GADGETS

In this digital day and age, although vinyl records are still available to be used in DJing, they are drastically being replaced by digital turntables, or the CD DJ Turntables.  Currently, the Pioneer CDJ-2000 Professional Multi Player is the most commonly used turntable for professional club DJs and the Pioneer DJM-2000 Mixer is the most common mixer for professionals as well.

In answering whether there’s the need to have the best equipment in the market, you can start out with one  turntable, and start from there.  There is not even a specific make or model perfect for the job, but there will be a make or model perfect for you.  There is also the ideal option of buying used ones when you are just starting out.

Another possible option in terms of equipment is by using your laptop (for example, the Apple Macbook Pro), which may be a more economical option for you.  Choosing this option will only involve investing in applications simulating different DJ equipments.

SOUND POOL

DJing requires you to have more than ample numbers of music readily available, whether you are a digital user, or an analog one.  For analog users, the hunt for music will involve a lot of leg work since vinyl records are now being sold in select record stores.  Lucky for those who use digital equipment, the hunt can be done in the comfort of your own computers, as they are readily available online for downloading. The number of download sites are more than enough for anyone interested in music, as well as the type of music, which will depend on the kind of music and sound you wish to produce.

Other sources of music are record pools produced by other DJs themselves, but most of them go by subscription.  If you are a regular DJ, downloading these tracks won’t be a problem.  It will not be a good subscription if you are only an occasional DJ.  Although most of these record pools require you to prove your profession as a DJ, there are a few who take risks in allowing newcomers to buy music from them.  Buying these tracks will ensure fresh tracks instead of exhausting mainstream music, as well as guaranteeing approved music from other experienced DJs.

CHOOSING YOUR MUSIC

Deciding what to play primarily involves the music that you want to impart to others.  Music styles vary from DJ to DJ, although the current trend veer mostly towards Electronic music, including Trance, House, Techno, etc.  Look for the style that best suits you, although it will be best to know different styles to make sure that you are always up to any occasion.  Holding your own in terms of your music is the best way to go.  You also have the choice to whether put art first before commerce.

As you know as a music lover, musical tastes evolve constantly, and however much you retain the flavor in your music, it will still evolve as you progressively develop as a DJ, so keep an open mind.

DRIVE

What attracts you to DJing?  Answer that question so that you will know where your priorities lie.  DJing for the art of it will let you enjoy the craft through the years – consistently.  It will not matter whether you earn enough, for as long as you get your music heard.  If your goal on the hand is to simply catch attention, the novelty of DJing will fade once the crowd goes.

This article does not tackle the wide range of other things that other DJs might find important, but the above will give you an idea on how to start.  Best of luck!

Thank you for reading The DJ Beginner’s Guide: Choosing the Right Equipment Setup For You from IWDJ.

All reviews have biases, and it is best to point out its flaws. Starting with the difficult to remove, highly solid mini-XLR cable. It takes quite a tugging, after pushing the unlocking button, before it loosens out. Also, the unlocking button seems like it won’t be able to hold for a long time, and it would be advisable not to remove it unless the cable needs to be replaced. Unplugging it often may cause it to be worn out, and with the headphone’s foldable design, there is no reason to do so all that much.

The Sound Quality & Function

Comparing its slider with the Ultrasone DJ1 S-Logic, it has a solid construction, which seems to be a good thing, but there have been reports that cracks have been found in similar designs, such as those found in the Denon DH-HP1000. Pioneer assures though that the headband is reinforced with metal, which may be found in the slider.

To point out, the earcups are not as flexible and only swivels up to 90 degrees, as opposed to 180 degrees. This feature is not really that important, but it would be nicer to have extra flexibility.

No other features were added to compete with Ultrasone’s S-Logic technology. Although Pioneer does not have surround sound technology, nor is there protection for hearing outside of standard isolation and from electromagnetic radiation, the headphone’s isolation is better than Ultrasone’s DJ1 headphones. The only downside about these headphones may only be on the EM radiation protection and the surround sound, where the EM radiation protection may not be such a huge cause of concern since headphones don’t have such high frequency outputs.

In general, the Pioneer HDJ-2000 headphones do not really have any major flaws that can bother the user that much. For professionals who wish to know specific comparisons, the sound quality is amazing, and evenly competes with that of the Ultrasone DJ1. The mid frequency does not stand out as much as the bass and high frequency, but only by a fraction. The high frequency sounds are quite nice and they emit dynamic bass sounds. Although Ultrasone offers better mid sounds, the bass sounds are better on these ones. The high frequency sounds though are equal on both brands. Other brands such as the Allen & Heath XONE:XD-53 and the Denon DN-HP1000 is not in the same league in terms of sound, as they are just as loud, but fails in clarity in terms of sound isolation.

Although it does not offer the same isolation as that of the Sennheiser HD 280, it may even be an advantage since the user can converse even with the music on should you need to. A minimal echoing sound can be heard when tapped, and one might need to lower the volume when mixing music on the outside. To sum up the comparison, HDJ-2000 offers better isolation than the Ultrasone DJ1 and the XONE:XD-53.

