your music

[Kullz]

what is it? records, cd's, laptop with software, combinations?

also what are your views on burning music from computer to cd?

first hand/second hand records and do you carry spares?

[AssassiN]

personally, i use mostly CDs, around 50% ow my CDs are burned from a PC, but thats mainly stuff thats hard to find in stores, or singles.

I also spin vinyl but i like to use CDs as the base of my set, and then throw in small mini-sets with the turntables to hype the crowd.

I dont like using software, and i currently dont have a laptop capable of being used at a show.

oh and as far as spare records, i try to get doubles of every record i own, it makes the turntables twice as fun. Besides there always being a spare copy if one gets scratched, or warped.

[Method2125]

I use all CD's. I have some stuff on minidisk but the player is broken. I have about 700 cd's or so that I take to all gigs. Probably 300 of those are cd's that have been burned from computer from various sources. If I'm going to rip mp3's and then burn an audio cd from the mp3's I always rip at 256kbit or higher, non-VBR. I really like to use originals if at all possible. Whenever it's been ripped to an MP3 and then burned back to CD you have to be careful about the quality. If it hasn't been ripped at a high enough bitrate there's a noticeable hiss that gets introduced when the volume is pushed up.

I'm starting to duplicate my CD's for recovery purposes but I'm not very far along with that yet.

As far as computers go, I work with them for a living, and as a result there's no way that I would entrust my show to running on a computer. Most laptop sound output jacks aren't designed well and they're noisy. Computers crash, plain and simple. They just don't take the beating that mobile dj equipment can withstand. I may eventually have one with mp3's or something on it, but it would never be my primary means of playing music.

I've seen people show up with just a laptop and no cd's or cd players for a backup. I wouldn't trust a computer unless I had a redundant computer for backup.

-Mike

[LunchieTey]

I continually buy cd's(only cd's with useful music/albums of very commonly requested bands-beatles ACDC etc) and convert then to 320k/bit mp3's on a rackmounted pc. I take about 80 original cd's with heaps of party songs etc as a backup but the PC has been flawless for over a year.
The reason I make my own MP3's is an issue of quality,downloaded mp3's are usually 128k bit and off radio etc,you can really hear the difference(so can the audience). This is also for legal reasons too(prolly cheaper in the long run).
A good thing for mobile DJ's(esp weddings) is to look out for those 'party pack' CD collections with 3-10 discs(Ultimate party songs,hits of the 70's 80's 90's etc). They're cheap(couple of dollars a disc!) and give you heaps of cool songs from the last couple of decades. You will find 90% of the songs that will be requested on discs like these(inc 70's 80's etc) and also get plenty of doubles(oh well)

[Dj Jag]

i use cds and a laptop at times.. i have lots of mp3 files on my comp and some of them are already burnt on cds.. it depends actually about the gig, if its edm kind of gig i usually use my laptop but if its other kind of genre i often use cds

[DJ D3CIB3L]

I only use cd's. The thing is, all my cds are burned. I dont use originals when i gig because i keep the originals for backup. In other words, i dont need to worry if a cd gets damaged during a gig because i have the original at home to make another copy.. I dont download anymore-rather i pay people to download and make cd's for me. Its much eaiser and cheaper than buying albums out there with only one song on them that you need.

Also, i carry a backup of each disc whenever i gig. I will have a "selections" cd that i carry 2 copies of just in case anything happens.

Lunchietey- where can i find those box sets? I have been shopping around and i cant find any worth buying. The only box set ive seen thats worth it is the one they were giving away on channel 13 (pbs). I wanted it so much but the thing was that i had to make a $150 pledge to them in order to get it. Oh well.

But then again- i was thinking. Most of my budds have a vast collection of music. Maybe one day i will buy an external hard drive and come over their house and dupe their hard disk so i can bring the drive back home and burn all their music to a cd. Not a bad idea huh? Anyways, till next time. Peace.

[Method2125]

Every mobile DJ should check into subscribing to Promo Only. I subscribe to the mainstream radio and top country series. I get one CD per series per month, 24 CD's total in a year for $310. They're the radio edits and not the album versions, they're clean, and you get the top hits. It's a lot cheaper than buying singles. For new music you just can't beat the quality and the price. They also have all kinds of other series like latin, reggaeton, club, dance, urban, etc. http://www.promoonly.com/

-Mike

[LunchieTey]

@DJ D3CIB3EL- These compilation discs are to be found in places like K-Mart,Target etc(I'm in Australia so not sure how it'll be for you guys?). I've also got a whole stack of the up to date discs(hits of summer etc etc) for later stuff,but I always find myself playing a fairly 'core' group of songs. Sometimes it is easier to buy an album/best of cd(Beatles/Rollingstones etc) cause you get all the good ones in one go. I even found a disc with all the 'special occaision' songs,like happy birthday,Auld Lang Syne,The anniversary waltz(old folks love that stuff),birdie dance etc which was disc 10(10 set) of ultimate party songs grouped into different genres(rap,pop,dance,rock etc). Sounds like ultimate cheese(which it is) but does come in handy!
Also don't be fooled into thinking some aren't any good,you'll be amazed at how many of these songs you recognise once you listen!
I think I saw someone on here mention looking at 'wedding dj' websites. They usually have a 'most requested' list which is a good place to start(don't copy it song for song-It will ALWAYS depend on your audience)
I also encode them using the highest quality encoder/settings I can find(each song 8-11meg) because it really does sound better(bigger improvement on more expensive gear). Make sure it isn't half mono(joint stereo),always use full stereo,320kbit etc.(mp3 producer is good and has online database which names 90% of songs for you!-some are backwards or wrong but can save heaps of time)
Also don't use your 'floor fillers' too early,most people won't dance until the free booze kicks in,when you get the first pissed girls on the floor,hit em with a big one and everyone else should get up-just keep the momentum up and try to keep the same sort of bpm/swing or they'll feel awkward(some people have only got one dance!)

[JBtheDJ]

At wedding receptions, I use my laptop for the cocktail and dinner hour. Just line them up and let them play. Other than that, I'm all CD. When doin' a club, it's nothing but CD. I burn a ton of music. Unlike a lot of people, I've very carefully gone through the tons of CDs I own, and wittled them down to about 400 burned CD's of the stuff I know I just might use, all in one small suitcase. Less is more.