CD DJs...

[DMX Will]

For all those CD DJs out there...!

Question 1. What do you guys use in terms of storage (Flightcases etc) which ones?

Question 2. Do any of you use (or know where to find) CD seperators for your cases (i.e. to make "70s" "80s" etc sections in my cases). Similar to those found in music shops that seperate out the artists and compilations.

Cheers. :beer1:

[Tom]

i burn all my cd's and keep the orignals at home. i just use a 320 cd case with the cd in one side and a scanned copy of the tracks. and i dont have a set order of cd's i just put them in any order.

[DMX Will]

i burn all my cd's and keep the orignals at home. i just use a 320 cd case with the cd in one side and a scanned copy of the tracks. and i dont have a set order of cd's i just put them in any order.

Thanks, but that doesn't really answer my questions! It's all very well not having them in an order, which is how I have mine at the moment. Although sometimes I find myself having a job find some CDs quickly enough.

Even if someone makes a request with 40 seconds to go on the current track, I'll try and get it on next....if I can't find the CD, I have no chance!

[Tom]

i never play a request straight away. always in a few songs time. gives me time to find the song and try to please others too.

and about your section. what about have small folder. one for 50's, one for 60's and so on. :s

[DMX Will]

i never play a request straight away. always in a few songs time. gives me time to find the song and try to please others too.

and about your section. what about have small folder. one for 50's, one for 60's and so on. :s

But I take my *real* CDs with me, flightcased. I have a folder for some older CDs where the cases have been destroyed to a degree of uselessness (but it's 3 or 4). TBH, i don't like the CD's in a plastic wallet idea.

All my iTunes music, is on seperate CDs in a smaller flightcase. Each CD is in a cardboard sleeve, with the artist and song written clearly.

[flatliners]

i agree never play a song straight away makes you look unprofessional

[Tom]

i don't like the CD's in a plastic wallet idea.

same here. thats why i copy all my cd's on high quality cd'r so i can keep the original at home and there it can't ge damaged. but i only use cd's as a backup but understand you want to protect them as much as possible.

[DMX Will]

i agree never play a song straight away makes you look unprofessional

By being efficent?

[Tom]

but i think if you play there song, they hear and it and may go. but if you play in a couple of songs time then you can keep them there on the dance floor and when there songs comes on there like YEAH and keep dancing.

my view anyway

[Danno13]

i agree never play a song straight away makes you look unprofessional

Absolute rubbish!! Have you never had someone who comes up and requests something that would go brilliantly with what you're playing at the time?

[DMX Will]

Absolute rubbish!! Have you never had someone who comes up and requests something that would go brilliantly with what you're playing at the time?

Exactly. Thank you for agreeing Dan, I thought I was going crazy for a minute.

[Tom]

i guess it all depends on what song it is and what the audience are like.

[ian8limelight]

I'm still using CD's as I currently rip my way through to my HD-2500.

I have all my compliation CD's in sections and they are all numbered and 'colour-coded' according to decade (e.g. R2 would indicate to me a seventies album, B6 a sixties album, etc). These are all logged onto an Excel spreadsheet on my PC.

Albums with mixed decades (e.g. party albums, are coded under white - W22).

It may sound complicated, but it works for me ;)

[Dragonfly]

but i think if you play there song, they hear and it and may go. but if you play in a couple of songs time then you can keep them there on the dance floor and when there songs comes on there like YEAH and keep dancing.

my view anyway


or they leave disgruntled because the toilet dj hasnt played their song??? just a thought??

[Dragonfly]

a great man once told me i was very brave for changing my mind about a song with 30 seconds left :D :D :D

[Danno13]

The beauty of PCDJ-ing.. 30 seconds is a luxury, try 5 seconds to go.. that can be fun!

[thex-faders]

Just make a box the size of your cd case but a bit longer so it will stick out the top, put a title on the top i.e 50's,60's, Pop, Disco, Garage etc Print it off and either laminate paper or put it on card as well then slot it in between your cd's
Because they are laminated they will last longer and hopefully wont bend as well!!

