Yes, I'm a noob...

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S

SGL1

New DJ
Oct 7, 2011
15
0
60
Both here and in the DJ industry. But I'd like to try my hand at it. I have a ton of mp3 music and one can get started relatively easily (and cheaply) and in my business, (liquor) I can network easily. Just looking to supplement the income and have some fun. So far I've figured out most of my music needs to be in a minimum of 320 BR. (yeah, that was a bummer) Check.

Looking at some equipment. Decided on the:

Numark MIXTRACK DJ Software Controller
Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones

Problem is my laptop. It's just an entry level MSI with onboard sound chip. I know this mixer doesn't have a sound card so whats a good recommendation? Also, I'll be practicing with a pair of Technics speakers to start (no, I won't use them at a show) so should I just hook up through a spare Onkyo A/V receiver?
I do have a 1tb external drive and plan to upgrade to a high speed 2tb drive soon.

Thanks for your patience and lack of sarcasm. :triwink:
 
SGL1 said:
Both here and in the DJ industry. But I'd like to try my hand at it. I have a ton of mp3 music and one can get started relatively easily (and cheaply) and in my business, (liquor) I can network easily. Just looking to supplement the income and have some fun. So far I've figured out most of my music needs to be in a minimum of 320 BR. (yeah, that was a bummer) Check.

Looking at some equipment. Decided on the:

Numark MIXTRACK DJ Software Controller
Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones

Problem is my laptop. It's just an entry level MSI with onboard sound chip. I know this mixer doesn't have a sound card so whats a good recommendation? Also, I'll be practicing with a pair of Technics speakers to start (no, I won't use them at a show) so should I just hook up through a spare Onkyo A/V receiver?
I do have a 1tb external drive and plan to upgrade to a high speed 2tb drive soon.

Thanks for your patience and lack of sarcasm. :triwink:
Click to expand...
Is this a joke? :triconfused:
 
SGL1,

Welcome. You have wandered into the hotbed of ideas and opinions. Buckle up.

The first thing you might want to do is to recognize that you need to have legal copies of those songs first. That means you own the hard copy, or have the proof that you purchased them from Amazon, etc. Even there the legality of it is in constant debate, if used by mobile DJs. Many of us here claim to have the absolute answer to that, it's just that we have different absolute answers.

Also, we have heard too many stories about DJs with garbage equipment. Don't go there. Get real equipment and have at least two sources for it at each job in case your laptop dies. It happens to everyone sooner or later. Then make sure you have insurance and a business license.

That being said, I can't recommend enough that you contact a DJ in your area and offer to volunteer on a few jobs to get at least some experience or exposure. You owe it to the clients you have in the future to be more than just a hack.

One more thing. The text language is usually a tip off for many to harass the person who posted. Let me invite you to use real English. You will win more assistance with that around here.

Best wishes.
 
"That being said, I can't recommend enough that you contact a DJ in your area and offer to volunteer on a few jobs to get at least some experience or exposure. You owe it to the clients you have in the future to be more than just a hack."

Yes that IS good advice thank you. Real English? Yeah sorry I missed that. Please do explain.

So you're saying these inexpensive mixers are garbage? I realize you get what you pay for so any good recommendations?
 
 
Yeah I'm missing this "text language" bit so please point it out don't want to tick off the geriatrics. Seriously.
 
Im Mr Geriatrics to you ya young whipper snapper. Dont make me get the hickory switch or the soap to warsh out your mouth.
 
SGL1,

I know I am going to take a lot of crap for some of the recommendations I am about to give, but I am used to it lol

If you are serious (and I am going on the assumption you are), here is what I would recommend, because it is what we use and have used for the past year without an issue at all:

2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pv-118-single-18-subwoofer
2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pr-15-loudspeaker/601426000000000
2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-ep2000-europower-power-amp/582001000000000
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-super-x-pro-cx2310-crossover/182466000000000
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-xenyx-x1204usb-usb-mixer-with-effects
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pv-215eq-graphic-equalizer/183383000000000

You will also need a quality microphone (we use the Shure SM58) and all the appropriate cables.

That system is the bare minimum to do any normal sized event (200 people and under)....we have an extra pair of speakers and a pair of powered speakers that go with us to every event as well.

Now, what I listed above is not the "top of the line" stuff a lot of the others on here will tell you to buy, but it is a good start on the way to get out of the home stuff you are using now. I will tell you that I would stay away from using anything designed for home use at a show. The a/v receiver is not designed or built for high volume output over an extended 4-5 hour period, and will burn up very fast.

In regards to your computer, get one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-...ol-uca202-usb-audio-interface/702540000000000 and you will be fine to start.
 
Jon Tuck said:
Im Mr Geriatrics to you ya young whipper snapper. Dont make me get the hickory switch or the soap to warsh out your mouth.
Click to expand...

