From: st10t@rosie.uh.edu (Bloo Square)
Subject: Re: Mixing Music
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 20:53:00 GMT

In article <BtG5u2.1yq@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, dmd39855@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel M. DuBois) writes...
> 
> 
>>        One Roland Synthesizer.  I don't have too many details on the keyboard,
>>                but I'm not very good on piano, so I won't be using it
>>                too much...

Quick comment to the guy who started this thread:  Why not trade your Roland
   in for an Ensoniq EPS 16+ (sequencer, 16 tracks, sampling CD quality, and
   3.5" disk with SCSI harddisk capability, even it's own OS), and start making
   your own music?  Breakbeats are easy, and you can even throw in stuff from
   CD's/record's or your mixes, then add your own creativity (the totally
    computerized keyboard gives you a great advantage, but it's still nice to
    learn how to really play an instrument, like the piano).
   Ensoniq EPS is anywhere from $2000 to $3000, btw.B

> 
> 
>exactly what does it take to get into DJing professionally?  I love going
>to clubs, I love the dancing, I love the music... and I said to myself:
>"self... if you were a DJ, you'd HAVE tp buy all this great music for your
>business... then you could listen to it whenver you want, and justify the
>expense."  What would it take?  Is it possible yet to be a DJ and create
>good mixes without dealing with the vinyl format, ie work from CDs only?
>What would be the startup cost for buying all the music and mixers and
>other equipment (assuming the persons intention is to ber mobile and play
>parties? maybe thats a bad assumption, maybe the person would be playing
>at clubs that would provide the equipment and music?) ?  and equally
>important, how does this ignorant smhoo go about learning the techniques
>involved, and thwn find somneone to pay him for his skills?  As you can see
>Im really interested in hearing from the working DJs of the group, people
>that have gone through all these experinces before, and can go into detail
>about the whole business...  Its something I personally would be interested
>in getting into, and Id appreciate anything anyone could tell me.
> 
>-Dan
> 
> 

Alright, this is some cool stuff.  The most common way of DJ'ing is (or used to
be):  Buy two turntables, which most likely should be Technics 1200's (SL, MKII,
and all those different names)...these range average from $300-600 each.  I found
a beat up one for $35 at a garage sale, fixed it up, and sold if for $100 easy.
But, I'm sure you can find some used one's in the paper or something for
$200-300 each...  so, think about $500 for turntables if you want to do this.

Then, you have to buy all the old singles that everybody likes (depending on
what kind of music genre you are into, and know all about), AND you then keep
up with the latest hot hits.  Singles are usually $4-6 domestic, and $8-15
import new.  Old stuff tends to go up in price if it's popular and not to many
exist (supply demand rule).  Records are the easiest thing to mix and locate
something you want.. and of course to scratch.  chikichika...

Vinyl is definitely cheaper than CD's.  So, I don't understand why you guys 
want to go into CD's.  First, the CD-mixers are about $1200-1500 each, right?
Three times as much as turntables, each...  and CD singles are practically
twice as much as vinyls..  The advantages of CD's clearly is sound quality
and an extremely longer life-span for the media.  but, try to mix with CD
mixers is like working with a computer  (automatic) rather than manually with
a turntable..  and scratching is only possibly (synthetically) with the CD-mixers
which have a pitch-variable queue control (the big knob).

Good CD mixers are Technics, Denon, and Numark (which come together and have beat
sequencing..  From Streetsound Sept.1991 (#51):
Denon DN-4000F $1,299
Econ SL-Xp1    $599  looks like a portable CD player with external controler.
Numark CD5020-6020   $1,275-1,995
Sony CDP-2700  $1,299
Technics SL-P1300  $1,800

Technics looks the easiest to work with.. Numark comes with dual Cd trays, as I said..


Once you decide between vinyl and CD, you choose the mixer.
You can get anything from a Realistic at radio shak for $69, which isn't bad,
to a Numark for a few hundred... the Numark mixer has sampling capability

Club DJ's get around $75-$150 a night (9pm-2am), or more, depending on how
good and popular they are...


*** Just buy Streetsound magazine (tabloid size).. it has LOTS of answers.
*** If you can get issue #51 (Sept. 1991), it has reviews on CD playes and
    tips on how to collect music, equipment, and how to get started as a DJ.

I started collecting singles, but started slowly to collect CD's with the thought
of using CD mixers (or samples in my music) in the future..   
CD is perfect quality.  But, I still get in the predicament of "Should I buy
this song on vinyl or CD?  or both?"   CD's have wiped me out (as in moneywise),
but I really don't think I'll be using records anymore, unless I started DJ'ing
and a nightclub.

If you are thinking about a serious mobile DJ BUSINESS, then you might wanna
think about tapes and compact systems.. plus, you need a DJ (or DJ's)
with a voice.


any specific questions: just ask!
Newsgroups: alt.rave