http://www.torq-dj.com/videos/

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Click the link below to stream all of my mixes past and present. New mixes go up about once a month. Enjoy!

www.mixcloud.com/jluger

There are some usb cd-players if you don't want to go
down the digi road entirely. Just put the stuff you want to
play onto memorysticks and you're on...When you're burning cd's I take you buy mp3s...

Just and idea..not the best option obviously..they aren't very common I think

quote:

Originally posted by Beat Blog 1. Why does everyone use Macs? What are the advantages? Why not PC?

Mainly for wank factor.
Macs do have some benefits, in that they may be more stable due to closed hardware + OS. This is not always the case though.

quote:

Originally posted by Beat Blog 2. What computer should I be looking at? I want something quite small and rugged but with good enough specs to store at least 10,000 mp3s, run Ableton (dub) and do production too. Please include some info about sound cards.

I cbf going into specs, but don't get a screen larger than 12 or 13". any bigger than this and you won't want to take it anywhere. For day to day use, buy a 22" LCD to connect it to. Also, make sure whatever you buy has a decent firewire chipset, preferably texas instruments. You may have problems with any VIA firewire chipsets.

Echo AudioFire 4 is a good choice for this. Ultralite is overkill, you don't need that much I/O.

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Originally posted by Beat Blog 3. Controller. What are the advantages of using a small midi controller vs a conventional mixer (ecler nuo etc) with support for laptops? Which should I be going for and why?

Midi controllers are lighter and cheaper. Also, most mixers with midi suck dick, with the exception being a Xone 3D. If you're djing in ableton, you need trigger buttons and extra custom assignable knobs... I think a behringer bcr2000 is a good choice. It uses mains power though, so you might prefer an m-audio uc-33e.

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Originally posted by Beat Blog 4. How easy is it to connect a laptop and your own mixer up in a club? Does the laptop simply connect to the main mixer via 2 x RCA, or does it involve several more complex connections? I ask because if I'm playing a club gig I want to be able to roll up, plug in and start within five minutes.

You might be able to plug straight into a patchbay. Otherwise, you will be going into a spare channel on the mixer. Either way, it is just two cables...

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Originally posted by Beat Blog 5. How is split cueing/pre-listening with headphones generally achieved? Describe connections and requirements.[/b]

Your headphones plug into your soundcard and that's it. The only connection out of your computer is to the live out.

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quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox I've never had a problem with FLs tech support till this day. (I've actually never used it till this day)

quote:

Originally posted by floyd741 i think echosystm is a pretty cool guy. eh pwns robby rox and doesn't afraid of anything.

you will not regret making this switch! before I had 100+ lbs of gear to carry around, now I can fit everything in a backpack. just get a macbook and this and you'll be fine.

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Spring drum & bass mix
Soundcloud

two things:

Macbooks are fine for the DJ. I cannot count the number of big people who are running Macbooks instead of the slightly cooler, aluminum macbook pro.

Also, in ableton you can assign each track (virtual deck) to a separate physical out on your soundtrack, so provided you buy something like the motu ultralite (traveller, or even 828mkII for that matter), you will have ample ability to send your audio separately into a typical DJM800 or similar. Thus, you can do your cuing/mixing all on the board, and ableton live functions like a couple of cds/vinyls, or whatever all playing on one device.

Please correct me anyone if I am wrong on this, as I haven't ever done it this way, but I don't see why it should be a problem, and I am pretty sure several of the big Ableton DJ's do it this method.

quote:

Originally posted by burnedwithin two things: Macbooks are fine for the DJ. I cannot count the number of big people who are running Macbooks instead of the slightly cooler, aluminum macbook pro. Also, in ableton you can assign each track (virtual deck) to a separate physical out on your soundtrack, so provided you buy something like the motu ultralite (traveller, or even 828mkII for that matter), you will have ample ability to send your audio separately into a typical DJM800 or similar. Thus, you can do your cuing/mixing all on the board, and ableton live functions like a couple of cds/vinyls, or whatever all playing on one device. Please correct me anyone if I am wrong on this, as I haven't ever done it this way, but I don't see why it should be a problem, and I am pretty sure several of the big Ableton DJ's do it this method.

I find this a really appealing option. Can someone dumb it down for me and tell me how I would connect the Laptop 8282 mkII and DJM 800 together? Could i mix ableton with cdjs attached to other channels on the djm 800?
I have always kind of wanted to mix ableton with cds, it would make me more versatile

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Scott Edward
http://www.djscottedward.com

Scott's Tip Of The Day
http://scottstipoftheday.blogspot.com

Yeah, the 828 has 10 analog 1/4" Analog outs (including the main outs), so you could use pairs of those running to the djm, and you would need 1/4" to RCA adapters to plug into the back. This way your audio from the laptop would be coming into the mixer just as from a CDJ or anything else. You could certainly have two mixer channels coming from the comp 828 with another two from cdj or whatever.

quote:

Originally posted by burnedwithin I am pretty sure several of the big Ableton DJ's do it this method.

they don't.

no one sane is going to lug a dj mixer, 828, midi controller (for triggering clips) AND laptop around with them everywhere. it completely defeats the purpose of using a laptop in the first place; you could burn your entire collection of CDs and it would take up less space...

like i said before, behringer bcr2000 or uc-33e. this gives you enough controls and buttons to do it all in one lightweight unit. uc33-e seems to be the most popular choice. then all you need is a compact 2 out soundard...

(PS. i said no one "sane" - sasha doesn't count. he probably bought some slaves to carry them for him)

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quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox I've never had a problem with FLs tech support till this day. (I've actually never used it till this day)

quote:

Originally posted by floyd741 i think echosystm is a pretty cool guy. eh pwns robby rox and doesn't afraid of anything.

Thanks echosystem - I decided on the audio fire 4 already after seeing some of your advice on a different forum - got it from gigasonic like you suggested, arrived well packed on Monday.

Re: midi controllers...I'm not going to bother. I'm just going to run 3-4 channels direct from the audiofire straight into my mixer's RCA inputs, and trigger/cue my tracks using a mouse.

I already have a good mixer and don't particularly want to buy a midi controller, they don't feel that "solid" and they are just another piece of gear to lug.

Prrrrrobably going to go a Macbook, simply because PCs are fucking confusing when it comes to buying!

Toshiba's site alone has about 30 models, and there is no easy way to compare specs between them all. TOO FUCKING HARD.

I've been against Macs for the past decade (iPods are still useless pieces of shit), but this time they've won me over with their simplicity.

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Mix archive | Melbourne club guide

I am not saying they necessarily lug the mixer, or the cdj's for that matter. Just use the club's. Most people laptop dj's bring at least a few cd's just for insurance anyway,so I am saying you could potentially do both, not saying you need to, or even want to!