What do you use and why?

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Yes you can do certain things & events without the controller. But nowdays the mixer, sound-card & controller are all rolled together in quite a few units. So in that respect your actually carrying much less than a few years ago. Compared to what we used to have to deal with it couldn't be any easier. Take a trip back to the 70's and you'll know what a pita moving equipment was just to do a simple job. And then there were all the records & tapes you had to lug even to do a simple house party.
 
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adj2ent said:
Yes you can do certain things & events without the controller. But nowdays the mixer, sound-card & controller are all rolled together in quite a few units. So in that respect your actually carrying much less than a few years ago. Compared to what we used to have to deal with it couldn't be any easier. Take a trip back to the 70's and you'll know what a pita moving equipment was just to do a simple job. And then there were all the records & tapes you had to lug even to do a simple house party.
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Over 90% of the DJs working events today do not remember that era. Many weren't even born then. What Mobile DJs had to put up with in the 70s hold no merrrit today, and if you try explaining that to the average 20 year old today, they will give you a deer in the head lights look. Even a 30 year old guest today would vaguely remember cassettes. Let alone Big huge amplifiers, speakers, and records.

I worked a corporate event as a bartender tonight. The DJ had no controller. He had a laptop, and a mixer. He used QSC K8 speakers with NO SUB. 100 guests.

The sound quality was sub par. Those speakers can't produce enough bass. They might get loud, but bass is lacking for sure. However, he got people dancing with what he had. He had a 22 inch flat screen for karaoke. He was not using a professional DJ software program to play music.

As far as controllers. They are not needed to perform an event. A DJ could show up with "The Emulator" and Wow guests visually far beyond what a DJ with a controller and laptop could do.

I have used a controller at events, and I have not used a controller at events. There is no difference in terms of better crowd participation on the dance floor.

If I have all the latest music in a cd collection, I can use that and a Numark CD MIx 2, and rock the party just as well as with a controller and laptop! The only differences between having a laptop, and utlizing CDs is that I can search for a song quicker, and the ability to stream music that I won't have in my cd collection (If I have Wi Fi). ---(And more sound effects at my finger tips with DJ software like VDJ) ---Of course, the sound effects are not needed at all to pack a dance floor---

Back when I performed with CD only, it took more work to cue up the music, and beat match. Not so today. I can visually set my cue points rather easily with a laptop and virtual DJ.
 
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You missed my point in that the mixer, sound card & controller can be all in one. So, theoretically that DJ you saw could have easily had a mixer with all three without carrying anything extra.

You can DJ without a with controller but just because you use one doesn't have mean it has to do with visual appeal. It usually has to do more with convenience and the ability to multitask quickly . Actually when I play I don't expect anyone to be looking at me. They are on the floor or on the floor dancing and looking that the video screens. Most of the time I'm not visible. So thinking all of the is about show is bull. Yes I could do a party with a CD and the built ceiling sound system in the room. Yes it happen, I was doing a corporate party and another DJ didn't show up. I sent one of guys in with two CDs to put into the system, he had them dancing their butts off. There is was all about song selection I put on the two CDs. But with more you can do more.

Now as far as CD players & laptops even being somewhat equal that's only true if your only playing music, but media players would be better. But your missing video and the whole multi media thing. And I am not just talking about playing music videos. And that more means more what in your pocket. For the most part any higher priced DJ has some kind of video aspect in their setup

Let me tell you laptops aren't my favor thing to think about or have to deal with. But looking back from when I first start using them, they have been pretty reliable and the DJ software upgrades have been adding new features with each revision. When dual CD players where in use I went though at least 5 different dual CD players as technology progressed. Now I can't see myself trying to find a way to get all my video, karaoke, music& photos into something that compact & useful.

I would never tell anybody not to use something but to embrace the new technology and ride the wave for what its worth.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Over 90% of the DJs working events today do not remember that era. Many weren't even born then. What Mobile DJs had to put up with in the 70s hold no merrrit today, and if you try explaining that to the average 20 year old today, they will give you a deer in the head lights look. Even a 30 year old guest today would vaguely remember cassettes.
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This would mean if you had 1000 DJ's, 900 of them do not remember the era before controllers .. nor were born then. I think your math is way off.

Cassettes were still being purchased and used into the late 90's and early 2000's. If you were born in 2000, you'd be 18 currently. Based on that, I'm fairly certain that most 20 somethings know what a cassette is and the majority of 30 somethings know exactly what it is.

I had a 1990 Chevy Beretta with the upgraded sound system in it - and guess what it had .. a cassette player. That car would be 28 currently.