And PCDJ is defiantly a quality program, we have playlists for kids games and thigns like that. But we still que up a cd incase the laptop freezes or there is a problem loading a track etc.
:D Searching for songs is also much easier!

Anywayz, try laminating card for your CD case

[ross@rds]

Still use cds here and always will but im looking at some laptops just now so i can keep all the new tunes on and have older ones in cd cases i enjoy looking throught my case coz sometimes i come over a track ive not played for a while and if its good i stick it on. I dont think it makes you unpro i you play a request straight away total rubbish if its a weirdo request or slow song etc then i will put off playing it till the time is right for it but if its a good song and will fill the floor then its dig into the case and play it as soon as i find it.

[Tom]

or they leave disgruntled because the toilet dj hasnt played their song??? just a thought??

yes that may happen but you cant please everybody at the same time. i always think its a song to look foward to. when some asks me all i say is "ill see what i can do" and this usually means ill play it but also you have to take into acount style of music.

lets say your playing a status quo and somone asks for a motown song. that stuff that would have to wait untill a mix song can be played to change the genre

[DJWayne]

yes that may happen but you cant please everybody at the same time. i always think its a song to look foward to. when some asks me all i say is "ill see what i can do" and this usually means ill play it but also you have to take into acount style of music.

lets say your playing a status quo and somone asks for a motown song. that stuff that would have to wait untill a mix song can be played to change the genre

"i'll see what i can do" is the oldest DJ cliche there is and customers usually take it that you mean "no i am not playing your request" or something rather more direct ;)

I always tell customers if i will play a request and i am not afraid to refuse a request if it isnt suitable for the crowd i am playing too. If the request is reasonable enough then i will tell them roughly when i will play it. Taking the example above if i was playing status quo and someone requested motown i would tell them that i will be playing a few motown tunes shortly and will play it amongst them.

Customers prefer to be told the truth fobbing them off with "i will see what i can do" just makes you look unprofessional in my opinion.

[Tom]

i never lie. if i dont think it will go down to well then i will tell them but i should of said i usually say this to kids disco's as i dont want them to close to the gear just incase anything happens as i dont have PLI yet. but as for adults they usually have a look at my laptop screen and i try to get them involved and they love it, especially the men. anything eletrical really. lol. the like looking and asking if i have this and i write it down so i dont forget it.

[rob1963]

To pick up on an earlier point, playing a request straight away does NOT make you look unprofessional.

Just like answering the phone quickly or answering an email quickly does not make you look unprofessional.

Just the opposite, in fact!

[Tom]

To pick up on an earlier point, playing a request straight away does NOT make you look unprofessional.

Just like answering the phone quickly or answering an email quickly does not make you look unprofessional.

Just the opposite, in fact!

like a bit to eager in a way??? like me when it comes to posting on here. lol. :rolleyes:

[Candybeatdiscos]

you are a human juke box and if the song is suitable then play it as soon as you can, i am a digital DJ and will change the track when there are 5 seconds or so left - no probs, as long as it goes, if not i can que it up and advise the client exactly to the second when it will be played lol. I get a lot of people making a request and saying, "i am nipping to toilet so can you leave it for 10 mins or so"

[Penfold42]

For all those CD DJs out there...!

Question 1. What do you guys use in terms of storage (Flightcases etc) which ones?
Flight cases.......errr ....silver ones......:D
Not sure who makes them....just got to the toy shop and buy them.
I get the ones that fit the original CD's...don't like the plastic sleeves.



Question 2. Do any of you use (or know where to find) CD seperators for your cases (i.e. to make "70s" "80s" etc sections in my cases). Similar to those found in music shops that seperate out the artists and compilations.

Cheers. :beer1:

I have about 6 cases when doing a gig......someones going to shot me down over that i can see it coming....each with a different section....70's, 80's, dance, etc, etc.....works for me.:)

I also have a laptop with a spreadsheet....tells me what song is where.


