Never Too Old

You are NEVER Too Old!

Ruth Flowers DJ at Age 68

New How to DJ Video tutorials are coming!

We here at The US DJ Network are proud to announce that here on The Disc Jockeys Blog and on our You Tube Channel discjockeystube, we are going to start a new weekly series Video Tutorial on How to DJ. You can also copy or follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/discjockeystube/featured where you can subscribe to our channel and you will be updated on when we post the new videos. They will also be added to a new playlist called How to DJ. We look forward to seeing all of you on our you tube page. Thank You and Keep on Spinnin'.

Planning Your Wedding Part 2: Let's Talk About Music"

Planning Your Wedding Part 2: Let's Talk About Music

A post Created By DJ Tommy Mac & Edited by DJ Dollar Bill

One of the biggest concerns, hands down, of any couple on the wedding day is what music should be played.

I generally run into two types of couples: Those who have very specific ideas of what they want and enjoy musically, and those who really have no clue and need my help.

Here are some helpful tips and ideas for you in arranging the perfect selection of music for your special day.

(note: while I will specifically be talking about weddings in most of these posts, they can be applied to any type of event as well)

First and foremost: Music selected for your wedding should be FUN. A wedding day is all about celebrating the union of two people and the joy of celebrating with family and friends, and the music selected should reflect that.

While there are no hard, fast RULES to any of it, in general the music selected should be fun and upbeat, appropriate for all age ranges (IE clean, no vulgarity or crude, explicit language) and lend it self to the joy and celebratory mood of the entire day...and of course, part of that celebration includes DANCING, so there should be plenty of songs chosen which are great to dance to.

Music, as with many other things in life, is a very subjective thing: what one person LOVES, another person HATES.

Keep in mind that, at your wedding, you will have a large variety of people there: Friends, family, co-workers...and not all of them will have the same musical tastes you do.

My general suggestion to my couples when selecting music is: allow something for everyone, try not to limit your music choices to just ONE style or era. You may LOVE todays latest club tunes or hip hop tracks, but think about whether your family or friends will enjoy hearing that all night long.

As your DJ, my job is to find the happy medium between what you, my clients, want, and what will make all the guests attending your special day happy as well.

I’m often asked how I as the DJ select the music that I will play for any given party, and my answer is simple: It’s combining selections from three different sources:

1: My Bride & Groom: The Bride & Groom’s requests take priority and are the basis for what ever else I chose to play through out the evening. I base my choices not only on their selections, but also what they have told me they do NOT wish to have played.

2: Guest requests: I am more than happy to take requests from guests, and as long as they fall into the appropriate guidelines I play as many as possible. Appropriate guidelines for guest requests are:

A: They meet with my bride & grooms specifications, IE are not on the “Do Not Play” list.

B: Are appropriate for the crowd: Unless it’s already been cleared by the bride & groom, a guests request for heavy metal or hardcore rap will NOT be getting played. Also any songs in general that are just inappropriate for the day: Break up songs, depressing songs, or songs that are totally obscure that no one else has ever heard of, will generally not get played.

(there are exceptions to every rule: I Will Survive is one of the most popular “break up” songs of all time and is requested and played regularly at many weddings, for example.)

3: DJ Knowledge: As a DJ with 25 years of experience, I bring my own personal knowledge of what works best to get a crowd up, dancing and having fun, and use my client & guest requests along with that knowledge to fill in the gaps and make it all flow together.

I am more than happy to accept any song list requests from my couples, and encourage them to choose at least 10-20 songs they definitely want played. Leaves me wiggle room to feel out the crowd & take some guests request. (On a AVERAGE ONLY 10-15 songs are played in an hour) My job is that much easier when I don’t have to GUESS what my couples enjoy listening and dancing to.

So I refrain from long 50 song list, most events not that long & doesnt leave room for any requests or for me to play something that crowd will dance to (Classics Always work)

Ex. I had a couple wanted nothing but 80's music & provide ALL the music for dinner & dancing, (which I tried to talk them out of, but said it's YOUR day...your wish is my command...Musical Genie) 1/2 way through event they came to me & said no one's dancing. I advised them, they picked the music not me & to break the chains off & let me do what I DO. They said go ahead Dollar & I kept the dancefloor packed the rest of the night.

2nd Ex. A couple picked few songs that wasnt popular & it cleared my dance floor, I immediately faded out song & re-packed dancefloor. That comes with experience & bride's mother thanked me at the end for not letting entire song play.

That being said, if you find your list getting very long, I always suggest giving me a “Top 10” of your favorite songs that MUST be played, and then allowing me to chose and select the best cuts from the rest of your requests to fill out the party.

I also encourage the “Do Not Play” list; it is almost, if not as important, as your requests. Again it helps me to know in advance the types of songs or music you simply, under no circumstances, want to hear at your party, so that should a request for one come in I know how to handle it. (I'm your BLOCKER)

While I have suggested planning and choosing your music with your guests in mind, this does not mean you can not choose some of your favorite selections and artists to be played at your wedding that may not be considered “standard” wedding music.

