Your Sound is Only as Good as Your Weakest Component

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One thing not mentioned.... the source of the audio. What is the quality of the source audio. Are you using the best possible practices in converting audio to mp3? Are you using the best quality original source to convert to mp3????? Or is it an mp3 of an mp3 or a resample from who knows what.

You can have the best spec'd sound system in town but if you are pumping crap quality audio into it no amount of EQ, compression or black-box enhancer voodoo will really help, you can paint crap gold, but it's still crap.
 
DougF said:
One thing not mentioned.... the source of the audio. What is the quality of the source audio. Are you using the best possible practices in converting audio to mp3? Are you using the best quality original source to convert to mp3????? Or is it an mp3 of an mp3 or a resample from who knows what.

You can have the best spec'd sound system in town but if you are pumping crap quality audio into it no amount of EQ, compression or black-box enhancer voodoo will really help, you can paint crap gold, but it's still crap.
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You got this right...I use only 320 or higher bitrate when I play background music. Takes up a lot of drive space, but worth the trade-off for sure.

I've heard other people using small mp3 players and stuff for music, and the sound is atrocious. Unfortunately, at school events, this is what the kids are used to, a lot of them have never heard a good quality recording!

For events with older people, it's imperative to have good quality playback source, as their hearing is quite a bit more discriminate.
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
All this being said; clients typically have a bad "ear" when it comes to quality....I've walked into events hearing "horrific" quality (to me); yet the clients seem to be enjoying themselves...
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I have said, and done the same thing, people are tone deaf, don't hear distortion, or anything else at the venues. I hear it and wonder how can this person stay in business.
 
Weakest link...entry level Sure wireless.
Next weakest link...CD Mix II mixer. Convenient, but could use a better quality output mixer...Denon or ? (suggestions).
Now that I've started thinking about "weakest" I need to replace my Numark DM 1295 mixer. The main cross-fader has static when fading from left to right. I've tried to get replacement from Numark and they did send me a "crossfader" but it didn't fit the mixer.

Finally, I really need to get a NEW laptop dedicated for DJ only. The one I use is old and may go at any time. I play both CD and Laptop; Laptop about 40% of time.

Ducky...you shouldn't have started this thread because it's going to cost me some bucks...now that I've made the "weakest link" list. LOL Actually, thank you. :)
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
Weakest link...entry level Sure wireless.
Next weakest link...CD Mix II mixer. Convenient, but could use a better quality output mixer...Denon or ? (suggestions).
Now that I've started thinking about "weakest" I need to replace my Numark DM 1295 mixer. The main cross-fader has static when fading from left to right. I've tried to get replacement from Numark and they did send me a "crossfader" but it didn't fit the mixer.

Finally, I really need to get a NEW laptop dedicated for DJ only. The one I use is old and may go at any time. I play both CD and Laptop; Laptop about 40% of time.

Ducky...you shouldn't have started this thread because it's going to cost me some bucks...now that I've made the "weakest link" list. LOL Actually, thank you. :)
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LOL! Pace yourself, Art. If it makes you feel better, we've made several replacements/upgrades over the past few years from our starter system that we bought from my dad. New mixer, new CD player, new headphones.... :)
 
Our weakest link in audio is our mixer. It would be nice to have one with lower noise and higher gain, but we've got enough system behind it to compensate and do fine. We haven't found an appropriate mixer that fits the space we have available, so this one stays for now! lol When we find the mixer we just must have, we'll have to remake the entire rack I presume. A chore to say the least.
 
There is only ONE weak link to any audio system and that is the operator!
 
Most often these days

Painting that CD ya paid 20 dollars or more for wont gain one turd that sounds much worst at 128 either.:sqwink::sqlaugh:
DougF said:
One thing not mentioned.... the source of the audio. What is the quality of the source audio. Are you using the best possible practices in converting audio to mp3? Are you using the best quality original source to convert to mp3????? Or is it an mp3 of an mp3 or a resample from who knows what.

You can have the best spec'd sound system in town but if you are pumping crap quality audio into it no amount of EQ, compression or black-box enhancer voodoo will really help, you can paint crap gold, but it's still crap.
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Thunder said:
There is only ONE weak link to any audio system and that is the operator!
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beat me to it Thunder...
although you were smart.
you said "the operator"....and I was gonna say, "ME"

my biggest hurdle is my EQ ability
I have a proble with getting the right sound for the room...
and the room stats change with every gig
 
Maybe I'm biased but I feel like my entire system is very solid...

