PatC74
I may have an opportunity to DJ at a bar a few nights a week. I'm meeting with the guy tomorrow night to discuss details on what he wants and what I might need. I do know already that he has a speaker system because he has bands come in Saturday nights that play, as well as some lighting. What I need to know is, is is possible to plug those speakers into my laptop headphone jack. If not, then this may not work, as other then 2 USB ports, that's the only way I can hook anything up. My controller doesn't have a way to hook anything up with because it only came with a USB chord and no sound card, and I can only use it for 10 minutes at a time anyway. The only system I have is similar to gaming speakers. The room is not much bigger then my basement where I practice from, and turning the volume up to about 26 on my laptop fills the basement fairly well. I'm wondering if I can't use his speakers, if I could get away with using mine at least for a month or 2 until i can afford something with alot more power.
geposted Mon 07 Nov 16 @ 7:17 pm
groovindj
PatC74 wrote :
is is possible to plug those speakers into my laptop headphone jack
No one can say, because you've not given enough info. Make and model? Powered or passive? You'd have to take a suitable cable (or ensure there's one at the venue).
OK so if it turns out that you can plug them in, how are you going to cue?
One thing for certain - you won't be able to use your home speakers. They won't cut it.
Oh and you'll need either a Pro Infinity license or a Pro Subscription.
geposted Mon 07 Nov 16 @ 7:50 pm
tayla
When you get to your meeting both of you are going to have to be brutally honest with each other, first off, you on your experience and secondly on the gear you have and the gear you will need to get at least sound coming out of those speakers, if you don't, both of you are heading for a massive public embarrassment.
If you don't have a mixer with built in sound cards a work around is possible, get a bog standard 4 channel mixer and give it a test or have a guarantee in place that it works if buying second hand, next you will need at least one external usb sound card, use this as your main channel out and your lappy output for channel 2, you'll will also need a working copy of your software choice, preferably legally sourced.
Select a time of day when there is no public in the building and try out the set up, get it working, sort your levels and sound quality out, have a play for an hour or two, shut everything down, pack up and come back the next day and do it all over again and repeat until you are confident with setting up sound levels etc, you'll thank yourself you did this when something eventually goes wrong, because you now know how everything works you should be able to figure out if it is a fixable problem that you have.
On the owner/managers part I take it he is giving you a break at getting into the industry, which if he is, he is being a very generous guy to you and seems like it could be a good working relationship you might have going forward in the future. You will need to try and squeeze some sort of budget level he is willing to invest in you and in the club, because if he doesn't have any, it will be a bit of struggle from the outset.
Be honest from the outset and don't try to blag your way through coz shit usually happens somewhere along the line, lol.
I'm not going to mention money to you because that is entirely between you and your future boss, all I will say is, if you gotta start low all well and good, but make sure you have in the deal once the place picks up it will also reflect in what you pick up at the end of the day.
Good luck, hope everything works out for you.
If you don't have a mixer with built in sound cards a work around is possible, get a bog standard 4 channel mixer and give it a test or have a guarantee in place that it works if buying second hand, next you will need at least one external usb sound card, use this as your main channel out and your lappy output for channel 2, you'll will also need a working copy of your software choice, preferably legally sourced.
Select a time of day when there is no public in the building and try out the set up, get it working, sort your levels and sound quality out, have a play for an hour or two, shut everything down, pack up and come back the next day and do it all over again and repeat until you are confident with setting up sound levels etc, you'll thank yourself you did this when something eventually goes wrong, because you now know how everything works you should be able to figure out if it is a fixable problem that you have.
On the owner/managers part I take it he is giving you a break at getting into the industry, which if he is, he is being a very generous guy to you and seems like it could be a good working relationship you might have going forward in the future. You will need to try and squeeze some sort of budget level he is willing to invest in you and in the club, because if he doesn't have any, it will be a bit of struggle from the outset.
Be honest from the outset and don't try to blag your way through coz shit usually happens somewhere along the line, lol.
I'm not going to mention money to you because that is entirely between you and your future boss, all I will say is, if you gotta start low all well and good, but make sure you have in the deal once the place picks up it will also reflect in what you pick up at the end of the day.
