Tag: DJ

How To Clean Professional Audio Equipment

Professional audio equipment is used to describe any audio equipment that is used for a professional purpose. Loudspeakers, microphones, mixing consoles, amplifiers, recording and playback devices like turntables and even telephony devices are all considered to be professional audio equipment. Whether it’s a college PA system or a DJ’s professional audio mixer, professional audio equipment is comprised of components that are complex and specialized, meaning maintenance is key to getting the most use out of them. Fortunately, cleaning and caring for audio equipment is not complex and only requires regular household items and some TLC. Don’t continue being afraid to approach those dusty speakers and amplifiers you’ve been meaning to clean for the last 6 months. Today, we’ll provide you with some tips and warnings to take care of your beloved Behringer pro audio and other audio equipment.

Some things you’ll need: Vacuum with hose attachment Soft cloth Window cleaner Small paint brush (unused)

After you’ve gathered these items, follow these instructions:

1. First things first, disconnect and unplug all audio equipment you want to clean, including all quarter-inch jacks. You don’t want to damage anything, or even worse, hurt yourself.

2. Using a hose attachment, lightly vacuum the front grill of all your audio equipment. If there isn’t a grill, just vacuum the sides, top and bottom surfaces.

3. Using an unused paintbrush, dust all the crevices the hose attachment can’t reach. This might be knobs, any indentations, deep recesses, etc. Don’t use a used paintbrush you might end up making more of a mess than what you initially started with.

4. Spray a small amount of window cleaner onto the soft cloth (terry cloth or even an old cotton shirt will do) so that it is damp. Wipe all the exteriors of your equipment in small and solid motions. It helps to firmly hold the cloth while simultaneously applying slight pressure on your audio equipment to get that brand-new shine. Repeat as necessary.

5. Dampening one corner of the cloth with window cleaner, roll a small section and insert the damp area of the cloth into a quarter-inch jack and quickly remove. Repeat this process for all jacks, dampening only when necessary.

After you’ve followed these steps, you should notice a drastic improvement on the appearance of your audio equipment and later, possibly an improvement on the sound quality, functionality, etc. Maintaining and caring for your audio equipment is crucial to getting the best audio results. Also, remember not to go overboard with cleaning. Clean only when necessarythis will depend on use frequency as well as the air quality of surrounding environments.

Native Instruments Audio 2 Dj Usb 2.0 Interface – Size Does Not Matter

Native Instruments has always lived up to the expectations of people in providing great software. But today, they are also becoming more and more popular for creating great hardware, especially when it comes to computer audio and USB audio interfaces. And with their latest product, the new Audio 2 DJ USB 2.0 Interface, they are about to prove themselves great once again.

The Audio 2 DJ will surely feed any digital DJ’s craving for high quality, extremely mobile audio interface whether they are using TRAKTOR or other DJing and performance software. Native Instruments did make a statement with this one – it is the smallest DJ USB soundcard in the world, BUT still has the enough punch to shake the world’s biggest clubs down.

Struggling entry level DJs who are looking for the ultimate portability possible for an audio interface without compromising audio quality will find their prayers answered with the Audio 2 DJ. And if you are a digital DJ who does not really need audio recording or time code control, then you got everything that you need with the Audio 2 DJ.

One great thing about the Audio 2 DJ is that, you can practically hook it up in any computer as long as you have a USB 2.0 cable. Its two quarter inch output channels also provides flexibility since it can either be used to route stereo signals to an external mixer, or as a master out and headphone monitor when using the internal mixer of your existing performance software. All you will need is your laptop, and the Audio DJ 2 USB 2.0 is good to go!

If you are thinking that because it is so small, it must have cut its corners in the sound quality department, well you are wrong. You will be amazed that Native Instruments guarantees super high end Circus Logic AD/DA converters. That means you get ultra low latency drivers, hi gain output levels (reaching up to 9.7 dBu on both channels) as well as ultra wide frequency response despite the extremely portable size of the Audio 2 DJ! So, even when you are holding the smallest USB audio interface in the world, you will get uncompromised sound quality and clarity with every detail of your music.