Additionally, in the 70's, they hooked up speakers and boards very similar to the way they do it now. Today's technology is built on the past, so the guys that are on top of their game, know alot about the previous decades. They also have to know the music from previous times.
 
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I still remember going to weddings, and dances where the DJ used cassette tapes instead of records. A friend of mine (my influence for becoming a dj) gave me some tapes when he started to transition to CD. When I first started playing in a bar, I only had my ADJ DCD MKII, mixer, and two cases of cd's, I am still getting used to using a controller, but having to not haul around cases of music is nice.
 
steve149 said:
One can DJ today with a smartphone .. gear or technique doesn't make one a DJ .. it just differentiates them.
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So true. The single most valuable skill is the ability to build the right playlist for a given application. If that application includes a dance floor than having a controller and mixing skills just takes it to a higher level.

What traditionally separated DJs in their ability to build the right playlist was access to music through their extensive collections or record pools. Technology eliminated that barrier and leveled the playing field. As a result, modern DJs should not assume they are alone in the ability to build the best playlist. It is entirely possible that your client, (the person with their finger on the pulse of their own event) might have better insight than the DJ. Combine that modern reality with with unlimited access to content and that client is going to need a really compelling reason to hire you.
 
Proformance said:
So true. The single most valuable skill is the ability to build the right playlist for a given application. If that application includes a dance floor than having a controller and mixing skills just takes it to a higher level.
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Partly true - but the best DJ's "read" the floor, and play the "best" song next, whether it's on the playlist or not (assuming it's not on a "do not play" list).
This is the part where the robots, whether human or machine, will never beat an engaged DJ - reading the dance floor.
 
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Proformance said:
So true. The single most valuable skill is the ability to build the right playlist for a given application. If that application includes a dance floor than having a controller and mixing skills just takes it to a higher level.

What traditionally separated DJs in their ability to build the right playlist was access to music through their extensive collections or record pools. Technology eliminated that barrier and leveled the playing field. As a result, modern DJs should not assume they are alone in the ability to build the best playlist. It is entirely possible that your client, (the person with their finger on the pulse of their own event) might have better insight than the DJ. Combine that modern reality with with unlimited access to content and that client is going to need a really compelling reason to hire you.
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I don't know why people hire you but I sure know why they hire me. They can't do what I do. They wouldn't have a clue as to how to hook my gear up if I gave them 10 years to do so.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I don't know why people hire you but I sure know why they hire me. They can't do what I do. They wouldn't have a clue as to how to hook my gear up if I gave them 10 years to do so.
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I think you're overestimating this... by a lot. Anyone that can hook up a home stereo could also figure out a DJ set up. The signal chain is not that complicated.
 
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Albatross said:
I think you're overestimating this... by a lot. Anyone that can hook up a home stereo could also figure out a DJ set up. The signal chain is not that complicated.
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^^^^Very true... I think there was a time when it took a lot more knowledge to put a PA system together than it is today. Even I can do it.[emoji1] You might be surprised how few people can hook up a home stereo anymore though.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I don't know why people hire you but I sure know why they hire me. They can't do what I do. They wouldn't have a clue as to how to hook my gear up if I gave them 10 years to do so.
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LOL....any quick youtube search can have ya setting up a PA in minutes... infact most rental places include a link to their own youtube tutorial on pa set up... theres even videos for wire management...hint hint...lol

The only true way to stand out is to combine this storm of both simple and complex skills....with lights and sound...playlisting on the fly... and give them a carefree night of entertainment that leaves a lasting impression.

cc
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
^^^^ There’s some craziness going on here![emoji1]

Don’t ya know you can EDIT a post or a thread title when you mess it up???
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Or you can wait for the Mod to do it ;)
 
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Albatross said:
I think you're overestimating this... by a lot. Anyone that can hook up a home stereo could also figure out a DJ set up. The signal chain is not that complicated.
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I've been saying this to him for months....For some reason he equates setting up a PA to launching a space shuttle. When my daughter was 5 or 6 she figured it out with limited help. She has yet to launch a space shuttle ;)

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Steve I get you're a Yankees fan and like the IPAD. Me I say screw both of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Can anyone else see this post from mix in January....

I JUST GOT A GOOD DEAL ON AN IPAD AT THE COMPUTER SHACK
 
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ittigger said:
This would mean if you had 1000 DJ's, 900 of them do not remember the era before controllers .. nor were born then. I think your math is way off.

Cassettes were still being purchased and used into the late 90's and early 2000's. If you were born in 2000, you'd be 18 currently. Based on that, I'm fairly certain that most 20 somethings know what a cassette is and the majority of 30 somethings know exactly what it is.

I had a 1990 Chevy Beretta with the upgraded sound system in it - and guess what it had .. a cassette player. That car would be 28 currently.

