DJ's doing both A and V

[vjpixylight]

How many DJ's do we have on the forums?

[revjrbobdodds]

Me, for one. Scratchy-dirty-techie-lectro stuff. Abe Duque, Hell, Switch, Woolford, Jon Carter...

[vjpixylight]

cool, are you coming into the visual end of it thru the DVD decks?

[revjrbobdodds]

Using a variety of stuff. DVJs, Grid Pro, V4s, Kaoss. First DJ, went VJ, now AV...

[vjpixylight]

I guess what I am wondering, is:
How Many DJ's are using the DVJ's exclusively, and if so, how much content on those DVD's are self made, and how much is purchased commercial A/V DVD's?

[revjrbobdodds]

In the studio, I use a variety of gear, but on a gig, I use the DVJs, a DJ mixer, a DJ effector, and a video mixer exclusively. So, everything on the gig is from pre-produced DVD singles. In the club, it's enough, for me anyway, to worry about performance, audio mixing, effects, scratching and video mixing. I just don't have enough hands (or necessarily the skillz) to handle a laptop and the Kaoss pad at the same time.

I specify a Pioneer mixer. I recently had to use the Numark system doing a gig in Toronto, but that'll never happen again. For the moment, I think the best system is a V4 and a DJM800 (or DJM600 with EFX500).

As for the live video mixing bit, my favourite DJ is Norman Cook. Not because he's a great DJ, but because he looks like he's having more fun than anyone in the club. I try to leave space to emulate that, and in doing so, I try to leave plenty of room to do the stage bit. You know, if you're gonna aspire to something, it might as well be having a good time at the gig. :D

[vjpixylight]

So what was it that you didn't like with the Numark system?
sure that 4 channel vid mixer Numark offers is better than the V4?
Does the DJ side of the AVM02 suck?

[revjrbobdodds]

It's easier for me to carry the V4 and use the club mixer. The Numark stuff is just ... well, Numark. The sound quality isn't there (you've gotta hear the DJM800 or DJM1000 -- it's a paradigm shift). And the DVD playback is fairly gruesome.

It's critical, in a dance sense (vis a vis Hip-Hop, RnB, etc.) that you have instant start on your DVDs. And the Numark kit doesn't have that.

The other consideration is, if you're playing a big club like Ministry or Pasha or Guvernment (they bought Twilo's soundsystem when T shut -- imagine running THAT with a Numark) or a festival or whatever, they're just not going to let you come in and hook up your own AV mixer, unless you put it through their DJ mixer (and even that is hard f*cking work given the size of some DJ booths). So there's little point in doing anything at the moment other than carrying a V4 (and a pair of DVJs if necessary -- which is almost always I've found).

I forgot to say above, I produce all my own video (although I have been gifted a clip or two from friends with video cameras).

Someone else jump in here ... surely we have more DJs on the forums ...

[vjpixylight]

granted the AVM02 doesn't compare to the pioneers(I still luv my ole DJM500),
but I am mostly curious about using the AVM02 with the DVJ's...

And to be honest, I'm on a budget:help:

[revjrbobdodds]

Depends on what you're playing. If it's Hip-Hop or RnB, no problem, but if it's any dance style you're stuffed -- no EQs. And I can't remember exactly, but I'm not sure if there's a headphone cue.

If you're on a budget, I'd suggest software solutions and no mixer. Two cheap laptops - one soundcard. One for vidz, one for Ableton Live. If you can afford that, tho, you might wanna wait six months and see what happens on the market. Something will, I'm sure.

Actually, Ableton might be your answer. Sasha, Pete Tong, Switch DJs (Dave Taylor), and a whole load of others are using Ableton on Macs now in the club. I just use it in the studio, but it's invaluable there. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[vjpixylight]

Hmm, I think you are thinking of the AV01 mate.
http://www.numark.com/images/products/overview/avm01_overview.jpg
The AVM02 has eq on all 4 audio channels from the looks of it.
http://www.numark.com/images/products/overview/avm02_overview.jpg
Yea I'm using ableton now, and certainly like it as a software solution, but I am still looking to integrate it with a dedicated A/V mixer..

[benhustis]

i use mspinky, which is like an open-source final scratch/serato. lets you mix and scratch videos and audio at the same time. I still need to find a midi-enabled crossfader, though, whether it's in a DJ mixer or a standalone controller.

[SteveG]

I try :) I use DVJ's a DJM 1000, EFX 1000 and obviously the V4. Most of my material is sampled and purchased but I do alter it with after effects or more often than not run it through Arkaos/Resolume and add Freeframe effects. I have started recently producing more of my own content and movies. I make up my own DVD's one tune one disc then off we go :) Obviously I have a Pioneer HD DVD recorder too. I also VJ using the DVJ's as I find it good fun and the punters like it :)

Main stream DJ's using the DVJ's club wise at the mo include:
Dan Tait - House
Phil K - Prog
Addictive - Breaks
James Zabiela - very occasionally now if at all
Illogik - Hard Dance/Trance (I think)

And of course DVJ Kriel....catch Charles on this board once in a blue moooooon:)...............played a mean set for me a few months ago;)

[Rovastar]

And of course DVJ Kriel....catch Charles on this board once in a blue moooooon:)

He appears in more threads than you think. :)

[SteveG]

He appears in more threads than you think. :)

I know;)......they call him the "man with many names" up here in the North :lol2:

[gnomatron]

DJ Yoda uses DVJs, too. Unsurprising, what with being a Ninja Tunes boy.

I've dabbled in djing - Numark mixers are shit for audio compared to the Pioneers and Allen & Heaths, and their DVD kit is under-specced for Djing with. They're nice as VJ tools, can't go wrong with two nice rugged dvd players in a rack mountable case, but they can't compare with the pioneer kit.

That said, I have some numark dj cd players, and they're pretty sweet for the money.