Elite

Hi, I have also had the same dilemma as you and found that kJams appeared to be the only software around to do this (if using your mac as it comes, without boot camp). I bought the lite version and an external Freecom drive and am about a third of the way through ripping my 360+ discs - it takes forever, if you want to pay attention to what the titles, artists are, etc. Anyway, good software and great support from Dave at kJams, should you need it.

Interesting thread and notably, most are about Karaoke... I guess that is because there is more interaction with people. I've been doing Karaoke for 6-7 years now and still love it. Some nights are better than others, some singers are absolutely fantastic and others are that bad it's hilarious! All good fun. However, things that get to me are: - swinging the mic around... why?! These are expensive pieces of kit; - people invading my space and talking really close in your face; - requests to sing now, as they are about to leave; - people being so drunk that they can't stand u

Hi, I've just had a call from someone who has been let down. I'm booked, but can anyone else help? Thanks, Ian

I'm a regular subscriber to Sunfly, which look ok, however I've never really given it that much thought. I tend to think that the backing track quality is of more importance and on that basis Zoom tracks are excellent, the best you can get in my opinion. STTW, Sunfly, Music Factory and Mr Entertainer are also decent quality - I have a few Backstage discs too, which are absolute rubbish!

Thanks for your help guys, I will have a look around...

Fairly sure, yes. I'm sure that the software will play whatever is loaded into the computer (or even in the drive), its just that the drive is not capable of reading a CDG file - I've looked all over the internet and the general opinion is that Macbook drives cannot read CDG's.

Not sure if anyone can point me in the right direction, but I have decided to go digital with Karaoke and load all my discs onto my computer. I have a Macbook Pro and have Numark Cue DJ software which will handle the Karaoke side just fine. The problem I have is that my computer's built in drive will not read the graphic part of the track, so presumably I need to invest in a drive that can do this. Can anyone recommend an external drive that will read CDG's and work with a Macbook, preferably one which connects via Firewire? Thanks...

Hi Rich! Good to hear from you, but a shame you are giving up the DJing, as I know you were an entertaining, professional DJ. I'm still doing a bit, but mostly Karaoke, as that's what I enjoy most. I'm also lead singer in a rock band now too, which is great fun! If ever you are in Cheshire, let me know. Obviously, I'm now a bit short on time too... plus more recently, I've found that punters do not want to pay a decent price for a quality service, so not doing so many full on discos. I may be interested in you Bose poles though... can you PM/text me with a price? All the bes

I have the offer of a gig on 31st October in a local snooker/pool club - nice venue/people, but not great money. I can't do it, anyone interested? You must be completely up-to-date with your music and the owners are two young guys, who enjoy the latest chart hits. They may also require a bit of Karaoke, but I will need to check with them... Cheers, Ian

Anyone interested in doing a Disco, plus a bit of Karaoke in Longton - fee is £200. You must be completely up-to-date with your music and Karaoke. Please PM me. Cheers, Ian

I have the offer of a gig on 31st October in a local snooker/pool club - nice venue/people, but not great money. I can't do it, anyone interested? You must be completely up-to-date with your music and the owners are two young guys, who enjoy the latest chart hits. They may also require a bit of Karaoke, but will need to check with them... Cheers, Ian

I also view Saturday as a premium night and if people do not want to pay what I quote, then I'm sure there will be some less professional outfit willing to do it. With regards to Fridays, I do tend to offer a lower price, but stating it as a 20% or whatever is a good idea and a selling point. I also charge a lower rate for a residency.

I have 4 Martin 812 Roboscans + a great controller available (40+ sequences) - all in good working order, complete with all power cables, interconnects & two very sturdy Stucco Aluminium flight cases. I will be putting on eBay next week, but just thought I would see if any of you guys & girls were interested - I'm looking for £500-£600 for the lot. Please PM or e-mail me.