The Special Features

These headphones emit very loud sounds at maximum volume, comparable to computer desktop speakers, where you can clearly hear your music even when they are not worn. This should be cause for caution in terms of hearing damage. With the good isolation it offers, there is little need to pump up the volume, so damaging your hearing should not be much cause for concern, unless used at high volumes all the time.

Other features include a flexible but solid coiled cable, satisfactory bag, replaceable coiled cable and earcups – priced at $30 when replaced for the cable and $50 for the earcups. The texture of the earcups are as good as leather, and are soft and do not get too hot when used. The design uses memory foam for added comfort.

The swivel is very gentle, and do not snap when worn. They also gently rest on the ears and does not have added pressure, which are as comfortable as earmuffs. Although the headband is well-built, it is very flexible and provides enough padding that the user might not feel it much at all when wearing the headphones. Putting all comfort to consideration, these headphones are very comfortable, and probably are the most comfortable headphones in the full-enclosure category.

Another plus is the mono/stereo switch, which helps to lessen adjusting DJ software setting constantly. The mono sound produced in these headphones are very nice – considering that it is in mono, and more than good to be used for mixing. The mono can also be heard on both earcups allowing the user to listen alternately on each side.

Another note on the headphones’ flexibility is the ease of use between letting it rest on your neck and listening in one ear. Folding them also holds no problem and proves to be very easy to do. Although they seem big based on the pictures, they are small apart from the earcups since the headbands are only around an inch wide.

In a scale of 10, Pioneer HDJ-2000 gets a solid 9.5. Although there is still room for improvement, other products may well fall under 9 for Ultrasone DJ1, 8 and below for all others under this category, excluding the Sennheiser HD 25 1-II, which have not been reviewed or tested. For those who prefer small headphones though, Sennheiser is the way to go. But for full ear coverage headphones, Pioneer did a really fine job with the HDJ-2000.

Thank you for reading Pioneer HDJ-2000: Professional DJ Headphones Review from IWDJ.

Pioneer Pro DJ is a world-wide renowned brand. Ever since CDs surpassed vinyl in the 1990s the brand has been a world leader in CDJ players amongst other DJ equipment.

Apart from being industry leaders, Pioneer sponsors young talent through their Pioneer DJ competitions.

We spoke to Pioneers’ glitzy addition to the team, Monica Cook (aka DJ Playmate), about her career as a Pioneer DJ. She has been a Pioneer DJ since 2009 and is one to watch out for with addictive beats and mixes of dirty, funky and rocking house that will knock your socks off.

How did you come up with your DJ name?

It inspired by a Wheels & Doll Baby shirt I found while rummaging through my wardrobe one day. People remember it; it’s a playful name with a bit of sexiness about it. That’s how I like to portray myself, not just as an artist but my personality as well.

How long have you been a Pioneer DJ for?

I’m into my second year now as an ambassador for the brand.

How did you become a Pioneer DJ?

Initially it was through winning the Pioneer DJ Search Competition in 2009, where as part of the competition winnings I become an Ambassador for twelve months. However after the twelve months ended I was invited to continue as an ambassador on my on merits of success as a DJ.

Was it competitive?

Competitive indeed! It was a tough competition but it was also exhilarating. From what I recall there were over three hundred DJs nationally that entered into the search. The competition is run in two stages: the first was through peer voting to determine the top ten mixes, then the second stage was judged by a number of other respected industry heads including Grant Smilie and Mark James.

What do you have to do as a Pioneer DJ?

The great thing about being a Pioneer DJ is that all you have to do is be your own artistic self, which is different from your average career.

What are your duties as Pioneer DJ?

My main duty is to focus on your passion, which is the music, and inspire others by your drive and talent. My main goal whenever I’m playing a gig is to get people moving and dancing regardless of whether they’re straight or drunk.

What are some of the perks of the job?

The opportunity to use some of the best DJ technology in the world. I see it as an honor and a perk that Pioneer value me as an artist and that I am included as part of the Pioneer Dj family.

What is the first Pioneer product you had to use?

I was fortunate enough to be one of the first in Australia to let loose on the CDJ 2000s when they were released, which was awesome.

Had you been using Pioneer products before becoming a Pioneer DJ? Which?

Most definitely. As a professional DJ you use Pioneer equipment on a regular basis, being that it is the professional standard in clubs and venues. I also have Pioneer gear in my home studio for practice and house jamming purposes.

How long are you planning on staying with Pioneer? Are there other projects coming up for you?

Well my master plan is to stay with Pioneer for a LONG time. I think when that day does come to an end and I depart it will be due to my loss of the passion. So pretty much until my death bed.

[laughter]

Have you been limited in any way by tying yourself to Pioneer products only?

Not at all. Pioneer understand that their technology alone doesn’t make a DJ. As a brand Pioneer creates products that work together with other leading DJ technology to maximise the potential of combining various DJ tools within a performance, so limitations to “Pioneer only” have never been an issue.

