About different DJ setups at bars/clubs

So I have been messing around with my Traktor S4 for some time and been really passionate about play/mixing electronic music live. Always been the DJ guy at friend's parties. I'm hoping to be able to play at small bars in my area in future.

But I have one question about the controllers or CDJs they bars use.

Whenever I take a peek at what setup the DJs in my area uses, it is almost always Serato with some kind of CDJ (sometimes they use a DJ controller, but still with Serato).

I've been using Traktor from the start. So I'm guessing it won't be possible for me to get these gigs unless I learn how to use Serato? Or is it possible to map my Traktor S4 to Serato and familiarize myself with the software?

Or do CJDs have a totally different interface where I need to learn how to use before I can play live?


TL;DR: I've only ever used an Traktor S4, and have no idea how the DJ world and whole DJ set up is like outside. Like what do I do if I want to do some small time gigs at bars?

Please share your thoughts! :)

If you know how to beat match by ear just run some tracks through rekord box onto two usb and use the cdj's.
See if you can jump on a pair of CDJ's for a trial run before hand just to get used to it but really they aren't hard to use. Play, Cue Pitch and jogs work basically the same.

If they are older generation cdj's 1000's or older bring your laptop and time code cd's or bring your S4 - What ever seems like less of a hassle for you. Or you could burn CD's..

Just bring your laptop and S4, no one can make you use Serato. However, you have to make sure there's enough space for all this (even in the worst cases, you should be able to just about to fit in). If not, learn how to beatmatch by ear if you haven't yet and burn CDs/prepare USB sticks, depending on the CDJs they have at the club. It's all about preparation and communication with the promoters.

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Originally Posted by DISaS73R

Just bring your laptop and S4, no one can make you use Serato. However, you have to make sure there's enough space for all this (even in the worst cases, you should be able to just about to fit in). If not, learn how to beatmatch by ear if you haven't yet and burn CDs/prepare USB sticks, depending on the CDJs they have at the club. It's all about preparation and communication with the promoters.

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Also, minimise any inconvenience for other DJs while you switch over.

I think the "problem" you're seeing here is based on a misconception about the pre-installed gear in bars/clubs.

What those placed typically have installed is a mixer and these day most likely some CDJs (some years ago it was turntables instead).

Everything else is up to the DJ. If he wants to play with Serato and timecode, he has to bring his laptop, SL-box and timecode CDs/records. Same goes for Traktor.

The laptop running the software is always the DJ's own, so what program he uses is completely up to him.


Playing with Traktor and your S4 shouldn't be an issues at all, just make sure there's enough space in the DJ booth for your controller.


Regarding LoopCat's advice: I wouldn't count on every bar/club having the latest generation of CDJs installed... Many smaller places still only have older players, especially in bars where music isn't the main focus for the night.

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Originally Posted by TCMuc

What those placed typically have installed is a mixer and these day most likely some CDJs (some years ago it was turntables instead).

Everything else is up to the DJ. If he wants to play with Serato and timecode, he has to bring his laptop, SL-box and timecode CDs/records. Same goes for Traktor.

The laptop running the software is always the DJ's own, so what program he uses is completely up to him.

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Do any of these mixers work with traktor though? I guess it wouldn't be big a problem as long as I can use traktor with other hardware setups, perhaps some fiddling around before playing live would familiarize myself with them?


I'm kinda stuck now because it would be weird approaching the bar/club and telling them I've never use a setup like theirs before. Any advice?

If you can play by ear... (next time you're playing with your s4 put the laptop on the side/behind you/turn it around so you can't see the monitor burn some CDs and try.
I recommend CDs because as TCMuc said, i wouldn't expect every venue to have the new gen CDJs, i don't think i've ever seen the 2000 in real life lol. I think they're the most convenient and reliable medium to play off

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Originally Posted by easd

TL;DR: I've only ever used an Traktor S4, and have no idea how the DJ world and whole DJ set up is like outside. Like what do I do if I want to do some small time gigs at bars?

Please share your thoughts! :)

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You can use whatever the hell you want; YOU'RE the DJ, so use whatever you feel comfortable with.

If a venue complains about you bringing your own gear, then politely tell them they can find someone else who doesn't care as much about their craft as you do. If they ask what you mean, just explain that the reason you use the gear that you do is so that you can give the audience the best experience possible. If they still won't accept that, then it's not a venue worth playing at.

Buy a second hand Audio 4 or 6 so you can continue to use Traktor without having to haul the S4 everywhere.

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Originally Posted by johney

If you can play by ear... (next time you're playing with your s4 put the laptop on the side/behind you/turn it around so you can't see the monitor burn some CDs and try.
I recommend CDs because as TCMuc said, i wouldn't expect every venue to have the new gen CDJs, i don't think i've ever seen the 2000 in real life lol. I think they're the most convenient and reliable medium to play off

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Damn, a lot of venues out by me have them lol. When I'm out I almost always land on a pair of 2000's

if i had an s4, i would still just take my x1's and soundcard to a bar. the s4 is a sweet controller, but way to big to take out unless it is the centre piece in the setup.

might be a case of me playing a pretty niche genre of music, i don't know about the mainstream/top40 venues, but the clubs i've played at usually had a bit older gear. I'm pretty positive the top40 clubs in my town make the DJ bring all their stuff.


edit: @kwal

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Originally Posted by johney

might be a case of me playing a pretty niche genre of music, i don't know about the mainstream/top40 venues, but the clubs i've played at usually had a bit older gear. I'm pretty positive the top40 clubs in my town make the DJ bring all their stuff.


edit: @kwal

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Oh wow, hopefully they pay them well for that lol.

If I know the bar was a CDJ/Mixer setup already, I usually leave the controller at home and just run with my laptop, an A6 and maybe an X1, just to minimize the clutter in the booth...