Absolute rubbish!! Have you never had someone who comes up and requests something that would go brilliantly with what you're playing at the time?

I agree with Danno......i have 6 tracks lined up at any one time...if someone ask's...it usually goes on about the second track....but i have change tracks with about 30 seconds left......good fun.....live on the edge!!:D

[thex-faders]

I also have a laptop with a spreadsheet....tells me what song is where.



Same here, spreadsheet with all of the artist, song title, where it is etc. But now we have PCDJ its a lot easier to search through music. The wonders of technology!

[mike8863]

I use get ready for it, "soundlab" flight cases, they are marketed as euro cases, and mine are a lovely silver and yellow, bit yuk at first, but you get used to them. All my cd's are catlouged and numbered using "cd trustee", excellent programme. and i carry a an a4 folder which lists each and every track in 2 formats, by song title and song by artist. the All CD's are in original cases and I print of a plain white insert cover with track listing on it, easy to read in low light. 2 cases are artists, all in alphabetical order, the other 2 hold compilations or various artists. These are then seperated, 1 has 60's 70's and 80's in it, the other has 90's to now.
As for seperating them use a laminator, as previously mentioned and laminate the title of what they are, these things bend when the lid is shut and pop back up when opened.....!, hey presto.

[Woodyo]

Still use cd's myself as my main music scource as I find dj'ing off a laptop etc is just too boring for me . I know exactly were all my cd's are in my case , but admittedly they do need resorted every month or so. For storage I use those small thin jewell cases , case logic wallets and pro-sleeves which I have been using for years . I find these very durable and they take up next to no space in your case.

[mike8863]

I'm still old fashioned and like things set out a certain way, like i used to with my 45's and lp's:eek: . I don't like wallets as i find them too restricting, daft i know, but thats me. as for pcdj'ing yes its versatile and occupys less room, but i too feel it a little boring.
and, try getting to 4 secs left on cd 1 and no cd in cd 2, doh, :eek: gets the old adrenalin going i can tell you, fortunately i knew the cd and made an announcement and skipped to track 6 at the same time,:cool: thats all because young ladies scantily clad were harrasing me requesting tunes and huggin me as a way of thanks for doing them,:) (the requests that is!!);) .
:D :D :D

[DMX Will]

Well I was unprofessional last night guys.

I must have played 6/10 requests (say) straight away! ;)

[rob1963]

To pick up on an earlier point, playing a request straight away does NOT make you look unprofessional.

Just like answering the phone quickly or answering an email quickly does not make you look unprofessional.

Just the opposite, in fact!


like a bit to eager in a way???

Not too eager, just efficient!

I wonder what the people who think it's unprofessional to play a request quickly would do on those occasions when they have cued up a track to play next & then someone comes up & requests that same track?

Would they take it off & find something else to play instead?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

same here. thats why i copy all my cd's on high quality cd'r so i can keep the original at home and there it can't ge damaged. but i only use cd's as a backup but understand you want to protect them as much as possible.

This is a business. CDs are your tools. If they get damaged or scratched, then buy new ones.


Absolute rubbish!! Have you never had someone who comes up and requests something that would go brilliantly with what you're playing at the time?

Agreed.

[DJWayne]

This is a business. CDs are your tools. If they get damaged or scratched, then buy new ones.


Not sure i agree with the above comment Darren , the music industry make enough money over charging us for original CD's what is wrong with protecting yoour investment as long as you have the original CD? Not just that if a case of copied CD's got stolen its inconvenient as you have to duplicate them all again but if your originals are stolen you are prettty much instantly unermployed as you know how diffiult it is to replace your CD's

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Not sure i agree with the above comment Darren , the music industry make enough money over charging us for original CD's what is wrong with protecting yoour investment as long as you have the original CD? Not just that if a case of copied CD's got stolen its inconvenient as you have to duplicate them all again but if your originals are stolen you are prettty much instantly unermployed as you know how diffiult it is to replace your CD's

Sorry, but you have insurance for things like that. This is nothing to do with the music industy lining their pockets. CDs are cheaper now then they have ever been. I bought my first CD back in 1985 and it cost me £12.99. The last CD I bought was the latest Amy Winehouse CD and it was £6.99, new.