Do you enjoy the job?

I LOVE MY JOB!! Music was my sea change from the corporate world of advertising and I tell no lie when I say to follow your dream, because you will never look back or feel like you are working another day in your life.

Do you find the industry male dominated? Does this impact your career as a female DJ?

Regardless of the industry as a female your success at times is judged purely by your looks and sex appeal, which can be frustrating. Although I take pride in my appearance and how I present myself, however this is not the motivation for making music. I just love the effect a great set can have on an audience, music is a powerful tool when combined in the right way and that is my focus for my audience, but like in any career you are not only judged by your skill but also how you present yourself and I take pride in both.

What advice would you give to ‘up and coming’ female DJs?

Make the most of your skill, and work hard to achieve what you love to create. When you pursue your passion, success will follow.

What are your career plans for the near future?

I’m now taking the steps of moving into the production side of music and getting creative in the studio. I’m excited about moving forward into this domain, with the hope and confidence of my audience hearing some rocking tracks from DJ Playmate in 2011.

See larger image Pioneer CDJ-2000 Professional Multi Player (Electronics) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $1,850.00 In Stock Release date December 10, 2009.

Thank you for reading Interview with Pioneer Pro Female DJ Playmate Monica Cook from IWDJ.

As we talked about earlier, the place is called dubspot. It started in December of 2006 and it can give you classes on scratching, mixing, and video/visual training. Neil Armstrong, a member of dubspot, says, “DJing is one of those things, it becomes your life. It comes from hip-hop. You had someone like Grandmaster Flash who put it down in its most current form using two turntables and a mixer with a cue, but now there is rock, house, trance, hip-hop.”

A cool thing I noticed with this place is that it caters to you whether you just picked up your first deck or you’ve been djing for a bit. You can baby step it with classes on beat matching and advanced courses talking about the psychology of dance floors and how to hook up perfect cross-genre mixing transitions.

Dubspot owner Dan Giove says, “It’s not as easy as it seems. DJing is actually an art.”

Whether or not you take these classes, I’d highly suggest you check out Learn to DJ Now – it’ll definitely put you on the fast-track to getting your dj skills topnotch. Isn’t just great to be able to learn from the comfort of your own home? So these are both two great resources, dubspot and Learn to DJ Now – they’ll get you learning how to be a dj in no time!

Related posts:

• Classes on How to be a DJ

Thank you for reading Classes on How to be a DJ (Part 2) from IWDJ.

Thing is, the school is in Manhattan, New York. So if you live there, cool. If not, then start researching some flight tickets if you want to check it out.

The place is called dubspot, and it gives dj and music production classes to whoever wants it, all ages.

One student said, “At the beginning I was very nervous because I didn’t want to touch anything or break anything, but you can actually take it easy and just go crazy.” Seems like a great spot to learn if you’re starting out wanting to be a dj and you don’t know where to start learning. Gives you a focused lesson plan, which is good for starters.

Classes range from $395 to $1,495, which is expensive, but if you have the finances for it or you can reinvest your money from dj gigs into furthering your skills, it could be a good investment.

I found another spot called Learn to DJ Now though where you can learn dj skills online, for a fraction of the price you’d pay in most places, and I gotta tell you it looks great.

This site has dj tutorials, live dj videos showing you how to scratch and mix, and even an ebook so you can get in deep with the art of djing.

You can of course learn how to be a dj on your own, but why not get that knowledge and bypass years of mistakes and frustration by checking out Learn to DJ Now!

Related posts:

• Classes on How to be a DJ (Part 2)

Thank you for reading Classes on How to be a DJ from IWDJ.

Except not for humans.

Did you know cats can be djs?

Heck I didn’t know.

I know they scratch furniture really well.

So maybe the potential is there to scratch records as well? Hmmm…..

There’s a cat school called Meow Mix Acatemy (yes it’s Acatemy -not a typo lolll) where they actually teach cats how to dj. The course is called Cat Scratch Fever.

The question is: do they teach cats how to mix and if so, is it called “meow mixing”?

I gotta say as a cat owner it’s hard to teach cats – mainly because they are so independent! I did find a site called Complete Cat Training that looks great. With this program you can teach your cat how to wave, shake, kiss, snuggle, crawl, weave through legs, play dead, speak, ring a bell, open cupboards, climb a ladder, and retrieve! If your cat knows how to do all this and how to be a dj, then you have yourself one smart cat!

Thank you for reading Cats Learning How to be a DJ from IWDJ.

Either way, I know you’ll find something of interest here.

We have a some great additions for you in the near future, including interviews with top djs, reviews and downloads of dj mix sets and videos of dj sets from the international circuit.

In order to keep up with the updates, make sure to subscribe to the feed, share this post via email or facebook (links are below the post) so others can enjoy as well, tell your friends, and spread the word – cause hey, we plan on taking this big and helping many people realize their goal of learning how to be a dj!

So keep it locked!

Thank you for reading Introduction from IWDJ.