Search found 402 matches

by Surreal
Tue May 01, 2012 9:15 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: External Sound Cards for Laptop DJing
Replies: 152
Views: 242144

As for the connectors, any respectable music or audio store will carry adequate quality adapters. The brand name doesn't really mean anything. Long & McQuade has fair prices for a bricks and mortar store. Stay away from the big box electronics stores, they'll sell you the same $3 adapter for $3...
by Surreal
Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:27 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: DJ Software for Windows 7
Replies: 5
Views: 28592

If all you need is a player and not library management, then winamp or VLC are nice simple options.
by Surreal
Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:38 pm
Forum: Swinging Music
Topic: Songs about duckies
Replies: 13
Views: 11351

Duck Trot - Cab Calloway

and maybe... Shake a Tail Feather - Ray Charles
by Surreal
Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:08 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Laptop DJing
Replies: 647
Views: 521246

I managed to pick up a NI Traktor 2 used at a decent price (well, decent for Canadians anyways). I like it so far; smaller than I expected, large gain without distortion, clean pot. The ability to drive headphones could be better, but hifi really isn't a consideration when DJ'ing; I've got my audiop...
by Surreal
Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:33 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Laptop DJing
Replies: 647
Views: 521246

And then there is my current recommendation: Native Instruments Audio 2 Convincing recommendation! How would you compare it to the Echo Indigo DJx Expresscard ? For the past few years I have been using the Echo Indigo PCMCIA DJ card (awesome sound by the way!) but would love to fully switch over fr...
by Surreal
Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:08 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Laptop DJing
Replies: 647
Views: 521246

The big problem with computer audio (and laptops especially) is noise from the other components. Power supply is a big culprit, but other devices also inject noise. USB devices fix a lot of problems, but you can get a lot of noise off usb too. On a laptop, you an at least run off battery and get rid...
by Surreal
Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:39 pm
Forum: DJ Skillz
Topic: Is anyone else crazy enough to...
Replies: 14
Views: 45635

Now to run all those liner notes through some OCR software...
by Surreal
Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:12 pm
Forum: DJ Skillz
Topic: The Evolution of Working as a Swing DJ
Replies: 16
Views: 55828

Oh sure, things are getting lighter and more portable for the typical DJ... and yet ten years later I'm still the bloke hauling around a truck's worth of PA gear back and forth from the venues. Somehow I don't think miniaturization will be making my life that much easier anytime soon :roll:
by Surreal
Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:03 pm
Forum: DJ Skillz
Topic: Blog Post: How to Organize Music in iTunes. Part 1: Tagging
Replies: 1
Views: 23221

My tagging system is very haphazard and I've taken to just shoving everything into the comment field (although I use the BPM and date fields for the appropriate info). I tend to make peculiar keyword comments that I can punch into the search bar without having to do make a custom filter. For example...
by Surreal
Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:53 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: DJ Software for Windows 7
Replies: 5
Views: 28592

I use JRiver Media Center. It's a very full featured library and playlist manager, can cue through multiple outputs, can handle my 50k library just fine, and doesn't use the spacebar for start/stop.
by Surreal
Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:04 am
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Requirements for a music player specific to swing DJ
Replies: 14
Views: 40083

Extensive library and playlist management is fundamental, as is the ability to cue through a secondary sound device. It should be able to handle a couple working screens/tabs; one of which is the "primary" output that is idiot proof (ie: can't accidentally start or stop songs with an accid...
by Surreal
Mon May 02, 2011 10:58 am
Forum: Swinging Music
Topic: What's your most played track?
Replies: 11
Views: 8716

After filtering out all the teaching/performing songs, my most played track is: Ain't Nobody Nowhere Nothin' Without God - Duke Ellington

Next up... Enter Sandman.
by Surreal
Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:24 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: BPM tools for Mac
Replies: 18
Views: 56161

I've been using the bpm tapper that Jeese linked above for years. I just saved the page to my hard drive and load it up whenever I need it. So the raw, single-measurement readings are only +- 8 bpm accurate at these speeds. In order to get a higher precision, multiple taps need to be combined. The m...
by Surreal
Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:33 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Laptop DJing
Replies: 647
Views: 521246

Unless you're looking for a gaming rig on the side, most laptops these days are rather comparable. A netbook is an affordable entry and has more than enough power for dj'ing purposes. With the holidays coming, you can probably find them for close to $200. An external sound card is a good investment ...
by Surreal
Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:25 pm
Forum: Tech Talk
Topic: Stereo gear and girls circa 1970
Replies: 2
Views: 5207

I've got the turntable, the speakers, the couch... but man, where the ladies at? After staring at the picture, I realized what I'm missing.








Candles.