DJ-ing using a PowerBook G4?

Ya it's totally possible. You'll need to invest a bit of $$ first to get on track.

Software like Ableton Live, or Traktor DJ studio is where to start.
Hardware like a Pre amp, a compressor, and you should be pretty much good to go . A RAM upgrade never hurts either.

Cheers

You should be fine, however you will definitely want to get a soft pad or something to put your PowerBook on. Club systems tend to pump out too much bass, causing things to shake like crazy, and laptops really don't like shaking (they skip when you shake them, believe me, my MacBook Pro hates it if I sit it on top of my sub ).

Killyp said:

You should be fine

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Fine? what about software and at least a pre amp ?

no?


or is the OP just talking about pushing Play in iTunes?

DJ killmore from incubus uses two macbook pro's as part of his set-up

Every band member of Soundtribe Sector 9 uses a powerbook running ableton live in their set.

quigley -- i don't understand the preamp requirement.

zimv20 said:

quigley -- i don't understand the preamp requirement.

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I don't have a laptop

But, doesn't one need something to "boost" the audio output for a real DJ set running through a club soundsystem? Can the Powerbook generate enough of a signal to fully crank out a Full on DJ Set at a large venue?

I'm basing this on a DJ friend who does very well, and he uses a powerbook>preamp>compressor and all his tracks are .Wav to get the loudest fullest sound when he gets booked for a big gig...

I could be wrong, I stopped DJ'ing long ago

quigleybc said:

doesn't one need something to "boost" the audio output for a real DJ set running through a club soundsystem? Can the Powerbook generate enough of a signal to fully crank out a Full on DJ Set at a large venue?

Click to expand...

maybe your friend was taking the laptop headphone out (which i don't think is a terribly good idea). perhaps he found that the preamp in the mac wasn't very good.

but having a line level signal, either from a laptop line-level out (dunno if any apple laptops have those) or from the USB or firewire interface, would be fine to feed into a venue kit expecting a line level in (e.g. a mixing board).

im pretty sure something like the presonus firebox would be fine.
i have one myself and it is very well built and is ideal for mobile use as it is tiny.i havent tried it out in the situation that you would need to use it in so its best to get some more advice before you buy.

it has its own headphone port and pre amp,and you should be able to mix over your headphones before going live to the mixer using the included presonus software mixer.also connections for active speakers so ideal if your using something like the active mackies or jbls that most small clubs tend to use or any other active speakers.

i just use mine for audio production with a pair of active studio monitors, so i have never used it with my previous powerbook for dj use.