Good luck, hope everything works out for you.
geposted Mon 07 Nov 16 @ 9:27 pm
groovindj
According to his web site, he's already an established DJ, has sound & lighting equipment and hourly rates. So that's all fine then. :-)
geposted Mon 07 Nov 16 @ 9:41 pm
tayla
Oh bugger, the way it was originally posted I thought it was a guy just starting out, doh.... me look more dumber by the day, lol.
geposted Mon 07 Nov 16 @ 9:46 pm
original nutter
I'm no DJ (yet) nor an electrician, but l'd have thought that for speakers which fill a large room, you'd need to wire them up to an intermediary device, not your laptop headphone socket. I'm not sure why, l guess it's because you don't want an adaptor sticking out of your headphone socket to take a small knock and the resulting scratchy sound shatters all the windows :P Also, isn't there a risk of huge power surge when you connect something like room loudspeakers directly to your laptop? Like l said, l'm no electrician and logic tells me there's no way for this to happen because you're just patching audio to the loudspeakers, it's the speakers themselves that ramp it up with terrifying power. Just as long as the room loudspeakers aren't USB powered, you should be fine, and l can't imagine there would exist large loudspeakers that are USB powered, so that's ok!
Also, if your DJ software only allows you 10 minutes' use at a time (l never had that situation with Virtual DJ LE, maybe you have an even more basic version i.e. a demo version?), then that means you cannot use it in a real life performance.
Here is what l suggest:
- Ask your friend why he wants you to do this, if he knows your gear is so basic, almost non-existent in my honest opinion? Perhaps he doesn't understand what gear you have? If you get the all clear, then no problem, you just need to spend about £100 minimum / £2,000 maximum, and you're good to go (l say £100 minimum as this seems like a cosy little venue so you don't need hi fidelity sound reproduction right?)
- Get a controller that can connect to speakers. I'm pretty sure any DJ controller will let you connect to speakers. I'm guessing you have a purely MIDI mixer as a controller, or even just a MIDI controller that has no direct DJing functionality.
- SETUP #1 [THIS IS THE ALL-IN-ONE MIDI-ANALOGUE DJ CONTROLLER SETUP THAT I THINK EVERYBODY USES. MIDI TO CONTROL SOFTWARE, ANALOGUE TO SEND AUDIO OUTPUTS TO SPEAKERS + HEADPHONES]
What you need is a DJ controller (Google that phrase for the specific results). This will give you something which:
* Lets you manipulate the turntables on DJ software without mouse clicks
* Lets you use a crossfader without mouse clicks
* Lets you headphone cue (l've no idea how you were going to headphone cue any other way, unless ... read on) and gives you outputs for each deck (not needed in this situation) and a main out (connect main out to the loudspeakers).
- SETUP #2 [PURELY MIDI CONTROLLER + SEPARATE SOUNDCARD TO DO ALL THE ANALOGUE AUDIO STUFF]:
* Get an external USB soundcard with at least 2 outputs (output = actually a pair of actual outs = 1 white hole, 1 red hole vertically on top of each other). Yes it will likely also give you 2 inputs but you may ignore that.
Example: the Numark DJ I/O, pretty old now, pretty cheap, and pretty good. l think there's an updated version now.
* Hook up soundcard to laptop, and go into DJ software (e.g. VirtualDJ ;) ) settings and configure it so that DJ software MAIN OUT = 1 output on soundcard, and DJ software HEADPHONE / CUE / BOOTH = 1 output on soundcard.
* Get a MIDI controller with a crossfader but no actual physical audio outputs. Connect this to your other USB (if you only have 2 USBs you likely need a new laptop, and the one you have might well be 32-bit, in which case this is way too sticky a situation for you!). DJ some music :)
- SETUP #3 [THE CRAZIEST WAY POSSIBLE? STILL, IT'S VALID IF YOU'RE HAPPY TO USE MOUSE / COMP KEYBOARD TO CONTROL THE DJ SOFTWARE]:
* Get a normal analogue DJ mixer, one that aint meant for computers. It MUST be a DJ mixer, so that it can give you headphone cue / booth functionality.
* Get a USB soundcard with 2 outputs (again, check out the Numark DJ I/O)
* THIS TIME get your DJ software (e.g. Virtual DJ ;) to route 1 deck to 1 soundcard output, and another deck to the OTHER soundcard output. (Confusing to call them outputs when you're using them as inputs, l know, but l just call em outputs. You may also call them soundcard stereo channels).
* Connect by audio leads (1 soundcard output = a pair of holes 1 red 1 white, you need cable with 2 male ends which go into the pair of holes, and the other end has 2 male ends which go into the pair of holes in the mixer) each soundcard out to your analogue mixer.
