| In previous articles, I have covered some of the basic | | | | Balance the Gains |
| tips and mistakes to avoid as a DJ just starting out. It is | | | | You probably will have a setup that includes both a |
| great to have enthusiasm and basic skills, but the art of | | | | power amp and a mixer. If you do not balance the |
| DJ demands that you are on top of any number of | | | | gains between the two, you are set up for distortion of |
| different techniques. Your knowledge and forethought | | | | your audio. Now, it used to be that this was a more |
| in these areas can eliminate all kinds of trouble and | | | | likely to happen, but these days, the advance in |
| inconvenience later on. In this article, I am going to give | | | | technology has really helped the DJ. Even though your |
| you a few pointers on the proper placement of | | | | system can adjust and is forgiving, you should be |
| speakers, the balance of your overall system, and the | | | | knowledgeable enough to set it up the right way from |
| care and use of your main head unit. | | | | the start. The problem is that if the gain on the power |
| Cover the Space For a Happy Crowd | | | | amp is set pretty low, and the master volume on the |
| None of us likes to be called insufficient. Even worse | | | | mixer is at a high position to get the sound, you would |
| than that, an DJ can be insulted if they have a | | | | be prime for the distortion. A better alternative is to set |
| reputation for insufficient coverage. What is that? Let | | | | the levels on the power amps higher, and do your |
| me answer that with this scenario. You are the DJ at | | | | sound volume fine tuning with the mixer. If you have |
| a school function. And, where do most schools hold | | | | both a power amp and an amplified mixer, you are still |
| their function/dance? In the gymnasium, of course; | | | | in danger of distortion. And, it would be your fault, since |
| which is always an extreme challenge even for an | | | | you make the adjustments to the overall system. |
| accomplished DJ. Now, imagine that the crowd is | | | | Again, do your mixing with the DJ mixer, and use the |
| about 1000 yelling, screaming, just plain loud kids.This is | | | | amp mixer as your power push unit. Set the power |
| where the newbie DJ would probably set up two | | | | mixer higher, and then fine tune with the DJ mixer. |
| speakers in front of the room along with the amplifier. | | | | Keep this general rule in mind, and you will be in control, |
| Since the acoustics are not much better than your | | | | rather than your unit controlling you. |
| average barn, Newbie pumps up the volume to cover | | | | A Breathe of Air Would Be Nice |
| the whole crowd. The result is that the closer kids in | | | | Even though most contemporary amps have |
| the front of the room are blasted beyond Tuesday, | | | | circulating fans to cool the inside, this is still an area to |
| and the kids in the back of the, even the wallflowers, | | | | watch. Particularly if your amp is one of the smaller, |
| cannot distinguish the sound or the tunes. That is the | | | | lighter units. Weight is saved by only having a smaller |
| textbook definition of insufficient coverage. | | | | fan unit. So, there is a chance of over heating as well |
| Frying the kids in front so that the kids in the back can | | | | as voltage irregularities. Internal fans mostly pull the air |
| hear is not acceptable for a paid DJ. The solution is to | | | | through the unit from the back to front, or front to |
| add some speakers to the mix so that the entire room | | | | back. Make sure that the unit can pull in cool air. Keep |
| has a more balanced reproduced sound. Make sure to | | | | the ventilation open and do not put your unit in a small |
| put the front speakers on stands, and maybe add two | | | | or enclosed space, as this would just re-circulate |
| more speakers in the middle of the room to get the | | | | warm air. If the set has design issues, like table skirts |
| average. You need to check out the venue before the | | | | and the like, you will need to be creative to keep your |
| gig, and make sure to know the approximate size of | | | | host happy and protect your equipment at the same |
| the crowd. The extra gear for this booking will make all | | | | time. In the long run, your equipment will last longer |
| the difference, and you may even get a repeat job. | | | | keeping this in mind. If you are using a rack, just keep |
| This does not have to cost much, rent if you need to. If | | | | the vents free and open. This small item can pay big |
| you have a reasonable amplifier, it probably has the | | | | dividends later. |
| power you need for four cabinets! | | | | |