dickie100
Because I'm just starting out. What's the best way to get used to DJ'in in loud environments? I practice at home a lot in my headphones and sometimes on my stereo in my bedroom. Is it a good way to get a flare for it by turning the stereo very loud and try mixing under loud environments, so that I don't find it as intimidating when doing it for real? I also turn the gain really loud on VDJ to add volume and more pressure to mix well in time.
Now I don't mean to come across as a weirdo, but I just thought it'd give a sense of what it'd be like.
Now I don't mean to come across as a weirdo, but I just thought it'd give a sense of what it'd be like.
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 11:25 am
andytaylor125
Haha, you have a lot of questions!
I'd say just be careful not to annoy the neighbours if you're turning up your stereo a lot.
The differences between playing on your stereo and in a bar or club are big, but generally in your favour...
1st thing is the volume makes it easier to mix because you can feel the bass, not just hear it, second is that generally there might be a bit of an echo if your club/bar is in a big space, so your sound won't be as clear as on your stereo, and that can help to disguise the odd dodgy mix :D
Of course the other thing is that because it's so much louder any bigger mistakes will be very noticeable. And you'll have to have your headphones louder so you can hear what's in your headphones over what's playing out. So you have to make sure you've got good ones.
The real trick here is just make sure you always record yourself when practising so you can hear how you really sound, not how you think you sound. You can then listen to your recording nice and loud in your headphones to get a feel for how it would have sounded. One word of caution though, always have your headphones as quiet as possible in general because you really can deafen yourself if you always have them on too loud. :D
I'd say just be careful not to annoy the neighbours if you're turning up your stereo a lot.
The differences between playing on your stereo and in a bar or club are big, but generally in your favour...
1st thing is the volume makes it easier to mix because you can feel the bass, not just hear it, second is that generally there might be a bit of an echo if your club/bar is in a big space, so your sound won't be as clear as on your stereo, and that can help to disguise the odd dodgy mix :D
Of course the other thing is that because it's so much louder any bigger mistakes will be very noticeable. And you'll have to have your headphones louder so you can hear what's in your headphones over what's playing out. So you have to make sure you've got good ones.
The real trick here is just make sure you always record yourself when practising so you can hear how you really sound, not how you think you sound. You can then listen to your recording nice and loud in your headphones to get a feel for how it would have sounded. One word of caution though, always have your headphones as quiet as possible in general because you really can deafen yourself if you always have them on too loud. :D
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 11:44 am
groovindj
The only "getting used to" loud sound is your ears telling you they've had enough!
The first rule when doing any work in an environment with loud sound is: wear ear protection.
Even if it's just keeping your headphones on, so you can still hear (from the mixer) at low volume.
It's quite easy now to buy ear protection that doesn't muffle the sound, just reduces the decibel level.
Buy some!
The first rule when doing any work in an environment with loud sound is: wear ear protection.
Even if it's just keeping your headphones on, so you can still hear (from the mixer) at low volume.
It's quite easy now to buy ear protection that doesn't muffle the sound, just reduces the decibel level.
Buy some!
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 2:31 pm
dickie100
Haha, I'm sorry about my questions. I just love the feedback on here, it's very informative and helpful from people such as yourself. =)
Ah, don't worry about the neighbors, they said they didn't care when I had my Car Audio Pioneer subwoofers up fully all the time. (1000wrms) =D
I'm more concerned about my mother who complained that I nearly blew her head off downstairs due to the high intensity of Dubstep not so long ago. =D
I like the info of feeling the bass, I'm guessing you're right on that, as I'll most likely experience myself from your words.
Can you tell me more about headphones please? I did fancy the Pioneer HDJ-1000, but when reading the reviews, the constant feedback of them breaking seemed a little off putting but I did really like the look of them. However I did fancy the HDJ-1000k, which are the limited edition of the originals, but there just doesn't seem to be anything about them.
By the way, I do tend to record myself a lot, and I'll be honest I cringe a lot when it comes to hearing my mixing back like "****! I SUCK!!"
I'll add you as a friend by the way, you're very helpful and not cocky like some have been on here.