Rane MP44 mixer (with Rane MP4 for back-up)
PLX 3402 amp
EV SX300 speakers
EV RE2 wireless
Pioneer MEP-700 CD/media player
T61 Thinkpad with PCDJ

Perhaps my weakest element was my CD player (Numark CDN88) but I never had any issues with it and didn't use it much but still replaced it with the MEP.

Great idea for a post & good point!
 
Jim Weisz said:
Maybe I'm biased but I feel like my entire system is very solid...

Rane MP44 mixer (with Rane MP4 for back-up)
PLX 3402 amp
EV SX300 speakers
EV RE2 wireless
Pioneer MEP-700 CD/media player
T61 Thinkpad with PCDJ

Perhaps my weakest element was my CD player (Numark CDN88) but I never had any issues with it and didn't use it much but still replaced it with the MEP.

Great idea for a post & good point!
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Gear snob....nice rig.
 
djrox said:
Gear snob....nice rig.
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I'll take that as a compliment--thanks.

Actually, I learned the lesson in this post the hard way and it taught me to always buy the best (I know that's subjective). My first system included a Numark DM1200 mixer. Nice mixer but I had all kinds of problems with it. I had to borrow a friends mixer a few times because mine was being fixed. I was constantly nervous at events wondering if there would be any problems with it.

After about a year of dealing with that and hearing about how great Rane was for mixers I plunked down an insane amount of money for my MP44 (I think it was $1400?). At the time that was a lot of cash since I was in college and hadn't been DJing that long. I bought my Numark mixer for something like $200 so I figured the Rane had to be at least 7x better due to it's cost. I was wrong...it's 100x better. Never any issues with it & it's very quiet.

So, long story short, Ducky's right on with her post. I learned the hard way but fortunately it was early in my DJ career and I've been able to buy pretty high-end/reliable gear since then.
 
Jim Weisz said:
Maybe I'm biased but I feel like my entire system is very solid...

Rane MP44 mixer (with Rane MP4 for back-up)
PLX 3402 amp
EV SX300 speakers
EV RE2 wireless
Pioneer MEP-700 CD/media player
T61 Thinkpad with PCDJ

Perhaps my weakest element was my CD player (Numark CDN88) but I never had any issues with it and didn't use it much but still replaced it with the MEP.

Great idea for a post & good point!
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Is that all you got? No subs, no EQ, no crossovers?:sqconfused: What type of events do you do?
 
ahoustondj said:
Is that all you got? No subs, no EQ, no crossovers?:sqconfused: What type of events do you do?
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Subs yes. They've sat in my garage untouched for 5 years though. They're custom built loaded with EV SB180 woofers. They absolutely pound. I powered them with a PLX & had an EV crossover for them. I sold the crossover a while ago since it was untouched like the subs. When I stopped doing schools, I stopped using them. If you want to buy them... :)

I've never felt the need to have an EQ with my Rane. 95% of what I DJ is weddings. In 10 years, I've never used a sub at a wedding. I've run more than 1 set of tops but never subs. I'm sure some will disagree on that but that's the subject of another post.
 
Jim Weisz said:
Subs yes. They've sat in my garage untouched for 5 years though. They're custom built loaded with EV SB180 woofers. They absolutely pound. I powered them with a PLX & had an EV crossover for them. I sold the crossover a while ago since it was untouched like the subs. When I stopped doing schools, I stopped using them. If you want to buy them... :)

I've never felt the need to have an EQ with my Rane. 95% of what I DJ is weddings. In 10 years, I've never used a sub at a wedding. I've run more than 1 set of tops but never subs. I'm sure some will disagree on that but that's the subject of another post.
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Ahh gotcha! I can visualize now. Wedding DJ, 6 foot table, two speakers on sticks at each end of the table, relegated to the corner. No problemo Bro, if that works for you... go for it!:sqwink:
 
ahoustondj said:
Ahh gotcha! I can visualize now. Wedding DJ, 6 foot table, two speakers on sticks at each end of the table, relegated to the corner. No problemo Bro, if that works for you... go for it!:sqwink:
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Not even close...I'm not in the corner! :sqbiggrin:

dallasweddingdjgear.JPG
 
I have the subs that go with those mains and my mains that I use at weddings. It is not over powering but gives it a nice thump that is just right. Only mine are all active.
 
Jim Weisz said:
I'll take that as a compliment--thanks.
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That was the intention.

Your lesson(s) was(were) very similar to mine. If the truth be told, had I simply paid more attention to and given greater credence to the wisdom and claims offered to me, in my younger days, by my parents and other teachers, I could have avoided many expensive lessons.
 
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