Support

Have a backup! No matter how good the software, computer and acessories are there's always the chance something will go wrong. No different to having a scratched CD jump and skip when you think about it, though a correctly set up digital system should be much more reliable than CD's.

So what do you use for a backup? Actually it doesn't matter as long as you can use the backup. A backup unit sitting in a van is worthless! The backup needs to be ready to go at a second's notice, already connected to your mixer. If the main system stops you're just pressing PLAY on the backup and fading in, couple of seconds work and an apology on the mic at most.

Most problems with computer DJ systems only take a few seconds to sort out, usually while you restart the DJ software. For a serious problem you might need to reboot, though that's very rare these days. Even with rebooting you're only using the backup for one or two tracks before your main system is ready to use again.

Backup devices some of our customers are using

• Another laptop running the same DJ software (maybe an older laptop suitable for audio only)
• Cheap MP3 player or iPod - make sure the batteries are charged and a track is ready to go. Careful, some sound awful when amplified!
  
• CD walkman
• Your existing CD decks and handful of CD's
• Lightweight racked player using SD memory cards - this one from American DJ is very popular, easy to use, looks and sounds good
  
• 
  

An easy question! First of all ... Don't use Windows Media Player! It can't convert karaoke discs and doesn't give you the best MP3 files for music.

There are plenty of utilities which convert your discs, some free, some you pay for.

The most popular ones are ;

• DBPOWERAMP - you have to buy this but it's considered the industry standard - www.dbpoweramp.com
• AUDIOGRABBER - costs nothing but needs setting up (we help with this just telephone) - www.audiograbber.com-us.net

There are others, don't panic if your friends use something different.Just make sure your chosen program is ripping your tracks into MP3 320Kbps bitrate or equivalent. Don't use low bitrates like 128Kbps, you're losing audio quality if you do.

Yes, you can download music instead of buying a CD. But you must check a few things before downloading.

Are you allowed to use the downloaded tracks for hire and reward? Most download sites open to the public state in the terms and conditions that you can't use the tracks and be paid for doing so. You can't use them if you get paid for your DJ work. This is part of the supplier's licensing conditions, any tracks available for public purchase are only for personal use, not commercial.

iTunes, HMV download store, Amazon, Napster etc. all provide their music to the public. You aren't allowed to DJ with their tracks if you get paid. (Getting caught is a different argument.)

Are the tracks you're downloading in a protected format? Some download stores put DRM (Digital Rights Management) on their tracks. For example most tracks on the iTunes store are in Apple's protected format and will only play on Apple hardware - no good to DJ with. Some download stores now offer unprotected MP3 tracks. Those will play fine.

There are some special download sites just for DJ's. As they class as "business to business" sites you are allowed to DJ with the tunes and get paid. Using the sites is easy, just register, pay for your tracks and download.  Some popular and fully legal DJ sites ;


www.mobiledjdownloads.com - Over 1 million tracks in pure WAV format, chart and classic tracks from all genres


http://digital.mastermixdj.com - MASTERMIX - All the Mastermix tracks in MP3 format

http://www.dmcdownload.com - DMC - All the DMC tracks in MP3 format

There are other sites but they tend to concentrate on the dance and club scene.

You're stealing the tracks. Don't do it. Every time you download an illegal track a kitten will die.

If you don't pay for the music you're a thief. You wouldn't go out with stolen amps and speakers would you? Same thing. Just because it's "on the internet" doesn't mean it's free.

Bearshare,Limewire, P2P services, torrents, piratebay, isohunt, newsgroups etc. -all totally illegal sources. Limewire even have the cheek to charge a subscription to people daft enough to pay, but it still doesn't make it legal. The record companies, artists and musicians get paid if you use a proper download service, using Limewire etc. they don't get a penny.

We see repeated examples where DJ's use filesharing services and catch awful viruses, apart from being illegal it is highly likely you'll catch a nasty virus. Don't do it!

