2008 DJ Kamp

DJ Kamp Blog
July 3 Tulare Fireworks Show pre-show release	Today is the big day! The DJs first public performance. We met at the shop and organized equipment. Then we loaded the trailer for the Tulare event and the truck for the Woodlake event. We all went our seperate ways. The Tulare show was a lot of fun. The DJs got to do their thing, although some of the mixes were cut short because of acts that were performing. We also set up TextLive and that was a big hit the first half of the fireworks show. Everyone had a good time and we got lots of compliments.
July 2	We reviewed how DMX lights work , how the controller works and learned how to program a relay pack.
July 1	We continued working on our mixes and dug into DMX lighting. We learned how to program the controller, set channels on fixtures and cable lights together.
June 30	To start off the week everyone was notified that we would be entertaining at the Tulare Fireworks show on Thursday the 3rd. It was definitely approved that DJ Camp DJ's could do their thing. We reviewed material from last week and went over the different types of lighting FX, including DMX.
June 26	Today we kicked off by having everyone do their DJ introduction over the microphone. While each person was doing their presenting, one DJ was behind the console controlling the microphone. It was interesting to say the least! Most of us ended up with our eardrums aching from all the backfeed as everyone experimented with getting the right levels between gain and volume. Next, we reviewed what we learned about components yesterday, such as what the mixer is and does, the amp, etc. Then we got into lighting. Everybody got excited about that until we started looking at every light and what it does. We started with the basic lights and switch controller and went all the way up to DMX. Next Monday we'll start programming the DMX lights! The last thing we worked on was our CD mixing. We discussed counting time in music and working with intros and outtros. The guys continued with mixing songs from one CD player to the other. Next week we start on computer mixing. Everybody will be working on a mix to play at the fireworks show next Thursday.
June 25 Chippin' Away	Oops! Running a little late today! Had to go to Visalia in search of a replacement sound card. It seems our old sound cards and Vista don't get along! Today's class covered a more in-depth explanation of sound system components. We discussed the different parts of a mixer, the amplifier, etc. I made CDs for each student that contained the same songs on all CDs, then had them work as teams to create mixes using the CDs. I also made them a "battle CD" with samples that they can use to "dress up" their mixes.
June 24	Today we continued to work on our speeches. Everyone had to deliver their speech. We covered the different types of microphones available to DJs and sound technicians. We also continued to work on mixing with CD players.
June 23	Monday started our second week of DJ camp. This week our focus is on Compact Discs. It's been interesting to see how computers have really taken over the world of music: it took a while fore everyone to get comfortable working with the CD players. We also worked on public speaking. Today everyone had to write a brainstorm for a short persuasive speech to convince someone to use them as a DJ.
June 19	Today marked the last day of our first week of camp. We added the last few components to a sound system to make it "computer ready." We also discovered that one of the computers is not playing music properly so we have to try to figure out what is wrong with it. Today everyone got to make mixes, both on the turntables and on the computer. Next week we move to CD mixing.
June 18	Joseph "DJ Fingers" Flores showed up today to introduce the boys to the world of turntable scratching. It was pretty interesting and I learned some stuff too. There are actually several moves that can be made that have specific names. Joseph spent the day demonstrating for the boys, then letting them use his sound system to practice. I set up the turntable coffin we got from the DJ supply and the boys were able to play on it as well. Joseph commented that Jonathan, our youngest participant was pretty astute when it came to scratching and asked good questions. He thinks Jonathan has some real talent waiting to be developed.
June 17	Second day at DJ camp. We reviewed what we learned yesterday and introduced public speaking into the mix. Each participant had to stand and tell a little bit about themselves. Tomorrow we will introduce thought of the day, word for the day and table topics. Joseph, the scratch artist, called today and is coming to the camp at 3:30 PM tomorrow. We went over signal sources this morning including tape decks and CD players but our emphasis was on turntables. We hooked up the two dead ones to see if we could get them to work (they wouldn't) and then we hooked up the good ones. The boys practiced the rest the day experimenting with mixes on the computer and on the turntables. We tried to get the air conditioner hooked up but I can't quite figure out the wiring yet! We also found out our camp was featured on the Advance-Register on-line edition. They also mentioned the change in our hours.
June 16	DJ camp started today and what a day it was! Our scratch master couldn't make it because summer school forced us to change our camp schedule. We are now meeting Monday - Thursday 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Today we started out with PowerPoints describing what a DJ does, what kind of DJs there are, and what skills you need to be a good DJ. We also covered aspects of equipment. We discussed sound waves and how a wide wave makes the bass sound and a tight wave makes the highs and mids. We took a speaker cabinet apart and examined the components of the speaker like the piezo horns and the woofer. We examined each piece of equipment and discussed what it did. Then we wired up all the equipment while it was laying on the table so that everyone could see where the cords went to hook it all up. We installed all of the equipment in a rack then hooked everything up. I showed the students how to wrap the power cords in a figure-8 to cut down on magnetic fields created in system racks. We also discussed the differences in cables, such as 1/4", XLR, Banana clips and RCA. The photographer from the Fresno Bee showed up and took a lot of photos (he was there for about an hour) while the participants assembled the equipment. While some worked on the equipment others worked in the studio experimenting with mixes on the computer. Eric and Steve brought in a computer of their own they had made some mixes on and they and some of the other guys made new mixes combining the two computers thru one mixer. All in all it was a pretty good day and we may get one or two more students tomorrow. The DJ supply had a couple of turntables that weren't sounding right so they gave us some parts and tomorrow we will be tearing the turntables apart to repair broken grounds, examine the difference between a direct drive and belt drive turntable and we'll be introducing public speaking.