* So now, you have 1 soundcard out to 1 input on your analogue mixer, and 1 soundcard out to 1 other input on your analogue mixer.
* As for headphone cue, the analogue mixer takes care of that :) no need to turn to the DJ software to give you audio thru the DJ software headphone channel which patches to your soundcard which then patches to your headphones ... nah ... you can just let the physical DJ analogue mixer do your headphone cueing. That's what DJ mixers are for.
* And of course, crossfading is also done via the DJ mixer, no need to do it via the DJ software.
* Connect physical DJ mixer's outputs to the loudspeakers, THE END.
* PROBLEM: To start / stop / pause / nudge / do anything with a song playing on the DJ software, you'll have to click the mouse on the software or press a button on your computer keyboard. Better to also add a MIDI controller with a crossfader, for all the DJ software controlling. But then, why bother with all these parts? Better to use the 2nd setup l suggested, or simpler still, the 1st setup in the list. In fact, the only reason l can think of for not using the 1st setup is: (a) you already have some components of the 2nd setup and / or (b) 1st setup is somehow too expensive (not sure why, because you can get a workable DJ controller with an inbuilt audio soundcard for the analogue audio output to the loudspeakers and to your headphones, for pretty cheap now)
* I just realised, this setup already contains the elements of Setup #2, so there's no real reason you'd want to use Setup #3, unless you're happy using your mouse / computer keyboard to directly control the DJ software e.g. if you're just blending tracks in and out and it's just a genteel environment with no particular emphasis on music, you're just some guy in the background providing background music .... and in that case, you can forego the MIDI controller.
EDIT: I just remembered:
(1) you already have a MIDI controller for VirtualDJ and you're apparently happy with the control it gives you, you don't need to upgrade to an all-in-one USB DJ controller with turntable platters and whatnot.
(2) You apparently don't need headphone cue, so l'm guessing it's just a genteel setting where the music is purely in the background. Also, you apparently have a crossfader on your existing MIDI controller or you just don't need one anyway.
(3) Therefore all you really need is a higher version of VirtualDJ, one that doesn't interrupt you every 10 mins like the demo version does (?).
However if you still want to headphone cue as well, then at least you have a MIDI controller already, and if you don't want to spend much more money e.g. on a brand new all in one MIDI/analogue DJ controller i.e. one that has soundcard functionality inbuilt, l recommend SETUP #2 using a cheap £50 Numark DJ I/O USB soundcard or similar.
P.S. It would help to know your actual MIDI controller, and your laptop model and your OS. I'm not sure if it actually matters if you're 32-bit or 64-bit, because at least you can run VirtualDJ and that's the only software you'll be using. BUT if you buy an external USB soundcard, then it will need to offer 32-bit drivers if you're on a 32-bit operating system. Also note if you're on a 64-bit operating system and the USB soundcard ONLY has 32-bit drivers then you won't be able to run it because you can't run 32-bit drivers on a 64-bit operating system (silly, l know) (and l can't imagine which USB soundcard retailing today would only offer 32-bit drivers). I'm off to make music now, bye!
Also, if your DJ software only allows you 10 minutes' use at a time (l never had that situation with Virtual DJ LE, maybe you have an even more basic version i.e. a demo version?), then that means you cannot use it in a real life performance.
Here is what l suggest:
- Ask your friend why he wants you to do this, if he knows your gear is so basic, almost non-existent in my honest opinion? Perhaps he doesn't understand what gear you have? If you get the all clear, then no problem, you just need to spend about £100 minimum / £2,000 maximum, and you're good to go (l say £100 minimum as this seems like a cosy little venue so you don't need hi fidelity sound reproduction right?)
- Get a controller that can connect to speakers. I'm pretty sure any DJ controller will let you connect to speakers. I'm guessing you have a purely MIDI mixer as a controller, or even just a MIDI controller that has no direct DJing functionality.
- SETUP #1 [THIS IS THE ALL-IN-ONE MIDI-ANALOGUE DJ CONTROLLER SETUP THAT I THINK EVERYBODY USES. MIDI TO CONTROL SOFTWARE, ANALOGUE TO SEND AUDIO OUTPUTS TO SPEAKERS + HEADPHONES]
What you need is a DJ controller (Google that phrase for the specific results). This will give you something which:
* Lets you manipulate the turntables on DJ software without mouse clicks
* Lets you use a crossfader without mouse clicks
* Lets you headphone cue (l've no idea how you were going to headphone cue any other way, unless ... read on) and gives you outputs for each deck (not needed in this situation) and a main out (connect main out to the loudspeakers).
