Best way to tame a DJ

[kblackmore]

I have been setting compressors on the the DJ for many years in a limiting fashion (threshold @ close to max volume & ratio set fairly high) and was wondering how most people tame the DJ volume these days. I know setting the ratio that hard can cause the speakers to overheat and that causes all kinds of issues. How do you control the DJ volume these days as I know both the technology and knowledge has improved greatly. I have acquired a small Alesis stereo nanocompressor and another dual channel compressor that is mounted in the rack, I believe it is a DBX 266. The way I set it up now is to have the DJ mixer feed a Peavey 16 channel mixer (to bring in the mic) which feeds the Alesis compressor (located in the booth) in Soft/RMS mode with the threshold just before the desired DJ volume with the ratio set @ 50% The DBX compressor threshold is set slightly higher with the ratio set @ 50%, the attack is set at its fastest setting to make it acts as quickly as possible. I eq in between both compressors, just to keep the eq away from the DJ hands. I want to be able to get the DJ down to a reasonable volume while making the best use of the equipment, and perhaps you guys might have a better idea as to how to set them up. If need be, I could invest in some longer cables and place the eq before the compressors if that would be the preferable setting.

Thanks in advance
Ken

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

I...was wondering how most people tame the DJ volume these days.

Let them run the deck, don't let them even look at anything else.

[Paul O]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

Put a digital DJ mixer in the booth and connect to the sound system via a digital link, nothing the DJ can do will overdrive the DJ mixer output.

[kblackmore]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

Mixers being used are a Vestax VCI-300 using Serato software when using a controller, when the turntables are used it is a Traktor Pro 2 setup with a Behringer mixer (knockoff copy of a Pioneer analog DJ mixer). Both the controller and the DJ mixer are fed through to a Peavey 16 channel mixer to bring in the mic as the Vestax controller has no mic input. Both setups are using the same computer (Apple Mac Pro desktop) so the DJ has a choice when he gets to the booth. Concern is not overdriving the DJ mixers. Concern is the DJ driving the system too loud to an uncomfortable dB level, possibly damaging client's hearing.

[Paul O]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

Concern is the DJ driving the system too loud to an uncomfortable dB level, possibly damaging client's hearing.

Get a Formula Sound AVC-2.. http://formula-sound.co.uk/system-pr...noise-control/

[PunkSweeper]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

I like this one better, haha

http://formula-sound.co.uk/system-protection-noise-control/sentry-mk2/

[Cuppa Joe]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

Place electric collar with remote switch on DJ. Every time you need to press the button, say "Bad DJ!"

[Ray Tremblay]

Re: Best way to tame a DJ

Let them run the deck, don't let them even look at anything else.

Basically this. Set the limiter like a chastity belt and don't let them touch the house sound.

I had my QSC amp rack (20,200 watts RMS) and a QSC DSP 322ua processor located remotely. the DSP 322ua is password protected and must be hooked up to a computer to adjust any of the settings. I locked down the limiters hard and wouldn't let up no matter how much they whined and cried. I wasn't about to replace 8 Radian 12" coaxials or 6 Celestion 18's each month. Over 4 years and not one driver ever had to be replaced.