Search found 29 matches

by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:35 pm
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Swing DJ’s Album & Song Data Base
Replies: 53
Views: 129196

Rob, your discussion sounds like you're advocating we build a monster system that solves all problems for everyone. No, I'm advocating a flexible system that doesn't build invalid and limiting assumptions about the data into the design so it can be used to solve a range of problems; not that we act...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:21 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Dynamic Range Compression
Replies: 5
Views: 6391

I use a compressor/limiter in my sound system, with some fairly gentle settings. My aim is mostly to keep the recordings with a huge dynamic range from scaring the crap out of the dancers and/or killing my speakers when the horns kick in really hard. A radio station or techno DJ would typically use ...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:10 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Wireless Microphones
Replies: 8
Views: 8225

For a headset I use a Gemini VH-101. I've seen/heard much nicer ones, but not for anything close to its <$100 price.
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:53 pm
Forum: Upcoming Events
Topic: CTLX 2005
Replies: 0
Views: 3622

CTLX 2005

Just a quick note that the dates for the second CT Lindy Exchange are June 9-12, 2005. Please save room on your calendar! Folks who DJed for us last year, I'll be in touch. Or drop me an email so I know I have your latest.... We're also aiming for a small benefit dance on Friday, March 11th. If anyo...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:47 pm
Forum: Upcoming Events
Topic: "Poor"/"Mediocre" DJing at Basie100 Week
Replies: 30
Views: 36112

Well, I was only there for Saturday, so I don't have much to say about the DJing. Overcrowding on the Saturday night dance floor would be my one complaint. That and the temperature, since I was actually dancing in a suit jacket for the first time in my life. ;) I do want to say, though, that the eve...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:39 pm
Forum: Other Music
Topic: Lyle Lovett song?
Replies: 22
Views: 21127

Have to check that one out ... personal fave of mine that I've heard by Lyle is "She's No Lady." Lou Rawls has covered that, BTW. I play several Lyle Lovett songs for dancing. A couple from Francine Reed, too. "Record Lady" and the live version of "She's No Lady" are a...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:34 pm
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Purpose of this board
Replies: 22
Views: 62985

Thanks, Nate. :)
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 12:32 pm
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Swing DJ’s Album & Song Data Base
Replies: 53
Views: 129196

I've been involved with software design at a number of companies and the one thing that has been consistent among the end users that get involved with the design process is that often requests for complicated functionality end up becoming unused when the software is released. Yes. But the opposite ...
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:10 am
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Purpose of this board
Replies: 22
Views: 62985

JesseMiner wrote: This is not a discussion board focused on DJs who play primarily for West Coast Swing dancers. Those DJs have a very healthy discussion group on Yahoo.
Link please?

(Yeah, like I have time to read another list. In fact, I should be preparing for a meeting with a client right now... LOL!)
by szarka
Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:07 am
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Swing DJ’s Album & Song Data Base
Replies: 53
Views: 129196

My initial reaction from rateyourmusic was good. There are lots of neat ideas there, paticularly cross referencing information eg, go from looking at an album's rating and comments to a list of reviews/ratings of other albums from one of the reviewers and so on. I like this because it's relatively ...
by szarka
Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:51 pm
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Swing DJ’s Album & Song Data Base
Replies: 53
Views: 129196

I've given a lot of thought to the idea of a specialized Swing DJ database over the past couple of years. Here are some of my general thoughts: 1. It's crucial to separate the concept of a track on an album from, say. the concept of a particular composition or a particular recording of that composit...
by szarka
Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:03 pm
Forum: Technical Questions
Topic: Swing DJ’s Album & Song Data Base
Replies: 53
Views: 129196

First, some existing resources worth knowing about: rateyourmusic.com is a place to catalog your collection, rate albums (but not songs), and post reviews. and a bunch of other fun stuff. the design is imperfect, but there's a large/growing community of users. it's fun, though not the tool you're lo...
by szarka
Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:52 pm
Forum: Other Music
Topic: Favorite waltz tunes?
Replies: 28
Views: 27531

BTW, I recently discovered that Tito Puente has a version of "Jitterbug Waltz".

Except, it's not longer a Waltz; it's a Mambo, I guess.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
by szarka
Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:51 pm
Forum: Swinging Music
Topic: eMusic Song/Album recomendations
Replies: 210
Views: 154475

Weird. Can't find it when you search for his name under artist, but it does turn up when you search for "Peter Cincotti" as the album title..

It's a shame that his version of "Rainbow Connection" isn't really good for dancing. :( I like "Are You the One?", though.
by szarka
Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:07 pm
Forum: Swinging Music
Topic: gimme
Replies: 18
Views: 15835

Re: gimme

mousethief wrote: i need more instrumentals with definite bounce, more up-tempo post-war pieces and some more male vocals.
This past month I am all about Dany Doriz' This One's for Basie, which I find bouncy and up-tempo but which some of the local dancers thought was "mellow", so your mileage may vary.