Here's some of my mixing I did not so long ago, just help yourself if you wanna look:
Electro House - Clean MP3 Mix - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebButcNfu8A
Dubstep Mix - Live Low Quality - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3uWTmkVVWU
Ah, don't worry about the neighbors, they said they didn't care when I had my Car Audio Pioneer subwoofers up fully all the time. (1000wrms) =D
I'm more concerned about my mother who complained that I nearly blew her head off downstairs due to the high intensity of Dubstep not so long ago. =D
I like the info of feeling the bass, I'm guessing you're right on that, as I'll most likely experience myself from your words.
Can you tell me more about headphones please? I did fancy the Pioneer HDJ-1000, but when reading the reviews, the constant feedback of them breaking seemed a little off putting but I did really like the look of them. However I did fancy the HDJ-1000k, which are the limited edition of the originals, but there just doesn't seem to be anything about them.
By the way, I do tend to record myself a lot, and I'll be honest I cringe a lot when it comes to hearing my mixing back like "****! I SUCK!!"
I'll add you as a friend by the way, you're very helpful and not cocky like some have been on here.
Here's some of my mixing I did not so long ago, just help yourself if you wanna look:
Electro House - Clean MP3 Mix - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebButcNfu8A
Dubstep Mix - Live Low Quality - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3uWTmkVVWU
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 2:48 pm
groovindj
Ear protection: I use Alpine Musicsafe Pro. Not expensive.
Headphones: Best use something that seals well around your ears. You'll know if they're sealing because when you put them on, the sounds around you disappear. That way, in a gig environment, the speaker sound is not leaking in to your headphones.
I use Sennheiser HD25s, which are favoured by not only DJs but lots of industry pros like TV sound crews etc.
Not cheap but you get what you pay for!
Headphones: Best use something that seals well around your ears. You'll know if they're sealing because when you put them on, the sounds around you disappear. That way, in a gig environment, the speaker sound is not leaking in to your headphones.
I use Sennheiser HD25s, which are favoured by not only DJs but lots of industry pros like TV sound crews etc.
Not cheap but you get what you pay for!
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 4:19 pm
dickie100
I've seen and heard about the in ear things before. Are they necessary? They stop so much sound from going through right?
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 5:39 pm
christianwheel
You'll notice once you start doing clubs or even concerts that you have to teach yourself to tune out the music that's bouncing back from across the room on delay. Try to mix with that and you'll sound like shoes in a dryer.
I use Etymotic headphones... http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.html
They're basically concert-grade earplugs that stop ALL outside sound from coming in. Then it's identical to mixing in your headphones. But in the club, you'll need to take them out whenever someone talks to you, or you can't hear them. But they really have protected my hearing. Virtually no hearing loss in all these years of loud clubs, concerts and radio.
I use Etymotic headphones... http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.html
They're basically concert-grade earplugs that stop ALL outside sound from coming in. Then it's identical to mixing in your headphones. But in the club, you'll need to take them out whenever someone talks to you, or you can't hear them. But they really have protected my hearing. Virtually no hearing loss in all these years of loud clubs, concerts and radio.
Posted Sun 09 Oct 11 @ 6:16 pm
drcrin2
Protect your ears belive me from an old man that knew no better back in the day i now suffer badly ear plugs of good quality dont drop out and muffle the sound
some info here on plugs that have tryed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPcz0MiCigc
some info here on plugs that have tryed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPcz0MiCigc
Posted Fri 14 Oct 11 @ 7:58 pm
mattpattie
as has been said previously the differences are massive. if your a prefectionalist at beat matching you can hear the slight veriation in your head phones but in reality on a large system with echo ect it will sound perfect.
one word of advice
Look after your ears
Unlike headphones you only get one set and damage is iriversable.
after 20 mins of playing at a a loud level your ears normalise to the sound. so you will want to turn it up. lower the volume in your phones for a bit instead. Trust me you dont want to end up with constant ringing in the ears because you have over done it!
Have Fun
Matt (Half Deaf in one ear due to monitor speakers always being on the same side :) )
one word of advice
Look after your ears
Unlike headphones you only get one set and damage is iriversable.
after 20 mins of playing at a a loud level your ears normalise to the sound. so you will want to turn it up. lower the volume in your phones for a bit instead. Trust me you dont want to end up with constant ringing in the ears because you have over done it!
