MacBook good for DJing?

[Chone]

For live electronic music (non-DJ, original work), I would go with the MBP, because the extra inch and a half or so of screen size and the higher resolution will free up that much more precious screen real estate. Working with Logic + multiple VSTs + whatever else you have going (like visualizations) often means swimming through a sea of windows, and is one of the reasons I'm dying to upgrade from my iBook G4 (besides the obvious issue of processor speed! ) Having a backlit keyboard would also come in handy in the live setting, unless you have lights for your workspace already. You have to know how to work those hotkeys and faders to rock out live, not just the push that mouse!

I was just gonna say this, I do very casual "DJing" sessions and I think the extra screen real estate on the MacBook Pro would be worth it, very worth it, not to mention having a bigger computer and a backlit keyboard makes things a little less cramped and more comfortable. When I use programs like MixVibes on the PC or DJ 1800 on the Mac I often find myself needing extra space, even on my 18/19 monitors, I can't imagine how cramped the 13" MB will feel.

Oh and its faster too you won't need much processor speed RAM will help loads, especially if he plans to run any Rosetta apps, I think 1GB is standard on every MBP so that shouldn't be a problem, if your friend has the money, I would recommend the MBP 17".

Summary of my post: Screen real estate is the key here, if the MacBook came in 15 or 17 inch configuration that would be just fine but 13" is too cramped for most serious DJ apps.

 

[Flowbee]

Summary of my post: Screen real estate is the key here, if the MacBook came in 15 or 17 inch configuration that would be just fine but 13" is too cramped for most serious DJ apps.

I don't find that to be true at all. Everyone has their own preferences, but I've never had a problem with Ableton Live or Serato on a 12" Powerbook. Both programs give you everything you need in one window. And on stage, there's really no reason to spend much time staring at the screen anyway. If you're an "elecronic musician" and you need to keep an eye on tons of apps and plugins, you should probably be using an external monitor or two.

 

[XP Defector]

I tend to agree, I'm quite happy with my Macbook display. With Ableton LIVE for instance, I find there is enough room to get things done easily. That said, my MacBook is an upgrade to a Dell Inspiron 5500 which had an awful screen and a top resolution of something like 1024 x 768. I'd say if money was not an issue, a MacBook would be excellent for Live performances due to it's size and portability whilst having a Mac Pro at home for intensive production would be just naughty

 

[Bern]

Just wanted to mention the Musical Director of Australian Idol is still using a 14" iBook to mix the music, it's always in visible view.

 

[nukiduz]

I'm not sure why all of the MacBook Pro Recommendations. Sounds like just guessing to me. Besides a slightly faster processor, the MacBook Pro really gives you no tangible benefits over the Regular MacBook for DJing.

Your friend should keep these things in mind, though:

Reason is not available in a Universal Binary for Intel Macs yet. It runs under Rosetta, but very poorly.

Live 5.2 is a Universal Binary and runs very well on a MacBook, but it doesn't support dual processors yet. Live 6 is currently in beta testing and will take advantage of dual processors.

There are still many audio plugins that aren't Universal Binaries.

I'm not sure why anyone would use Logic in a live performance setting.

Your friend should really figure out what software he's planning to use and go from there (trust me, he won't be using Live+Reason+Cubase+Logic on stage). There are still tons of working DJs using G4 Powerbooks, and in terms of compatibilty that's probably the best solution. It really doesn't take a lot of processing power to mix audio files and loops and add a few effects.

sorry but Reason actually is available in UB. it's the 3.0.5 version.

 

[XP Defector]

No need to be sorry about it!

 

[jova007]

I've been using the MBP for Djing for almost 4 months now and its pretty damn good. Im using Serato and Live 5.2.

Heres how I look at it. I got the 7200 rpm HD and also the 2gig Ram upgrade because the last thing you would want is to crash in the middle of a live set. Now Im sure the standard HD would have been fine.. but I wanted a faster HD so I wouldnt have to worry about it at all.

As for vinyl records.. I love them to death.. but the times are changing and I dont have to spend $10 on a track when I can get it for $1.99 online and not have to listen to the crappy B-sides..

But I also still buy Vinyl because.. your not gonna find the bootlegs on MP3 sites. Never. They will never be released as MP3s because most sites are not gonna risk getting sued over selling copyrighted bootleg tracks.

By bootlegs, I mean songs that exist but are remixed by a certain artist/remixers... some are rare and are dance floor fillers...

