BDJ4 is made to be very configurable. There is no one correct method to use it.
Reply to this thread and tell us how you use BDJ4 in your situation. If you have any questions about this configuration or any other method of using BDJ4, reply to this thread and ask.
This is just one example. If I were DJ'ing at a different ballroom, I would create another profile and set up BDJ4 differently.
(wiki: Subjects / Profiles)
Music Queues:
(wiki: Configuration / Music Queues)
(wiki: Subjects / Music Queues)
The main music queue has a maximum play time set to 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The Allegro Ballroom dancers are not that advanced, and I thought that shorter songs would be better (I used to play 3 minutes). Using a shorter maximum play time also enables more dances to be played, and there is more variety in the same amount of time.
The fade-out time is set to 7 seconds and the gap is set to 4 seconds. These two settings are unique to each DJ's preference. It all depends on how much time you want to give people to find a new partner, how much time to socialize, etc.
Only recently, I turned on Play Announcements (and discovered the bug fixed in version 4.4.9.1). As the Allegro Ballroom's screen projector recently stopped working this is going to be important tonight (2024-1-2). I do recommend either using the marquee, playing announcements or both.
(wiki: Configuration / Marquee )
(wiki: Player / Marquee)
(wiki: Subjects / Announcements)
- t-music-queue-a.png (59.91 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
The second queue is set with Active off (and therefore inherits all settings from the first music queue), and is a spare queue. If the lesson before the dance was a Tango, I will queue a Tango, and set this queue for playback. The player option Switch Queues When Empty is turned on, and the playback will switch back to the first queue automatically.
- t-music-queue-b.png (11.89 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
The Allegro Ballroom likes to have a mixer some time during the evening. For this queue, I set a very fast fade-out and no gap. The maximum play time is set to 1 minute 30 seconds, and I usually queue up three songs for a total playback time of 4:30. Play Announcements is off.
- t-music-queue-c.png (41.53 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
The fourth queue is set up for a showcase for the rare occasions when the Allegro Ballroom has a demonstration or show. The maximum play time is set very high, and Pause Each Song is turned on.
- t-music-queue-d.png (48.76 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
Creating a Playlist:
For the Allegro Ballroom, I use an automatic playlist to create a song list, which I then adjust as needed.
(wiki: Subjects / Automatic Playlists)
(wiki: Management / Playlist Management)
(wiki: Subjects / Create a Song List from a Playlist)
The only playlist control that is changed is the rating. I set this to Great so that only the best songs are played.
- t-auto-a.png (60.08 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
These are the selected dances for the Allegro Ballroom. The counts should be set to match your audience's skill level, knowledge and preferences. As the Allegro Ballroom dancers are not that advanced, I changed the maximum play time for Viennese Waltz, Quickstep and Samba to 2:00. There are very few Quickstep and Viennese Waltz played, as the Allegro Ballroom dancers don't know these dances well. I turned off Chinese Tango and Chinese Jitterbug, as currently there are not that many people who know these dances.
- t-auto-b.png (70.2 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
Switching to Edit Song Lists. I use Actions / Create From Playlist.
(wiki: Management / Edit Song Lists)
(wiki: Subjects / Song Lists)
- t-mk-a.png (9.8 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
I select the auto-mk-allegro playlist, set the time to 3 hours and 5 minutes (more than needed), and select the Create button.
- t-mk-b.png (10.3 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
I give the song list a new name (dj-81), and this is the first set of songs. You can also see that I configured the song list column display to my preferences.
- t-mk-c.png (99.76 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
I do not want a Samba as the first song, So I select the Samba, then select the Bachata and use Actions / Swap to switch the Bachata and the Samba.
- t-mk-d.png (8.55 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
I also swap the Viennese Waltz and the Slow Waltz. Then swap the Slow Waltz with the Argentine Tango. Since the Argentine Tango and Tango are now too close to each other, I swap the Tango and the Foxtrot.
This particular playlist is looking like a lot of work. If the playlist mix needs too much work, I can use Actions / Mix to try an entirely new mix. Or I can use
Edit / Start New Song List, and re-run Actions / Create From Playlist again.
But I think the playlist is ok now, and this is now the first set of songs:
- t-mk-e.png (92.55 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
I continue to review the playlist to make sure that the Argentine Tango's and Tango's are not too close together, and also check for swing's that are too close together. I also check for clumps of songs to make sure there is enough variety. For example, there might be too many club dances in a row.
When creating a song list from an automatic playlist, the playlist's maximum play times are inherited from the automatic playlist. In the image below, you can see the playlist associated with the song list, and the maximum play time for the Viennese Waltz, Quickstep and Samba are the same as in the automatic playlist that it was created from.
- t-playlist-sl.png (31.33 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
Player:
In the player, I have the Show Extra Queues and Switch Queue When Empty options turned on.
- t-player-a.png (7.21 KiB) Viewed 8703 times
Before the dance starts, I select Queue B, then select the Request tab, choose a song that is the same dance as the lesson being taught, and queue that song. Then I select Queue B and select the Set Queue for Playback button.
And I am ready to start the dance.
When the teacher asks me to play the mixer after a particular song, I select that song in the player and select the toggle pause button. Then I switch to the Mixer queue and then the Request tab and select the songs for the mixer. After the music stops, I switch to the Mixer queue and select the Set Queue for Playback button. After the teacher finishes his instructions, I start the music playing again. When the mixer finishes, BDJ4 will continue playing from the main music queue as I have the Switch Queue When Empty option turned on.
Again, there is no correct way to use BDJ4. This is just one possible method. Let us know how you use BDJ4.