DECKREADY / PRE-GIG PREPARATION

A pre-gig audio checklist for DJs

Do not decide from a bitrate label alone. Check the source, listen, analyze and test your actual playback setup. Start with one track you are unsure about.

Check one of my tracks

The audio checker is free and requires no account. Audio is analyzed on your device, without uploading it.

Five things to check before your gig

Manual checklist progress: 0 / 5

1. Check the source and keep the originalReview where the file came from and its permitted uses. An extension or a 320 kbps label cannot establish its encoding history. Keep an untouched original.2. Listen to the start, loud sections and endingCheck for truncation, silence and unwanted distortion. Measurements alone do not judge an artistic choice.3. Analyze the tracks you are unsure aboutReview level, peaks and estimated source quality one file at a time. No issue detected is not proof of origin or a guarantee of playback at your venue.4. Test your actual software and equipmentCheck the exported USB or playback software, including track starts, endings and cues. Browser decoding is not a hardware compatibility test.5. Keep originals and a separate backupDo not delete or overwrite a file because of one estimate. Compare uncertain results with the original or another authorized source, and consult the venue team when needed.

These are your own checks, not an audio or equipment certification. Completing every box does not certify readiness. Answers reset when you leave this page and are not stored or sent.

What should I do with a result?

These are explanatory examples, not results from analyzing a real file and not evidence of detector accuracy.

A peak warning appears

Use it as a reason to check playback levels. Turning a file down does not necessarily remove distortion already printed into it.

Keep the original, review playback levels and listen.

A possible transcode is reported

This is an estimate from signal characteristics. Older recordings and intentional production choices can resemble encoding artifacts.

Check the source before buying another copy or deleting anything.

This device cannot analyze the file

A decoding failure is not a judgement that the file sounds bad.

Check the format and displayed limits, then try another supported setup if necessary.

Check one of my tracks

The audio checker is free and requires no account. Audio is analyzed on your device, without uploading it.

What this does — and does not — establish

DeckReady assists with local audio diagnosis. This guide does not inspect USB drives, certify equipment, correct audio or restore lost fidelity. It does not determine copyright or distribution permissions. Estimates can be wrong; real-audio calibration remains a separate release requirement.

Common questions

Is a 320 kbps MP3 automatically suitable?

The bitrate label alone cannot answer that. Review the source, encoding history where known, actual listening and the playback setup separately.

Does converting MP3 to WAV restore quality?

Changing the container alone cannot recover information discarded by lossy encoding. Look for the original higher-quality file instead.

Can I explore without an audio file?

Yes. This guide and its explanatory examples require neither a file nor an account. Select your own file only when you run the audio checker.

Can I use an iPad?

A browser with Web Audio API support is required. Formats and capacity vary by device; check the limits shown by the checker. This is not a claim that every iPad has been verified.