Okay I have been djing at house parties lately but I want to move onto something bigger like night clubs and stuff, I don’t want to attempt a night club and embarrass myself just yet so I was wondering on what equipment I need to become a better DJ/Producer. At the moment I use Virtual DJ Pro on my laptop and I connect my Numark Mixtrack Pro up to that. I use fruity loops studio to produce music. I was wondering on what other equipment I need to help me DJ and produce. Any recommended ones would be great!
Don’t know where you live or what the club setups around you have, but likely you need some familiarity with Pioneer CDJs and probably Pioneer mixers, or familiarity with Pioneer CDJ’s and I believe a controller that has timecode capabilities along with software that does as well. (not sure if Virtual DJ has this ability)
As far as production, you can use FL studio, but some good monitors are pretty necessary or at least good, flat headphones.
In terms of gear. Find out what the clubs in your area are using and/or what is the most practical solution for you.
All you need is a device/s that lets you mix two tracks together and some speakers for practice.
When you’re DJ’n at good clubs, you’re basically almost always using their equipment. Usually consists of a pair of CDJ’s (1000’s possibly, 900’s, or 2000’s most likely) a pair of Technics 1200 turntables, and a either Pioneer mixer (DJM800 or 900) or a Rane mixer (TTM57SL or 62). List can vary a little bit depending on where you live, but those are the basic club standards. So you’re basically bringing headphones, music (laptop, USB stick, CD’s, vinyl, etc), possibly needles if you use vinyl, possibly timecode cd’s or vinyl if you’re using timecode, maybe an audio interface, and some other small accessories, but you get the point.
Key to playing regularly at a real club isn’t as easy as purchasing professional club gear, or even becoming familiar with using club standard gear (it is necessary though). Having good experience DJ’n, playing out for crowds at bars and what not on a regular basis, making a name for yourself on social media, making connections in the business that can get you a shot at playing at a bigger venue, and making the most out of that chance you are given is ultimately is most likely the key to landing you some regular work at big clubs. It’s not hard to get to that point, but it does take time, and most people aren’t willing to put the time in.
Can’t really comment much on any of your questions regarding production. Producers that “DJ” is a whole different game.
Yea you need to be able to work and give back to the crowd and spread that positive vibe! Also yea, know your music and shtuff!
And actually the place I play at does not provide their own stuff so I have to bring it in but there is not a big ‘club’ scene where I am at, I pretty much have to make it the club scene myself. I don’t get all the fancy CDJ setups and stuff. Having a good controller helps. I have a great time with the Traktor S4.
Also I just would not use Virtual DJ. I used that when I very first started and I was just basically a stepping stone for me because I didn’t know any better. Hell, I was using a Hercules DJ Console RMX, the two deck. People tend to make fun of Virtual DJ users I think… just a stigma I guess but I do understand why. But hell if you can rip through your tracks with it than that shouldn’t matter.
Also X2 on the studio monitors from me. You really gotta have a decent pair in my opinion to properly produce. However, when you do get that track ‘mastered’ in however way you do it, you gotta listen to how it sounds on other systems.