Vista is a good operating system when set up properly and running on good enough hardware. The trick is to set it up (we'll advise on this) and carefully choose the computer to run it well.

Same goes for Windows 7, also a good operating system once set up properly.

Many new systems offer Windows 7 in 32 and 64 bit versions. With PCDJ software you're OK to use the 64 bit version, there are no compatibility problems.

All new laptops come stuffed with demo software, useless utilities and things running in the background. Removing them dramatically improves performance. It's one of the things we do when building or setting up a computer for DJ use.

Probably not.

Older machines (especially with a singe core Pentium 4 processor) are much slower than modern dual core machines. It's not just the processor speed, the motherboard, hard drives, graphics and memory are all much slower.

Some older machines will run DJ software - why not download the free demo and try for yourself?

Remember most lapotops only have a design lifespan of five years so expect reliability problems on older machines.

All DJ software has on-screen mixing so you might be tempted to use that and leave the 19" rack mixer at home.

Three problems though ;

• How do you preview tracks in headphones without the audience hearing them (CUE / Pre Fade Listen)
• The laptop headphone socket sounds bad when amplified
• How can you do a voice over - no mixer means no  DJ MIC input

Solve these problems by using your existing hardware mixer and a special multi-channel sound card for the laptop.

How to connect the computer, external sound card, ground loop isolators and mixer


You need the Ground Loop Isolators (GLI's) to prevent hum and interference getting into the mixer from the computer. Just fit and forget them, as long as each stereo line from your sound card to the mixer isolated you'll be fine.

To have headphone pre-fade / CUE you need two audio outputs. One for the main feed to the amplifier and one for your headphones. Or use the two feeds into a conventional 19" hardware mixer, as you would do with a CD player. Then you can use the hardware mixer and standard headphones for PFL/CUE, same as you've always done. Using the hardware mixer is the best method as you don't have to learn any new techniques.

The external sound cards also guarantee good quality sound, much better than your laptop itself can provide. Some examples ;


Gigaport - 4 x stereo channels


Numark DJIO - 2 x stereo channels

In this way the laptop and card replaces what a twin deck CD player would be doing.

Not with your existing decks, no. The controllers for those are pretty dumb and only work their own decks.

However you can buy many types of controller which replicate your CD controller but control the DJ software instead. Some types are rack mount, some are smaller and portable. Check with the DJ software you want to use as not all controllers are compatible with all software.

All the controllers just plug into the computer with a USB cable. Some also need a power supply, this will come with the controller. Most modern controllers don't need one and only use USB, getting their power from the USB socket.

Some popular controllers ;



Numark Total Control - portable, about the same size as a laptop


Denon HC4500 - 3U rack mounted or free standing


DP-2 controller with twin channel sound card built in

The Denon HC4500 and DP-2 are unusual, they have a twin channel sound card built in. Ifyou use those then you don't need the external cards shown in Q7. Also the HC4500 controller can drive a special set of Denon CD drawers at the same time. Ask about this feature when you call.

9. How many computers can I install my PCDJ program on - I want to have a backup!
At the moment you can install on TWO computers, with a third activation held in reserve in case of emergencies.

PCDJ.COM have the final say - the following is taken from the PCDJ.COM website ;

http://www.pcdj.com/index.php/support/customer-service

License / Activation Codes / Resets, etc (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
The customer is responsible for security and safety of their product license code for PCDJ Products. PCDJ is not responsible for lost codes and cannot issue replacement product codes. If you have lost your license code please visit this page and fill out a support ticket. please type Lost License in the license field. Please allow 1 full business day for a reply. In Case of an Emergency you can use PCDJ Software Demo as a fully functional version for 14 days. Your license allows for installation on 2 machines at the same time with a 3rd activation built in for emergencies. If you go over this limit you will need to visit this page and request a code reset. There will be 1 complimentary license reset with a $9.95 fee applied for all resets thereafter. This reset policy, however, does not allow allow for installation on more than 2 machines at the same time.