I’m thinking of using a Amazon Fire Tablet as a third back up. Has anyone used this device? I wanted to use “djay” software with the tablet but can’t. What other DJ software works great with the Amazon Fire?
Can I use an Amazon Fire Tablet to DJ?
- Thread starter Abbey Lane
- Start date
I'm not sure there is one. The Fire tablets are pretty weak when it comes to performance; I have one of the original ones that sold for like $60 and it performs like you'd expect a $60 tablet to... not great.
Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by “weak”. How long ago did you have the first one? The one I’m talking about is $200,
I downloaded the DJAY software on an old Amazon Fire tablet I have. This was probably 3 maybe even 4 generations ago so I assume the processor speed is a bit better now. I can tell you that the sound quality is greatly inferior compared to a standard laptop. The volume is like 40% to 50% lower, so I had to really turn the gain up on my mixer. I also believe the quality was lacking since the sound card is much cheaper on a fire tablet.
I mean, It is better than nothing if somehow your two laptops fail, and this is a last resort option. I would rather use my phone to play music from though as at least the volume comes out higher.
I just purchased a Samsung Tablet A7 on sale from Costco for my son's xmas present. His Kindle Fire died on him two weeks ago. This tablet seems like a much better tablet in terms of processing power.
I would likely opt for this tablet over a Kindle Fire, but if a Fire is all you have, and it's a 3rd back up, then I say go for it.
Brian did a video on using a Kindle Fire to DJ with.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELhUkmRDBEc
I mean, It is better than nothing if somehow your two laptops fail, and this is a last resort option. I would rather use my phone to play music from though as at least the volume comes out higher.
I just purchased a Samsung Tablet A7 on sale from Costco for my son's xmas present. His Kindle Fire died on him two weeks ago. This tablet seems like a much better tablet in terms of processing power.
I would likely opt for this tablet over a Kindle Fire, but if a Fire is all you have, and it's a 3rd back up, then I say go for it.
Brian did a video on using a Kindle Fire to DJ with.
The price point doesn't matter. Amazon forces you to use their own Appstore; even though it's an Android tablet, there's no access to the Google Play store. Your app options are limited and steered towards Amazon products and services.
"Weak" in regards to the hardware... they're not designing these things for mission-critical applications or top-tier sound.
In my opinion, for about $100 more, get an iPad. You’ll find many more apps for you to use with djing and without. For djing, I use djay pro. I hav an iPad as a hot back ready to go at all events. I dont recall ever needing to use it, but I use it on a regular basis so in the event of an emergency I feel completely comfortable using an iPad to mix at an event. I still prefer a laptop but would be fine if I needed to.
Thanks for the video. I watched it. He used it for a ceremony but no mention of a big venue usage. I was looking for a tablet with a headphone jack to plug into the mixer. iPads no longer have a jack. The iPads (low end ones) here are $400 more than the Fire. Beside, there are not iPads to be found around here. Hopefully Brian can to a test for us in a larger venue.
I believe you are mistaken. There are some iPads that still have a headphone jack and they don’t start at $600. Sounds like you are referencing the iPad Air.
iPads start at $329
If you want the best sound quality you should not be using the headphone jack on any of these devices. Get a USB DI and take the sound from that.
I'm also firmly against any kind of backup that would enslave the entire audio chain to a single device, application, or platform. The best backup is one with the ability to move across devices and to take the sound regardless of make or model. What if all your devices were affected while far from home at a site with no internet? Could you borrow someone else's and still pull off the gig? This is what makes an external hard drive an important part of backup, both for your music and basic playback applications.
If a headphone jack is all that's required for backup, then an iPod is the supreme solution. Consumers figured that part out 20 years ago. For the DJ - we simply have to find a way to get both the music and our voice heard regardless off what circumstance is thrown at us.
If the intention is to use the smallest, cheapest, and oldest device you can find as a DJ system then expect to have all kinds of problems. Bring two iPods and an external mixer - you'll need them often.