I get plenty of couples that enjoy such music as rap, alternative rock, hard rock, country, etc. that would love to hear some songs from these types of groups but worry that they shouldn’t have them played because of how the crowd may react.

Again, that’s where I can step in and help, for instance:

Even some of the most “alternative” or “heavy metal” bands have at least ONE nice acoustic or piano ballad type song that may just fit in as a slow dance or at least something that can be played during dinner.

I’ve also encouraged hard rock fans to choose something from that genre for their introduction music.

Same with rap: While it can be tricky at times depending on the song, there is no reason why some of your favorites can’t get played at your wedding, even if it’s only you and your friends who may dance to it. Not EVERY song played HAS to get EVERYONE involved.

My usual suggestion for these types of things is to perhaps save them for later in the evening; many times the older guests will start to leave early or at least tire out and aren’t dancing as much, and that’s the best time to work in some of those “alternate” choices. I also always suggest that the bride & groom should make an effort to actually come out and dance to these songs to make it clear that this is something THEY enjoy and chose to have played at their wedding; if the guests see YOU out there on the floor enjoying it, perhaps they will rethink their stance on the music and loosen up enough to join you.

As I said earlier, there are no hard, fast RULES to what can and can NOT be played at a wedding; in the end it is up to you to make those choices.

Select what you like, be willing to compromise, take into consideration your guests, and most importantly have FUN with it...in the end, that’s what it’s all about.

After All It's "YOUR DAY" and a Celebration !!

Basic Blank Wedding Introduction Worksheet

The Wedding introductions can be especially hard if you do not have an outline to follow or you read your notes that are not clear or you just scratched down while talking to your client so here is a sample for you. and the file is also attached as a plain rich text document.

WEDDING WORKSHEET

GROOM : _____________________________ BRIDE : ______________________________

LOCATION : _________________________________________________ DATE : ____________

Bridal Party Introductions

Parents Of The Bride : ___________________________________________________________

Parents Of The Groom : ___________________________________________________________

Bridesmaids Groomsmen

1 : ________________________________ Escorted By __________________________________

2 : ________________________________ Escorted By __________________________________

3 : ________________________________ Escorted By __________________________________

4 : ________________________________ Escorted By __________________________________

5 : ________________________________ Escorted By __________________________________

Flower Girl : __________________________ Ring Bearer : _____________________________

Maid / Matron Of Honor : ______________________ Best Man : __________________________

The New Mr. & Mrs : _____________________________________________________________

Blessing By : _________________________ Toast By : __________________________________

1st Dance : __________________________________By_________________________________
Song Title Artist

Bridal Party Dance : _____________________________ By ______________________________
Song Title Artist

Bride and father Dance: ___________________________By______________________________

Groom and his mother Dance: ______________________By _____________________________

Cake Cutting ? _______ Garter / Bouquet ? ______ Dollar Dance ? _____Centerpieces?_______

Announcements/Requests: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

INTRO SONGS: __________________________________________________________________

Going The Extra Mile BY: Tim Ewing

Going the extra mile BY: DJ Tim Ewing - US DJ Network

One of the things that I learned early on in my DJ career is the importance of being personal, approachable, and willing to go the extra mile. There is nothing a bride and groom appreciates more than a DJ who actually takes the time to listen and really evaluate their needs. I have found that the more organized and prepared a DJ is for an event, the smoother and better the party runs.

For this article, I will attempt to share a few little things that may seem insignificant to some, but that make a tremendous difference when it comes to the bride and groom. Most of the things I will share you may already know, but then again, it’s also good to get a reminder every once and awhile.

Brides love it when DJ’s call them in advance. The bride usually has a million things on their plate, and when a DJ can help alleviate some of that stress by taking away the musical responsibility, brides most times breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve found that brides appreciate a DJ that not only gets the musical requests that they want, but also takes the time to evaluate their requests, organize their requests, and put them together in a logical way that the party will flow beautifully and smoothly throughout the night. You’ll find that the more you pay attention to the specific requests, the easier it is to make the party a success.

Most brides and grooms usually struggle with their selection of their entrance songs, the garter/bouquet songs, and cake cutting songs. One way that you can go the extra mile, is to offer suggestions for each. By doing so, you’re helping to narrow down the choices for the client and also making it easier for the bride and or groom to decide what they want.

One of the biggest fears I’ve found that some DJ’s have is performing the entrances of the family members and bridal parties. The most common mistake is pronouncing the names of the people in the party wrong. This is something that should never happen, but often times occur more frequently than we would like. One way to fix this problem is to write out the names of each member being introduced phonetically. By doing this, it makes it easier to read the name correctly because it’s written the way it sounds. Another helpful hint is to have either the bride or groom pronounce the name of the person a few times out loud for you and then you repeat it back to assure that it is correct.

