Re: [TANGO-L] DJ equipment

[Hannes Rieger <hrieger @GMX.DE>]

Tanguero Chino wrote:

> I am thinking of putting my music on my PC just in case I will start
 > DJing some day. I am interested in hearing from DJs who uses computers
> what hardware and software they use (or recommend).
 > I would assume that most would be using laptops since they are portable.

I use a laptop with Pentium III (650 MHz), 128 MB RAM, 5 GB harddisk.
The harddisk is too small, I will buy a 30 GB disk later. I think a
processor with a lower frequence is also ok, depending on the MP3
playing program. A simple program with MP3 archives like Musicmatch
Jukebox works, but you have no possibility to hear songs over earphones
while you play the playlist. So you have to play a preprogrammed
playlist or have to know your songs by name very, very good.
Practically you need a second audio output and a program which
uses it. I use a cheap USB-audio converter, the quality is ok for
monitoring. A (expensive) program with support of the second audio output
is BPM studio, very professional.

> Is there anyone using the Jukebox MP3 player out there?

No idea.

> Also, what format do you record your music in  (VBR MP3, CBR MP3, WMA, etc.)?
 > Is anything over 128 Kbps really not necessary?
 > Thinking of an out-door milonga...

Because of my lack of harddisk space I used 128 Kbps CBR MPR3 and I
have to say, this is ok. The surrounding noises in a milonga - especially
in an out-door milonga - should make it impossible to hear any artefacts.
Nevertheless I will use 192 Kbps if I have more hard disk space.

Hannes

P.S.: A warning: A computer with MP3 archives doesn't relieve you of
knowing your tango songs very well, even if you have the ability to
add notes to the MP3s and sort it in any way. First of all everything
becomes confused. CDs with, for example, 'Post-It' notes gives you a
much better overview.
IMHO the key to make a good work is really endless hearing of your CDs.