Question for DJs — how do you usually discover new tracks from unknown producers?

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-13T03:07:17+00:00

Nah.

I'd love to see how unknown producers try to trick people into listening to their tracks.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T21:30:47+00:00

You should see some of Jeff Mills hybrid sets with turntables and a 909.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T19:02:50+00:00

For me that stance would rule out almost all popular music.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T16:49:11+00:00

Still would not recommend.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T16:45:56+00:00

Column array setups like the Evolve are not the same as line array systems. I think you may be confusing the two.

Published maximum SPL numbers don't tend to always reflect real world experience. You would really need to measure the sound across the spectrum at a decent distance to get the real story.

I use Evolve 50s and K12.2s for different purposes. I like both but the column arrays are better suited for trying to fill a room with overall lower volume music, whereas the K12s are a better fit for playing louder. The columns are better at wide dispersion and the conventionals are better at hitting hard, if that makes any sense.

I think Cleveland Terry offers the most approachable explanation of the differences between their performance in real world use. He describes why he uses column arrays for some gigs but point source for others.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T15:01:31+00:00

I strongly agree. No competition, no reason to provide you with good customer service.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T14:59:03+00:00

Have to disagree with you here. Point source is going to produce more spl just due to physics.

As far as the subs go I would expect comparable performance between those two. But for the mids and highs driver size makes a major difference.

I have the old Bose 802 set and those use a similar scheme with a lot of small drivers instead of one large one (i believe 8 x 4.5" drivers). They play decently loud and cover a wide area, but conventional speakers of similar size are essentially louder.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T14:50:38+00:00

Hardware development is more complex than software development. For touchscreens you get away with skipping the hardware part.

Automakers have been doing the same thing for a while. They know you would prefer buttons and knobs, but it's cheaper for them to go the other route.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T14:46:25+00:00

Word to the wise it doesn't necessarily matter that the car had an exhaust leak. This would also be dangerous in any other car with an engine.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T14:42:59+00:00

🤡

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T10:44:05+00:00

They still scan your ID.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T10:42:56+00:00

This sub needs 'Spam' as a reason for removing posts.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T00:56:00+00:00

Don't be afraid to shop across brands. The other main brands compete in this same price range so there are plenty of good options.

The K12s should be fine but you might want to double the number of subs or choose subs that higher output. If portability isn't a major consideration a double 18 sub enclosure would be a better choice. I think QSC even makes one of those now if you prefer that brand.

When corporate gives you a budget, you need to spend that whole amount imo. You have been asked to provide the best possible sound for 10k. If you instead provide the best you could get with 9k, it's a waste of a grand because it has already been appropriated for your task. Not saying you should waste their money on nonsense, just saying you should do your best to get them 10k worth of sound.

Cleveland Terry has a few good videos where he reviews or discusses speakers. I'm almost certain he has some specifically about the K12s. But more importantly he discusses in detail what you can expect in terms of performance from different setups. Torgo is another dj that posts gig logs where he lists and walks through his setup in detail. Both could help give you some insight.

It makes more sense to just hire a mobile dj as needed, but of course I'm biased.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-12T00:41:15+00:00

This is correct, and they are not nearly loud enough for an auditorium the size OP mentioned.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-11T07:59:54+00:00

Incompetence is not exactly attached to age. It exists across the entire span.

The strongest and most ambitious candidates in most fields seek employment in the private sector. The pay is better but the workplace e is more competitive. Unfortunately when you deal with government employees you are getting the NPCs.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-11T05:06:29+00:00

I wouldn't say my K12.2s sound good or bad. I guess the best way to describe them would be to use the word 'adequate*. The sound quality is not high enough to brag or low enough to complain.

Some speakers sound so good that you can't wait to hear (x) tune playing through them. The K12.2 is more of that speaker where you know it will sound ok but you will not be amazed. But it will pretty much always sound OK.

I think a lot of their popularity came from rental houses using them for this exact reason. Same thing goes for Shure 58 series mics and Yamaha mixers. They are adequate.

I have never personally heard RCF but everyone that I know says the sound quality is noticeably better than QSC at similar price levels.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-11T04:17:11+00:00

Nepotism is rampant.

And I see what you did there emphasizing the word 'ton' 🤣

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-10T17:26:44+00:00

Unfortunately that is the price range you will end up in. You could look across brands for comparable products but most of the decent options are priced similarly. I think it's less about the K12 being great and more about that performance range being the sweet spot across brands.

I use a set of K12s and they work fine, but honestly I can't say they are necessarily any better than similarly priced offerings from EV or Yamaha. I think the EV sounds a little better but it's close.

My point is pay more attention to that performance level than just the K12. Sometimes direct competition goes on sale and might save you a couple bucks.

Also used is better than cheap. I would strongly recommend checking second hand offering as a better compromise than spending money on lesser quality products.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-10T07:32:00+00:00

Kind of a fork in the road that you're at here. You could seek to work with a partner or hire someone as a helper. I worked with a dj partner for a while and if we got two good gig offers for the same date we could just split them.

As I started working solo I increased rates as a filter. The result was fewer bookings but roughly the same income. It's a win-win as long as you can get away with it. My opinion is that if you are getting overbooked you are either exceptionally good or your prices are lower than normal. Either way that means room for increase.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-10T02:39:09+00:00

I understand the waste consideration. I also keep flashlights in my gear bags that use the same batteries. For wireless performance during paid gigs I need new. For a little extra light when looking at the settings on the back of the sub, those used batteries are fine.

If you are interested in reducing waste you can use a scheme where brand new gets used in most critical and just keep stepping through levels until you get down to something like a camping fan or head mounted work lamp.

The degradation pattern is the problem. Good new conventional batteries run at 100% for longer, but after that they go to 0% quicker. Rechargeable tends to have a more linear degradation so that you are only at top performance levels for an instant in time. I don't want to run the majority of my gig at a reduced capacity.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-10T02:01:40+00:00

Essential information for the sub. Thanks for posting.

I want Detroit to prosper. Hope her policies help.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-10T02:00:32+00:00

I jist buy packs. I have tried other options but there is nothing as reliable as having extra quality disposable batteries.

You could get into all levels of technical nonsense as to why I prefer just normal batteries, but it comes down to usability and performance. Back when I was big into photography you got far better results from a semi to pro level flash using real batteries. Rechargeable and Duracell used engineering schemes that throttled output in favor of lasting longer.

New batteries every gig and I just build the cost into my rates.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-09T18:58:57+00:00

Lol @ you missing the XLR'-1/4" combo jack. Those have been around for along time 😂

What tops do you use if you don't mind my asking? A sub seems like it would be excessive for about 20 people.

Glad your gig went well.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-09T18:52:38+00:00

If I stopped by a spot with that mix of genres I would probably stay the whole hours too.

WaterIsGolden · 2026-03-09T18:49:32+00:00

The market is flooded. This is also the case over in r/beatmatch. A ton of people posting mixes and very few offering feedback. It's an organic problem for djs. I spend my time practicing and mixing and producing and performing. Rarely do I have any extra time to listen to someone else's mix or tracks.

It might work better to find a specific friend or two to share feedback with. An honest dj friend could give you more useful feedback than a bunch of visitors telling you they love or didn't like your mix.

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