DJs, I Need Your Help

[EM1]

I'm not a DJ and know nothing about it. If a restaurant, like KIRIN, has their own sound system/speakers, do I need any special equipment/cables/adaptors, etc. in order for me to play music through those speakers from my MacBook's iTunes, or should KIRIN have everything I need and I will be fine to just show up simply with my MacBook?

Thanks in advance.

[SoNaRWaVe]

might be easier to just bring your macbook to the restaurant and ask the manager to check out their system.

it sounds like you are having some sort of event there, so i don't see why they wouldn't let you anyways.

[Presto]

Send me an invite to the reception, and I'll make sure your source connects.

[underscore]

It's completely dependent on what they have at the restaurant, so you should *probably* talk to the restaurant.

[mos_skeeto]

talk to the restaurant. this covers many situations and you can probably get them all for 15 bucks online:

3.5 mm <> 3.5 mm (headphone jack to headphone jack)
3.5 mm <> RCA Plugs (the red and white color things)
something that converts one of the plugs above to 6.35 mm

[GLOW]

Yes go visit with your gear to check. The downtown Kirin was pretty dated and if I didn't go ahead of time I would have been hooped.i had to make adjustments

[Ikkaku]

If you're doing any of the A/V stuff for the night, you should definitely go in and check out their system.

Last week we used the system at Neptune, and it was decently simple, however they had to provide us the hub for connecting to their tv's. We also went in a week ahead to check things out, or else we wouldn't have time to inquire on the day of.

[Manic!]

If you are not a DJ what are you doing? The system might have RCA, XLR, or 1/4 inputs.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

a good DJ will have everything you MIGHT need... including cables and cable backups and everything else dude.

lots of things can go wrong during an event, and you're not gonna find any shops open at night to get emergency cables or whatever.

I would go in earlier... like a day or two earlier and check it all out and see if everything works and write down a list of shit you need...

[threezero]

don't know why everyone is giving OP such a hard time.

He is obviously NOT any kind of DJ if he had to ask for help on a forum, AND use iTunes to DJ ………….

[nabs]

it all depends on the type of PA/Amplifier/Mixer they have set up. You may want to go take a look at it before hand.

Check out the inputs whether it is XLR, 1/4 inch, RCA, Coax, etc... then purchase the correct adapter that will let you output from your computer to the input of the system.

Also another thing to think about.. they may NOT let you use their sound system because sound systems are very easy to overload if its not operated properly. Just the flick of a switch is enough to fuck everything up. Clarify this as well.

If you're not sure, take a picture and post it either on here or PM me.

[nabs]

Originally Posted by mos_skeeto

talk to the restaurant. this covers many situations and you can probably get them all for 15 bucks online:

3.5 mm <> 3.5 mm (headphone jack to headphone jack)
3.5 mm <> RCA Plugs (the red and white color things)
something that converts one of the plugs above to 6.35 mm

also XS-Cargo and Dollar stores have them

[Ikkaku]

I highly doubt chinese restaurants have sophisticated and delicate sound systems. You'll probably get like a 5 channel mixer, if even that.

[nabs]

Originally Posted by Ikkaku

I highly doubt chinese restaurants have sophisticated and delicate sound systems. You'll probably get like a 5 channel mixer, if even that.

But it would help if he knew what they had. Rather than assuming. Any sound system can be blown easily. It doesn't matter how sophisticated or delicate they are.

[threezero]

If you are thinking of having a bumping party that people can actually dance too. Prepare to blown their system if they even let you use it. Of all the Chinese restaurant I've worked in none has system that is capable of anything more than background music and light speech.

Could be why we always rent out our PA system to these restaurant and their clients.

[Marshall Placid]

I've hosted several events myself and for music...

You need:

1-Ipod/Nano/Shuffle or whatever portable music player you have
2-3.5mm direct-line in cable

That's it.

Do this:

Connect the 3.5mm to your headphone jack output of your portable player
Connect the other end to the 3.5mm direct-line in input of the sound system of the restaurant's sound system

Simple right?

-------------------------

From my experience, regardless of the age of the sound system/equipment of the restaurant, the audio receiver they have should have a 3.5mm input jack... even if the equipment is 20 years old.

This is the simplest method.

You mentioned you are only "playing" music, so I am assuming you are not doing anything else (like mixers, amps, etc. you own).

Good luck and have fun!

[Ikkaku]

well, given five of the first six replies suggested the guy go into the restaurant to check out the system, I think he should get the clue.

if you've been to enough chinese restaurants, you know that threezero and marshall placid has it spot on.

Originally Posted by nabs

But it would help if he knew what they had. Rather than assuming. Any sound system can be blown easily. It doesn't matter how sophisticated or delicate they are.

I was one of the first few to tell him to go in and test the system. TYVM.

[nabs]

Originally Posted by Ikkaku

I was one of the first few to tell him to go in and test the system. TYVM.

Here's a cookie...

[Ikkaku]

Where's the macadamia?