There’s no greater feeling than nailing the intros, having the first dances go smoothly, have the garter/bouquet go off without a hitch and the cake cutting song ready and looped. This is something that takes time to master, but is something that all DJ’s strive for each gig they do. One way to make sure that you have perfection each time is to have your music organized and lined up ready to go for the time it is needed. This can be done one of two ways. For those who still use CD’s, have each CD labeled with a sticky note or marker so that you know what the song is, what track number it is and when it is to be played. Another great hint is to put all the songs on one CD so the music is back to back. All you have to do is advance it each time the next track and you’re ready to go. For those using laptops, making a wait list with the songs ready to go would also be a huge asset for success.

Another no brainer, that I hate to even mention, but feel is important to mention is the importance of being on time. The company policy is to be there an hour early, however, sometimes if needed, it might be helpful to get there even earlier than that. By being set up and ready to go way in advance, that makes life easier for not only you, but for the wait staff as well. Also, this gives you time now to talk to whomever you need to talk with and get any final details that you need without having to run around last minute.



Something many DJ’s fail to remember that there are also videographers and photographers at their events. Some DJs will have special moments happen and they will never check to see if the videographers or photographers are ready to capture it. So, my suggestion to going the extra mile for this would be to be in contact with both the videographer and photographer throughout the night to ensure that you all are on the same page. Give the videographers and photographers a five to ten minute warning, so if they need to change film, or an SD card or change batteries, they have time to do so and still be ready. In turn it is also important to be in contact with the wait staff, preferable the maitr’d or one in charge to make sure that they are ready for each special event that takes place.
Having equipment working properly is essential to a successful party. There is nothing more embarrassing than having a microphone with a dead battery, a CD skipping or an electrical or technical malfunction. Though most of the time, technical difficulties are out of our control, but there are also ways to try to prevent them from happening. First, it’s important to always have fresh batteries as well as back ups. It’s amazing how quickly the life is drained from the batteries from usage. Second, always test the music you have before you play it. Like I said before there’s nothing more embarrassing than music stopping or skipping for a gig. Third, test your equipment before hand to make sure that all the levels are where they need to be. Though we can’t control everything, doing these little things can make a huge difference.

Dress to impress. You may not realize it, but your appearance is important. You are the one person that everyone is looking at once the party is underway. Make sure that your clothing is clean, neat, and that you’re groomed properly with combed hair. This is a great way to make a good impression. Remember, you’re not only representing yourself, but the Pros organization as well.

Finally, be ready and willing to go the extra mile even when it’s last minute. If a bride or groom decides to change a song, or add something unexpected to the event, do your best to accommodate and work it out even if it’s an inconvenience for you. For me, I hate more than anything having to say to a bride or groom, I am unable to provide that song or I am unable to do that for you, so I personally strive to do whatever it takes to make sure this never comes out of my mouth. A prime example of this: This past weekend I DJed a wedding for a Spanish couple. The bride had selected Daddy’s Little Girl for her father/daughter dance and wanted that to be their song. The night before the wedding, she called me up and said she wanted to change her father/daughter dance to a song called “Daddy” by TJ Loughran. I quickly found out that the only way to get this song was to order it from TJ’s website and that it would have to be shipped through the mail. Limewire, bear share, I Tunes, etc did not carry the song. Beings it was Saturday getting the CD shipped in time was impossible. However, I was determined to get the song for the bride. So I went the extra mile by researching the artist online. I looked for almost 3 hours until I found a phone number. I then called him personally and asked him if he could provide the song for me via email. To make a long story short, he sent me the song in email, I copied it, and the bride was nearly in tears that I went through such trouble to make her father/daughter dance special. Though these situations happen sometimes, and the easy thing to do would be to say, “I’m screwed” or “I’m sorry you’ll have to find an alternative,” try to think outside the box and go the extra mile and you’ll be amazed at what happens.

As I close, I hope that this has been helpful in seeing the importance of going the extra mile. You’ll find the brides and grooms will appreciate it, your company will appreciate it, and you’ll get satisfaction knowing that by going above and beyond the call of duty to make each event memorable and extraordinary. Plus the extra money you’ll make in tips always helps too. Until next time, keep doing a great job and remember that you can never go wrong by going the extra mile.

DJ Greggie C's Classic Wedding Mix

Greg's WORKING wedding Mix Nov 1999 by djgreggiec

What NOT To say to or ask a DJ

CHECK BELOW FOR YOUR REQUEST



1. PLAY SOMETHING GOOD...SOMETHING WE CAN DANCE TO!

The D.J. has to play for more than one person...so, what you may hate
may be another's favorite song and EVERYTHING played here can be danced
to one way or another.



2. WOULD YOU PLAY SOMETHING WITH A BEAT?

BE SERIOUS! We know of NO songs played in a club that don't have some sort of a beat!



3. I DON'T KNOW WHO SINGS IT AND I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE SONG, BUT IT GOES LIKE THIS...

Please don't sing for the D.J.! They have to put up with smoke-filled
rooms and dangerous decibel levels all night. Do them a favor and DON'T
give them a rendition of your favorite song!



4. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HEAR IT!

Oh sure, you polled EVERYONE in the club and, as their spokesperson, you are requesting the song.