Have Fun
Matt (Half Deaf in one ear due to monitor speakers always being on the same side :) )
Posted Fri 14 Oct 11 @ 9:56 pm
drcrin2
another peace of usless info is if you can here that echo so can your audiance a system set up properly will not have an echo so if you are building a rig or setting a rig use decent prosessing with a delay on it wich allows you to cancel out the echo
Posted Sat 15 Oct 11 @ 7:58 am
Rickd423
You know what, when I first started, I couldn't even beat match....was practicing at home & it sounded horrible...I talked to my dj buddy & he told me it's hard for him 2 practice at home cuz there is no pressure if you mess up whereas, while you are on a gig if u mess up there is tons of pressure so he told me that is when he does his best when there is pressure, & I tend to agree with him on that....& Dickie he was just giving you a hard time when he said a lot of questions......at least your keeping us busy on here....lol
Posted Sat 15 Oct 11 @ 8:57 am
Dazmax
+ Eleventymillion for the ear protection advice.
Easy to say. Not so easy to do. Isolation headphones are one thing and using "Split Cue" is another (You have the master out in one ear and the mix channel in the other).
If you get to the end of a gig and your driving home you might notice the car is quieter than usual. I'm sure its happened to most DJ's at some point. Well thats the first BIG WARNING!!! Your ears attenuate in the short term in an attempt to protect themselves. Your hearing will normaly recover after a couple of hours. This happens over time and if you don't know whats happening you think the sound level has dropped. So what do you do? Turn it up louder of course ! The sound levels in club environments are almost always above the point where hearing loss will take place over time. Permanent hearing loss takes place from the higher frequencies down so by the time you notice it, the damage is done. Your hearing is not indistructable and once its gone its gone.
Some tips then.
Use ear protection if you can.
Have your hearing tested on a regular basis so you can track any changes. ( I am 42 years old and the last test I had done showed my hearing was still good up to 16 KHz) I know DJ's who at 19 years old, can't hear above 5Khz !!!! They will be using hearing aid's by the time they are 25!
Be carefull with the volume of nearfield monitors if you use them.
Use headphones which totaly cover your ears and give good isolation.
Watch out for the short term hearing loss. Its a warning. If you can build it in to your set, Take a break in a low noise area of the building. Or keep the headphones on with the volume turned down between mixes.
Don't walk in front of PA speakers running at high volume. The 130db + blast from a mid range PA horn driver at close range can kill your ears in a few seconds.
Watch the level you run your car sound system at and how long you have it wound up.
So realy the advice on DJing in loud environments is DON'T. Not going to happen but some of the above will help your mixing as well as look after your hearing.
Daz
Easy to say. Not so easy to do. Isolation headphones are one thing and using "Split Cue" is another (You have the master out in one ear and the mix channel in the other).
If you get to the end of a gig and your driving home you might notice the car is quieter than usual. I'm sure its happened to most DJ's at some point. Well thats the first BIG WARNING!!! Your ears attenuate in the short term in an attempt to protect themselves. Your hearing will normaly recover after a couple of hours. This happens over time and if you don't know whats happening you think the sound level has dropped. So what do you do? Turn it up louder of course ! The sound levels in club environments are almost always above the point where hearing loss will take place over time. Permanent hearing loss takes place from the higher frequencies down so by the time you notice it, the damage is done. Your hearing is not indistructable and once its gone its gone.
Some tips then.
Use ear protection if you can.
Have your hearing tested on a regular basis so you can track any changes. ( I am 42 years old and the last test I had done showed my hearing was still good up to 16 KHz) I know DJ's who at 19 years old, can't hear above 5Khz !!!! They will be using hearing aid's by the time they are 25!
Be carefull with the volume of nearfield monitors if you use them.
Use headphones which totaly cover your ears and give good isolation.
Watch out for the short term hearing loss. Its a warning. If you can build it in to your set, Take a break in a low noise area of the building. Or keep the headphones on with the volume turned down between mixes.
Don't walk in front of PA speakers running at high volume. The 130db + blast from a mid range PA horn driver at close range can kill your ears in a few seconds.
Watch the level you run your car sound system at and how long you have it wound up.
So realy the advice on DJing in loud environments is DON'T. Not going to happen but some of the above will help your mixing as well as look after your hearing.
Daz
Posted Sat 15 Oct 11 @ 2:56 pm