Category: Guides

Introduction: DJ Equipment Basics

The electronic music scene has been growing exponentially in the past few years, and there are a variety of ways to get involved. One of the most popular methods is DJing – but before you start putting together your set, you need to know the basics. This article discusses the basics of DJ equipment and provides a brief overview of the differences between CDJs and DDJ Mixers.

One of the most important pieces of equipment that a DJ needs to have is a mixer. Which kind you pick matters, so in this guide we will walk you through what CDJs and DDJ mixers are, and discuss the differences between CDJs and DDJ mixers. We will also be going over what types of DJs use each type of equipment, what you can do with them, and other details about these two types.

What is a CDJ?

A CDJ is a specialized piece of DJ gear. It can be played and controlled by a laptop but it does not need one like a traditional DDJ controller setup. CDJs are used in nightclubs, music festivals, and even some concert venues.

CDJs control music by playing, pausing, and stopping tracks from a USB stick or SD card. They also have buttons that allow the user to perform other functions such as changing the order of songs or performing live edits such as fading out one song and fading in another one. Everything you need for a show is all right here, and because it’s all under your control, you won’t have to worry about any surprises.

CDJs are popular DJ equipment in the scene. They offer a high level of performance for the DJs and they can do many things such as:

It doesn’t need any software or a laptop to function. All you need is a CDJ, speakers and audio cables.

What is a Controller?

A DJ controller is an input device that can be used by DJs to control different digital DJ software applications. The DJ, who wants to mix tracks, can play the music on their computer and use the controller to manipulate the sound through effects, loops, and each track’s volume during a performance.

DJs can use controllers in different ways depending on their personal preferences. Some like to beat match their music manually while others like to control everything using one or two buttons. The two main types of controllers are MIDI controllers and DAW (digital audio workstation) controllers; MIDI controllers typically come with specific software that has pre-programmed templates for certain sets of skills, while DAW controllers generally come with no pre-programmed templates but offer more flexibility.

DJs also use controllers to select tracks from the music library, change the pitch of the song, increase or decrease its tempo, adjust volume levels, and much more.

The main difference between a CDJ and a controller is that the controller works by sending messages to the computer that powers the DJ software.

Modern-day controllers are often designed with an integrated audio interface that enables them to be used without needing any external gear other than a laptop or tablet. This makes them an appealing alternative for modern-day digital DJs who are looking for simplicity and portability in their equipment setup.

CDJ vs Controller

Both pieces of equipment are comparable when it comes to what they offer for live performances; however, the CDJ requires less space and is much faster to set up, and has less potential for failure in a show (it doesn’t need a laptop). A DJ controller allows for more complete control of individual tracks, which might be necessary if you’re playing EDM or hip-hop mixes.

It may be easier to DJ in a club if you go with a CDJ. Clubs usually have a professional-grade house CDJ which will have similar features to the one in your home. All you need is a USB drive with your music and any equipment knowledge you already have from playing on your own CDJ.

In addition, a lot of DJs these days are opting for CDJs instead of DJ software. This is because they do not need to spend money on expensive software or laptops to be able to mix songs. The CDJs are their own independent mixer which does not need any other extra equipment to work and is easier to learn.

If you are looking to do a more complex house or EDM show, it might be worth investing in a DJ controller. You can bring your set-up and perform to your audiences wherever you go. You can do a lot of things with a CDJ, but more skillful, unique, and technical work can be achieved with controllers.

Introduction: What Does a DJ Controller Do?

A DJ controller is a piece of MIDI hardware that lets you control the music being played on your computer. They can be used for mixing music, controlling the playback of the music, tweaking the sound of the music, or all three. DJ controllers allow you to easily and intuitively control what your crowd hears when you are DJing.

The main job of a DJ controller is to hand you control over what’s happening with the DJ software that’s running on your laptop. It uses different knobs, sliders, or buttons to control the show. For example, if you want to line up the next song you are playing in your set, you can use the buttons on your controller to look for that song in your library.

In short, a DJ controller is a MIDI device that is used by DJs to control music playback from DJ software without using any mouse or keyboard. They allow for hands-on music creation and manipulation, seamless beatmatching, and fluidly adjustable tempo.

What Features can a DJ Controllers Offer?

DJ controllers come with lots of features designed for music producers and audio engineers to compose, produce, remix and edit music. These features include and more.

DJ controllers have a bunch of features that can be used to control musical tracks such as multiple decks, faders, filters, effects controls, jog wheels, dials for beatmatching, and drum pads. These features do can also be configured according to one’s requirement for a customized interface.