Do the software depend on the CJD or the mixer?

(Sorry for the dumb question, I'm very new to this)

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Originally Posted by easd

Do the software depend on the CJD or the mixer?

(Sorry for the dumb question, I'm very new to this)

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*CDJ; CJD is Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, aka human mad cow disesase.

But no; you can use any software with CDJs, but you may - depending on the CDJ model; most venues have 1000s or rackmount Denons - have to use a timecode DVS box like a Traktor Audio 6 or Audio 10 in order to use them. You're much better off just taking your controller.

Just to suggest something no one else has mentioned yet... take some time to really think if you are ready to start playing out. I know when I started, I never used the internet let alone own a computer. With that lack of information available to me, I still had a somewhat firm grasp on the equipment being used. Granted, there wasn't that much available either. The standard setup was a couple of 1200's and a rane/urei mixer. I'm not saying you aren't ready or aren't doing your part to find out about what's out there, but if you ask if you need to know this other stuff to play out without having a general understanding of the top tools which are considered standards, you may be putting the carriage in front of the horse.
Take some more time to find out about exactly what type of equipment venues generally are using, and what types of venues are using which setups. Research some of it and find out about how it works/what it does. Then, once you have an understanding of the more popular DJ setups found at most clubs, you might be in a more suitable position to start playing out for people.

PS - not trying to come off harsh. Just pointing out that if you are new enough to not really have that knowledge down firmly, you might no have been DJing long enough to have a solid skill base down firm.

+1 for X1 and sound card. Beats bringing any sort of all-in-one.

Honestly you're going to see a lot of different setups when you go out. It also tends to reflect on the club and the style of music being played, and if it's equipment installed and owned by the club, or if it's the equipment being provided by the promoters.

If the equipment is owned and maintained by the club, it's always a 50/50 shot if everything is working correctly. Promoters (at least in my experience) tend to have better kept up gear (because either it's a business they rent from, or it's their personal equipment).

You're going to probably run into CDJ's and a 4 channel mixer. Using your S4, you can just plug into one of the open channels of the mixer and start going. It's a pretty simple thing, and it's one of the nice things about using controllers.

That being said, it's awfully silly to use a controller when you are using CDJ-850's, CDJ-900's, CDJ-2000's because of HID mode with Traktor (esp. with a DJM-900 nexus). You just take the USB cables, plug them into your computer, and adjust a couple settings, and BAM full control of Traktor (or Serato with a bit more tweaking) using the clubs equipment. It's something you're probably going to need a tutorial the first time to mess around with and get working correctly, but it's one of the simplest setups out there.

Serato vs Traktor is beaten to death. That being said, you're going to see people using both. Honestly you tend to see younger DJ's using Traktor more often than older DJ's, and that's just a personal observation. Outside of the EDM community Serato is also vastly more popular (at least here in the states) from what I've personally observed in the northeast.

But really, you should be prepared to play a set on anything. Using the equipment provided to you also sets a level of professionalism with gigs that is nice. I say that because honestly you'll get to a spot where you really don't want to be playing the "bring your own equipment" parties anymore if you can be using solid equipment. Those gigs that provide equipment? They are also going to pay you better (more likely) as well.

Everyone starts somewhere. Start playing out. Rent some CDJ's from a local friend / promoter for a week (usually they will do it for cheaper mid-week when they wouldn't be renting them out anyhow).

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Originally Posted by sobi

Just to suggest something no one else has mentioned yet... take some time to really think if you are ready to start playing out. I know when I started, I never used the internet let alone own a computer. With that lack of information available to me, I still had a somewhat firm grasp on the equipment being used. Granted, there wasn't that much available either. The standard setup was a couple of 1200's and a rane/urei mixer. I'm not saying you aren't ready or aren't doing your part to find out about what's out there, but if you ask if you need to know this other stuff to play out without having a general understanding of the top tools which are considered standards, you may be putting the carriage in front of the horse.
Take some more time to find out about exactly what type of equipment venues generally are using, and what types of venues are using which setups. Research some of it and find out about how it works/what it does. Then, once you have an understanding of the more popular DJ setups found at most clubs, you might be in a more suitable position to start playing out for people.

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Id have to agree. Going to a bar/club with a full set up booth without having ever used the gear doesn't sound like the best idea. See if you can can get some experience first.

It's always good to know how to play on CDJs to kill any haters who say things like "you're not a real DJ" and the like. It's always best to ignore these people but sometimes you just have to put your money were your mouth is and play on their gear better than them. Bear in mind, CDJs are just independent glorified MIDI controllers. No amount of marketing and "industry standards" changes the fact it's electronic components playing an MP3.

You can easily get gigs with Traktor, lots of big names use it and lots of working DJs use it. But in reality, you could even create your own DJing software and use that because at the end of the day, song selection trumps every other aspect of DJing.

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Originally Posted by Sambo

Bear in mind, CDJs are just independent glorified MIDI controllers. No amount of marketing and "industry standards" changes the fact it's electronic components playing an MP3.

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MIDI controllers do not play MP3s. That's the very difference between a controller and a CDJ. The CDJ actually contains electronic components.

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Originally Posted by makar1

MIDI controllers do not play MP3s. That's the very difference between a controller and a CDJ. The CDJ actually contains electronic components.

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hence the "independent" part.

If the club is well run, they should have a sound guy. Be sure to check with the sound guy before you touch any of the clubs gear. If you start mucking with cables leading to the amps and such, you could actually cause damage if you cause a pop in the system. Sometimes clubs will not want you to touch the main mixer, as the system (if it's a good one), will be tuned to sound best using their mixer.

It's best to know what you are getting involved in before you get there, so be sure to ask ahead. Be polite and professional, of course.