Hey guys,
So yesterday i had a problem - i forgot to take down the infinity decay option on the reverb, the result is a HUGE volume spike - it basically reset the entire sound system of the venue, i might’ve ■■■■■■ a couple of speakers honestly by how loud it was.
Why is this a thing? Is there a way to disable this endless feedback generating thing, why is there no failsafe incase you forget to turn down the decay?
I mean that’s DJing for you, why isn’t there failsafe on Echo, Bass EQ, Trim, the channel fader, the Master out, a limiter on the decks only loading tracks of a certain loudness.
At some point you have to just accept responsibility for ensuring you don’t overload the system, especially if it’s not been setup to allow for these things.
Honestly valid point, but does it really boil down to that? “That’s djing for you”?
Half of the stuff you said could be fixed with a failsafe.
Echo - failsafe Reverb - failsafe A limiter on the master? - actually a good idea.
I just think having a reverb build endlessly even if the channel is down/not playing anymore is a bad idea.
There is… it’s the DJ … practiced and mindful enough to avoid the various faux pas which can be detrimental to a show.
Some primes have a menu option for effects limiter/level , some don’t.
Even the best of the best make mistakes.
Professional Woodworkers would lose limbs, now they build saws that stop if they detect moisture. Is it really a matter of being the most prepared or aware?
I’m a woodworker, that saw isn’t stopping you doing serious damage to yourself. What it might do is incite negligence or over confidence, much like ‘failsafes’ in sound equipment.
“Who cares about redlining, there’s a limiter” whilst the output sounds like hell.
Plus, we’re not talking about losing limbs here, we’re talking about blowing speakers, and the far easier less risky steps you can take to mitigate it (practise).
We can’t keep babying DJs to the point of them not having to think about a single thing, otherwise it might aswell just be a Spotify playlist and a sound guy with a volume knob.
Oooh the beat might drift, best let the computer do that, the track might be too loud, best let the auto gain deal with that, the effect might overload the speakers, best have a failsafe, I might be chatting the girl up who’s asking for bad bunny, best have automix etc etc.
“Sober” also helps … > Hic ! <
A product could have every possible safety feature going, and someone, somewhere would still be able to do something unexpected.
Imagine pressing the fx on/off button at exactly the right moment for your killer transition, but instead of the effect starting - a littlexmsssage pops up with “Infinity reverb is on …. Are your sure Y / N ? “ . In response, you wait 8 / 16 / 64 bars and try again …. This time the message “Are you really sure? Y/N” pops up … that’s nice and safe.
Instead, the 1850 has a number of safety features which are useful to help passively ——remind—— the DJ that certain options are on, without getting in the way as shown in a scary way above - for example: When you have the channel fx (gate , noise etc) ON their respective buttons flash. Similar when you use the channel filter , if you leave the filter rotary ON , in any position than 12 o’clock, the “ Filter “ button flashes on and off.
And of course, the main bpm effects on/off button lights up or extinguishes to show on/off
All passive reminders , which prevent quite a few of the most common, most likely user errors and mishaps.
But…. Can’t protect against every situation
My favourite trick is pressing the wrong pause button after a mix… always at gigs too, lost count of how many times.
I should install one of those nuclear war buttons with the flap over so it’s like an ‘are you sure’
… the reverb tail of doom 
… these infinite settings can be fun for studio sound design, but they’re a liability live. Sorry that happened, that must’ve been a shock.
Infinite decay basically turns your reverb into a feedback loop—especially if you’ve got any send/return or post-fader routing. Once it builds up, it snowballs into chaos. It’s not a bug, but it definitely needs respect. I wouldn’t use this kind of setting in a DJ context at all—it’s more of a sound design tool than a performance effect …
I don’t know the exact details of your setup, but you might want to route the output through a brickwall limiter or compressor. It won’t prevent every possible disaster, but it could save the PA next time. Having an additional small external mixer is really helpful—it gives you an “emergency kill” option if things start spiraling into the abyss. Feedback loops escalate fast, and when they do, you really need that one fader or knob you can reach without thinking …
I think you’re right, it’d be smart if there was a failsafe or a soft limiter that clamps down on infinite feedback loops, especially in live gear … a soft limiter, auto-reset, or at least a warning when infinite decay is enabled could go a long way. I don’t know which equipment you use, but if it doesn’t offer anything like it, it would be a useful feature suggestion.
And honestly, I also think venues should protect their sound systems with limiters—especially since so many DJs redline and don’t respect gain structure. A little headroom and protection on the venue side can prevent disasters like this from becoming expensive.
Fully agree on this, unfortunately most dont.
What we need then is a timer system that doesn’t allow you to press pause until the track has played for X amount of time.
I reckon VirtualDJ could do that, with a bit of script. Hmmm…
Ah but that safety feature wouldn’t find favour with the DJ types who say “im so elitist , I mix so fast that I only play a track for 3 seconds then I’m already onto the next track - the timer system really gets in my way , I can’t cope , I’m throwing this out the window, the competition don’t do this, I’m buying their product even though it’s price tag is what stopped me from buying it in the first place … waaahaaaaaa “ 
Turn-off-and-onable of course…