And theres no feeling in the world like having a vinyl that no one else has because its a bootleg and was never intended for release... but accidentally leaked out somewhere...

 

[ryanx27]

I

But I also still buy Vinyl because.. your not gonna find the bootlegs on MP3 sites. Never.

Do you use SoulSeek? You can find remixes pretty easily on there by searching for files in the chat rooms, and the best part is that almost everyone's files are encoded at an acceptably high bitrate (192+).

 

[Electro Funk]

Your friend should keep these things in mind, though:

Reason is not available in a Universal Binary for Intel Macs yet. It runs under Rosetta, but very poorly.

Actually:

Propellerhead Ships Reason 3.0.5 as a Universal Binary Application

May 19, 2006 3:25 PM

Propellerhead Software announced the availability of Reason 3.0.5, which offers full native compatibility with Apple’s Intel-based Macs. The new version is offered as a free download for registered users. Feedback from the Reason user community played a critical role in the development, testing and release of this important upgrade.

Propellerhead has also updated its ReWire and REX libraries, which are used by many other applications to provide integration with Reason and ReCycle. Both ReWire and REX are available as Universal Binaries, as well. ReWire Version 2.5 also adds performance enhancements when loading samples into Reason in a ReWire session.

For more information, visit http://www.propellerheads.se.

i would suggest a MB Pro as well...

 

[mrbitterman]

FO-Shizzel!

 

[jholzner]

I see he already has a software line up but this DJing app looks pretty sweet and it looks like it would run on a Macbook without a problem.

http://www.algoriddim.net/index.html

djay is the groundbreaking new software for Mac OS X. It takes full advantage of Apple's latest audio and graphics technologies, and runs natively on both Intel and PowerPC processors.
It supports all common file formats, such as mp3, aiff, wav, aac, caf.
With djay you can control and mix your whole digital music collection with two realistic virtual, interactive turntables and both record and transmit the audio in real-time over the Bonjour network to other connected djays.

 

[Trekkie]

I have someone asking me if the MacBook 1.83 GHz is a good computer for live DJing and I don't know an accurate answer, so I'll ask everyone here. I know nothing about music production, so hopefully you can help.

I was in a hotel club in Mexico City last year and noticed that the DJ had a Powerbook on his stand and there was music a playin.

I worked my way over there and discovered he was DJing the whole thing from iTunes.

I could have sworn he had a mixer or something, so I guess you can do it really on the cheap, and there are better tools from there.

 

[mmmcheese]

you mean like this? ---> http://www.djtekmoe.com/pictures/moneyshot1.jpg...

Aren't "money shots" against the rules of this forum? haha...there's no way I'm clicking on that at work!

 

[jova007]

Do you use SoulSeek? You can find remixes pretty easily on there by searching for files in the chat rooms, and the best part is that almost everyone's files are encoded at an acceptably high bitrate (192+).

I havent used SoulSeek yet, but friends of mine use it.. I should give it a shot.

 

[emotion]

I havent used SoulSeek yet, but friends of mine use it.. I should give it a shot.

Make sure if you download someones stuff and like it and you play it that you pay for a release though. It's real hard for underground electronic artists at the moment.

 

[Killyp]

Vinyl will disappear within the next few years.

Kinda sad really as I still buy all my music on the stuff and it fills my house.

Vinyl will never dissappear. As you said you buy all your music on it, and so do many other people, so there is certainly a market for it, albeit a small one.

Vinyl sounds better than CD from pretty much every aspect. The only advantage CD has over vinyl is that it's smaller, easier to use and can be easily put onto a computer in MP3 form, unlike vinyl where you have to play the thole thing out, split the tracks up AND name them...

 

[emotion]

Vinyl will never dissappear. As you said you buy all your music on it, and so do many other people, so there is certainly a market for it, albeit a small one.

The trouble is that market is becoming vanishingly small.

Trust me, I've been collecting vinyl for 25 years, a lot of my friends work in record shops, run labels, work in record distributers (I'm in Manchester UK) and are artists where their output is solely on vinyl. The consensus is that vinyl is actually on the way out for many different reasons (lack of buyers, expense of manufacture etc etc).

Vinyl sounds better than CD from pretty much every aspect.

This is mainly due to the distortion that vinyl adds to the sound. It is pleasing to the ears of people who are used to that. Most people can't actually tell the difference if the digital equipment you are using to play the digital form of the music has a decent enough DAC.

This is especially true in clubs where most sound systems aren't even stereo let alone possess the clarity where people can tell.

