Mobile DJ help!
Mobile DJ help! Posted on: 12.01.2013 by Rebekah Benfield Hey I'm just wondering what mobile djs use for there set up I.e software and controller. I DJ weddings mostly and I'm looking for a good and reliable controller/software. | |
| Shan Bauerly 25.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJDoubleYou
|
| Cassie Sangermano 01.02.2013 | I'm still using 2.1.2, as I've found this to be the most stable, and I had issues with importing my mapping that I've customised into 2.5 and above. Although now things are quiet, I might try the latest version (2.6?). Running an i7, 8GB Ram Asus laptop, less than a year old. Not sure if I have power saver enabled, something I've never checked, but I would have thought if it had gone into power saver I would get no sound either! I'll have to get some sort of midi sniffer prog, and when it happens again see if the midi is getting to the comp and just not being picked up in traktor or something. I do usually plug it in to the first socket, but at a lot of the places I play at there is usually only 1 (or a twin) socket available, which mean's that the lights are also running off of the same socket. The one time I tried it with 2 totally separate sockets (1 for audio, 1 for lights) it also happened. Could be that the 2 sockets were linked though. At the end of the day its not a massive problem, it only generally happens at the end of the evening (last couple of songs) so i can just use the mouse for them! |
| Shan Bauerly 01.02.2013 | I've experienced some anomalies, for instance, I sometimes have to "wake up" the unit right at startup by moving the channel faders. Didn't have this issue with TSP 2.3 and earlier. Now I just go through and give everything a twist at startup to prime the midi, or whatever. Sometimes the key lock/sync/pitch fader get quirky. Again, no issues until remix decks were introduced. I'm on a late-model, high-spec MBP. The app I use on iPod touch is the actual Apple "remote" app. Is the power save mode enabled on yours? I keep mine off. Might try plugging the 6K into the 1st plug in the lead nearest the cord. |
| Cassie Sangermano 31.01.2013 | I hadn't ever thought of just running iTunes in the background! Not sure I would want to control it wirelessly though, have had a few problems in the past when having my wireless enabled. Plus, I don't own an iDevice! (Although I'm sure I could find an app for android that would do the same thing!) I'm guessing you use your's with Traktor? Ever had any problems with the midi from the MC-6000 not working?? Specifically when near the end of the evening , and I turn off one of my lights for example (I have an 8 way extension lead with switches that I plug all of my lights into)? The sound carries on fine, and I can control Traktor with the mouse, and as it's usually at the end of the evening it's not too big a problem, just slightly annoying sometimes when you go to press play and move the crossfader and nothing happens! |
| Shan Bauerly 30.01.2013 | Hey Robdquick, I'm believeing we should start an MC-6000 thread, ha! I run iTunes line out from the same computer as Traktor, simultaneously, no issues. What's more, you can use your iDevice's "remote" app for iTunes when running the reception events. Allows you to be in the middle of things with the clinets, and launch the "event track" from the dance floor. Also works to set iTunes volume from the [booth out] room, so you don't have to guess at it. Nifty, eh? |
| Cassie Sangermano 30.01.2013 | I recently discovered the beauty/flexibility of the booth out on NYE! they wanted a speaker ran to another room, with different music (chilled out Background music) at the beginning of the evening , and then the same music from 11 onwards. Hooked up a second laptop running itunes to a spare input, ran out through the booth. If I needed to make announcements to just the room I was in, use mic normally, if both rooms, I could. |
| Shan Bauerly 29.01.2013 | Wanted to add that, the 6K has a booth out with matrix input selection and separate EQ, as well. This is fantastic for sending programming to a 2nd room. It will route any source you have (or the master out) through the booth send. You can also post the mic to this output as well (or not.) I use mine with a wireless guitar bug to send signal to a powered cabinet in a 2nd room. You can also run a cable from the laptop audio to an input on the 6K. This allows you to use iTunes as a backup or secondary source. |
