After its release in 2006, I’ve decided to upgrade to Windows Vista.  While I enjoy the operating system, there are some incompatibilities with my favored method of DJing, which is by using Winamp and the Shoutcast DSP.   The Vista soundcard settings are completely different from the previous Microsoft operating systems thus breaking the functionality of performing voice overs.  While you are still able to select “What You Can Hear” as an option, the Shoutcast DPS is unable to manipulate the microphone levels, although it can be manually operated through the sound control panel.  While this issue is not particularly new, there are very few alternative to rectify this problem.  The Shoucast DSP was last updated well into the height of Windows XP usage and is not regularly updated.  The only alternative is to use a series of work around’s until until updates to either Vista or the Shoutcast DSP make this feature compatible.

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The business model for music is changing; many artists are beginning to take music in their own hands and offering free digital tracks.  As a DJ this is wonderful news, you’re able to obtain great music without a super huge cost.  If DJing online, do you still need to pay royalties for free music? While most people would say the obvious answer is “yes”, it’s really a tossup. What makes it a bit confusing is the source from where your music comes from. There are several services that allow for their music to be used royalty free but have other requirements as some popular artists are attempting to leave the entire scheme behind but have not given up the use of their music.

The general rule of thumb is pay royalties, especially if a major band released their music for free.  While they are adapting to a new model for releasing music, their free music doesn’t entail that you have full free copyright to do what you wish, it just means you’re getting the content for free.  Some exceptions are when it is explicitly clear that the use of the music is royalty free (or PodSafe) or if you have a personal relationship with the artists.  Say you’re good friends with an artist and want to use their music, get written permission from them to use their material.  If you don’t know any bands, artists or musicians, there are also several alternatives to finding royalty free music, especially between searching for music under Creative Commons or sign up for IODA’s Promonet. Most if not all of the music featured through these ways are PodSafe and Royalty Free (there may be some other requirements to follow such as a link to the artists and the track).  In most cases not only is the music free but you generally do not have to pay any royalties on the tracks.

To be sure, check with the artists, their publicist, even their label if you have to.  If you are still unsure, seek legal advice (I’m not a lawyer!  If you want more accurate, legal advice concerning royalties please seek their council!)  In my opinion it’s always good to have a royalty service in place unless you are going to be very specific about your music choices; even then you may not always have the option to do so.

I get asked every now and then by a Mac user “How Do I DJ off a Mac?”  I really wish I had the answer for you (I don’t own a Mac, not by choice!).  While I really do wish I had a Mac to test out DJing/Broadcasting there are some software and tools that are Mac specific.  An alternative (again not tested) is to also try using boot camp and DJ as you normally would under a Windows system. Here’s some Mac specific software for online DJing and Broadcasting:

• Shoutcast DSP Plugin for Mac OS X, Linux, and FreeBSD - this is the same location you would get the regular Shoutcast DSP for Windows; software that has not been improved on for some time.
• Rouge Amoeba - Nicecast - A fully functional Mac OS tool with pluginable effects. Although it’s not free, $40 is cheaper than some PC equivalent software that has the same features.
• B.U.T.T. - Broadcast Using This Tool, I’ve highlighted before under Windows, but is also available for Mac!
• Native Instruments Traktor 3 - while Traktor is more a DJ related software, you can stream to an Icecast server with it and it’s available for Mac (and PC).

I want to talk about BUTT!  No, not the posterior, it’s a free online broadcasting/streaming tool (it stands for Broadcast Using This Tool).  A fellow DJ pointed me to the blog post of Komuso Tokugawa where he talks about the pro’s and cons of BUTT.  I’m always interested in new tools, especially ones that can make my life potentially easier and gave it a whirl, while it is not a replacement for SAM Broadcaster or Wianmp, it could be worth your while.

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There is one guarantee when DJing, there will be microphone problems.  Sometimes the microphone is very low or very loud, or the quality is just dreadful.  The quality and settings of your microphone will make or break your show in Second Life (and online). I have attended a lot of shows where the DJ was playing great music but their microphone quality was horrible immediately turning me off.  I myself have had microphone problems turning a potentially great show into a horrible experience. Before a gig, perform a simple microphone test, turn on your microphone, talk into it and monitor the levels.  This process takes as little as 5 minute or as long as 30.  While a microphone test does help you determine if something is wrong, or how ineffective your microphone is there are ways to improve your microphone quality.  The factors for better quality are: the quality of your microphone, your hardware and sound settings, and your software sound settings.

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