5. I CAN GET LAID IF YOU PLAY IT!

If you are GOOD ENOUGH, you can get laid to anything!! (also been known as "buy the album and get laid for a month!")



6. I WANT TO HEAR IT NEXT!

The only people who can get away with that statement write the D.J.'s paycheck or tip him $50!



7. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANNA HEAR...WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

It's a lot easier for you to go have another beer and figure out what
you want to hear than it is for the D.J. to recite the name of EVERY
record in the booth!



8. HEY YO, NOBODY CAN DANCE TO THIS!

It is not advisable to say this when the dance floor is packed (but,
some people do anyway)! However, even if there is only ONE person on the
floor, it STILL contradicts the statement.



9. EVERYBODY WILL DANCE TO IT IF YOU PLAY IT!

The D.J. won't...I guess that blows a hole in that theory!



SOME ASSORTED THINGS NOT TO SAY

If you ask for a song and the D.J. says he just played it, DON'T SAY,
"Well, I just got here." It makes absolutely no difference. DON'T SAY,
"Is this the only kind of music you play?" If you go to a Chinese
restaurant, you wouldn't ask for Italian food. Rock clubs play rock,
alternative clubs play alternative, discos play disco, etc., etc.,
etc... If you ask for a song, BE SPECIFIC. DON'T SAY, "I wanna hear
something, anything but this!" Try going to the bar and saying, "I wanna
drink something, anything but this..." You can't complain if you're not
SPECIFIC. HOWEVER, if you ARE specific and the D.J. says he doesn't
have the song, DON'T SAY, "What?!! What do you mean you don't have it?
What kind of D.J. are you? Why don't you get into the wonderful world of
fast food! You obviously don't know what you're doing as a D.J.!"...

HE MAY SHOOT YOU!!!

Special Note

A nightclub D.J. gets very little respect. They are expected to play
everything for everybody. It is impossible to satisfy all to the people
all of the time, yet club jocks are expected to do just that. If a radio
jock tells his listeners a song is a hit, the majority of the people
think it must be "because they said so on the radio." However, 80f the
time, that same song was being played in a club long before the radio
DISCOVERED the NEW song. So, give the D.J. a break! The next time you
request a song, stop and

THINK before you speak.

And above all, if the DJ has one hand on the mixer, one hand on a TURNTABLE - wearing headphones,

DON'T BUG HIM OR HER!!! "

OTHER Things not to say to a DJ

when asking him for a song....

1) When are you going to play something good? - Firstly, you're saying
my music is crap. Secondly, you appear to expect me to read your mind
and work out what you like. I suggest you leave before I stab you with
this ballpoint pen. Sod Off!!


2) If you play XXXXX everyone will dance! - Nothing is guaranteed to be
further from the truth. If I play this track everyone will flock off the
dance floor leaving you stood on your own in the middle. Until you feel
stupid and leave. Having killed the atmosphere. Thanks a bunch.


3) Why you playing this shit? Nobody likes it! - That would explain the
packed dance floor would it? If you don't particularly care for it sir,
please wait 10 minutes and the music will change. To something else you
can whinge about.


4) Can you play XXXX in the next 10 minutes because I've got to go home?
- No. I'm trying to entertain those who are staying for the whole
night. I'm not going to destroy the atmosphere I've cultivated to play
The Village People at 9:30. You want to hear it, you wait until 11:00ish
when it'll actually go down well.


5) Have you got any dance music? - Would that be House, Garage, Trance,
Hard House, Disco, Euro pop, Hi Energy, Techno, Vocal House, Drum n Bass
(ugh!) or Happy Hardcore?


6) Can I have a look at your CDs? - No. They are the tools of my living.
They are arranged in a specific order. They are also a convenient size
to hide under a jacket as you leave. You thieving little pikey.


7) What have you got? - Look, I carry over 250 CDs, with over 5000
tracks. I’m not about to list them for you. And no, you can't look. No.
You can't press that button either.


8) When are you going to play something recent? - Oooh. About 30 seconds
ago. And I'll probably play some more as soon as I've played some 70s
for your Mom. Patience is a virtue. Now sod off.


9) Can you play [insert heavy metal tune]? - No. This is a wedding. You
are the only person in this room who actually like to make his/her ears
bleed. I know you have a bedroom wall full of their posters and you
tattooed the lead singer's name on your arm with a compass and ink. But
believe me, no one else likes them. And, contrary to your firm belief,
the sight of you standing alone in the middle of the dance floor
flicking your long greasy hair backwards and forwards, killing off your
remaining brain cells, will not make young women weak at the knees.
Queasy in the stomach maybe.


What your DJ actually replies;    "Certainly. I'll try and fit it in if I've got it."

The Singing Wedding Gram

This is an activity you can include the bridal party in or any group of people, but the Bridal Party works best. Durring the end of inner you ask the entire bridal party to line up (Boy girl, boy girl) in front of the bride & groom. Have them interlock arms and hand them a lyrics sheet you have copied with the words to a Cute wedding song. I use Going to The Chapel by The Dixie Cups, but you can use whatever song you want. Just make sure you copy the lyrics for the people. You start the song have them sway back and forth and sing the song as you take your cordless mic and put it in front of each person in the line as they sing a bar or two of the song. You can build up the hype and call it your gift to the bride & groom. At The end have the audience give all of them a round of applause.