I'm also firmly against any kind of backup that would enslave the entire audio chain to a single device, application, or platform. The best backup is one with the ability to move across devices and to take the sound regardless of make or model. What if all your devices were affected while far from home at a site with no internet? Could you borrow someone else's and still pull off the gig? This is what makes an external hard drive an important part of backup, both for your music and basic playback applications.
If a headphone jack is all that's required for backup, then an iPod is the supreme solution. Consumers figured that part out 20 years ago. For the DJ - we simply have to find a way to get both the music and our voice heard regardless off what circumstance is thrown at us.
If the intention is to use the smallest, cheapest, and oldest device you can find as a DJ system then expect to have all kinds of problems. Bring two iPods and an external mixer - you'll need them often.
Last edited:
Steve LeBlanc
DJ Extraordinaire
For a new ipad, use......
Buy USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter
The USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter lets you connect a standard 3.5mm audio plug to your USB-C devices. Perfect for headphones or speakers.
www.apple.com
and go from there to your mixer...
I've used the Ipad for ceremony - the Djay app works A-1...... sound quality was good.... I recollect i bought a cable set uip that allowed me to cue as well... (lightning plug)
9 Best iPad Audio Interfaces in 2021
- Shure MVi Digital Audio Interface + USB & Lightning Cable.
- Apogee One - Audio Interface.
- iConnectAUDIO4+
- BEHRINGER iSTUDIO iS202 Audio Interface.
- IK Multimedia iRig HD 2.
- BEHRINGER Audio Interface 4 channel.
- IK Multimedia iRig PRO Duo 2.
- Focusrite iTrack One.
I used it to play a single song in a large venue years back during a high school dance with 700+ students. The problem as I mentioned before was that I had to really put the gain up on my Mixer to get the volume output to be the same as my laptops were putting out when I had the main out gain set at Unity. I had to really push the gain to get the volume to be the same. For some reason, and I think it is due to the sound card, the volume output was about 50% less than coming out of a laptop.
Now I was using an older Kindle Fire 8 which was purchased for like $39.99 on sale! back in like 2016. So this issue might not be as bad on a newer unit. I personally wouldn't DJ with it. Only use it as a back up to a back up, but it can be done. Just need to adjust settings on the mixer.
I love using a laptop as well. That's what I'm used to. Now Numark has just released a controller for $600 and you don't need a laptop. Of course they have others that you can use as well. My partner is planning on getting that one. Me I plan on sticking with the setup I have right now. It works for me and I bring a backup laptop just in case if needed and a backup HD. After that I don't see the need for a tablet to DJ with. Maybe to get music offline to play at an event and that's it.
The funny thing I have seen are super small cheap DJ software programs that I could never use because I couldn't get them to work the way I want them to and would mess up my performance.
I never use any device with a name that implies I could get burned.
I would stay away from the Amazon Fire tablets. I use one for a digital display in my kitchen to show the weather and my security cameras. It is the most unreliable piece of tech in my house. It always needs to be rebooted and often looses wifi connection.
When I use my iPad to DJ ceremonies and cocktail hours I use either the DJay app and for hardware I use the Zoom U-24 audio interface or the Numark DJ2Go2 Touch. Both devices connect via USB and become sound cards for the iPad.
When I use my iPad to DJ ceremonies and cocktail hours I use either the DJay app and for hardware I use the Zoom U-24 audio interface or the Numark DJ2Go2 Touch. Both devices connect via USB and become sound cards for the iPad.
I also forgot to mention I have a backup controller I keep in the van just in case if I needed to use it at an event. So far I haven't had to use it. Buying quality gear helps with having less issues with things going wrong. If you want to get a tablet for a third backup spend the extra money and get something really good that will work very well. If you don't have the money right now save up for it.
If only Mix could see this post....wait...
Any device that plays music can be used to DJ. In fact, I suspect the tablet is capable of "DJing" without me, if no specific skills are required.
So, the real question is: "what is the lowest common denominator device I can use before my personal capability is constarined?"
So, the real question is: "what is the lowest common denominator device I can use before my personal capability is constarined?"