Way too many people don't treat this industry as a proper business and this is a good example. CDs are tools of the trade - they don't last forever. You have to replace them, much the same as other tools of the trade need replacing.

I have bought music on vinyl, then CD and now am finding that I am downloading tracks that I haven't ripped to Mp3, so there are certain tracks that I have paid for 3 times over and you don't hear me complaining about it.

[DJWayne]

Insurance is fine mate if you can get new copies of the CD's you own , i had this happen to me a few years back my entire CD collection was stolen and a large majority of the stuff that wass taken were deleted titles so insurance wasnt that much use. Think we'll agree to differ on this as i am sure we could debate it all day long and still get nowhere ;)

[PropellerHeadCase]

This is a business. CDs are your tools. If they get damaged or scratched, then buy new ones.

And one of the tenets of business is to mitigate loss and minimise 'shrinkage'. Find me a single corporation, or even a small business (of more than one or two staff), that installs software on a PC and then leaves the install discs out on the desk, or uses it as a coffee coaster. :eek: And most businesses have rules and regulations in place on the use of tools in the work-place to promote safety and long life (of both the staff AND the tools).

I still don't understand why you differentiate between burning a copy out to CD and storing it on a hard-drive or, for that matter, differentiating between a single bought in the shop and one bought on iTunes that necessarily has to be burned to CD (if you're a CDJ) :confused:

Have you got an insurance company that will pay out for a single badly scratched CD, then?

New CDs in NZ are between $20 for new releases (in the first 6-12 weeks) and $35 for top-selling back-catalog, and anywhere in between for everything else. As has been discussed I spend between $40 and $60 per week on new music (that's 5-7.5% of income - based on my new $800 gigs, assuming one a week), you're effectivly suggesting that I should push that up to 10% or more of income... not fiscally sound (pardon the pun).

[BeerFunk]

Insurance is fine mate if you can get new copies of the CD's you own , i had this happen to me a few years back my entire CD collection was stolen and a large majority of the stuff that wass taken were deleted titles so insurance wasnt that much use. Think we'll agree to differ on this as i am sure we could debate it all day long and still get nowhere ;)
Every track you will need in order to do a mobile disco is readily available, the tracks which you find harder to replace are most likely unnecessary tracks in your collection! (Unless of course, you specialise in certain styles of music)

[DJWayne]

Every track you will need in order to do a mobile disco is readily available, the tracks which you find harder to replace are most likely unnecessary tracks in your collection! (Unless of course, you specialise in certain styles of music)

Whilst i agree with what you are saying it doesnt make it any easier you get used to playing certain songs off certain CD's and as a DJ you get to know your collection. If someone gave you their CD's to work with one night instead of yours i am sure you'd have a hell of a hard night ;)

[BeerFunk]

If someone gave you their CD's to work with one night instead of yours i am sure you'd have a hell of a hard night ;)
That is true, in some respect, but we are supposed to be professionals. I have used other people's collections, and I don't always take out the exact same set of CDs out myself - so I have to know where nearly all of my tracks are (including doubles). If there are any changes to my collection, I organise and sort it before my next night.

[BeerFunk]

I must add, that the reason I am generally in favour of using originals is because I find too many people are using this excuse of 'I want to protect my originals' as a veil for using pirated CDs. I'm not for a minute suggesting anyone on these forums does that, but I have met a few DJs (I suppose they would be classed as the dreaded 'cowboy' DJs) who carry a folder of CDR's, and have covered up with this 'they are all backups of my originals at home' story. OK, they might be telling the truth, but the examples that I have met I would judge to be 'at it'.