The Lyrics to Going to the Chapel are as follows:

CHORUS

Goin' to the chapel, and we're, goin' to get Ma-aa-aried,
Goin' to the chapel, and we're, goin' to get Ma-aa-aried,
gee, I really love you, and we're, goin' to get Ma-aa-aried,
goin' to the chapel of love.

1) Spring is here The-e-e shy is blue,
Birds all sing as, if they knew,
Today's the day, we say I do,
and we'll never be lonely anymore, because we're

CHORUS

2) Bells will ring, The-e-e sun will shine,
I'll be his and he'll be mine,
We'll love until, the end of time,
and we'll never be lonely anymore, because we're

CHORUS

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Free Open source Digital DJ Software

Mixxx is free, open source DJ software that gives you everything you need to perform live mixes. Mixxx's advanced mixing engine gives you complete control over your live mixes. Hot cues, looping controls, and our high fidelity EQs let you mix and remix with more control. Create your own MP3 DJ mix today! Why invest your time building your music library with expensive commercial DJ software, when it costs you a hundred dollars to upgrade every year? Through our open source license, Mixxx will always be free, and you'll never be locked in. It is fully midi capable and works with most every controller even The Serato Scratch Live Box. Check out the website at: http://www.mixxx.org/

I'm BAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK

Ladies, gentlemen, and DJ's of all level the Captain is back(after numerous requests)!!!

Since moving to sunny California, I've put some effort into upgrading my on the road system. I'd like to share with you what the road I've chosen to walk down.
So lets begin. I have always thought Serato was the way to go, since its really everywhere. But recently, I've had the pleasure of trying out Torq, Tractor, and as of the DJ convention, the new Mixmeister. Now, i know people who have been using the program for some time, but it has always been just that, a program with no hands on. But at the convention, Newmark released a controller, and i was interested! So when it hit the shelves, out i went. (picked it up for $299, WAY below MSRP). Hooked it up in my garage that night and started playing. Now, as a DJ and gadget guy, I love Knobs and buttons! But, with 40 knobs, 53 buttons and a Jog Wheel for fast location management, it was a bit overwhelming. But this little Midi has some bite!(Yes, i'm still learning). And the best part, its compact. The down Side, 19 1/2 across, no fader's, and the response time shows some lag. But with this, I'm able to be in the mix 8,10,20 songs into the future allowing me to tweak or interact accordingly. From here, i thought, compact is good, less weight, shorter set-up and break down. So i found this little guy from Acer. Now while Linux is available, I went with Windows, 1GB ram, 120 internal hard drive, and the 6 cell battery (6.5 hours battery life). This little guy (about $400) has 3 USB slots, which is not enough for me to run 2 hard drives, a computer fan, the Mixmeister controller, and the second sound card needed to mix. A simple multi USB jack fixed all that. I was also concerned about the size of the keyboard, not because its smaller, but if i needed to find something quick i may be prone to mistype. So i bought a regular size roll-up keyboard($15), problem solved! Now to make my speakers light, and on Black Friday I solved that problem while strolling through Guitar Center. For $175 a piece, i grabbed a pair of these powered speakers. I will be the first to admit, the specs did scare me a little, but my first time on the road and all that went out the window. With a 5 band EQ, Mic inputs, and 2 balanced XLR and 2 unbalanced 1/4" inputs, these fit the bill. No distortion, hums, clips, and always clean sound, im very happy. At about 60lbs a piece, they don't hurt my back or wallet. I paired all this to a Behringer XENYX 802($30), and I'm on the road for under $1000, and well under 200lbs. Now, for those of you lighting people out there, don't think i didn't upgrade my lighting too, but we will wait until next time. Along with lights, I'll also share some of the things I have on my, extensive, wish list.... Until Next time, PLUR!!

Visit our Friends at skanteck.com,djgreggiec.com and JHatchDJ.com

Digital DJs of The New Mellenimum

Back in the 80s & 90s if you had 2 turntables and a mixer you considered yourself a DJ. Now you can add to that equation anyone with a laptop and Audio software considers themselves DJs. Technology has basically revolutionized our industry for the better. Since the market is now flooded with an over abundance of DJs, Quality becomes the number one issue.

As the saying goes,"The cream rises to the top". That is an excellent saying for our industry today. Those DJs prepared with top notch equipment, top notch customer service, and top notch entertainment skills will survive in this time of economic decline.

If you are not a Digital DJ (Laptop DJ), then I encourage you to seriously look into it. The advantages out weigh the disadvantages and this blog will help you through your digital transition.We will start this year with the basic set-up and Back-ups needed, the programs to use, and the music to use with them. Carrying a hard drive that holds 60,000 songs is easier than carrying vinyl or even cds. There are also digital dj players that will play digital music (Mp3s or WAVs) without having to use a computer and we will discuss those as well in the future. Basically Stay Tuned weekly to this Blog and the Digital DJ Revolution will Grow even stronger.



