Re:Making Tracks

DJs discuss taking your tunes to the custom shop, and other audio endeavorsIt must have looked funny to the neighborhood to see so many people hanging out on my front porch, but they were all out there for a reason. You see, like many other DJs who have watched Randy Bartlett’s DVDs, I had decided that pre-recording sentiments for a wedding celebration would be a good idea.

The problem with turning me loose on an idea is that a combination of hair-brained thinking and an overactive imagination can take control. It resulted in this scene: The entire wedding party was at my home office at once, making some recordings, and the wedding couple had chosen eight attendants on each side. When you combine their significant others and offspring, this made the crowd at my little beach shack rather significant.

Our purpose was to create a customized grand entrance where the wedding party would actually introduce themselves along with a nice sentiment or funny story about the bride and groom. The result was quite successful. It also got me wondering how many other people were using audio editing capabilities to enhance their performances.

It turns out the field of customized recordings is quite encompassing, with people using all sorts of visions and methods to craft custom recordings for their clients.

Subtraction and Addition
Some DJs take existing songs and make tweaks to suit their own purposes. An example of that was spelled out by Randy Waters, who is both a radio and mobile DJ entertainer in Colorado. What Waters likes to do is simply make the music more audience friendly.

An example he gave was the song “In Da Club” by 50 Cent. While we’ve all heard that tune, he’s modified the song so that it’s not obvious where the explicit lyrics were removed. In his example, rather than just “bleep” the expletives, he’s taken the music from another part of the song and replaced the area where the offensive words are.

To accomplish this, Waters recommends using a multi-track audio editing program and acquiring some basic knowledge about how music works. He prefers Adobe Audition® as an editing tool. This program (formerly known as CoolEdit Pro, now owned and updated by Adobe Systems, Inc.) allows for multi-track editing and can use waveform or spectral editing.

Waters also talked about combing through iTunes and finding some gems to use when editing a song, including karaoke versions that provide instrumental tracks. These help if you’re laying spoken word over a song, for example, having the bride give some nice compliments to her husband during a pre-recorded section of the first dance.

What Waters is doing in Colorado isn’t too different from what’s happening at Ed Spencer’s office in Pensacola, Florida. Spencer also appreciates using the karaoke version of any song to bolster the amount of instrumental content on any track.

Musical Enhancement
Cap Capello of ImaDJ in Albany, New York said he likes to edit all his music so that it has a consistent audio quality. He also prepares the songs for playback by editing intros, outros and fixing other items.

“By editing my songs in advance, instead of on the fly, I can spend more time watching my audience and less time watching the sound board. Yes, there’s a lot of work up front, but the rewards on site are phenomenal,” says Capello. A particular example he gives is Marc Cohn’s “True Companion.” On this one, he bolstered the instrumental ending and now typically plays the song to end the night. “It’s a beautiful ending that most people miss.”

There are many ways to manipulate songs. For example, Ed Spencer uses a variety of methods to arrive at different results or his clients. Spencer has used MixMeister Fusion, a performance program, to create loops on the fly over which he’ll play some of the pre-recorded spoken audio, so that he’s better able to gauge audience response. He’s also a big fan of M-Audio’s Torq for the same purpose.

Adrian Cavlan of Sound in Motion in Santa Cruz, California might have been the biggest proponent of Ableton Live, a highly regarded recording/performance program, but maybe it’s because of the clients he performs for. Along with his partner “King” Raffi Nalvarian they do a great deal of work for organizations like the San Francisco 49ers and San Jose Sharks. Most of the remixes and edits they do are made live, using either Tractor or Ableton Live.

“Ableton can launch a bunch of sequences and sets all set in sync and in key with one another. It’s also a great production studio,” notes Cavlan.

Speaking of the Words
When recording vocals, several DJs indicated that they like to use a good quality microphone attached via USB to the computer, and then make sure to apply compression to the voices to make them stand out much better. A basic, free tool like Audacity is fine if all you’re doing is fixing vocals. Spencer says this simple program is decent for minor editing tasks: “There will be a lot of audio that you don’t want, like ‘ums’ or pregnant pauses or mouth noises. All this has to go. From there you can take the message and change the speed to make it fit into the space you have, if it’s close,”

So how do you get those touching quotes out of people? Several of the DJs we spoke with said the best way is simply to let the tape roll, er, I mean the computer record, and simply interview the people. A standard software feature is the ability to leave markers along the way. We spoke to a few DJs who indicated that they use those markers to easily go back and find quotes that stood out.