Additionally, in the 70's, they hooked up speakers and boards very similar to the way they do it now. Today's technology is built on the past, so the guys that are on top of their game, know alot about the previous decades. They also have to know the music from previous times.
Click to expand...

I would say that over 90% of active DJs DO NOT Remember using equipment in the 1970s. I am 36, and even my first DJ gig at the age of 13, I was using 2 single disc CD Players and using CDs. I have no clue about the equipment DJs used in the 1970s except for the fact that I know it was all heavy, bulky, and a real PITA to transport around compared to standard equipment of the last 20 years.

Sure many of us know the music. That can be learned by doing a little research, and searching for the songs on Spotify IF the DJ does not have this music in their collection. A young DJ may not know THE BEST ways to program that music in a set, but they can at least obtain the songs, and play them.

Most 20 somethings don't know much about records, and if they did own cassettes, they were very young when they did so.

My nephew is 20. He told me he has never owned a Cassette. He barely owns any CDs. He grew up in the MP3 Player world. He has his ear buds in all the time.
 
90% of active DJ's do not remember using equipment in the 70's? Again, using 1000 as a base number, this would mean that a very large group of those 900 somehow forgot using turntables, cd players, cassettes (and other various media players). I think the majority of 'active' 'business' DJ's are older than 30 - but according to your math, they do not remember their roots. Do they all have Alzheimers? Memory loss? If so, how do they get anything done?

The 70's had speakers, amplifiers, mixers and turntables, 8 tracks and cassettes. From the physical aspect, other than swapping turntables (and various media players) for controllers .. what's changed? Quite a few of the younger generation is into digital turntablism. Considering their interest, don't you think that somewhere along the lines, the topic of what other technology was around somehow crossed their mind? The same way you learn about older music - is the same way you can learn about older, previous or alternative technologies.

My son is 23. He grew up in the mp3 player era as well - and also knows what a cassette is and how to use it. Other children in the family range from 14-25 - and they also know what CD's, cassettes and records are.

I'm trying to figure out what you're basing your information on .. because I'm not seeing the same results with family, friends or the public, let alone 'active' professional people within this business.
 
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ittigger said:
90% of active DJ's do not remember using equipment in the 70's? Again, using 1000 as a base number, this would mean that a very large group of those 900 somehow forgot using turntables, cd players, cassettes (and other various media players). I think the majority of 'active' 'business' DJ's are older than 30 - but according to your math, they do not remember their roots. Do they all have Alzheimers? Memory loss? If so, how do they get anything done?

The 70's had speakers, amplifiers, mixers and turntables, 8 tracks and cassettes. From the physical aspect, other than swapping turntables (and various media players) for controllers .. what's changed? Quite a few of the younger generation is into digital turntablism. Considering their interest, don't you think that somewhere along the lines, the topic of what other technology was around somehow crossed their mind? The same way you learn about older music - is the same way you can learn about older, previous or alternative technologies.

My son is 23. He grew up in the mp3 player era as well - and also knows what a cassette is and how to use it. Other children in the family range from 14-25 - and they also know what CD's, cassettes and records are.

I'm trying to figure out what you're basing your information on .. because I'm not seeing the same results with family, friends or the public, let alone 'active' professional people within this business.
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I'm not sure what point you are trying to make?

My older brother is 45, and he never used DJ Equipment that was manufactured in the 1970s. I have not met any one younger than myself that talked about using any equipment from the 70s.

Sure, some younger DJs in their 20s are using Records when they gig. I don't know any myself. Do you know any? Can you show me some video clips of a mobile DJ in their 20s using turn tables to gig with?

Cassettes have not been a media of choice for a very long time. Sure, 20 somethings know what a cassette is, but many of them have never owned a walk man cassette player, and actively used cassettes.
 
My point is that you somehow claim that 90% of active DJ's do not remember the 70's or were not born yet.You're assuming that of every 1000 DJ's, 900 of them are 38 and younger. While I myself have also not used equipment that was built in the 70's, I know exactly what a turntable is and how to use it (and I still have a pair). I also know what a cassette deck is, as well as other media players used through the years and exactly how to use them. The children in my family also know what most of this stuff is, even though they may not have used all of it. Many people in the public from 20-60 know what these are as well. How would the majority of people that are active in this field NOT know? I wasn't alive when the Victrola was created - but I know what it is and would love to have one. The same with jukeboxes.

Today, you can find many DJ's using turntables (in a digital capacity) - which can be traced back to the 60's and 70's. Ross uses a digital vinyl setup. I have also. Turntables are currently still being sold - as are new records. Considering most of the older people already have this equipment (and possibly still have their records), who do you think is buying them?
 
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