DJ Kamp Blog

July 3

Today is the big day! The DJs first public performance. We met at the shop and organized equipment. Then we loaded the trailer for the Tulare event and the truck for the Woodlake event. We all went our seperate ways.

The Tulare show was a lot of fun. The DJs got to do their thing, although some of the mixes were cut short because of acts that were performing. We also set up TextLive and that was a big hit the first half of the fireworks show. Everyone had a good time and we got lots of compliments.

July 2

We reviewed how DMX lights work , how the controller works and learned how to program a relay pack.

July 1

We continued working on our mixes and dug into DMX lighting. We learned how to program the controller, set channels on fixtures and cable lights together.

June 30

To start off the week everyone was notified that we would be entertaining at the Tulare Fireworks show on Thursday the 3rd. It was definitely approved that DJ Camp DJ's could do their thing.

We reviewed material from last week and went over the different types of lighting FX, including DMX.

June 26

eric at the helm

Today we kicked off by having everyone do their DJ introduction over the microphone. While each person was doing their presenting, one DJ was behind the console controlling the microphone. It was interesting to say the least! Most of us ended up with our eardrums aching from all the backfeed as everyone experimented with getting the right levels between gain and volume.

Next, we reviewed what we learned about components yesterday, such as what the mixer is and does, the amp, etc.

Then we got into lighting. Everybody got excited about that until we started looking at every light and what it does. We started with the basic lights and switch controller and went all the way up to DMX. Next Monday we'll start programming the DMX lights!

The last thing we worked on was our CD mixing. We discussed counting time in music and working with intros and outtros. The guys continued with mixing songs from one CD player to the other. Next week we start on computer mixing. Everybody will be working on a mix to play at the fireworks show next Thursday.

June 25

Oops! Running a little late today! Had to go to Visalia in search of a replacement sound card. It seems our old sound cards and Vista don't get along!

Today's class covered a more in-depth explanation of sound system components. We discussed the different parts of a mixer, the amplifier, etc.

I made CDs for each student that contained the same songs on all CDs, then had them work as teams to create mixes using the CDs. I also made them a "battle CD" with samples that they can use to "dress up" their mixes.

June 24

Today we continued to work on our speeches. Everyone had to deliver their speech.

We covered the different types of microphones available to DJs and sound technicians. We also continued to work on mixing with CD players.

June 23

Monday started our second week of DJ camp. This week our focus is on Compact Discs. It's been interesting to see how computers have really taken over the world of music: it took a while fore everyone to get comfortable working with the CD players.

We also worked on public speaking. Today everyone had to write a brainstorm for a short persuasive speech to convince someone to use them as a DJ.

June 19

Today marked the last day of our first week of camp. We added the last few components to a sound system to make it "computer ready." We also discovered that one of the computers is not playing music properly so we have to try to figure out what is wrong with it.

Today everyone got to make mixes, both on the turntables and on the computer. Next week we move to CD mixing.

June 18

Joseph "DJ Fingers" Flores showed up today to introduce the boys to the world of turntable scratching. It was pretty interesting and I learned some stuff too. There are actually several moves that can be made that have specific names.

Joseph spent the day demonstrating for the boys, then letting them use his sound system to practice. I set up the turntable coffin we got from the DJ supply and the boys were able to play on it as well.

Joseph commented that Jonathan, our youngest participant was pretty astute when it came to scratching and asked good questions. He thinks Jonathan has some real talent waiting to be developed.

June 17

Second day at DJ camp. We reviewed what we learned yesterday and introduced public speaking into the mix. Each participant had to stand and tell a little bit about themselves. Tomorrow we will introduce thought of the day, word for the day and table topics.

Joseph, the scratch artist, called today and is coming to the camp at 3:30 PM tomorrow. We went over signal sources this morning including tape decks and CD players but our emphasis was on turntables. We hooked up the two dead ones to see if we could get them to work (they wouldn't) and then we hooked up the good ones. The boys practiced the rest the day experimenting with mixes on the computer and on the turntables.

We tried to get the air conditioner hooked up but I can't quite figure out the wiring yet! We also found out our camp was featured on the Advance-Register on-line edition.

They also mentioned the change in our hours.

June 16

DJ camp started today and what a day it was! Our scratch master couldn't make it because summer school forced us to change our camp schedule. We are now meeting Monday - Thursday 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Today we started out with PowerPoints describing what a DJ does, what kind of DJs there are, and what skills you need to be a good DJ.

We also covered aspects of equipment. We discussed sound waves and how a wide wave makes the bass sound and a tight wave makes the highs and mids. We took a speaker cabinet apart and examined the components of the speaker like the piezo horns and the woofer. We examined each piece of equipment and discussed what it did. Then we wired up all the equipment while it was laying on the table so that everyone could see where the cords went to hook it all up.

We installed all of the equipment in a rack then hooked everything up. I showed the students how to wrap the power cords in a figure-8 to cut down on magnetic fields created in system racks. We also discussed the differences in cables, such as 1/4", XLR, Banana clips and RCA.

The photographer from the Fresno Bee showed up and took a lot of photos (he was there for about an hour) while the participants assembled the equipment.

While some worked on the equipment others worked in the studio experimenting with mixes on the computer. Eric and Steve brought in a computer of their own they had made some mixes on and they and some of the other guys made new mixes combining the two computers thru one mixer.

All in all it was a pretty good day and we may get one or two more students tomorrow. The DJ supply had a couple of turntables that weren't sounding right so they gave us some parts and tomorrow we will be tearing the turntables apart to repair broken grounds, examine the difference between a direct drive and belt drive turntable and we'll be introducing public speaking.