Once your recording process is done, it can take from just a few minutes to a few hours to finish the process of turning a combination of spoken word and beautiful music into something that’s presentable to an audience. Other considerations for achieving the best sound quality are the pieces of studio gear that capture and reproduce the sound.

“If a DJ is looking to get into this, they should purchase the absolute best quality (studio) monitors they can afford. There’s nothing like a nasty surprise when you’re performing live,” advises Cavlan. “Also, buy the best large-diaphragm condenser mic. Once it’s in the software, apply compression and equalization-that’ll give the voice-overs presence.”

Mixing in More Gigs
But can all this work net you more work? According to several of the respondents, the answer is yes.

“I haven’t found a more powerful way to express the impact of what we do at a wedding. I’ve had brides laughing or crying at a meeting and when that happens, it’s virtually guaranteed that they will go with me,” said Jimmie Malone of Astonishing Sound in Binghamton, New York.

Malone likes Sony Vegas as an editing tool. While this is commonly thought of as a movie editor, Malone and others have praised its audio editing capabilities as well.
Another example of editing given by Malone is the case where a couple wanted two songs for their first dance, but didn’t want to hear each in its entirety. His solution was to mix the two songs together to create one new version that made them happy.

In my own example at the beginning of this article, each member of the wedding party did their own introductions in their own style, along with a message to the bride and groom. These vocals were then chopped up and laid over instrumental tracks that fit the personalities of the individual. The grand entrance in this event could not have gone better and the audience absolutely loved it.

The vocals were recorded with an inexpensive Logitech USB headset mic and then processed with Sound Studio, an inexpensive multi-track software find with plenty of features. I also used royalty-free music for the instrumental beds utilizing Apple’s Garage Band, so I was able to make a legal CD of the grand entrance and mail it to the bride and groom as a thank you gift. Talk about a lot of referrals!

Besides owning SoCal’s Sounds Like Fun Entertainment, and serving as Mobile Beat’s Editor-at-Large for over a decade now, he has written the book Wedding Horror Stories and How To Avoid Them (ProDJ Publishing), which has gained a widespread positive response from in the wedding industry. His automotive column, Curbside has been syndicated since 1995, appearing in over 70 newspapers nationwide.

American DJ: Affordable Flash L.E.D. Stobe

American DJ has introduced the Flash Shot DMX, a compact intelligent strobe light that harnesses the power of LED technology and lets the user call all the shots. Ideal for mobile DJs, bands and clubs, the Flash Shot DMX allows users to easily incorporate a programmable LED strobe into their light show and tailor it to suit their own individual needs – all for the extremely affordable price of $179.95.

 The Flash Shot DMX features 234 bright white LEDs that produce an output equal to that of a 70-watt conventional strobe — bright enough to “cut” even in the largest venues, with or without fog. The intelligent new fixture also gives users complete control over important functions like strobe speed (flashes per second) and full dimming (from 0–100%). Offering the ultimate in flexibility, it can be operated in 3 different modes: DMX, Auto Strobe and Random Strobe.

 When used with a standard DMX controller (such as the Elation Show Designer or Elation DMX Operator), the Flash Shot DMX gives you the freedom to create your own programs or choose to let it run to its own exciting built-in programs. The fixture hooks up to your DMX controller via a standard 3-pin XLR connector. In DMX mode, the individual traits of the 3-channel Flash Shot DMX are controllable with the flip of a dipswitch. It also can be run Sound Active while in DMX mode, with events triggered by a built-in microphone. You can even set it up to function as a spotlight using DMX protocols.

In Auto Mode, the Flash Shot DMX will automatically strobe without a controller. You can adjust the strobe rate and light intensity simply by turning the Speed and Dimming knobs, located on the back of the fixture. Random Mode can also be utilized quite effectively in the absence of DMX control. In these particular modes, multiple units can easily be linked in a master/slave configuration and run together as an entire system of hypnotizing strobe lights.