Hi Rich! Good to see you back - hope the DJing takes off again for you! What's up with that guy from Torquay then... very rude. I always thought that this was a polite forum. Oh, I won't need to bug you anymore about my website - I can manage to do the basic maintenance without too much fuss. Good Luck! Ian

Hi, I would really appreciate any views on running the following equipment and which amp(s) match best with the speakers - although I have had it explained to me on many occasions, I seem unable to remember the watts and ohms rules! SPEAKERS: Tops - Wharfedale EVPS-12: 8 Ohm, 150w Cont, 300w Prog, 600w Peak Bass - Wharfedate EVP-15SB: 4 Ohm, 400w Cont, 800w Prog, 1600w Peak AMPLIFIERS: McGregor SD15 console with built-in Amp: 4 Ohm, 2 x 650w per channel 2 x W-Audio DA800 Power Amps: 4 Ohm, 2 x 400w per channel I suspect that I have more power than the speakers can handle

I get all the DMC discs every month (DJ only, Commercial Collection & Essential Hits) at a cost of £52 a month! I can't be bothered with downloads and I like to be up to date - I also like listening to the latest dance music myself, so given that they are all tax deductible, the net cost is £31 a month. I find that I rarely have to invest in any other form of music, having built up a collection of 60's - 90's music over the years. It works for me, if you need to be bang up-to-date, get the above discs! Edited TonyB duplicate bit deleted

It has to be gear failure, which I have unfortunately experienced too often and as recent as last Saturday at a Wedding: I got my kit set-up and the twin CD players failed to work, I was able to get music going with my "back-up" personal CD player, but couldn't possibly run a disco with one player. Luckily, my Dad was able to get my domestic player from home and no-one actually noticed. In the end, it turns out that a lead was loose at the back of the player unit and I had only checked the head unit connection! Also had an overheating problem in a large hall one sweltering June evening

Some good advice on here. I do a regular Karaoke gig at a Yates pub and have also hosted many competitions. Perhaps the most important piece of advice would be not to be cheap with the Microphones - they can make a huge difference to the sound quality and the reduction of feedback (and how often they need to be replaced, due to being dropped and swung around!). I use Audio Technica mics, which are virtually indestructable as well as sounding fantastic, together with a Sennheiser radio mic for me. A minimum spend per mic should be about £50. With regards to needing a key changer, this

I never have taken a cut and never will! There are some good guys in the Staffordshire/Cheshire area on this forum who have passed work to me and try to reciprocate whenever possible.

I love working with bands as I enjoy listening to live music, so it is a nice change rather than doing 4-5 hours straight DJing. I go out of my way to assist them with lighting, smoke and introductions/applause, etc. It's also possible to get recommendations from them if their client needs a DJ and vice-versa. We should all work together in this business!

I agree with Rich on his points above. I have recently had a call from someone looking for a DJ "as cheap as possible, about £100" - I didn't even bother trying to pass this onto anyone as I knew they would not take it! I also had another one enquiring for a wedding next August, she had had two quotes, one at £150 and the other at £220 - I explained that I would be more than her higher quote, but to be cautious of those at the lower end of the scale... I feel this is our duty to educate people and avoid our reputations being ruined.

Bloody nightmare, avoid at all costs - it takes forever to get in and out through the basement and small lift!

In line with most other repsonses on here, I would never, ever sell my CD collection. A lot of it was accumulated before I started DJ and then expanded with compilations and kept up to date with the monthly DMC releases. I'm also a bit of a hoarder and have vinyl in the loft with no means of playing them! With regards to the tax, I claim all current CD & CDG purchases as an expense by claiming Capital Allowances, 25% p.a. on the written down amount - eventually they will be worthless (in the eyes of the Inland Revenue) and I can buy them all from my business for £1! Ian

Doesn't really bother me either way, although in the summer you do tend to sweat a bit more, when humping all the equipment about! The rain is the worst, which you can get anytime in this country!

I used to use two JVC players & Warrior Amp/mixer, but recently replaced my set up with the integrated McGregor SD15 Console, which houses a huge 2 x 650W amp, an LCD screen, a great mixer and a Citronic twin CDG player. This is now much more compact, the only thing missing is a key changer (which I get asked for about twice a year!). The most annoying thing with the JVC players was the possibility of accidentally ejecting the wrong CD or pressing stop - with the Citronic player, it is impossible to do this.