| Cassie Sangermano 28.01.2013 | Being a Denon MC-6000 owner, I'm gonna chime in on this one. First off, I can't comment on the S2/S4, as i've never used one. From a mobile dj's perspective, the MC-6000 is absolutely fantastic, and i agree with everything HigherFi said. 4 external inputs (2 phono/line, 2 aux), amazing browsing section, control of 2 banks of 3 effects, nice smooth jogwheels (although i now use 2 x SC2900 for most of my track manipulation), but then i can still control decks 3 and 4 with the MC-6000 if I need to. The Mic section is amazing, the 3 band eq's on both mic channels are a godsend sometimes. I keep an mp3 player permanently plugged into one of the inputs. Laptop crashes, hit play on mp3, instant sound. If the laptop is totally dead, I can still play music from my SC2900's with an attached hard drive with all of my music on. I also have a spare mixer, and an NI audio 2 with me at all times so that if my MC-6000 dies totally I can pull my mp3 player from it, and plug it directly into my powered speakers to play music while i set up the other mixer (takes 2 minutes). DJDoubleYou, I always bring CD's with me to a gig. Not my whole collection, but enough to get through a gig if i needed to. That way, if the Laptop AND the MC-6000 goes down, i can just switch to using CD's with the SC2900's. I would never use them as my first choice though! Way too much hassle to dig through (even though everything is categorised by genre). If a speaker dies though, well i just hope i can get through a gig with just one of them! |
| Era Roka 26.01.2013 | What does good on you mean? (sorry for my lack of englisch ) and, to make myself a little bit more clear, i personally have to check it alot beacause to be honest everytime i pres a button i'm a little bit scarred it's on the wrong mode. This is caused by a mistake i made a long time ago because my switch deck buttons are not fully functional anymore. So i pressed the button, the deck didn't switched, pressed play and the music stopped. But..... fortunatly i'm always mixing atleast 3 decks so the music didn't really stopped but still, it could have been worse. But to stay on topic, i would defenetly recommend you the S4. It has a good soundcard, smooth buttons, pots and faders. And here come's the best and final argument of an S4 owner The S4 is created by Native instruments and for Native Instruments (and ofcourse Ean Golden) so wo could make a better software for Traktor then the makers of Traktor it's self? Just one last hint, don't use CD's as an mobile DJ. you'll have to carry +1000 CD's around an when people have an request you'll have to dive into that pile of CD's to find that one song they want, it's really a evening mare. |
| Shan Bauerly 25.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJDoubleYou
|
| Era Roka 25.01.2013 | because, every time i want to press a button i have to check if it's on te right mode. And it's not like in your bed room where you can screw up everything you want, this is real so you'll have to check it at least 3 times it's so.... time consuming. |
| Shan Bauerly 25.01.2013 | But, they are vastly different kinds of gear -that's my point, entirely. Lay hands on both, you'll come to the same conclusion. One's a midi joystick, the other works for a living. After 2 years and 60+ gigs, the 6k is faultless. Whereas after 2 months of the s4 the faders began creeping up and down on their own. |
| Awilda Boggie 25.01.2013 | Why don't you just use the deck switch button? |
| Era Roka 25.01.2013 | i'm a moble dj and i use an S4, i love it, but i still need 2 controllers to control decks C & D |
| Layne Koop 25.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by 32Digits
I have a Mackie 802 mixer that the S2, mics, & iPhone connect into. So, if the laptop OR S2 fail...I am using the iPhone to play. If the Mackie mixer fails, I can swap the outputs to the S2 (I lose the mic & iPhone...but this is already "Plan B"). I believe that either approach provides some backup. I don't believe that the Denon 3k/6k or the S2/S4 can be seen as "vastly" different in quality. I have never had a computer or laptop "fail" during a gig - but I have had a handful of unplanned reboots over the years. The most important thing is to have a "fall back plan" and practice doing it at least once BEFORE the gig. |
| Awilda Boggie 25.01.2013 | soundinmotion NI device just have 2x option to fail 1) Laptop crashes - no sound 2) Device crashes - no sound Denon 3000/6 - even when the laptop crashes you can still continue with the standalone But what you said is true |
| Layne Koop 25.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJ7Star
I carry backup gear so that any "one thing" can fail & the show goes on (sometimes with a brief pause). In almost all cases, any "two things" can fail...and the show can go on. By the time "three things" fail at the same event...I am already having a bad day, and it is moderately unlikely that the show can keep going with any random three things having already failed. BUT...I do check everything BEFORE it gets loaded for the gig...and I find half a dozen things that are broken every year during this check (cables with loose ends are by far the most common...but I have found an amp with a bad channel). So, running through the signal chain...here are a few thoughts about my backup plans: I have two laptops that are "clones" of each other (I have an iPhone with appropriate playlists that can play music while I switch laptops) I have the S2, and an Audio 2 for sound cards I have the S2 & mics running into a table top mixer (I can plug a mic into the S2...but it's a lot less flexible than a separate mixer) I have a PA manager with a crossover built in (the mixer has a "sub out" but the main signal is still "full range") I have two amps, with three channels in use - L R + sub (I can get by with just two amp channels, mono + sub) After even the first failure...the music can continue...but I can not guarantee that it will sound "the same." Even so, any single thing can fail, and I can keep going....on a solid "plan B." |