- SETUP #2 [PURELY MIDI CONTROLLER + SEPARATE SOUNDCARD TO DO ALL THE ANALOGUE AUDIO STUFF]:
* Get an external USB soundcard with at least 2 outputs (output = actually a pair of actual outs = 1 white hole, 1 red hole vertically on top of each other). Yes it will likely also give you 2 inputs but you may ignore that.
Example: the Numark DJ I/O, pretty old now, pretty cheap, and pretty good. l think there's an updated version now.
* Hook up soundcard to laptop, and go into DJ software (e.g. VirtualDJ ;) ) settings and configure it so that DJ software MAIN OUT = 1 output on soundcard, and DJ software HEADPHONE / CUE / BOOTH = 1 output on soundcard.
* Get a MIDI controller with a crossfader but no actual physical audio outputs. Connect this to your other USB (if you only have 2 USBs you likely need a new laptop, and the one you have might well be 32-bit, in which case this is way too sticky a situation for you!). DJ some music :)
- SETUP #3 [THE CRAZIEST WAY POSSIBLE? STILL, IT'S VALID IF YOU'RE HAPPY TO USE MOUSE / COMP KEYBOARD TO CONTROL THE DJ SOFTWARE]:
* Get a normal analogue DJ mixer, one that aint meant for computers. It MUST be a DJ mixer, so that it can give you headphone cue / booth functionality.
* Get a USB soundcard with 2 outputs (again, check out the Numark DJ I/O)
* THIS TIME get your DJ software (e.g. Virtual DJ ;) to route 1 deck to 1 soundcard output, and another deck to the OTHER soundcard output. (Confusing to call them outputs when you're using them as inputs, l know, but l just call em outputs. You may also call them soundcard stereo channels).
* Connect by audio leads (1 soundcard output = a pair of holes 1 red 1 white, you need cable with 2 male ends which go into the pair of holes, and the other end has 2 male ends which go into the pair of holes in the mixer) each soundcard out to your analogue mixer.
* So now, you have 1 soundcard out to 1 input on your analogue mixer, and 1 soundcard out to 1 other input on your analogue mixer.
* As for headphone cue, the analogue mixer takes care of that :) no need to turn to the DJ software to give you audio thru the DJ software headphone channel which patches to your soundcard which then patches to your headphones ... nah ... you can just let the physical DJ analogue mixer do your headphone cueing. That's what DJ mixers are for.
* And of course, crossfading is also done via the DJ mixer, no need to do it via the DJ software.
* Connect physical DJ mixer's outputs to the loudspeakers, THE END.
* PROBLEM: To start / stop / pause / nudge / do anything with a song playing on the DJ software, you'll have to click the mouse on the software or press a button on your computer keyboard. Better to also add a MIDI controller with a crossfader, for all the DJ software controlling. But then, why bother with all these parts? Better to use the 2nd setup l suggested, or simpler still, the 1st setup in the list. In fact, the only reason l can think of for not using the 1st setup is: (a) you already have some components of the 2nd setup and / or (b) 1st setup is somehow too expensive (not sure why, because you can get a workable DJ controller with an inbuilt audio soundcard for the analogue audio output to the loudspeakers and to your headphones, for pretty cheap now)
* I just realised, this setup already contains the elements of Setup #2, so there's no real reason you'd want to use Setup #3, unless you're happy using your mouse / computer keyboard to directly control the DJ software e.g. if you're just blending tracks in and out and it's just a genteel environment with no particular emphasis on music, you're just some guy in the background providing background music .... and in that case, you can forego the MIDI controller.
EDIT: I just remembered:
(1) you already have a MIDI controller for VirtualDJ and you're apparently happy with the control it gives you, you don't need to upgrade to an all-in-one USB DJ controller with turntable platters and whatnot.
(2) You apparently don't need headphone cue, so l'm guessing it's just a genteel setting where the music is purely in the background. Also, you apparently have a crossfader on your existing MIDI controller or you just don't need one anyway.
(3) Therefore all you really need is a higher version of VirtualDJ, one that doesn't interrupt you every 10 mins like the demo version does (?).
