How to Set Up Your DJ Controller for A Gig

In almost every case, you will find that the manufacturing company has highlighted express technical instructions on how to set up the DJ controller you just bought. While these instructions are easy enough to follow and, if push comes to shove, you can always turn to tech support or YouTube; however, it is not always easy to know how to set up your DJ controller at a gig for maximum effect.

Yes, setting up your DJ controller is about much more than just connecting the wires and hooking it up to your computer. That is exactly what we are going to share with you today—how to set up your DJ controller at a gig for maximum sound effect.

Equipment connections, positioning and setup your DJ controller for a gig

One of the most important aspects of setting up your DJ equipment during a gig is positioning; the placement matters because it will affect the quality of sound distribution. With that in mind, here is what you should do:

Make sure that your DJ controller is placed in a secure location. You should ideally set it up in a place where you can see the entire floor
Make sure that the speakers are placed on stands, just above the ears of your intended audience. As for the subwoofers, those should be placed at ground level on the floor
Ensure that the AC power cord that will serve the controller as well as the powered speakers is laid out away from common footpaths. Do not turn on the power at this point
Connect your computer or CD player to the controller as instructed by the manufacturer
After all this is done, it is time to do a quick sound check to ensure that everything is as required

Sound checking your equipment

The idea is to have everything set up in a relaxed environment that will not change during the show. The problem with most DJs is that they try to push things as far as they can in the name of achieving a work-life balance. That means that they sometimes show up to start setting up when the show is just about to start. As a professional, completely try to refrain from doing this. Always setup at least 5 hours before the show.

Advantages of setting up early

Enough time to ensure that everything works as it should
Minimal stress before the show
Your set up will be locked in place, thus giving you time to familiarize yourself with it
In any business that requires actual showmanship, you will find that being prepared and showing up early is the best principle

What you need to do before the show

Before you even take the stage, you need to make sure that all the wires are in the right place and that nothing is placed in a location that could be subject to interference.

Connect controllers and sound card to computer
Ensure that you always have a long USB cable for your sound card in case you are performing far from your setup area
Boot up everything and ensure that the audio signals are good
Ensure that your controllers are working as they should
Move the laptop into the right position
Place the controllers in the right position
Test the sound on your DJ headphones and make sure that the area is set up in a way that it does not interfere with your workflow

In some cases, setting up your DJ equipment, depending on how many devices you want to incorporate, might not be as simple as is shown in the manuals. In other cases, you will find that some of the add-on equipment does not necessarily merge well with what you know about setting up (this often occurs when you meet different types of speakers). In these kinds of cases, it is often best to have a technical sound engineer on standby.

The best DJs have a team working with them. But just in case you do not have the budget to hire an entire sound team, you can team up with students looking to hone their skills and make inroads in the industry. They must, however, be competent enough to get the job done. You will find that as time goes by, you will learn how to set up everything on your own and it will become second nature to you.