Some DJ controllers come with features that simplify the set-up process. For example, they might have built-in audio interfaces and multiple USB ports to allow for multiple laptops to connect with the device at once.

In addition to physical features, many DJ controllers come with a free version of the company’s proprietary DJ software which makes it easier for people who are new to the art of DJing.

What Kind of DJ Controllers Are Available?

These are the 3 different types of DJ controllers that you can choose from. The three types of DJ controllers are CDJs, DJ mixers, and midi controllers. Find out what each one does and offers so you know which is best for your needs. As you can imagine, this is a big decision for anyone considering to take up the craft.

CDJs

CDJs are stand-alone DJ solutions that don’t require a laptop. The CDJs can be used without any additional software. The user can plug in a USB stick or CD with music on it and use the CDJ’s to play it. However, some DJs prefer to use their CDJs in MIDI mode in conjunction with the software they have on their laptops.

A CDJ is a very common piece of DJ equipment in bars and clubs. They can help you keep control of your playlist and allow you to vary the types of music that play during the night. A CDJ will have a turntable to control the music and will usually have a mixer with faders and crossfaders, which you can use to manipulate the volume, fade in/out, Loop, cue and manipulate songs with ease. You can dominate a show with a CDJ.

DDJ Mixers

DJ mixers are pieces of equipment that have channels for audio inputs and outputs, EQs for boosting or cutting sound frequencies, crossfaders to mix two channels together, and knobs for adjusting the volume levels or tone of sounds. They also have features like effects units or buttons for triggering samples. Midi controllers are used by DJs who want more control over their mixes and don’t mind bringing a laptop with sophisticated DJ software along with them. DJs typically use DJ mixers for performances because of their versatility in handling laptop-created music files.

MIDI Controllers

MIDI controllers are designed to be used by musicians who want to produce music, compose music, and create soundtracks. MIDI controllers are interactive devices that let you play sounds from a range of sources. They’re also capable of controlling digital audio workstations, samplers, sequencers, keyboards, synthesizers or any other MIDI-enabled device.

A controllerist DJ (or DJ controllerist) is someone who uses a MIDI controller as their primary interface for DJing. This is to differentiate them from traditional turntablists or digital DJs who use DDJs and CDJs as their primary equipment.

Live performance with midi controllers can be seen as a skillful show because it requires musicians to be skilled in both playing their instruments and creating music through these controllers.

Choosing the Best DJ Controller for You

In order to get the best controller for your needs, it is important to take into account who you are as a person and what type of DJing you want to do. There are three main types of controllers: CDJs, DDJ Mixers, and MIDI controllers. Each of these comes with its own features and price levels: beginner, standard, performance-based, and all-in-one controllers.

Depending on your skill level and what type of Djing you want to do, one kind may be better for you than another. The price range varies from about $100-$1500 depending on which type you choose to purchase, and there are many factors that go into this decision.

What kind of DJ do you want to be? The choice is yours.

Traditional methods for musicians to distribute their music are expensive, unreliable, and complicated. Contracts, record labels, international licensing, and international record laws make it impossible for an indie band to release music on popular streaming services without help.

DistroKid provides an easy and affordable digital music distribution solution that’s available to everyone. It’s a reliable and quick platform that takes minutes to sign up. Distrokid provides a one-stop service for musicians to distribute their music to every major music platform. All you need to do is upload your music and they’ll take care of the rest.

With DistroKid, you can focus on what’s important — making killer music and reaching your fans!

But is it worth it?

Distrokid’s Pricing Structure

Distrokid operates with a subscription service where you pay yearly to upload an unlimited amount of songs to their distribution network.

The Musician plan is $19.99/mo and includes unlimited uploads, unlimited songs, and one master release. This plan is fine if you just want to get your music out there.

The next level up at $35.99/mo, the “Musician Plus” plan allows for you to add more “features” to your music. It allows you to set release dates, preorders, mess with Spotify algorithms for your benefit, and set prices on Apple Music. As music integrates into Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram this level allows you to utilize those integrations. With social media spread, potential fans will be more likely to follow you, show interest in listening to your music, and make it easier for you to grow your audience. It’s my personal recommendation.

The $79.99/mo Label plan is basically for record labels or the most pompous of artists with more than 5 bands. At this level the more bands you have, the more you pay.

If you go through this link you can save 7% on any plan.

Optional Release Upsells

Distrokid has optional “upgrades” when you upload a song. These upsells are mainly for the promotion of your music in new and interesting ways, or for assisting you with legal matters. In order of subjective importance:

Leave a Legacy ($29.00 one-time fee, nonrecurring)

Distrokid will remove your music if you cancel your subscription. If you pay this fee the song stays up forever.

