in approximately 33 hrs, I have my first gig as a digital DJ. not really by choice, it was kinda booked for me, but oh well, lol. I'm just glad its not a "real" gig, and by real I mean someone I don't know or a club or something like that. its for a family member of a friend (so they will be alittle more lenient on me, lol). I have done nothing but mess with this software and my DMC2 since I got them and I feel confident enough to go do this gig digital. of course up until 3-4 months ago I hadn't DJ'd in close to around 10 years, and went CD upon my return. My only concern is the popping noise I have acquired (if its not totally fixed by then no biggie, as long as I can cut it down I don't thing these people will notice too much. they drink like fish, lol). Or me screwing something up horribly cause I have only been messing with it since monday night and didn't get 5.2.1 working till yesterday morning.
But like I said, I feel comfortable enough with it to go do this I guess as more like a live practice run. (I've always felt the best way to really see if you are ready for something is to give it a shot). My CD setup is going with me just in case though. but hey I am getting 220 bucks to see if I am ready enough with digital, lol.
Any of you seasoned digital guys have any advice or suggestions for me? I am open to suggestions. the only thing I wish I could do is record myself and play it back to see just how good/bad it ends up being from a spectator standpoint. but oh well. but anyway, I really hope this goes well cause I could get some good gigs from this one (these people party alot and always need entertainment).
Michael
P.S. I can honestly say I think this is the first time I have been even remotely nervous about a gig since the very first one I ever did, lol.
But like I said, I feel comfortable enough with it to go do this I guess as more like a live practice run. (I've always felt the best way to really see if you are ready for something is to give it a shot). My CD setup is going with me just in case though. but hey I am getting 220 bucks to see if I am ready enough with digital, lol.
Any of you seasoned digital guys have any advice or suggestions for me? I am open to suggestions. the only thing I wish I could do is record myself and play it back to see just how good/bad it ends up being from a spectator standpoint. but oh well. but anyway, I really hope this goes well cause I could get some good gigs from this one (these people party alot and always need entertainment).
Michael
P.S. I can honestly say I think this is the first time I have been even remotely nervous about a gig since the very first one I ever did, lol.
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 7:52 am
Mike, I wish you well, Just enjoy, relax, and stay off the alcohol. Plan your sets with the option of dropping in tunes whenever as they never go according to your play list. I always play off the cuff and judge the crowd unless a specific play list has been handed to me and also make sure you have some form of music backup.
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 8:05 am
go break a leg....
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 8:23 am
advice set up early....and start messing around..that should put you in a more relaxed mood..
Good luck up all goes well....
Let me know how great it went....
Good luck up all goes well....
Let me know how great it went....
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 8:30 am
just drink a shut of tequila (JUST ONE OK) and relax ,enjoy,remember don't be scared just do your thing.
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 11:32 am
Hi mate.
Best of luck. Don't sweat it, enjoy.
You can by the way use VDJ to record your set it has the facility to do that. If you are having pops clicks n stuff try out re record facility before you use it at the gig These noises can be a sign that you have whats called a Latency issue and as the record funciton will use more processor time and also more USB bandwidth if you are recording to an external drive, it may make the problem worse. Give it a go tho and see how well it works for you.
All the best.
Daz
Best of luck. Don't sweat it, enjoy.
You can by the way use VDJ to record your set it has the facility to do that. If you are having pops clicks n stuff try out re record facility before you use it at the gig These noises can be a sign that you have whats called a Latency issue and as the record funciton will use more processor time and also more USB bandwidth if you are recording to an external drive, it may make the problem worse. Give it a go tho and see how well it works for you.
All the best.
Daz
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 1:14 pm
DJ azen wrote :
just drink a shut of tequila (JUST ONE OK) and relax ,enjoy,remember don't be scared just do your thing.
jejejejejejeje...makes u relaxxxx...have a playlist ready prior to ur gig...dont make it the exact songs ur ganna play use it as a guide...u may add more songs or take out a few...thats just a guide to help you through ur nite...remember being ready is one of the most important things!!! :)!!!
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 2:02 pm
Goooood luck
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 2:24 pm
As you've DJ'ed before, you'll probably find the digital experience easier, no scavaging through cases of cd's, easier to find tracks, etc.
Relax and enjot it!!
Best of luck ...and don't forget to let us know how the night goes for you ;-)
Relax and enjot it!!
Best of luck ...and don't forget to let us know how the night goes for you ;-)
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 2:38 pm
thanks for the support and suggestions guys. I am already working on a playlist actually as I type this. I've been "practicing" for about 5 hrs today and kinda have an idea of what I am going to do and everything. I guess its a good thing these people like all types of music, lol. I have always found it difficult to work country music into my usual electronic & hip-hop stuff I usually do though. but I usually just throw some R&B in there and then work the country into that.