Size is not an issue with the new Audio 2 DJ USB 2.0 Interface from Native Instruments. Having a size no larger than a deck of cards, this bus-powered audio interface literally fits in a pocket and still can accommodate even the most demanding club systems. It houses a new balance of quality, size, and price. So go and get the Native Instruments’ Audio 2 DJ USB 2.0 Interface, today!

Audio Visual Services – Your Questions Answered

Can you imagine the Academy Awards without the lights, music and sound effects, or a major product launch without the cutting edge videos and presentations? These are the fruits of audio visual technology and are vital for the success of a wide range of business, social, and sporting events. As the skills needed for successful AV are highly specialised, most people hire firms offering audio visual services to bring alive their presentations and make their events truly memorable.

The fact is that such events depend not only on the personality of the presenter and the power of his message, but also on the quality of the supporting technology. If you want to maximise your gains from audio visual techniques, and get the right audio visual services for your needs, you must first understand clearly what’s involved.

First, what exactly is AV? Audio visual is an extremely broad term covering everything from a DJ with light show all the way up to complex computer-controlled conference and presentation systems with video conferencing. Essentially the term refers to technology used to present information or create a mood through the use sound and moving or still pictures. Audio visual services refers to professional AV provided by specialised companies.

Audio visual technology is used primarily in business, particularly in conferences, seminars and sales presentations where information has to be presented in a compelling way. Other than business uses, AV is a key component of educational, entertainment, and sporting events, as well as social occasions such as parties, weddings, and fundraisers.

So why do I need audio visual services? AV services are crucial for the success of certain business events. Effective audio visual displays are at the heart of any meeting, conference or sales presentation – in short any event in which you want to present your message vividly and powerfully.

When it comes to getting AV for your business you can choose from as much or little as your wish. You could just hire a projector for the day or get an AV services company to handle an entire corporate event. You could try to organise your own audio visual needs. But hiring a professional firm to take care of your AV needs offers many advantages.

For one thing, the range of technologies used is broad and includes lighting, projection, video and broadcasting, sound management and recording. AV services companies employ the latest equipment and can provide technicians skilled in their use.

To work effectively in AV require a unique range of skills and talents. Technicians need the artistic skills to conceptualise and formulate the right program for each company. And they need the technical skills to setup the equipment to provide the perfect sound and vision to support your particular event. These are specialised skills that only come with training and experience. The fact is that effective AV requires a unique blend of artistry and technology which really demands the professional touch you get from using AV services.

How can i find the best AV services company for my needs? Essentially you should look for an established firm with a strong track record. You can then be sure of getting a quality service at a reasonable price. You need to find a company that can offer everything you may need in terms of equipment. You may, for example, wish to record your whole conference or seminar for future reference, for training or for sale. So you need to be sure the audio visual technicians company offer this service.

One thing to consider is that when it comes to arranging AV services for your event, it makes sense to bring in professionals from the outset. Expert audio visual companies can provide valuable input at the planning stage to help you conceptualise and organise your entire project. The best firms can offer total corporate event management which frees you and your staff to focus on your own jobs. By getting it right from the start, you can be sure of an effective and trouble free event.

AV services are at the heart of a host of business events, entertainment and sporting events, and functions such as parties and weddings. In short, any occasion which requires sound, lighting or still or moving pictures is a candidate for audio visual services. You can just partake in audio visual hire, though for such once in a lifetime events, it makes sense to bring in the professionals in audio visual services.

Audio Technica M50 For The Casual Listener Or Music Professional

There is a new kid on the block when it comes to circumaural headphones. The latest in a very popular series of headphones is the Audio Technica M50. You can purchase this pair of headphones for about $100. These headphones have improved on the mid-range and treble, and there is also a stronger bass response as well. Albeit these headphones are standalone headphones, headphone amplifiers are great to get the best performance you can get from these headphones. Along with their superb sound quality, the Audio Technica M50 is also very comfortable and is liked by a wide cross-section of people; from the ordinary listener to music professionals, to the DJ’s all around the world. This may very well be the best non-opened set of headphones you can find on the market today.