 “The Flash Shot DMX shows American DJ’s commitment to creating high-quality affordable intelligent fixtures for the mobile DJ and club markets,” said Scott Davies, general manager of the American DJ Group of Companies. “Not only does it perform like a pro and give you the ultimate in strobe control — it’s also extremely compact and lightweight for easy transport to and from the gig. Plus, it gives you all the great benefits of LED technology.”

Since LEDs generate no heat, the Flash Shot DMX will help DJs and performers stay cool onstage, and it won’t damage any sensitive gear in its vicinity. LEDs draw very little power, so you won’t see much difference in your electric bills or run any additional risk of circuit overload. You can use the Flash Shot DMX in multiples – and still have plenty of juice left over for your other lights and audio gear! What’s more, the unit’s 234 super-long-life LEDs, rated at 100,000 hours, will probably never burn out or need replacing, so it’s completely low-maintenance.

Weighing just 3 lbs. and measuring 7”L x 7.25”W x 7.25”H, the compact Flash Shot DMX is a highly portable piece of lighting gear. It is available in 120V/60Hz and 230V/50Hz versions, as line voltage can vary between different venues.

The MSRP of the Flash Shot DMX is just $179.95.

American DJ Develops Breakthrough Moving Head

American DJ has unveiled a revolutionary new kind of intelligent moving head powered by a mega-watt LED.  The company’s new X-Move LED utilizes one super-size 20-watt white LED to create a brawny beam that’s powerful enough to project gobo patterns and colors across floors, walls and ceilings. To see it in action, click here.

Comparable to a 250W halogen lamp in output, the X-Move LED’s whopper LED beam shines through the fixture’s color and gobo wheels to create stunning images and patterns that look like they were produced by a traditional halogen or discharge effect. Yet, although the X-Move LED’s effects are indistinguishable from a conventional moving head to the eye, the unit offers the benefits and ease of LED technology, such as a long 50,000-hour rated lamp life and a low power draw.  At a mere 44W, it consumes just a fraction of the energy of a traditional 250W effect!  In addition to saving energy, this lets you hook up more units on a single electrical circuit.

The X-Move LED is also much smaller than a typical 250W effect, weighing only 10 lbs. and standing just 12.5” high.  The fixture’s compact size allows it to fit virtually anywhere, even in the tightest spaces, and makes it easily transportable for bands, traveling productions and mobile entertainers.

“There are a lot of new LED lighting effects coming on the market, but the X-Move LED is a truly unique technological breakthrough that will take moving heads to the next level,” said Scott Davies, General Manager of the American DJ Group of Companies.   “It doesn’t just create colored LED beams, it actually produces a hard-edge white 20W beam that’s powerful enough to project through color and gobo wheels and send images and beams around the room, just like a traditional halogen or discharge moving head. So essentially you’re getting the same type of effects, but with a big edge in performance, convenience and portability because of the unit’s LED technology.”

Like any high-quality moving head effect, the X-Move LED has separate color and gobo wheels, allowing users to create a wide variety of exciting visual images. In total, there are 8 colors plus white, and 8 gobos plus spot.  The feature-loaded fixture also includes a Gobo Scroll Mode, Gobo Shake Effect and Variable Strobe Effect, as well as 0-100% electronic dimming – all of which are DMX controllable.

Equipped with 6 DMX channels, the X-Move LED can also be run without a controller in Sound Active and Master/Slave modes.  It features built-in programs, capable of producing an effortless, eye-popping light show in the stand-alone Sound Active mode.

A convenient 4-button menu system with a bright LED display makes it easy for users to operate the X-Move LED. Another handy feature is Auto X-Y repositioning, which will automatically return the fixture to its original position if it’s accidentally bumped or jarred.

Because its LED lamp generates very little heat, the X-Move LED can run continuously all night long with no duty cycles.  The cool operating temperature also means entertainers can pack up immediately after the show, without having to wait for a cool down period.

The X-Move LED features a 14° beam angle and is capable of wide, sweeping room coverage with 540° pan and 270° tilt.  It uses high-quality stepper motors for smooth, fast, fluid movements.  The compact unit measures 8”L x 7.5”W x 12.5”H and weighs just 10 lbs.  The MSRP of the X-Move LED is $899.95.

