Four ways to record your DJ set
The world of DJing is becoming ever more apparent in the online space.
To be a successful DJ in 2018 you undoubtedly need a big social media platform, a space to upload your resume of DJ sets, and of course a device to record your sets. There are various devices and systems that DJs are using, however it’s essential to find one that suits your needs.
Let’s have a look at some of the options:
Evermix MixBus2
What is it:
MixBox 2 is a portable system for recording your DJ sets directly to your mobile device
Best feature(s):
The most notable features of the MixBox2 are high-quality lossless recording in Wav format, it can be powered by your mobile phone (MixBox2 boasts an average of about 10% battery per hour of recording) and the ability to upload your mix to the web via your mobile device.
Not so cool:
Your phone or tablet should be set in Flight mode while you’re recording, forgetting this may result in issues with the mix. Your mixer would also need a dedicated output.
Final Thoughts:
Because the MixBox 2 uses your device’s memory and audio converters, Evermix were able to keep costs down. For a portable system that records in lossless WAV format at this price-point, it’s a fantastic choice.
Expect to pay:
USD$119 / ZAR1500 excl. duties
Where to buy:
Evermix don’t have a local distribution, so you would have to buy directly through their website.
Reloop Tape
What is it:
Reloop Tape is a portable audio recording system, styled to look like a recording medium I’m sure we all remember – the cassette tape.
Best feature(s):
The Reloop Tape is super lightweight, it offers a “thru-port” for those situations where the mixer doesn’t have a dedicated record output and has a built-in phono pre-amp, allowing it to be used as a vinyl-to-digital converter.
Not so cool:
The Reloop tape has no internal memory, so you would need to connect a USB Flash Drive to be able to record your DJ sets. It also only offers conversion to MP3, rather than the more industry standard – WAV format.
Final Thoughts:
Reloop Tape is a cool concept and for most online streaming purposes MP3 is sufficient. So, depending on your needs – check this guy out.
Expect to pay:
USD$129 / ZAR1600 excl. duties
Where to buy:
Reloop is distributed by Tradelius, visit their website to find your nearest stockist.
Pioneer DJM-REC
What is it:
DJM-REC is an iOS application for recording your DJ sets digitally from a Pioneer DJM mixer to your device.
Best feature(s):
Because DJM-REC transfers the data digitally, it’s able to achieve a much higher resolution that any of the other systems on this list. If You’re after audio fidelity, this is your guy! DJM-REC also offers live-streaming functions, which is an awesome added bonus.
Not so cool:
It only works with certain DJM mixers, and you need an Apple iOS device. It also doesn’t help if you arrive at the gig and the mixer’s firmware has not been updated to work with the DJM-REC.
Final Thoughts:
For those with access to an Apple device and DJM mixer, this would be an obvious choice.
Expect to pay:
EUR€10,99 / ZAR160
Where to buy:
Apple’s App Store.
Audacity
What is it:
Audacity is a free DAW software platform that allows you record audio into your computer, it’s easy to use and comes with some handy plugins and editing features.
Best feature(s):
Audacity is designed for audio editing, making it a great free platform to edit mixes recorded elsewhere, or record directly into the software. It allows lossless WAV format and comes with a suite of plugins to get the most out of your mix.
Not so cool:
Audacity is a computer application, meaning you need a laptop or desktop to get it working. That makes this the preferred method for home recordings, while not ideal for live recording. To get a really good sound it is advised to use an audio interface.
Final Thoughts:
Cheap and cheerful choice for home recording applications.
Expect to pay:
Free!
Where to buy:
This is just scratching the surface…
As you can see there is a multitude of different ways of going about recording your DJ set, even beyond what’s mentioned above. Hopefully you can find the solution to suit your application.