However if you still want to headphone cue as well, then at least you have a MIDI controller already, and if you don't want to spend much more money e.g. on a brand new all in one MIDI/analogue DJ controller i.e. one that has soundcard functionality inbuilt, l recommend SETUP #2 using a cheap £50 Numark DJ I/O USB soundcard or similar.
P.S. It would help to know your actual MIDI controller, and your laptop model and your OS. I'm not sure if it actually matters if you're 32-bit or 64-bit, because at least you can run VirtualDJ and that's the only software you'll be using. BUT if you buy an external USB soundcard, then it will need to offer 32-bit drivers if you're on a 32-bit operating system. Also note if you're on a 64-bit operating system and the USB soundcard ONLY has 32-bit drivers then you won't be able to run it because you can't run 32-bit drivers on a 64-bit operating system (silly, l know) (and l can't imagine which USB soundcard retailing today would only offer 32-bit drivers). I'm off to make music now, bye!
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 12:26 am
original nutter
I don't think you don't have to buy the Pro version of Virtual DJ, there seems to be a cheaper "Plus" version:
https://www.virtualdj.com/products/virtualdj/comparison.html
Here's the Numark DJ I/O Mk. II:
https://www.amazon.com/NUMARK-DJIO-II-Audio-Interface/dp/B00IYP66LU/ref=pd_lpo_267_tr_t_3/252-8181919-7626066?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4TTW8TXX2ZG2P7N3QPQG
If you want to look flash and / or the surfaces in your DJ booth area are sticky and gross and you don't have a piece of cardboard to place your laptop on, you can get a laptop stand too:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dmi&field-keywords=laptop+stand&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Alaptop+stand
NOTE: Always use a stand with a smooth paint finish, the rough textured ones are cheaper, but not much cheaper. You'll appreciate the smooth finish. For example, when wiping the stand with tissue paper, if it's a rough finish, the tissue paper will rub off onto it, and it will look like specks of powder that can't be removed.
WARNING: If you do a "hands in the air" to your audience, you may send the stand + laptop flying.
I think you might need 1 x RCA audio cable to connect your soundcard to the venue speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmi&field-keywords=rca+audio+cables&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Arca+audio+cables
But you'd be best waiting for your gear to arrive first, so that you know exactly which cables you want (the Numark DJ I/O may come with cables, l don't recall).
Then again, always good to have a variety of cables in safekeeping, even if you didn't need them right away ...
https://www.virtualdj.com/products/virtualdj/comparison.html
Here's the Numark DJ I/O Mk. II:
https://www.amazon.com/NUMARK-DJIO-II-Audio-Interface/dp/B00IYP66LU/ref=pd_lpo_267_tr_t_3/252-8181919-7626066?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4TTW8TXX2ZG2P7N3QPQG
If you want to look flash and / or the surfaces in your DJ booth area are sticky and gross and you don't have a piece of cardboard to place your laptop on, you can get a laptop stand too:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dmi&field-keywords=laptop+stand&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Alaptop+stand
NOTE: Always use a stand with a smooth paint finish, the rough textured ones are cheaper, but not much cheaper. You'll appreciate the smooth finish. For example, when wiping the stand with tissue paper, if it's a rough finish, the tissue paper will rub off onto it, and it will look like specks of powder that can't be removed.
WARNING: If you do a "hands in the air" to your audience, you may send the stand + laptop flying.
I think you might need 1 x RCA audio cable to connect your soundcard to the venue speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmi&field-keywords=rca+audio+cables&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Arca+audio+cables
But you'd be best waiting for your gear to arrive first, so that you know exactly which cables you want (the Numark DJ I/O may come with cables, l don't recall).
Then again, always good to have a variety of cables in safekeeping, even if you didn't need them right away ...
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 1:50 am
klausmogensen
It's not allowed to use the free version for a paying gig
The only license that "Can be used for "professional usage" (earning money using VirtualDJ)" is the pro version, which is $299 or $19 pr month:
http://virtualdj.com/products/virtualdj/comparison.html
So before you start gigging you need to get one of those licenses
The good news: Then you can use a controller with VDJ for more than 10 min
The only license that "Can be used for "professional usage" (earning money using VirtualDJ)" is the pro version, which is $299 or $19 pr month:
http://virtualdj.com/products/virtualdj/comparison.html
So before you start gigging you need to get one of those licenses
The good news: Then you can use a controller with VDJ for more than 10 min
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 7:15 am
PatC74
For starters, I AM a beginning DJ. If I get this gig, it would be my first one. The only equipment I have is a laptop and a Numark Mixtrack USB controller that does not have RCA connections or include a headphone jack. I also have a speaker system similar to gaming speakers. So, the only way I can plug in any speakers is if the system has a USB plug, or a 3.5mm plug which goes into the headphone jack on my laptop. As for Virtualdj, I'm working off the free version, and until I actually work 1 night and make money, I'll have no way to upgrade to any kind of pro version. Also, I probably won't even bring my controller and just point and click with the mouse to avoid the 10 minute limit, even though it reverts to that after the 10 minutes is up anyway.