Youtube Content ID ($4.95/yr + 20% of YouTube ad revenue from matches Distrokid detects)

Distrokid continuously scans YouTube videos and metadata to find matches of your work. When Distrokid detects a match in any YouTube video, you can get notified of the match and get an automatic 80% cut of the ad revenue from that video.

Shazam & iPhone Siri ($0.99/yr)

People can say “Siri what song is this” and get an answer: yours.

Here’s the rest of the upsells (Dec 29, 2021):

What is Distrokid?

Distrokid is a music distribution service that provides independent artists with a platform to distribute their music to all of the most popular digital stores and streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and more.

One of the most common problems indie artists face is that they don’t have any way to get their songs out into the world. Distrokid provides an easy-to-use tool that allows them to do just that – distribute their music anywhere in the world without having to worry about any technical aspects of it.

The Benefits of DistroKid as a Music Distribution Platform

Due to its extremely affordable pricing, DistroKid is one of the most popular music distribution platforms.

DistroKid is a music distribution platform that covers all aspects of releasing and distributing your music online. It gives you access to independent stores like Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon Music. It also offers exclusive pre-orders for your album before its release date and helps you create an artist page on SoundCloud as well as verify you on Spotify.

Why You Should Start Using DistroKid Today

An artist’s best chance for success is to get their music in front of as many people as possible. That’s where a music distribution platform comes in handy. Artists focusing on printing CDs and selling merch in shows are missing out on the opportunity to gain exposure to new audiences, remain top-of-mind for their followers, and increase their fan base.

With so many music distribution services to choose from, it can be hard for independent artists to get their music heard. You can see our comparison review between the different distribution services, but spoiler alert Distrokid wins.

Introduction: What is a ghost producer?

A ghost producer is a professional songwriter and producer who produces a musical composition anonymously. They usually collaborate with a more established artist to provide the melodies, hooks, beats, vocals, lyrics, and much more.

Producers are responsible for more than just recording a song. They also help choose what instruments will be used, arrange the songs and even work on the mixing and mastering of the song. Ghost producers can assist with any step in the songwriting process. They may even do the whole thing.

In the past, when you wanted to create a song, you had to take care of all the different parts of it. That meant coming up with the lyrics, writing the melody, and creating a rhythm. In today’s digital age though, ghost production has become a much more common practice. This is because it allows producers to tackle their own specialty without having to worry about any one aspect in particular.

How to Find a Qualified & Talented Ghost Producer

A ghost producer is a production company that hires ghostwriters to write content for their clients. The client is the one who provides the outline and the content idea and usually hires a ghost production company because they do not have enough time of their own to write the entire piece of content.

Your ghost producer is a content writer who will help you in your creative process. Not only will they do the heavy lifting, but they’ll also take ownership of your project and see it through to completion.

They need to be patient with you, understand the creative process, and be able to get on your wavelength. They should also be able to think creatively on their feet and come up with good ideas for new content ideas when you get stuck with your designs.

Finding an experienced and talented ghost producer for your project is not as difficult as it might sound. You can first lookup reviews on various companies that offer such services. You can also ask your peers who might know about some good companies, or you can do some research on your own by reading reviews left by clients on these companies.

It’s important to note that you should always make sure that any potential writers you hire are qualified and talented before signing any contracts with them.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghost Producer?

The cost of hiring a ghost producer can vary depending on the type of service or package that they offer. A producer may charge anywhere from $50 to $500 per track depending on the complexity of the project.

The more involved the ghost producer is in the development of the song, the higher the price will be.

Where To Find a Ghost Producer

Finding a ghost producer requires a lot of research and time. Unless you live in a city with a large musical scene, like Los Angeles or Nashville, it’s unlikely there are many services in your area. There are lots of services available online for you to find a ghost producer.

Using Fiverr To Find Ghost Producers

Yes, that silly website where you pay someone $5 to do something outrageous has really grown up.

Fiverr is an online marketplace that helps freelancers find work and offer their services to those looking for help. There are two types of services offered on Fiverr: gigs and services. A gig is a defined task such as writing an article or designing a logo. A service is a more long-term project such as creating a musical masterpiece.

I really like Fiverr because artists from all over the world are able to offer their services. Fiverr intermediaries between the client and the seller, so all the headaches of hiring and contracts are already covered. Essentially you can pay for the rights to the intellectual property and gain ownership of it as soon as it’s ready.

The other main thing I like about using Fiverr to hire a ghost producer is you’re able to see examples of their work, and the reviews of past clients. This really gives you a chance to see what kind of product you’re buying and what to expect from the ghost producer.