Visit our Friends at skanteck.com,djgreggiec.com and JHatchDJ.com

Every time Serato move product off the shelf, a record shop closes and a puppy dies

This article come from our friends at scratchworks:

It is a cold hard FACT that the digital scene is killing the vinyl wielding DJ quite literally to death. Well perhaps not that true exactly, but if it were, Serato would be one of the 4 Horsemen of the Digital Apocalyse. Every time Serato move product off the shelf, a record shop closes and a puppy dies - or at least that's what purists would have you believe. But it turns out that Serato are actually head over heels in love with the past and want to keep the old ways alive. So in a somewhat unexpected move, Serato have started knocking regular vinyl out in a venture called Serato Pressings.

So in a nutshell, Serato have partnered with some record labels who will knock out a limited range of releases with real music on one side and the really annoying undanceable (unless you are truly off your face) control signal on the other. Here's the words:

Serato press forward with a new form of hybrid record

Auckland, New Zealand ( December 1st, 2008 ) - Serato, the name behind the world’s biggest selling Digital Vinyl System for DJs, today announced an initiative to license their control tone to select record labels.

A Serato Pressing is a unique hybrid record that DJs can buy from their favorite record store. The new range of official Serato Pressings feature new release music on Side One of a Serato Control Vinyl.

Serato Audio Research have now pressed more Control Vinyl records than any other 12” vinyl record in the last 14 years according to music industry sources.

Rare colored vinyl and promotional 7 and 10 inch pressings of the Serato Control Tone have fetched over $US400 a pair on eBay this year.

Bootleg vinyl pressings of the control tone have begun to surface in recent times. These illegal copies do not have the benefit of Serato’s extensive testing, resulting in poor performance with Serato’s Scratch Live software. To ensure high quality standards, Serato is now officially licensing the Control Tone under new venture called Serato Pressings. The result is a new form of vinyl record that will be hitting stores in December 2008. The new record is a hybrid of music and the Official Serato Control Tone and bears a catalog number of authenticity.

“Serato is genuinely interested in preserving vinyl culture” reports Product Manager for Serato Pressings, Bill Mitsakos. “Serato Pressings allows us to work with record labels and the few remaining pressing plants to cut a collectible series of records that have original music on Side A and the ability to control our software on Side B”.

Serato Pressings have a solid schedule of releases lined up for 2009 in collaboration with record labels from around the world. Each release promises to be collectible and will be catalogued online for authenticity and quality control. The first official Serato Pressing will be released and distributed by Mad Decent, the label started by revolutionary DJ producer Diplo. The limited edition 12” “Get Off” from Diplo and Blaqstarr will be available for pre-order on December 1st 2008.

Release information and sales locations are available at www.serato.com/pressings

Serato Pressings are distributed by the partner record labels and will be sold in traditional record stores and online vinyl stores.

The motivation behind this move? To me, it's a bit like planting a tree every time a book is bought - Serato are simply doing their bit to keep real vinyl alive. But to be honest, it's more about building the Serato brand and the prestige around it. As they say in the PR, limited edition Serato vinyl fetches silly money so you can be sure that each one of these will be snapped up and almost immediately have some sort of prestige, especially if the limited run is VERY limited.

So everyone's a winner - Serato has a new revenue stream, the artists and record labels get extra sales and the buyers get something that is almost certainly worth more than they paid for it. And in some small way, Serato Ironically help vinyl sales grow.

This does raise a question - if I buy the vinyl, do I still have to download as well or will www.whitelabel.net take care of that?

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Top 10 iphone tricks for DJs

Heres an add we found on beatprotal.com:


Now that the cat is out of the bag on the iPhone 3G, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the new $199 price tag will propel it into the mainstream – perhaps even ubiquity.

It’s going to take a while to assess the full impact of GPS and 3G network speeds, since the truly life-changing apps haven’t even been created.

So for now, let’s take a look at the present possibilities of the platform as they apply to the DJ community at large.

Whether you own a 2G or 3G iPhone, its true power still lies in the creative application of basic tools like email, productivity tools (calendar, notes), browsing and maps.

We’ve assembled a list of ten things you can do right now to enhance your career as a DJ and/or producer.

Before you dive in, there’s one task you should do immediately.

Password protect your iPhone.

Many of these tasks involve personal information, so if you’re not already protecting your identity and privacy, we urge you to give it further consideration before implementing any of these tips.

Let’s begin…

1. Contact info email template

Sometimes opportunity knocks and you’ve got to quickly get your info to a promoter, club owner, producer, DJ or label.

This is where the iPhone’s email app comes in really handy.

First, send yourself an email with your business contact info, as well as your MySpace and other website links.

Second, send yourself another email with the same info, but also include a few paragraphs of bio info and - if you’ve got one - a really good, cheese-free press photo.

Next time someone important asks for more info, choose the applicable email and forward it immediately before you forget.

Sometimes opportunity knocks once and only briefly, so immediate action is key.