American DJ Makes EX-ceptional Scanners Even Better

Two of American DJ’s best-selling intelligent DJ/club scanners – the DJ Scan 250 HP and Fusion Scan 250 — have undergone ex-treme makeovers.  Reborn as the DJ Scan 250 EX and Fusion Scan 250 EX , –  they’re a mobile 250-watt scanner and a 250-watt scanner/4.9mW green laser combo, respectively — the new, upgraded versions are packed with even more features than their popular predecessors.  Best of all, despite their many enhancements, the price tags on the two new models haven’t (in the case of the Fusion Scan 250 EX) or have barely (in the case of the DJ Scan 250 EX) increased at all, making them a more ex-ceptional dollar value than ever!

Fans of the original scanners will notice right off the bat that the DJ Scan 250 EX and Fusion Scan 250 EX each contain two brand-new fun effects – a Fast Strobe and Gobo Shake. An extra DMX channel has been added to each unit to control these new features, bringing the total to 5 channels on the DJ Scan 250 EX and 6 channels on the Fusion Scan 250 EX.

Four exciting new colors have also been added to the upgraded versions, for a total of 11 brilliant colors plus white.  Each scanner is also armed with 10 gobos plus spot.  With this profusion of colors and gobos on separate wheels, the possibilities for creating eye-popping images on the dance floor have never been greater!

In addition to being operated with a standard DMX controller, both the DJ Scan 250 EX and Fusion Scan 250 EX can run stand-alone in sound-active mode and can be linked together master-slave in multiples.  Another new innovation on the upgraded versions, called the Pan/Tilt Inversion Mode, kicks in when four units are running together master-slave.  Instead of all four scanners moving in sync, as is typically the case with master-slave operation, units 1 and 3 will sync together, while units 2 and 4 move in the opposite direction, in the exact mirror image of the other two.  This makes it look like the scanners are “dancing” with each other and gives the appearance of a more sophisticated light show, one that would typically require DMX programming – yet it’s done completely without a controller!

With their many exciting features, 250-watt brightness, compact size, and affordable price tags, the DJ Scan 250 EX and Fusion Scan 250 EX are ideal for DJs, clubs, bands and other entertainment venues. Another change made in the new versions is a reduction of the beam angle by a degree to 15°.  This makes the mobile scanners even more well-suited for small clubs and rooms with low ceilings.

Additionally, the casing has been upgraded on the new units to better withstand the rigors of mobile use.  Whereas the previous models were housed in plastic, the DJ Scan 250 EX and Fusion Scan 250 EX have cases made of more sturdy, rugged metal, yet each weighs only a pound more (12 lbs.) than its predecessor.

“No matter how popular one of our lights is, we are always looking for ways to upgrade and improve it, so that we can better accommodate our customers’ needs and give them more bang for their buck,” said Scott Davies, General Manager of the American DJ Group of Companies.  “With the DJ Scan 250 EX and the Fusion Scan 250 EX we added more features, and we did it without increasing the price of the Fusion Scan 250 EX and increasing the price of the DJ Scan 250 EX by only $20.  Plus, the new metal housing makes the scanners more durable for our customers who use them for mobile performances.”

Both the DJ Scan 250 EX and the Fusion Scan 250 EX have a high velocity fan that keeps the scanner cool, eliminating the need for duty cycles; a high-output 250W (LL-ELC 24V) halogen lamp for bright colors and clear effects; a full-focusing lens; and a hanging bracket, so they’re ready to install right out of the box.  The Fusion Scan 250 EX includes a 4.9mW class IIIr green laser diode.

In addition to being run via a DMX controller, the DJ Scan 250 EX and the Fusion Scan 250 EX can be operated with American DJ’s easy-to-use universal UC controller (sold separately). Each unit measures 17.25”L x 7.5”W x 6”H.

The MSRP of the DJ Scan 250 EX is $299.95 (just $20 more than the DJ Scan 250 HP!). The MSRP of the Fusion Scan 250 EX is $419.95 (not a cent more than the Fusion Scan 250!).

For more information, contact American DJ at 1-800-322-6337 or visit www.americandj.com , or email info@americandj.com.

Insurance: Why You Need It

The focus of my column will generally center around computer related areas of the DJ field, from the internet to creating loops, to breaking up a mix cd into individual tracks while still playing seamlessly from song to song. However, it makes no sense to forge ahead if you’re not properly prepared for a career as a DJ.