As stated above, tonight is the meeting, but according to what we talked about already, he just wants me to play music, aka jukebox style and stick to mostly 70s and 80s music. Now, I do my own extended mixes of older songs from time to time, so I may be able to throw those in there. As far as mixing goes, I don't think he'll allow that. That's something I'll talk with him tonight over, but even so, I don't think I'm going to do alot of that, as most of the crowd tends to be older folks who look like they may not appreciate that kind of style.
As stated above, tonight is the meeting, but according to what we talked about already, he just wants me to play music, aka jukebox style and stick to mostly 70s and 80s music. Now, I do my own extended mixes of older songs from time to time, so I may be able to throw those in there. As far as mixing goes, I don't think he'll allow that. That's something I'll talk with him tonight over, but even so, I don't think I'm going to do alot of that, as most of the crowd tends to be older folks who look like they may not appreciate that kind of style.
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 6:58 pm
tayla
No harm in trying to get a little budget out of him, if that fails, how about suggesting a little advance off your wages to cover a starter mixer and some cables to hook up to his system, he might look at it as though you are really committed to the project and may want to help out.
Whatever happens I wish you well and if you ever have need to put up videos advertising yourself or a promotion for your new venue give me a shout and I'll see what I can come up with for you, remember this is free for you so don't sweat about it.
Good luck.
Whatever happens I wish you well and if you ever have need to put up videos advertising yourself or a promotion for your new venue give me a shout and I'll see what I can come up with for you, remember this is free for you so don't sweat about it.
Good luck.
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 7:06 pm
groovindj
PatC74 wrote :
For starters, I AM a beginning DJ. If I get this gig, it would be my first one.
Then I suggest you take off all the content on your web site that reads as if you're an established DJ with sound and lighting equipment.
geposted Tue 08 Nov 16 @ 7:17 pm
original nutter
I would suggest at least a soundcard then, in order to give you something stable to plug the speakers into.
If your laptop gets nudged while big massive speakers are somehow adapted into the headphone socket, then it will make a very loud scratchy noise as the audio is disrupted.
Of course, once you have that soundcard, then you're game on for other forms of DJing that may require a crossfader and headphone cue (l know you said in your last post that you don't need that).
As for the DJing program, you'll be violating Virtual DJ's rules if you publicly perform and besides ... 10 minutes per session? You may as well get a free DJ software and control that.
Hope your DJ session went well anyhow. Some people get all the luck!
If your laptop gets nudged while big massive speakers are somehow adapted into the headphone socket, then it will make a very loud scratchy noise as the audio is disrupted.
Of course, once you have that soundcard, then you're game on for other forms of DJing that may require a crossfader and headphone cue (l know you said in your last post that you don't need that).
As for the DJing program, you'll be violating Virtual DJ's rules if you publicly perform and besides ... 10 minutes per session? You may as well get a free DJ software and control that.
Hope your DJ session went well anyhow. Some people get all the luck!
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 3:44 am
PatC74
No luck here. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guy last night. A friend of mine who works at the bar was going to take me up so I could talk with him, but as we were getting ready to leave, he texted him to make sure he was there, and he told him he decided to wait until after Football was over to even start it. I don't see why we couldn't just talk about it and find out what might be required on both ends to make it happen. Not to mention, my friend says that after football is over, the place doesn't get too crowded. They're lucky to have 10-15 people in there a night sometimes. The place was packed on Saturday night when I was there. 15 people? That's like playing for my family at our holiday picnics in the summer, which I'll never get a chance to do either, because my dad is pissed I even have DJ equipment. When it comes to DJing, he doesn't give a shit about me. All he says is, "Why don't you get a REAL job?".
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 6:57 pm
the SOUND INSURGENT
groovindj wrote :
Then I suggest you take off all the content on your web site that reads as if you're an established DJ with sound and lighting equipment.