2. Gig announcements and flyers.

Another great use for iPhone email is gig flyers.

Keep your current gig calendar and associated show flyers in a third email, ready to forward at a moment’s notice to a new fan or interested buddy.

There are three caveats here… You’ll need to keep that email up to date at all times, the show flyers should be under 200 kb, and never ever spam.

Announcements once a month should be more than sufficient – and only with explicit permission.

There’s a DJ in my town who’s constantly sending out unsolicited SMS gig announcements, sometimes multiple times in a single week!

Uncool.

3. Custom ring tones

Whether you call it vanity, pride or self-promotion, if you’ve got a Mac with the latest version of iLife, you can use your original tracks as custom ringtones.

How?

Absolutely anything you create in GarageBand can be exported as a ringtone.

First, you need to update GarageBand to version 4.1.1 or later.

Start by dragging an audio file (in any supported, unprotected format) to the arrange window.

Then create a “cycle” or loop in GarageBand and edit it down to under 40 seconds.

Once you’ve got a segment you like, select the Share menu pull-down.

There, you’ll see an option called “Send ringtone to iTunes.”

Choose that option, then open up iTunes and check your ringtones library.

Rename the new ringtone as needed and transfer it to your iPhone.

Next time your phone rings in a crowded room, everyone will hear your new track - and if people inquire about it, you’ve got an opening to talk a bit about your work.

The key here is to be succinct, humble and not come off like a vain blowhard.

But you’re a pro, so this shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Right?

4. Google maps = lifesaver.

If you travel for gigs, either regionally or nationally, it’s always a good idea to bookmark destinations like hotel and venue in advance, so you have them available in Google Maps.

This is obviously useful when driving to a gig, but it’s even more valuable when you’re in a strange city and the cab driver doesn’t have a clue.

An ounce of preparation…
5. Address book essentials on the road

Speaking of preparation, you should always have appropriate contact information when you travel.

This includes, but is by no means limited to: promoter, venue, hotel, and an area cab company (you can get this at the airport). Fill out as many fields as possible, including physical address, URL and email, as well as phone number.

It’s also a good idea to temporarily add these to your favorite contacts before you embark on your adventures.

You might also want to add regional buddies and fans, just in case there’s a good post-gig afterhours party. ;)

6. Rescue tracks

This one’s more for laptoppers than CD/vinyl DJs.

For traditional DJs, the solution for a CD or vinyl skipping is to quickly switch to the next deck.

For laptoppers, skipping isn’t a problem but crashes are a possibility, so a lot of laptop DJs bring along a CD of one or two tracks to spin in an emergency.

With an iPhone, there’s an even cooler trick.

Create a mix of two or three cool and classic tracks that aren’t in your current crate, but can maintain audience momentum.

Then, in this mix, add a sound effect for the intro – like a noise sweep or clever sampled dialogue section.

Then export the results and add it to iTunes with a name like “Rescue Mix.”

When you set up for your gig, just run an extra minijack-to-RCA connector into the mixer and if trouble strikes, plug in the iPhone and fire up the rescue MP3.

Note: First generation iPhones may require an adapter like this one.

7. Duly noted

In our opinion, the Notes application is slightly undervalued by many iPhone users.

Here’s a really good reason to start using it: Insurance.

If you already have an iPhone and an insurance policy, copy your gear inventory – including serial numbers and your insurance policy information – into your iPhone.

If you’re at away from your home or studio and tragedy strikes, it’s more likely that you’ll have your phone with you, right?

This will enable you to act immediately to start fixing the situation, which is way better than the frustration that could result otherwise.

Other uses include storing easily forgotten tech tips, like exotic key commands for resetting hardware synths.

Another great use is gear inventories for laptop gigs to ensure you arrive and depart with all your belongings.

Note: If you do this, password protection is mandatory.

8. Stupid calendar tricks

If you’re not already using your iPhone for managing your calendar, you’re really missing out on a great feature.

Obvious uses include keeping track of gigs, meetings and second dates, but here’s one that will help your production in an unusual manner.

Log your studio sessions.

Why is that cool?

Think of it this way… If you add a calendar entry every time you sit down to work on a track – including track name and start/end times – then when you’re done with the track, you can look back and determine the exact time spent on each track.

Now, this isn’t a race with yourself or anyone else, for that matter.

Some tracks take longer than others and rushing an idea is never a good strategy.

But it’s neat to look back on your finished material and say, “this track took a week, whereas this one took a month of fussing.”

If you’re a session programmer working for hourly rates, it can also really help with invoicing.

Most importantly, using the calendar in this manner helps keep you focused, because we all know it’s easy to procrastinate – and procrastination is not the path to success.

9. Uploading gig pics on the fly

One of the treasured pastimes of clubgoers and DJs alike is snapping gig photos of fans, friends and random hotties.

Well you can obviously do that on an iPhone, but did you know you can also instantly upload those images to Flickr or if you’re a subscriber, .Mac (which will soon be called MobileMe).

For Flickr, just set up your Flickr account to automatically post when it receives an appropriate email.

