"DJing" tips
 

I may very well be DJing (in the loosest possible sense of the word) for the first time in a club environment, on Sunday night. I know then that the sound system is going to be a step up from the variety of amateur sound systems I've worked with.

First question - I think I'm playing between two band performances so the way is paved for me to be a bit more eclectic with no pressure to lay down a constant four to the floor beat. I'm pretty sure I want to start with what's become a wicked and very personal little recording I have from 1929, trouble is it's very grainy. Does anyone have any good tips or advice regarding cleaning this little bit of music up? Unfortunately the full breadth of the EQ spectrum is used so slewing the EQ doesn't work all that well.

Second question - Am I likely to encounter any frightening flaws in the quality of my music files in the step up in sound system quality? I have music that's sounded fine through some of the systems we've used at parties and the like. As a safeguard I was thinking of planning my set and having full wave files available on my laptop of the music I plan to play.

Thanks,
-Ally

Re: "DJing" tips
 

heckles ready, everybody!!!

(only kidding - good luck with it!)

Re: "DJing" tips
 

a good sound system will tend to amplify some of the shortcomings of mp3s, especially the dodgier ones. it's always a good rule of thumb to use wavs when you can, whether it's in dj'ing, making mixes, etc. (as long as they're original wavs and not just mp3s converted to wav.)

as for your opening track, the noise reduction plugin in sound forge is very good at cleaning up a noise that runs constantly through a track, such as tape hiss or a noisy stylus on a vinyl-to-digital recording, or even the hum of an air conditioner in the studio. you capture a sample of the noise during a quiet part in the song where only that noise exists (often at the very beginning or end), then the program will remove that sound from the entire recording. i used it on an al jolson record from 1924 just last night, and it worked very well. be careful not to overdo it, as if you reduce the noise too much it can leave artifacts on the rest of the audio.

if you don't have sound forge and the noise reduction plugin, or anything similar, don't despair. a recording from 1929 *should* sound like a recording from 1929, and as long as it's not some 10-minute thing that would wear people down before it's over, it can be a nice effect to segue from something old and "grainy" into something fresh and clean ;)

as for playing between bands, be ready for the upcoming band to make a lot of noise tuning up, etc., while you're doing your art. just shoot them mean looks and then refuse to quit playing records when it's time for them to start :D

Re: "DJing" tips
 

did it happen, ally? if-so; how did it go?

Re: "DJing" tips
 

Nope, I've been given a full slot next month. My girlfriend and I went along to the night as guests on Sunday to get a feel for it and I'm very impressed - seems like a very forward-thinking night. The next four weeks can't go quick enough :D

Re: "DJing" tips
 

kewl - bet you're itching!

Re: "DJing" tips
 

dont pick your nose....everyones watching you..