The only advantage CD has over vinyl is that it's smaller, easier to use and can be easily put onto a computer in MP3 form, unlike vinyl where you have to play the thole thing out, split the tracks up AND name them...

CD is essential a dead format (more so than vinyl in a lot of respects). I'm not overly keen on the mastering on a lot of CDs (too much compression, in the audio sense, used to crush the mix). This is why I prefer to record my own vinyl still.

MP3 is not an option for any audiophile (or DJ for that matter) btw.

I purchased my first download the other day (£2.50 for a wav). I still prefer the physical object of having a 12" in front of me but y'know we're all going to have to get over that. It's an old fogeys way of looking at music (and books and movies).

At the end of the day music isn't going away, and as long as the fidelity is ok then who cares how we get our hands on it?

 

[ryanx27]

Vinyl sounds better than CD from pretty much every aspect. The only advantage CD has over vinyl is that it's smaller, easier to use and can be easily put onto a computer in MP3 form, unlike vinyl where you have to play the thole thing out, split the tracks up AND name them...

A couple of obvious caveats -- new or lightly used vinyl does indeed sound "better" than CD, if you have a good turntable and quality stereo components. I suppose you could say something similar about playing a CD through cheap components, but a good vinyl experience also depends on making sure the wow, flutter, and pitch on the turntable are accurate. You've also got to keep up with much more maintenance: nasty gunk builds up on the needle; good cartridges can be quite pricey; if you live in a hot climate like those of us here in Florida you must always keep them air-conditioned or they'll warp; and no matter how careful you are, your records are going to suffer a small degree of irreversible damage every single time you play them due to the physical contact involved. That last fact is a real shame, because the only way to preserve them indefinitely is a depressing "Sophie's Choice:" either don't listen to them very much, or do a digital transfer -- the former of which is unthinkable (IMHO) and the latter of which gets rid of that magical warmth we all love about vinyl.

What I'm getting at is that I definitely agree that vinyl CAN sound better than CD, but in my opinion it requires a bigger investment (in money and in effort) to make it so.

 

[ryanx27]

CD is essential a dead format (more so than vinyl in a lot of respects). I'm not overly keen on the mastering on a lot of CDs (too much compression, in the audio sense, used to crush the mix). This is why I prefer to record my own vinyl still.

MP3 is not an option for any audiophile (or DJ for that matter) btw.

About compression on CDs -- I notice this as well, yet sometimes I feel as if there's a historical factor contributing to it. CDs are the medium of the late 80s and 1990s, and SO MUCH of what I here from that era is completely compressed to all hell. Take, for example, pretty much any U.S. "grunge" album from the 1990s. As Steve Albini said, compression "makes everything sound like a beer commercial."

As for mp3 and audiophilia, while I can't claim to be an uber-snob (I have a life to live.... kidding ), I'm very happy with my mp3 set-up -- high bitrate mp3 (i swear to god, anyone who can hear a difference between a properly-ripped 256 kbps Mp3 and a .wav is deluding themselves), decoded in Winamp using the 24-bit MAD plugin instead of the nullsoft decoder, then fed to my M-Audio sound card via ASIO and into AKG headphones. I may eventually purchase a headphone amp. Again, I'm merely anal retentive, not an uber-audiophile. I am more than happy with the end result and can clearly hear an improvement with each step of my set-up.

p.s. I have seen some people "spin" some absolutely sick dj sets using only mp3 and Native Instruments' Traktor. These were just amateurs, too...

 

[emotion]

I'm very happy with my mp3 set-up -- high bitrate mp3 (i swear to god, anyone who can hear a difference between a properly-ripped 256 kbps Mp3 and a .wav is deluding themselves), decoded in Winamp using the 24-bit MAD plugin instead of the nullsoft decoder, then fed to my M-Audio sound card via ASIO and into AKG headphones. I may eventually purchase a headphone amp. Again, I'm merely anal retentive, not an uber-audiophile. I am more than happy with the end result and can clearly hear an improvement with each step of my set-up.

Yeah I'm far from an audiophile too. Higher bitrates are probably ok but they do seem to show up on a big PA. In any case the mp3 support in Live is a little bit of a cludge (it decodes to a directory first) so I may as well use wavs.

 

[dextertangocci]

The MBP would of coarse be better, but seen as programs like Logic don't use the GPU, only the processor and the RAM, the 1.83Ghz MB is almost as fast as the MBP

BTW, does the MBP have a better sound card than the MB?