For .Mac a.k.a MobileMe, it’s an integrated iPhone pop-up option in your photo viewer.

As for MySpace and other social networking sites, it’s probably just a matter of time before this option becomes available in one form or another – and it’s a certainty that new iPhone 2.0 apps will take this even further, like the upcoming TypePad tool.

10. Music web sites

Okay, this one’s kind of obvious, but it’s certainly worth repeating.

Since you can add menu buttons that directly link to your favorite websites, why not create a full page of professional links.

If you’re a MySpace or Facebook user, you can even set up your preferences to notify you immediately of new messages and friend requests via email or SMS.

Here’s a brief list of relevant sites to get you started after you add Beatportal.

MySpace

Facebook (Love ‘em or hate ‘em, their iPhone-centric mobile site is incredible.)

Create Digital Music

Music Thing

Harmony Central

KVR Audio

Vintage Synth Explorer

Ebay

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Vinnies Sails!

These tales of topics from the ocean of experiences from which I've sailed for over fourteen years now, will hopefully guide you all to a more fulfilling and fun way to sail though your adventures in mobile disc jocking. Keep in mind as you travel with me across many a journey, that these tales might not be for you. The one thing I learned as a matey, before becoming the captain of my spaceship was “ steal what you can from others, but it all might not be something your can sail yourself “. We all have our own direction or capabilities, personalities and likenesses, musical tastes and forthrightness ( is that a word ?) whatever. I hope you understand.

I am a bit out there in my way of describing things or my brand of humor so, bare with me and email me if you don't get something. I'll send you the video so you can keep up. ( It's only $19.95 plus S/H ) whenever I get around to filming it ! So batten down the hatches and enjoy the journeys.

I'm coming to your computer !!!!

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Mouth Watering Fun

So, a new blog same ol' Captain, and hopefully you find my post as hand trembling as i do. My friends, get your credit cards ready! Now a day, almost everyone has a jump drive, ipod, or otherwise portable storage device. So many things, so little time. Speaking of time......

I can tell you want one already.......

8GB ( not a typo), count em' 8, on your wrist, everyplace you go!!! 1.5-inch display with OLED technology, and supports video, music, pictures and the classic watch function. store MP4/WMV/AVI videos to watch them on the 160 x 128 pixels display at 25 frames per second, MP3/WMA/WAV audio files at 32~320Kbps, and JPEG pictures.
The watch shows 24 hour style time, date, and comes with built-in microphone for sound recording in WAV file format, and with 2.5/3.5 mm earphone jack, Chinese/German/English/Italian/French/Portuguese/Spanish/Polish languages support, USB 2.0 connectivity, and compatibility with Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista operating system. This is less then $80, basically the cost of a flash drive, and yes, it is a flash drive..... ON STEROIDS!!! buy to and your ready to DJ on the fly, anywhere with over 2000 MP3s at the touch of your wrist. Dont be ashamed, it gave me half a chubby to..... You can thank me later.




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Audacity = Free Digital Music Editing

Alrighty gang Heres the Deal. Everyone is always asking me as a DJ, What do you use to edit your music? (For Example if you want to take a section out of a song or loop a certain section to add to the length of the song) Well Audacity is an EXCELLENT Answer. Why? Because First of all it's FREE. It is also very stable and if you search their site there is a portable version you can put on and even run from your Thumb or Flash Drive.

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:

• Record live audio.
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
• Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
• Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
• Change the speed or pitch of a recording.

Click Here to get it or just Visit: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/




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The Pacemaker a Dual Handheld MP3 120 GB mixing Machine.

Heres a dual MP3 Player that has 120 gigabytes of space with pitch control




Oh, so now I have your attention?
Well, sit back and let me blow your mind with thisbad boys SPECS.....
Line Out Cross-Fader
Headphone crossfader
Pitch Controle (with master tempo)
EQ/Gain/Filters/Audio FX
And a USB 2.0 connector
Can you feel your chest bumping like a SUB yet?
Lets Push Onward, Shall We?
120GB Storage
MP3, VBR, AAC, Lossless WMA, OGG, FLAC, and WAV..... ALL SUPPORTED!!!
IPOD HAS BEEN SMOKED!!!



On top of all that, Your mixes can be saved, and shared.
Now for the... still good, but not great news. It's scheduled for shipment in February, right around the corner!!! Now, the bad news. As is to be expected, something this cool comes with a rather hefty $PRICE TAG$
Roughly $800




....but for a piece of equipment that can carry plenty of music for any event, and weighing in at less then a pound, shrinks the price tag.
I know I won't be seeing mine for some time (I'm #4235), I'll be happy when it's time for me to spend a lil dough, ease my aching back, and of course take one small step towards the big FU reserved for Steve Jobs and his "fruity" empire!
ALL HAIL the PACEMAKER!!!!

Disc Jockeys Welcome

Welcome to all of the DJs around The World. This Blog will help keep you up to date with the Coolest DJs and Music that the Internet has to offer. We will also feature some of the Newest and Coolest Gadgets technology has to offer. Check Back to see our Daily Posts.