Your favorite music will have great clarity when you use Audio Technica M50 headphones. Every aspect of these headphones are said to be perfect by their users; the bass, the treble, and just the overall sound quality is said to be really great. There is absolutely no worry with respect to your ears hurting when using the Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones. The Audio Technica M50 is also well known for its capability to pick up on frequency bass that is extremely low. These types of headphones with this feature are normally very expensive, and the ability to pick up on these low frequencies is usually reserved for open headphones, so it is an added bonus that these headphones can accomplish this. These Audio Technica headphones also offer you bass that is crisp and sharp; and what music aficionado wouldnt love this?

The Audio Technica M50 is excellent with respect to sound leakage. You can use it in almost any silent zone without worrying about disturbing other people. Other than being quite comfortable on your ears, it also comes with a collapsible headband that renders it very simple to store when you are travelling with them. They come clad in black-matte and are padded with ear pads that are also black, giving them a sleek, attractive look.

The Audio Technica M50 is attractive to music lovers because of the way it balances prices, comfort level, and sound clarity. Albeit it is not as good as a pair of opened headphones, they are really very close to them quality wise. Their durability, colors, well-balanced sound, as well as their capacity to pick up on stuff that you would not be able to with other models, still make the Audio Technica M50 an excellent choice for music lovers.

Audio Visual Installation

Audio visual installation at an event venue could be difficult, especially if you have a limited budget. However, it is not a wise idea to compromise with quality, as this is what the success of your event depends greatly on. There are ways in which you can lower your cost without compromising on quality.

Tips to Lowering Your Audio Visual Installation Costs
Following are a few tips to help you impress your clients.

Consult experts: AV systems on hire are the best choice if you are planning on containing costs. Consult experts about your situation. Rentals that cater to small budgets will definitely have something that fits within your budget.
Be choosy: A large budget gives you the luxury of hiring professionals to take care of all details of the audio visual installation and operation. When on a tight budget, identify what you can do without.
PA system options: If you have a band playing at your event, you need to know details of the equipment in their possession already and what else you need to get to complete the setup. The band could have brought its own PA system, but you may still have to provide for the audio visual installation at the event site.
Knowing the event to install the lighting: The event management company needs to be clear about whether your event requires specialised lighting. A proper stage lighting rig could be expensive in contrast to automatic lighting like dizzies which are cheaper and easier to use. They just need you to press the switch once they are set up.
Projectors for cheap display of audio visuals: Projectors rigged to a DVD player are perhaps the cheapest way to display quality audio visual images.
Use a PA system: Find out if the venue you are using for your event has a PA system. If they do, use it for the background music as well as live bands and any other sound requirement at the event.
Choose a playlist over a DJ: An unfortunate choice to make. While a DJ is any day a better option, given he/she can tweak the music to the mood of the audience, play list is the option for you when you are on a tight budget.

What You Should Know About Audio Visual Installation
While your budget may be pulling you in all directions, what you should be looking at is value for money rather than a pure minimisation of costs. For this, it is essential that you understand the four fundamental factors that you need to get right for any audio visual installation.

The first of these is clarity, which is critical for audio visual presentations. You can cut costs on audio visual installation by not hiring technicians, but it is well worth spending a little more on good AV systems in this category. The second factor is simplicity. Make sure that the AV equipment is easy to operate. The third is reliability. Look up reviews of the system that you are considering to avoid losing connection during the event. The fourth factor is realism. You need to ensure that the overall effect created by the audio visual installation is that of people participating together and feeling no barriers even if they are separated by distance.

Planning any event is not easy and you can find an event management company even on a small budget. Smart thinking and a good understanding of your needs will help you the most in this matter. The ultimate aim is to hire AV systems and get technical support without emptying your coffers or sacrificing the success of your event.