| Awilda Boggie 25.01.2013 | hahaha I know it's more reliable I was joking when I said they first made the case and then tried to fit all possible knobs and buttons ^^ Your completely right, except that I've yet to hear and see someones s4 fail on him |
| Shan Bauerly 26.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by 32Digits
PS. The browser section of the 6K is exceptional. Blazingly fast & intuitive. And 32Digits... I'm not trying to bag on your scene, man. But, weddings are an entirely different ballgame than pretty much anything else one will ever be responsible for. I've seen it go horribly wrong, 1st hand. |
| Awilda Boggie 26.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by HigherFi
it's not because it's made of metal that it's not a toy The denon could be built like a tank, it's not that an S4 will fail (on) you. And it's like they made the case first and then tried to fit all the knobs and buttons, there's not a lot of space between them. But out of the two I'd also recommend the 6000 only because it's small and can be used as a standalone |
| Shan Bauerly 26.01.2013 | I use an MC-6000 for mobile. Tried the NI toys, but they really aren't suitable for stand alone gigs. The 6000 is a Swiss army knife and built like a tank. The mic inputs are excellent, and it's a stand alone mixer if you need it to be. Happy to answer any questions about it. |
| Awilda Boggie 25.01.2013 | Numark now brought out some really nice controllers, cheap and small! Check them out NAMM 2013 |
| Mellisa Grecu 25.01.2013 | pretty much all controllers are mobile imo, i mean the s2 and s4 can fit in a back pack , haha but i mean the bigger ones are still small and easy to carry around, nothing like some cdj 200s and a mixer or vinyl, but i believe the first thing you need to do is decide what program you want to use, traktor or serato ? and it sounds like you might want serato, so maybe pick up a pioneer ddj sx ? and a mac book pro, haha a reliable laptop is equally the most important thing |
| Awilda Boggie 16.01.2013 | if your laptop is reliable, s2 is a good option. on the other side it's from plastic, feels solid, but from plastic. unlike the denon mc3000 = full metal/steel chasis - they call it a real workhorse. And I don't believe you need to worry about a denon mapping for traktor, it's been quite some time since it's release. However you'll find more traktor support for the S2. |
| Rebekah Benfield 13.01.2013 | Yes I posted in a couple to get a wide rang of response. I've done 10 weddings so far and have 5 booked so far for this coming wedding season, and 2 work parties and 2 batmitszfas. I currently use a laptop with a simple mixer and an ipad as backup. I also have two behringer 12 inch PA speakers. I really want a controller that's reliable and sounds good, and that I could also use if I decide to do a club. I need it to also come with good reliable software. It's just really hard to decide with all the options and opinions. I play mostly top 40, edm, and moombahton. And I love making mixtape a and mashups using samples. |
| Vickey Fransway 13.01.2013 | Your sure seem Excited since you are asking in multiple community s but what are you using now? Why don't you like? What do you want different? That information would be useful to assist you. How many weddings have you done? How many have you booked this year so far? How many do you expect to book? What is your budget? What type of speakers and or amplifiers do you have? |
| Rebekah Benfield 13.01.2013 | I would but I like digital, like with a laptop plus controller |
| Felecia Marcellino 13.01.2013 | Why not Numark Mixdeck or Mixdeck Express? |
| Rebekah Benfield 12.01.2013 | Sweet thanks bro! |
| Awilda Boggie 12.01.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJ7Star
http://www.kvraudio.com/community /printv...356177&start=0 This one is also new on the market: CMD A4 studio from behringer (again not standalone you need a laptop) -pretty cheap too. |
| Rebekah Benfield 12.01.2013 | Sounds good. But what do I do if the laptop crashes the s2 doesn't have support for a backup like an iPod or ipad? |
| Michell Wehrmeyer 12.01.2013 | like he said, Traktor S4/S2 is a good choice and comes with software. If you want to use traktor and don't like the S2 or S4, the VCI 400 is also pretty cool. Those are the 2 I would recommend for a wedding DJ. I know a guy who does weddings with an s2 and he likes it a lot and says it serves his purpose really well. Like said above though, have a reliable laptop because that's where a lot of the stability lies. |
| Awilda Boggie 12.01.2013 | Traktor S4/S2 + Traktor Pro ? S2 is really portable. negative: you need a laptop (some say therefore it isn't so reliable) Denon MC3000 is also one of the 'best' portable controllers, which can be used without laptop. and it's fully constructed out of metal - does not come with full software tho it pretty much depends on you, you should try the 'compact' controllers. |
<< Back to General DiscussionReply