Daz, as far as the popping/crackling goes, I have tried several things (here is a link to my thread about this http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/111238/PC_Version_Technical_Support/popping_noise________.html ), if you have any other ideas please let me know cause it may not bother them (hell they might not even notice) but being as I am anal about music and how it sounds it is going to bug the hell out of me. Plus I am going to need the issue worked out before I go do a "real" gig.
As far as recording goes, all my USB ports on my laptop are taken right now (2 to the mixer, 1 to the DMC2 and one to an external drive) so I might just borrow my friend's live recording equipment (one of the local artists I have been working with for about 5 years with my music production) and do it that way if he doesn't have a show (maybe I should call him huh, lol).
again, thanks for the suggestions. now its time to get back to making that playlist, lol. ONLY 21.5 HRS!!!
Michael
Daz, as far as the popping/crackling goes, I have tried several things (here is a link to my thread about this http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/111238/PC_Version_Technical_Support/popping_noise________.html ), if you have any other ideas please let me know cause it may not bother them (hell they might not even notice) but being as I am anal about music and how it sounds it is going to bug the hell out of me. Plus I am going to need the issue worked out before I go do a "real" gig.
As far as recording goes, all my USB ports on my laptop are taken right now (2 to the mixer, 1 to the DMC2 and one to an external drive) so I might just borrow my friend's live recording equipment (one of the local artists I have been working with for about 5 years with my music production) and do it that way if he doesn't have a show (maybe I should call him huh, lol).
again, thanks for the suggestions. now its time to get back to making that playlist, lol. ONLY 21.5 HRS!!!
Michael
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 6:37 pm
Hi mate.
iIwill have a look at the thread but there are people on the forum way cleverer than me at this side of the software.
Hook up a cable from the output of your mixer to the line in on your sound cardYou can just hit record on the VDJ skin then hit config and it will ask you were you want to record from, to and in what format. Hit start and your recording. Just make shure you have plenty of space and you can record to the internal drive if you want.
Daz
iIwill have a look at the thread but there are people on the forum way cleverer than me at this side of the software.
Hook up a cable from the output of your mixer to the line in on your sound cardYou can just hit record on the VDJ skin then hit config and it will ask you were you want to record from, to and in what format. Hit start and your recording. Just make shure you have plenty of space and you can record to the internal drive if you want.
Daz
Posted Thu 18 Jun 09 @ 7:55 pm
thanks for giving my thread a look. as far as sound card goes, I am using the mixer as a sound card. I have two USB's running out of the laptop into the mixer, one for left deck (channel 3 on the mixer) and one for right deck (channel 4). then the mixer is hooked to my amp, which is hooked to my speakers. I called my friend and left him a message about using his live recording gear. its really bad on some songs, but not so bad on others. all I know is that it annoys me, lol. Thanks for the support and suggestions again guys.
Michael
Michael
Posted Fri 19 Jun 09 @ 12:11 am
insanity has set in, between the lack of sleep and this damn noise that has caused my lack of sleep I am about to the point of being committed to the loony bin. I swear, if it wasn't for bad luck I would have none at all, lol. oh well, I am going to go take about a 3 or 4 hr power nap and come back and try again. I really hope I have this fixed before tonight.
Michael
Michael
Posted Fri 19 Jun 09 @ 5:39 am
Fuskit wrote :
insanity has set in, between the lack of sleep and this damn noise that has caused my lack of sleep I am about to the point of being committed to the loony bin. I swear, if it wasn't for bad luck I would have none at all, lol. oh well, I am going to go take about a 3 or 4 hr power nap and come back and try again. I really hope I have this fixed before tonight.
If the recording is giving you so much problem.. forget it for now.. and concentrate on you gig... you can always come back to recording after and then work out the kinks... do not pressure yourself... sure u would want to hear how u did after.. for reflection purposes.....but what the heck.... if it is causing issues.... put it off for another time
Posted Fri 19 Jun 09 @ 6:06 am
its not in the recording (not really stressing that honestly) its with just normal playing. here is the thread explaining my problem and everything I have tried to resolve it: http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/111238/PC_Version_Technical_Support/popping_noise________.html . its just driving me up a wall trying to get rid of this problem. I want/need to go to sleep but, well, honestly I am anal about having problems, and I am one of those people that can't pull themselves away from a problem till it is resolved. god I need sleep, lol. alright, no more than 30 more min dealing with this and then I am going to bed, setting phone alarm now to tell me when to go to bed. hopefully I can resolve this by then, otherwise I am going to be dealing with it up until its time to pack up for the gig (after my nap of course, lol).
Michael
Michael
Posted Fri 19 Jun 09 @ 6:25 am
try plugging into another power supply..(socket in the wall...)