PatC74 wrote :
For starters, I AM a beginning DJ. If I get this gig, it would be my first one.
Then I suggest you take off all the content on your web site that reads as if you're an established DJ with sound and lighting equipment.
Guys like this keep me employees, lmao!!
To the OP, when you were there why didn't you take it upon yourself to check out the system??
Theres been many times I've been booked but never got to talk to the owner directly until the day of the event. So i would go in and tell the bartenders who I am and what I'm doing, they'd let me go look around so I knew exactly what I would/was working with.
This game ain't for everybody, sometimes you gotta man up and do things yourself.......
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 7:04 pm
PatC74
There was a band playing, which to me seemed odd for a packed house that didn't give 2 shits about the band. They were there to watch football. Also, the band wasn't all that loud. It sounded more like my system in the basement then a PA system or better speakers. I've been there on nights when the Jukebox is playing. the sound is much louder and fills the room perfectly. This band wasn't even half as loud as that. The only thing I could think was, maybe he asked them to keep the volume low because of the games going on.
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 7:13 pm
original nutter
PatC74 wrote :
No luck here. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guy last night. A friend of mine who works at the bar was going to take me up so I could talk with him, but as we were getting ready to leave, he texted him to make sure he was there, and he told him he decided to wait until after Football was over to even start it. I don't see why we couldn't just talk about it and find out what might be required on both ends to make it happen. Not to mention, my friend says that after football is over, the place doesn't get too crowded. They're lucky to have 10-15 people in there a night sometimes. The place was packed on Saturday night when I was there. 15 people? That's like playing for my family at our holiday picnics in the summer, which I'll never get a chance to do either, because my dad is pissed I even have DJ equipment. When it comes to DJing, he doesn't give a shit about me. All he says is, "Why don't you get a REAL job?".
OK be persistent. 15 people is great to start off with. I'd be nervous even with that.
In the meantime, l suggest you look at the various setups (#1, #2, #3) that l outlined on this thread. It can be done cheaply.
As Sound Insurgent said, checkout the speakers of that place if the owner allows you, because that was your main issue in the OP, right?
I like how you are enthusiastic and rigorous with the details of your actual repertoire and the business side of things. Your tech knowledge is a black hole though so l hope this thread helps although regarding your speaker query, l don't have a clue either. Shame you don't have much money. Money figures large in musical performance technology, unlike in the DAW world where you could potentially do really well with just a laptop and 1 DAW and a comfy chair.
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 7:14 pm
A Man and His Music
I am sorry to say this, but you are totally unprepared for this gig. I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to shed some lighjt on the situation. Let me explain.
You have no idea what you are walking into, and have not made an honest effort to find out. You don't wait for someone else to show you, this just shows your inexperience. You should have been to this club already, taken pictures.
You don't even have the software to perform as a professional.
You stated that the crowd is older, as if that makes a difference. I am older and expect the DJ to be able to mix and program sets that cater to who is in the room. Also, the number of the guest means nothing. If it's one guy, he is paying full price for his drinks. Also, if you are good he could tell 10 of his friends, and next week there is 11 people in the club, However, if you suck, he will tell the same people.
One of the most important things about this profession is knowing what to do when the shit hits the fan. I'm sorry but you don't know how to hook into the system, what are you going to do if there is a problem? What is your back up plan? We will not be there to help you.
Again, this is constructive advice, I think you should take this time to learn a lot more before you step out of your bedroom. Find another DJ to help you out before you take on more than you are capable of. Good luck
You have no idea what you are walking into, and have not made an honest effort to find out. You don't wait for someone else to show you, this just shows your inexperience. You should have been to this club already, taken pictures.
You don't even have the software to perform as a professional.
You stated that the crowd is older, as if that makes a difference. I am older and expect the DJ to be able to mix and program sets that cater to who is in the room. Also, the number of the guest means nothing. If it's one guy, he is paying full price for his drinks. Also, if you are good he could tell 10 of his friends, and next week there is 11 people in the club, However, if you suck, he will tell the same people.
One of the most important things about this profession is knowing what to do when the shit hits the fan. I'm sorry but you don't know how to hook into the system, what are you going to do if there is a problem? What is your back up plan? We will not be there to help you.
Again, this is constructive advice, I think you should take this time to learn a lot more before you step out of your bedroom. Find another DJ to help you out before you take on more than you are capable of. Good luck
geposted Wed 09 Nov 16 @ 7:52 pm