I will again stress that I am not accusing anyone here of anything like that, especially those that have commented on this thread, who I 100% believe to be total professionals - I am just stating my case as to why I prefer to use my originals, and prefer to see others do it too.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Every track you will need in order to do a mobile disco is readily available, the tracks which you find harder to replace are most likely unnecessary tracks in your collection! (Unless of course, you specialise in certain styles of music)

I disagree. X-Mix Planet X '92-'95 cost me $100 on import about 10 years ago. To the best of my knowledge it is unavailable, and certainly not readily available. Why is it so important to me? One track, the 'Cajun Club Mix', starts with Miami Sound Machine 'Conga', segués through the instrumental breaks from Paul Simon 'Late in the Evening' and finishes with 'Arrow' 'Hot Hot Hot'... easily my most played Latin/Caribbean track, and a surefire crowd-pleaser.

There are numerous other DJ-only releases with tracks of this nature on them.

[BeerFunk]

I disagree. X-Mix Planet X '92-'95 cost me $100 on import about 10 years ago. To the best of my knowledge it is unavailable, and certainly not readily available. Why is it so important to me? One track, the 'Cajun Club Mix', starts with Miami Sound Machine 'Conga', segués through the instrumental breaks from Paul Simon 'Late in the Evening' and finishes with 'Arrow' 'Hot Hot Hot'... easily my most played Latin/Caribbean track, and a surefire crowd-pleaser.

There are numerous other DJ-only releases with tracks of this nature on them.
I should have emphasised the word 'need'. I don't have that track, and I have had literally hundreds of successful nights, as have thousands of other commercial DJs who don't have that track.

There will be exceptions, but generally everything you need for a disco is available online, and on your doorstep in 48 hours if need be.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Well, I NEED to feel special and different ;)

[Tom]

Well, I NEED to feel special and different ;)

haha. different is a good thing. at least you know you have it and most dj's dont:confused: :D

[Dragonfly]

Well, I NEED to feel special and different ;)


my wife constantly tells me im "special" is that the same thing???? :D :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

It is when it's anyone other than you're wife saying it ;)

[Nomad]

Slappas for me with the 260 being the preference for cases

However, I also have one of these, that you could easily put a seperator or two:

http://www.euroffice.co.uk/itm_show.asp?G21190=Leitz-Vaultz-CD-Storage&HI=56143X#head276267

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Slappas for me with the 260 being the preference for cases

However, I also have one of these, that you could easily put a seperator or two:

http://www.euroffice.co.uk/itm_show.asp?G21190=Leitz-Vaultz-CD-Storage&HI=56143X#head276267

Hi Nomad

Why not say hello in the newbies area? :)

[rob1963]

Slappas for me with the 260 being the preference for cases

Hi Nomad,

Good advice there.

I've also had a few slappas in my time.

[Larry B Entertainment]

I've also had a few slappas in my time.

:lol:

"And more from that story later"

[Corabar Steve]

Not on a family friendly forum thanks :sj:

[DMX Will]

we need an entire family to sign up before we can be friends with them, and thus be a family friendly forum :d

[PropellerHeadCase]

That would merely be the proof, Will.

I have a home made box and a number of stackable plastic drawers - upon which I sit my lap-top. My CDs are alphabetical by artist and alphabetical by title for compilations, I do have a separate drawer for my swing/jazz stuff and another for my hip-hop/modern R'n'B stuff but they are organized in the same way.

I am having a set of stackable units built that will accommodate the CDs AND act as the table for the players/mixer/laptop. Two sets of vertically stackable drawers to the same dimensions as the amp/processor racks which allows me to set up around corners effectively for those smaller café-style scenarios.

[Have a disco]

Use to use nothing but Logic cases larger the better
Recently moved to 1000 cd slide storage casing a big flop
Now looking at Slappa 600's with view to moving to laptop Slappa's will have DVD MP3 CD storage as Back-up to Laptop. But as ever still awaiting out come of DJ licence update everything seems to ground to a halt