No insurance is a lack of planning. And, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Most disc jockeys forge ahead full of enthusiasm, and make their top priority the purchase of equipment. Visions of mixers, speakers, cd decks, turntables, and effects flow through their minds. That’s fine, but when such an important focus is put on DJ gear; it makes no sense not to protect that investmen and yourself.

Sadly, many DJs operate without insurance to protect them from lawsuits. Mobile DJs operate on location and are required to carry a liability policy so that they won’t be personally responsible. A liability policy – which usually can be purchased from car insurance companies – will protect the Dj’s personal assets in a lawsuit.

The profession of DJing has gone through radical changes in the last decade. Equipment has advanced in all arenas, and it makes no sense to invest so much into equipment and then have a flagrant disregard for protecting a business and it’s assets.

All prospective DJs would be well advised to find adequate insurance before forging ahead into the entertainment world. As has been said about insurance: “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”

To make this article computer related, I’ll provide you with a link to a page from a website I run. It is a basic page that briefly explains the need for DJ insurance and provides links to companies. But, more importantly, it will serve as an example of website design, SEO, and give you ideas of how you generate income and rank higher in search engines.

Here’s the link http://www.raymardo.com/dj-insurance.html

Outside of sponsored ads, Google ranks this page number five (worst ranking in months) for DJ insurance even though the website name (it’s my name) has nothing to do with DJing or insurance.

We’ll cover all of the fragmented topics that have developed from this topic in future articles. For now, make sure you’re properly insured. Until you have proper insurance, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Raymond A. Mardo III (Raymardo) has been in the entertainment field nearly his entire life. As a rookie, he earned awards at top east coast DJ companies where he also provided training. Mardo then published “Making Money As A Mobile Entertainer” and was featured in magazines like Entrepreneur which listed his LGR Entertainment company in their top 500 businesses in the nation. Under the name “Natural Attraction,” Raymardo released “Get Stupid” on Radikal/Popular Records in 15 countries. He now spends his time running online ventures, in film production, and writing. He’s received honors from the film festivals: Austin, Slamdance, and Scriptapalooza and is polishing his latest screenplay:  “The Fall Of The Thirteenth Disciple.”

Martin’s New Plug & Play Hazer

The Magnum 2500 Hz™ is an easy-to-use, plug-and-play hazer for DJs or when a simple haze solution is needed in smaller venues, clubs, and bars. Its large fluid container and optional DMX also make it suitable for a large variety of installations.

The compact Magnum 2500 Hz uses a 900 W heat exchanger to effortlessly punch out a full 2500 m³/min of uniform haze for mid-air projection or atmosphere enhancement.

This rugged yet portable hazer heats up fast and is continuously operational for a trouble-free ‘set it and forget it’ effect. Its large 3.8 liter fluid capacity (1 US gallon) provides for extremely long runs when needed.

Haze output and on/off timing are controllable via a handy remote control that can be conveniently stored in its own compartment.

The Magnum 2500 comes complete with all the technical excellence you expect from the Magnum range, and like all Magnum products the Magnum 2500 incorporates advanced Jem technology like new electronics, machine-saving overheat protection and fluid-out sensing.

Economically priced and featuring a new design to match the rest of the Magnum family, the Magnum 2500 offers substantial cost and maintenance benefits over a long operational life.

“The introduction of the Magnum 2500 Hz underscores the fact that Martin means business when it comes to reinventing the design of smoke machines,” states Martin Smoke Division Product Manager Ulrich Borup Hansen. “Our entire portfolio of small to medium-sized fog machines in the Magnum product line has been updated in terms of design and technology, and now we complete the line with a matching hazer. The plug-and-play concept with primary focus on ease of use and reliability is once again the driving force behind this new product.”

The Magnum 2500 Hz completes the Magnum range and joins the Magnum Hazer and Jem ZR24/7 Hazer in Martin’s hazer product line.

American DJ: Text Generating LED Messenger Effect

Getting across your “message” at clubs, parties, and weddings just got easier, thanks to American DJ’s unique new LED Messenger. A portable LED-powered moonflower effect, the LED Messenger projects glittering text messages  – such as “Happy Birthday” and “Happy New Year” –  across the walls, ceiling or dance floor in brilliant red, green and blue lights.

