Hey guys im torn between buying a dual cd player or an mp3/cd dual player!! what do u guys think?i know you can fit hundreds of mp3 files on one disc,but im worried too many songs on one disc may get confusing while your working and is there a greater chance of tracks skipping?etc....there is quite a big price diff too so would like to hear your views....

I'm going to remain totally unbiased to this since I have had the chance to quote. However one point! - bearing in mind the size of the CD Jewel case and say 200+ tracks on a 99 min CD, where are you going to print the track listing?, How can you fit a list 200 titles / artist on the space of the back cover of the jewel case and know what tracks are on each disc!.

I still think that the best way forward is to use MP3's on a PC and CD's in a CD Player and not try to combine the Two. Searching a PC with Software like OTS can find 1 track in out of 10,000 in seconds, try doing that in a CD case full of Raw MP3's.

I'm not trying to influence your decision at all, i'm just thinking of how you are going to list all the MP3 tracks for easy cataloging on each CD?.

BTW:- With regard to your email last night, the dealer you gave me lists the same player with two prices £300 apart!, just make sure that it isn't a typo that they won't honour when you come to place. The same unit is also listed under the CD section at £695! so something isn't right!. Email them to check the price before you order, although if it is correct you should snatch their hand off!.

thanks chris ..scary clown!!..im so sorry if im doing your head in!!!i have so many questions,the gemini was for 345 ,i agree with this dilemma of track listing !!unless i print out tracklistings on the pc..im so confused now and have to make my mind up very soon...i wasnt being unfaithfull!! i am going to buy with you chris!! so i do need all your help..

I appreciate that customers have to "shop around" and I don't take offence to that but this issue of tiered pricing is one that i've taken up with Gemini in the past since it appears that some dealers are getting better deals than others which has also been an issue with a certain other manufacturer as well, in the past . The retail price you've been given is very close to trade and I don't sell goods just to break even - the bank manager doesn't let me!. I did manage to better the price of the Gemini with the Denon Player - although still not as low as the quote you had for the Gemini from elsewhere.

The only other way that I can think of, is to use a file and numbering system. In such a way that you number the CD's 1, 2, 3, 4 etc, and list in a file the track listings for each CD, for instance:-

CD1-01 - Robbie Williams - Rock D.J
CD1-02 - Steps - 5,6,7,8
etc etc

Although personally if you intend on using more than 50% of your material on Mp3 then a PC is the way to go.

Thing is all my 7000 + mp3's are all on the pc and i havent started burning them yet (thats a task!!),but im wary of using a pc as ive found them tempramental and thats the last thing i need on the night!!..do dual mp3 players allow you to cue up 2 tracks together from the same cd??whilst playing a track from the same disc?and can you hear it thru the cans?

I HAVE BEEN GIVEN PCDJ RED ,is it good??can you tell me more about it??and if i were to use it what equipment would i need??

Many Questions regarding the pros and cons of D.J'ing with a PC have been covered in the D.J'ing using a PC section of the forum

I'm in the process of moving my entire CD collection over the Laptop since it now takes me around 20 - 30 minutes to find ONE tricky request out of around 7 full boxes of compilations!. True, I automatically know where the popular, party and current chart stuff is, but try and find something that I know I have, but haven't played for 5 years!.

I looked into this in great detail before I made the change over myself, since I would usually be the last person to recommend dumping D.J gear for PC Equipment, think about it!, i'm attempting to dis-suade you from buying a CD Player in favour of a PC or Laptop - that advice must be genuine since i'm losing custom by doing so!.

Of course your PC is flawed when it plays back MP3's - how many other items of software do you have running?, is it connected to the net?, and possibly full of temporary internet files and 100's of old registry enteries containing Junk. The trick to reliable MP3 playback is to have a dedicated PC or Laptop, with a fresh install of Windows and no other software running on it other than the D.J Software - and certainly no internet connection. I trusted in the advice given by fellow D.J's who had been using Laptop or PC based systems for many years, and had all managed to run without problems. Spindoctor, Eskie and ADS Entertainments are three such D.J's who post on a regular basis and who give a to this method!. So far my experience has been 100% positive.

The only thing that always puts me off the use of a PC (as it would be soooo much easier than lugging the CDs around) is the legality of using mp3's.

I know this has been gone over time and again but has it been made legal yet to use them?

If so the PC is coming with me tomorrow!!!!

No Tonsk nobody has come up with an answer yet! Many have tried Mikeee included and basically they don't bother to answer letters or emails.

I stand by my original decision, If you OWN the original track (CD LP 7"single whatever) and you make a copy for your use only I can see no problem whatsoever. You use a video recorder I assume, they said that was illegal and look where it ended up!

These are my own personal views and do not reflect the views of others or this forum

Spin

Many people have answered this question before, the only problem is, the people doing the answering are other D.J's and not the relevant industry personnel - who, has Spin says, "cock a deaf 'un" when asked.

Common feeling, is that it is okay to make a back up of a legal recording, owned by you, providing that both the copy and original are not used simultaineously - i.e you couldn't "back up" your recordings for use on a 2nd roadshow, but it SEEMS that you could keep the originals at home and use the copies on the road and vice versa.

Since it doesn't state, what format the "back up" has to be, one could assume that it would be logical and acceptable for a D.J to back up the original CD's in MP3 format and use those.

Again these are collective thoughts only, and in no way legal advice or confirmation of the legality of doing this in practice.

I wish somebody in the industry would actually feel the need to get this answered once and for all...... the question of back up is still a very grey area.... and open to be abused...cowboy roadshow takes out his back up discsl... whilst his other mate cowboy roadshow 2 takes the original and then cowboy roadshow 1 says his are at home.....

If they could be bothered to answer our questions then perhaps more people could do things totally legit... remember ignorance is no defence under the law!

As someone who uses CDs quite alot....one promo company in fact use Mp3 files for promo stuff, the sort of tunes you hear on Pete Tong/Judge Jules each weekend.....It was set up by the woman who used to do promo stuff for Neo Records in Britain, and its proving very successful!

what I do is download the files from their website(legit) onto my PC, and then burn onto a CD....the promo company allows you to do this, in fact before you download a track, you are reminded of the copyright issues etc

Will be interesting if all the large promo companies, Power and Hyperactive etc in London will go that way in the next few years(sending stuff as MP3 files), esp with the problems for example this week of postal strikes....

Plus I suppose from their point of view, and the record companies the reactions is much faster!

interesting discussion!