HA please don't remind me of switches. "Old skool" Sicilian grandma. Yeah don't get me started.
 
ahoustondj said:
Go to this thread. The links in Post #1 works. Here you go. You may find help here.

http://ourdjtalk.com/threads/42372-For-The-Beginners.
Click to expand...
Ha I like the 2nd post on this link. No I do appreciate it and the books are good. Unfortunately I, like most, am lazy and prefer to learn by doing. Well mostly because of my short attention span and memory. I understand there will be a serious learning curve in this. I have to admit the main reason I started on this little endeavour is because I see wedding dj's go: song,fade,cue,song,fade,cue etc.
I don't plan to tour the world's clubs. I figured ok can't be that difficult.

Alright NOW you can start with the sarcasm. :tribiggrin:
 
sightsandsounds said:
SGL1,

I know I am going to take a lot of crap for some of the recommendations I am about to give, but I am used to it lol

If you are serious (and I am going on the assumption you are), here is what I would recommend, because it is what we use and have used for the past year without an issue at all:

2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pv-118-single-18-subwoofer
2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pr-15-loudspeaker/601426000000000
2 of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-ep2000-europower-power-amp/582001000000000
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-super-x-pro-cx2310-crossover/182466000000000
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-xenyx-x1204usb-usb-mixer-with-effects
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-pv-215eq-graphic-equalizer/183383000000000

You will also need a quality microphone (we use the Shure SM58) and all the appropriate cables.

That system is the bare minimum to do any normal sized event (200 people and under)....we have an extra pair of speakers and a pair of powered speakers that go with us to every event as well.

Now, what I listed above is not the "top of the line" stuff a lot of the others on here will tell you to buy, but it is a good start on the way to get out of the home stuff you are using now. I will tell you that I would stay away from using anything designed for home use at a show. The a/v receiver is not designed or built for high volume output over an extended 4-5 hour period, and will burn up very fast.

In regards to your computer, get one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-...ol-uca202-usb-audio-interface/702540000000000 and you will be fine to start.
Click to expand...

No no S&S, I meant to use the a/v receiver just to power the speakers at home to use until I can afford to buy powered pa speakers for actual use haha nooo I didn't mean I plan to use those for actual events. Geez, no wonder HoustonDJ thought I was an idiot.

No I am fully aware you get what you pay for and to always have a backup trust me I started a previous business I knew nothing about and found this out the hard way.

I guess I didn't think out my initial post. I suppose what I'm really trying to ask is is this inexpensive equipment good enough to learn on and maybe do some small gigs with while I learn?
 
I'll address the text speak bit. While it may be hugely popular with folks, young and old, it portrays a lack of intelligence. After all, how smart can one be if they can't even master their own language?

From what I've seen you don't use it, so that's a good thing.
 
Welcome SGL :)
You continued to post, so that in itself shows that you have at least some commitment. Forgive AHoustonDJ, but you perfectly fit a mold that we talk about (and ridicule) when you came in and basically said "I have a bunch of mp3s and I want to be a dj". The worst part was that you said that one can get started easily and cheaply. Both of those are far far far from the truth. If the truth were New York, that statement would be an asteroid that is orbiting Saturn as we speak.
That being said, if you are serious, you will find A LOT of help and useful information from people here. You already have some of the latter, hopefully you will get more of the former. ;)

I am one of the black sheep of the board, since I am not much of a mobile DJ, and as such don't have a whole lot to offer when it comes to business insight and things of that nature. I DO have a lot of DJing experience though, as I was mainly a club and event DJ for the past 20 years, as well as a professional remixer. I would be happy to help with any questions you have about things like beat matching, techniques, and general DJ questions like "Why does BPM matter?". I hope you won't be afraid to ask anything you want to know, but remember one thing above all.... SEARCH IS YOUR FRIEND. Chances are, if you want to know it... someone else already asked it. You can find a lot of info on this forum, and most of it has been discussed a lot. This way you don't invite people stabbing at you when you ask the easy questions too :)

I hope your experience here is a good one, and that you get some information that is helpful and that you can use.
 
DJ J Mac said:
I'll address the text speak bit. While it may be hugely popular with folks, young and old, it portrays a lack of intelligence. After all, how smart can one be if they can't even master their own language?

From what I've seen you don't use it, so that's a good thing.
Click to expand...

Ohhhh you mean the whole stupid hyphenated style short hand speak? Ha ya know that irritates me as well. I'm only 45 and I'm not gonna lie and say I'm a master of correct grammar usage but I have learned quite a bit being on the net. I do consider myself a fairly good wordsmith but I am guilty of using slang online as I try to portray myself as I would in person. But yeah, the whole lazy text speak does irritate me as well. Thanks for clearing that up as I was at a loss to what he meant.
 
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