A dramatic addition to any special occasion, the LED Messenger comes equipped with 10 pre-programmed messages, making it ready for use right out of the box.  It is also fully programmable for customized greetings – just plug a PS2-type computer keyboard into the unit and type a message of up to 30 characters. The 192 high-output LED’s (72 red, 48 green, 72 blue) will spell out your words, allowing you to project a personalized message at any gathering, such as the bride and groom’s names at a wedding or a tribute to the guest of honor at a banquet.

An extremely versatile effect, the LED Messenger not only projects text graphics, it can also function as a high-output moonflower effect.  This versatility makes it ideal for DJs and clubs with limited budgets and space, giving them two effects in one!  As a moonflower, it can be operated with a DMX controller or simply plugged in and run in Sound Active mode to its own built-in programs.  It is also linkable to other units for Master-Slave operation in multiples.

“With the LED Messenger’s dazzling and customizable text graphics, DJs and emcees can give any event – parties, weddings, corporate banquets – the feel of a Hollywood premiere,” said Scott Davies, General Manager of the American DJ Group of Companies.  “Since it also acts as a single moonflower effect, this very unique fixture can be used as a standard club or dance floor light, too.  What’s more, users also get all the benefits of LED-powered lighting, which is a rapidly growing trend in DJ/club effects.”

Among these benefits are LED lamps’ extremely low power consumption.  The LED Messenger is equivalent in output to a 400W halogen light, based on side-by-side visual comparison, yet it draws only 55W of power. This saves on energy costs and allows more units to be hooked up on a single electrical circuit.  LEDs also run cooler than traditional halogen bulbs, keeping the temperature more comfortable on the dance floor, and allowing the dazzling light show to run all night without shutting down for duty cycles.  The lower operating temperature also allows mobile entertainers to pack up their lights more quickly at the end of the evening, without having to wait for them to cool down.

Additionally, the LED Messenger’s LED lamps have an extremely long life, rated at 100,000 hours, which virtually eliminates the expense and hassle of lamp replacement. This, combined with the LED Messenger’s rugged housing and lack of moving parts, makes the unit virtually maintenance-free, giving users years of bright, beautiful lighting effects in rich, saturated colors that do not fade and do not require a fog machine to appear brilliant to the eye!

The LED Messenger features 3 DMX channels, a 4-button LED DMX display menu, manual light source adjustment from the outside, and a PS2 type keyboard input on the rear for typing in custom text (keyboard not included).  An optional wireless remote controller is also available (sold separately).

Compact and portable, the LED Messenger measures 12.75”L x 9”W x 9”H and weighs 15 lbs.  It features multi-voltage operation (120-240V, 50/60Hz) and comes with mounting brackets, for “set up and show” convenience.

The MSRP of the LED Messenger is $439.95.

Tactics and Strategies for the Online DJ

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you are online and own internet access. Don’t laugh. There are other ways that you could gain access to this information. A friend could print it out and hand it to you. Alternatively, you could view it through someone else’s computer.

The latter scenarios aside, for this article we’ll assume that you own your own internet access. And if you’re not: “Shame on you.” Are you still playing cassettes and spinning 45s too?

I’ve been asked by Mobile Beat to put together a series of articles together for the online edition of the magazine. And seeing the fine series that other writers have done, such as the excellent articles on hiring by the artist formerly known as DJ Mike Walter, I felt that a series wrapped around computers would be appropriate. 

This series seems better suited for the online edition of Mobilebeat, because chances are you are online while you’re reading it.

In the upcoming weeks and months, we’ll cover: music editing and production, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), website design and creation, email marketing, auto responders, and more.

I will cover basic and advanced topics that mobile Djs can benefit from. Having been online for over 15 years, I have accumulated more than a fair amount of experience in the eve changing world of the internet. This includes designing my own website by hand, writing the HTML code because products like Dreamweaver and Frontpage didn’t exist. 

I registered my name as a domain name (which everyone should) and will cover how and why you should in a future article. It amazes me that everyone, not only Djs, doesn’t register their name as a domain name. Here’s one thing to keep in mind until the article is published: Do you have an ex (girlfriend or boyfriend) that you aren’t on the best of terms with? If you answered, “Yes,” imagine what would happen if that ex registered your name as a domain. They could post anything they want on that page.

If your clients did a Google search on your name, chances are that the registered domain would rank the highest. What would your ex put on that page?

Anything he or she wants. Think about it.  

If there is a topic that is computer related that you would like covered in an article, email it to raymardo@yahoo.com with online article in the subject field.

