How to get the BEST sound for your DJ set up

[@vibesvilla2556]

This just gave me what I have been looking for 🙏

[@saengsithideth9226]

Thank you so much for putting out great video sir

[@MobileDJGarage]

Great video. You can do this also with a mixer like the Allen Heath CQ 12t. I use that one and now I’ll be outputting subs separately. Thanks again.

[@djryanparker]

Awesome! Yeah...i love the Allen and Heath stuff in general. been using it for years and super stable.

[@yoitsgiook]

Do you know if the CQ-12T also require a router for Wifi, or does it have built in Wifi? Thanks!

[@djryanparker]

@@yoitsgiook don’t know. But typically internal ones suck. It’s cheap enough to use an AirPort Express for $40

[@yoitsgiook]

This video is EXACTLY what I needed, thank you! I was looking for a video with someone using an Allen & Heath digital mixer specifically for DJ events. I've seen some for QSC TouchMix 8, but I've heard so many bad things about that specific unit. I was thinking of getting the A&H CQ-12T instead since I need something compact.

[@yoitsgiook]

I do have a question though, what do you set your controller gain and master to? Do you set them to unity?

[@djryanparker]

@@yoitsgiook I put my controller master at noon. But my faders rarely go up past 70%. I don’t mix with faders going all up or all down like some djs. I keep my trims on auto and let vdj set each song

[@yoitsgiook]

@@djryanparker thanks! I see. Yeah I have my faders all the way up. I have to do a lot of quick mixing so trying to calculating things the other way just wouldn’t work for me. One thing I noticed with some newer controllers is that the gain/trim attenuators are set really hot or different. I had one where 12 o’clock was more like 6db instead of zero. But you were talking about the master though. Again, I really appreciate your response and video.

[@mobiletoonz]

you're on the right track. On digital mixers (on average) your gain should be set to around -12, this is plenty. Secondly for better sound and coverage stop playing in stereo (it's garbage and only sounds good to the centre of the room) For subs you do not need to run it's own signal from your controller. Send a mono signal from controller to mixer and then from your input channel you can send this to an aux and your mains ( no need for extra cables) On your aux send use the PEQ and lowpass everything down to around 100 and on your mains use the PEQ and highpass around 100 as well. For compression a low ratio is better for pre-recorded music 2:1 to 4:1 with slow attack and fast release. I've been running live sound for 40 years and also dj'd for 35 of them. Im super glad to see dj's finally starting to understand their equipment and using real mixers and consoles to achieve better control. the A&H Qu-pac is really overkill for most dj's but is an amazing choice if you want to start with a small band or groups performing as events. anyways sorry for the rant, great video. oh forgot to mention, that Radial DI is one of the best but for music any cheap $30 to $60 DI will work just fine. When playing music at 95 to 105db no one will ever be able to hear the difference .

[@djryanparker]

Totally. I disagree about playing in stereo however...as a recording engineer I can't stand listening to music, even at DJ events, not in stereo...certain songs are panned in certain ways and sound so much better. The QU pac is def overkill, but unfortunately you need something that big for the easy of use in my case. I love the app...but something smaller that's only 4-6 channels from anther brand would get you by as well

[@mobiletoonz]

@@djryanparker I understand about music being panned but at events where the music is played in stereo, people on the left or right sound of the room get crappy sound. Events must be about everyone’s enjoyment and not just the center for f the dance floor or tables in the back of the room.

[@djryanparker]

@@mobiletoonz you’re assuming that mixes have incredibly hard panned instruments in them. Most do not and are only enhanced by playing the stereo version. 99% of songs don’t sound bad standing hard left or right on the dance floor.

[@DJFrancisco]

On your mic, eq's, you seem to bring down a lot of the mid bands... I have feedback problems with mine and I know very little about this. I know if you take out the resonant frequencies for the venue that works, but finding those frequencies is impossible without the right tools. Can you have a video on proper mic eq at a venue?

[@djryanparker]

Depends on the venue! Certainly your controller eq's aren't going to help you much. that's why you need a mixer like this to have ultimate control. Some venues I don't need such a drastic EQ...others I do. Some are huge barns. Some are all carpet and no windows.

[@pioramigo]

as soon as you showed the back panel of your controller i recognized it immediately! do you think this denon still holds up well in 2024? I've been thinking in selling mine after some issues with usb audio suddenly not working propperly

[@djryanparker]

Well, sure, if it's not working right then move on. So far so good on mine...i love the lay out of it and it does everything I need

[@devonashby7379]

You dont need a DBX driverack with this board. Correct?

[@djryanparker]

Nope...this takes the place of it. if you use a DBX you'd have to use your on-board mic's on the controller and then you'd have limited ability to dial your mic in

[@DJFrancisco]

@parker I feel like you would if you had passive speakers. Which I do... I also run the Presonus rackmount mixer, But this one has a lot more options. Also as you mentioned, it does not completely cut off the signal, only brings it down. Which means you're still sending a small signal to the speaker. Powered speakers have their own built in crossover, i'm aware, but back to my passive speakers, they would get that signal without my dbx

[@djryanparker]

@@DJFrancisco You can use a driverack or a digital mixer. You don't really need both, but I get what you are saying.