Fiverr has built up a tiered system of quality. There are the regular services and then there’s the Fiverr Pro section. The pro section has premium sellers who create excellent quality work.

Seriously, take a look at some of these musicians…

You can hire one artist to do everything for you, or if your project management skills are up to the challenge you can build a whole masterpiece using a team of composers, lyricists, musicians, and mix-masters.

10 Tips for Working with Your Ghost Producer

1. Before you hire a ghost producer, have a clear idea of what you want them to do, and what you expect from them.
2. If multiple artists are working together and rely on each other to complete their work, be sure to organize and communicate clearly so they can plan ahead accordingly.
3. They cannot be expected to have any knowledge about your style or genre if they are not already familiar with it beforehand.
4. Be clear on who owns the intellectual property rights to the finished product before hiring a writer so there is no confusion later on down the line about who owns it—you or them?

5. Do not wait until the last minute to hire a ghostwriter. Instead, start looking early and you will be able to find someone that is a perfect fit for your needs.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything – content, deadlines, process, etc. Be sure to fully understand what you are signing up for before making any commitments with your ghost producer.
7. It’s important to set boundaries so that there is no confusion between what is expected on both sides of the arrangement.
8. Stay involved in the creative process. When you receive rough drafts give feedback and be clear with which revisions the ghost producer should make.
9. Be open to new ideas or changes in direction while working with your ghost producer. They are also a professional artist with valuable insight.
10. Keep things professional and avoid crossing boundaries of privacy or professionalism with your ghost producer. They’re your collaborative colleague, not your slave.

Five Reasons Why You Should Use A Ghost Producer On Your Next Recording Project

1. Get The Record You Want

Ghost producers make a living working with clients and bringing those clients’ visions to reality. The producer you choose to work with is the one who will have the most influence on the sound, feel and overall direction of your project. You are hiring someone with an extensive background in the music industry who will be able to produce a record that reflects your unique voice and creativity.

2. They Bring a new sound.

Ghost producers are artists with their own styles. Maybe they have a certain sound that you want in your music. Maybe they see your art in a new way. All of this leads to a unique and fresh new sound for your fans to enjoy.

3) Studio Space and Equipment

The industry is heavily competitive and it’s only getting more saturated. Only the best can thrive. You may not have everything you need to create the song you want. There’s lots of specialized equipment and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for artists to find decent studio time. To combat this problem, many artists are opting to use ghost producers who have their own dedicated studio space and professional-grade equipment.

4. Creating Musical Content Without Skill

Let’s face it, one of the main benefits of ghost producers is to produce professional-quality content in any genre of music without years of training and expertise. Many professional DJs around the world pay ghost producers to create tracks that they own the rights to so that they can play those songs in their sets. This creates a unique and personal entertainment experience for their fans. Their skill set is entertaining a crowd and mixing songs, not writing them, and this allows them to take their shows to the next level.

5. Get Your Musical Ideas Out Into The World More Quickly

As an artist, you can only do so much. While you’re focusing on performing, touring, or creating flagship singles, you may not be getting as much content done as you or your fans would like. Ghost producers allow you to create and work on many more projects at once than you could otherwise.

Well, you’ve done it, you’re getting streams and now you’re earning money for your artistic endeavors online. But how does all this stuff work?

How Do You Withdraw Money From Distrokid?

Distrokid conglomerates all your royalties and earnings from all your sources into their bank tab. All you have to do is log into your account, and go to that tab to see what money is available to withdraw.

The bank tab has all the information you need as well as your available earnings. All you have to do is click WITHDRAW EARNINGS, and put in your password and relevant information to start the withdraw process.

What Payment Options Does Distrokid have?

Distrokid can pay you by PayPal, ACH, wire, or check. Personally, I use Paypal as it’s the simplest for me, but it’s still a bit of a hassle. If you want to switch between payment methods you can do so on your account page. You can withdraw whenever you want, which is nice.

Where’s My Money, Spotify Says I have 30k Streams…?

Distrokid, Tunecore, and CDBaby all have a 2-3 month delay on conglomerating royalties from their distribution network. The sad fact is you’ll have to wait and always be behind a few months on your income. If I had to guess, it’s to prevent fraud on Spotify/Apple Music’s side.

As far as specifics on when money enters your Distrokid account, it happens whenever the streaming services send you your share.

How Do You Split Earnings?

You can set up automatic splits for any of your musical properties, the splits require another Distrokid account. You can invite people without an account for a 50% discount through this feature, or just add existing accounts; and the percentage payments will properly be routed as per the rules put in place. The account that distributed the track needs to set up the earning split.