Until next week.

Raymond A. Mardo III (Raymardo) has been in the entertainment field nearly his entire life. As a rookie, he earned awards at top east coast DJ companies where he also provided training. Mardo then published “Making Money As A Mobile Entertainer” and was featured in magazines like Entrepreneur which listed his LGR Entertainment company in their top 500 businesses in the nation. Under the name “Natural Attraction,” Raymardo released “Get Stupid” on Radikal/Popular Records in 15 countries. He now spends his time running online ventures, in film production, and writing. He’s received honors from the film festivals: Austin, Slamdance, and Scriptapalooza and just completed his third novel entitled “Follow The Rabbit.”   

Tricerasoft: Make Money With Karaoke

TriceraSoft is starting a new program that will put money in your pocket with NO effort on your part.

We call this our Gateway Program.

TriceraSoft is becoming one of the leading sources for LEGAL Downloadable Karaoke MP3+G songs and we would like to share in this, and future success.

If you have your own website, why not make it work for you.

The TriceraSoft Software Engineers have created customized gateways that allow you to sell Karaoke content on your website and be paid for this.

Your customers can purchase with major credit cards or PayPal and you do not have to get involved with this at all. We look after all purchases for you. All you need to do is to place the special customized link that we would provide you onto your website (Usually with an iframe) so that it becomes an integral part of your site and we do the rest.

Each gateway is coded specifically to you so that if someone purchases from your gateway, you are automatically credited for the purchase.

Click Here to see a working Gateway in action.

As technology progresses, more and more professionals and home users are going digital for their entertainment needs. You could become their source and be paid each quarter for doing nothing, or you could promote the fact that you have this on you site and maximize your payments.

About The Product:

All of our Karaoke is in the world standard MP3+G format (Created by us in the 90’s) and are zipped. Manufacturers Include: Zoom, Music Factory, Karaoke Monthly, NuTech, Sunfly, Monster Hits and more. Single purchases or Gift Packs are available at a reduced price. Your gateway will allow for previewing of songs online so that your customers will know what they are purchasing.

We even provide a FREE Karaoke player and song manager called TriKaraoke which can be downloaded from our website.

Click Here to download our FREE Player and Song Manager.

How Can I Get Involved?

Click Here to apply.

After applying, you will receive an email containing your custom gateway link along with a link that you can go to any time to see your account information and how much is owed to you.

How Much Do I Get And How Do I Get Paid?

$ 0.10 Commission per song
All commissions are paid on a quarterly basis.

Who said you don’t get anything for FREE?
We can show you how.

X-Laser: Do It With The Lights On

X-Laser USA announced their new “X-Laser: Do It With The Lights On” video contest. They want to show X-Laser products being used at real events in real venues by really excited X-Laser users. So we have created a new video contest with a HUGE prize.

Send X-Laser USA your event videos of your X-Laser Next Generation Aerial Laser Display System to enter the contest and be eligible for the biggest prize we have ever (or probably will ever) offer. What’s the prize? Glad you asked!

X-Laser has custom built an over-clocked version of their X250G Dual Blaze laser system with TWO 100mW green lasers. That over 200mW of blazing aerial laser power and it will be given to one lucky X-Laser user just for showing us how they use their X-Laser. This wicked over-clocked X250G would normally sell for over $2,000.00 but it can be yours for FREE just for entering the contest. Second and third place prizes will be awarded with second place recieving a new X225G Dual Flare and third place receiving a $100.00 rebate on a new X-Laser system.

How To Enter:

Send X-Laser a video or videos burned onto a DVD or CDR (if you have the space) showing you using your X-Laser systems at a party or special event. Entries will be judged on the following criteria: creativity, party atmosphere, user testimonials, incorporation of X-Laser products in your lighting rig, video quality, and diversity of laser effects. Each user may submit up to a maximum of five videos.

Mail your completed entry to PO BOX 353 Laurel, MD 20725 by December 31st 2008. Videos must be no less than 30 seconds in length (longer is preferred). You do not have to make a new purchase to enter this contest, but you do need to be using X-Laser products as part of your lighting rig. See the X-Laser website, http://www.x-laser.com/videocontest.fwx, for complete details, rules, and restrictions. Winners will be announced by February 15th, 2009 via the X-Laser website.

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