Just a suggestion...see what happens
Just a suggestion...see what happens
Posted Fri 19 Jun 09 @ 6:33 am
Well I just got home....and it went really well. Before I left I changes some settings on my laptop (and didn't close a couple of apps on my laptop that I had been) and it cut the popping/crackling down but didn't get rid of it completely, but it wasn't that noticeable. I didn't have any real issues. Only issue I had was that my controller came unplugged some how and I had to switch to CD for one song so I could restart cue so it would read the controller (I have my secondary CD player in the same rack as my mixer). but other than that everything went pretty smooth. the first about 4 songs were nerve racking like you wouldn't believe though, lol. but before I started I took two shots of Jaegermeister (I have a high tolerance for alcohol) and that helped me stay calm. but after the first four songs, except for the time I had to switch to CD real fast, I was fine after that. When the controller came unplugged I was like "OH GREAT!! NOW WHAT!!" so I called my friend over to go get one of my CD books out of my car (didn't care which cause I knew I had SOMETHING in all of them that would work) and had him RUN to the car and get it. but all went well for the most part, I just gotta get rid of this popping noise completely and I will be a happy happy man.
Michael
P.S. when I was trying to fix it before I left I switched my USB ports around and plugged my external HDD and controller into where my mixer is plugged and vice-versa and the noise got 7123948129347612938745172834012347123749123471203 times worse, like to the point you couldn't even hear music over the noise.
Michael
P.S. when I was trying to fix it before I left I switched my USB ports around and plugged my external HDD and controller into where my mixer is plugged and vice-versa and the noise got 7123948129347612938745172834012347123749123471203 times worse, like to the point you couldn't even hear music over the noise.
Posted Sat 20 Jun 09 @ 1:23 am
glad to know you made it.. see....told you, you would more than survive.. see he jitters did not last long either... Seems that Murphy's Law was waiting on you too. Glad you had a backup CD player.. If that happened to me.. then I guess I would be toast...that is why i reach everywhere early..
Had me a time I went to a gig.. and my computer would not come on.....had to pull the computer down.. remove memory... etc... video card..... (figured it must have been a video card problem)....it was .... just needed to seat properly.
Gig number one down..... smile.. bet you are looking forward to your next gig...
Had me a time I went to a gig.. and my computer would not come on.....had to pull the computer down.. remove memory... etc... video card..... (figured it must have been a video card problem)....it was .... just needed to seat properly.
Gig number one down..... smile.. bet you are looking forward to your next gig...
Posted Sat 20 Jun 09 @ 5:59 am
HEY FUSKIT???
you can record yourself??????
just use the record button in VDJ...... it will save the audio file as am mp3 direct to your hdd.......i do it all the time and dish out mixes to my mates for feedback.
you can record yourself??????
just use the record button in VDJ...... it will save the audio file as am mp3 direct to your hdd.......i do it all the time and dish out mixes to my mates for feedback.
Posted Sat 20 Jun 09 @ 5:50 pm
i hope the gig was a good learning exp ......
there is a lot of info here at this site for curing your computer of what ails it ....
by that i mean common problems that cause skips and dropouts , etc when you perform like a pro with pro equipment and software
notice the choice of words .... i didn't say what ails the software i said what ails the computer.......
the software didn't create the irq conflicts , the lack of sufficient ram , the large number of background processes sapping the cpu the crummy video card doing the same ...the highly fragmented C drive , etc ......if you have any of those conditions you need to fix that , not complain about the software
if you are a computer dj you have to know a little about computers .... but it's better if you know a lot
VDJ is like , say , a top fuel dragster engine......
you need to install it into a heavy duty chassis in order for it to perform up to it's capabilities
the info you need is right here at the site , look around and ask for help when you are stumped
me, i'm an as@hole so i don't hold anyones hand , i just point 'em in the right direction
there is a lot of info here at this site for curing your computer of what ails it ....
by that i mean common problems that cause skips and dropouts , etc when you perform like a pro with pro equipment and software
notice the choice of words .... i didn't say what ails the software i said what ails the computer.......
the software didn't create the irq conflicts , the lack of sufficient ram , the large number of background processes sapping the cpu the crummy video card doing the same ...the highly fragmented C drive , etc ......if you have any of those conditions you need to fix that , not complain about the software
if you are a computer dj you have to know a little about computers .... but it's better if you know a lot
VDJ is like , say , a top fuel dragster engine......
you need to install it into a heavy duty chassis in order for it to perform up to it's capabilities
the info you need is right here at the site , look around and ask for help when you are stumped
me, i'm an as@hole so i don't hold anyones hand , i just point 'em in the right direction
Posted Sat 20 Jun 09 @ 9:18 pm