME THEY WILL DO IT, or even know how. If you and they don't know how, then don't use the device. I preview the song with my headphones BEFORE I play it
 
SemiRetired DJ said:
I never allowed them to hook up their gear to my system due to sound issues plus I didn't want the liability if their device was broken or stolen or even if their device caused an issue with my stuff.
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If a media device caused an issue with your stuff, I'd blame your stuff. Stuff needs to not be so girly and fragile as to get hurt by an mp3 player:)
Everyone has the right to choose not to do it, but causing harm to your gear is a poor reason, in my book.
 
bizzyb53 said:
I think I will stick to my guns and say I don't have the ability to hook that stuff up.Be done with it!!
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Brian,
I have said that...even recently....when I got the impression the song they wanted me to play wasn't going to fit in and the person wasn't the client.

But it has helped me some times. If you ever were going to consider doing it, I would do it yourself first. put your phone in there, or an ipod...or any mp3 player...and get comfortable doing it



BTW, Steelers looked really good Sunday!!
(side note: Sunday, I literally just got done texing another friend of mine about the Steelers getting crushed and the Browns winning, 15 seconds later, the Browns give up the winning touchdown on a 42 pass play on 3rd and 12. He did not stop letting me hear about it the rest of the day)
 
I have done it (selectively) and I have the cable for my mixer. You decide what's best.

....and unless the "dudes that got bent out of shape" are the ones paying you, there's no problem.
 
Honestly, this whole thread surprises me. We constantly advocate that we aren't human jukeboxes, yet to some we now are....Bring up your I pods, phones...plug them in, we'll play what you want.....If you say yes to one, how do you say no to the rest?
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Honestly, this whole thread surprises me. We constantly advocate that we aren't human jukeboxes, yet to some we now are....Bring up your I pods, phones...plug them in, we'll play what you want.....If you say yes to one, how do you say no to the rest?
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Being a human jukebox is playing a canned list that someone gives the DJ, song after song after song with little of no flexibility on the DJs part.
As long as you don't broadcast it, there is no problem.
I have said "no" many times to guests as well as to clients on certain things.
If I get a song request and I know I won't play it, I tell the person I won't. I do not beat around the bush or lie to them. I will then offer to help them pick another song so that I can make them happy. That is the goal.
When one knows what they are doing and have the experience to execute it these things are really not a challenge.
 
Also, please note that towards the end I did carry with me some iPods that had dinner music, cocktail music, or just general mingling tunes for walk-in music and I had the necessary connection for the iPods to my mixer. These were my iPods so I was sure of the sound quality. So, I had the capability but not the desire.
 
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