Hi Tech Equipment

[C.S 0]

Dissapearing for a few days i thought i would post this before i go! A large percentage of the mobile djs on the forum here say they do not mix and they do a lot of mic work. So my question is what is the point of buying advanced equipment with effects, pitch control etc ? when a simple cd player and mixer with two channels and a mic channel is enough? If you only ever do mobile gigs like weddings and xmas parties do you really need to use cds at all ?isnt it enough with a laptop or even 2 mp3 players ? OR is it a case of boys toys? looks cool must have it?

ps -looking forward to returning here on friday ans seeing some replies!

[YourBigEvent 0]

Don't own a 'DJ' mixer, only PA mixers.

 

4 channels, 8 channel, 12 channel and 24 channel, some have some effects that I don't use.

 

Basic equipment is all that is required for mobile work

[jamminroadshow 0]

I try to mix not my strongest thing but i see what you mean. I spend a lot of my money on lights simply because the partys that i do do not expect me to be pete tong.

 

Having said that i would if i had the money buy more expensive stuff simply because if i ever do find out how to use them they are there ready.

[Andy Westcott 0]

I only use a most basic-featured CD deck, and a mixer with enough channels to do the job.

 

So no, I am not in possession of "over-spec'd" equipment.

Not at the moment... tongue out icon

[Mattaious 0]

I agree, whats the point, I dont go out flashing the cash and spending loads, i only tend to buy consumables like bulbs gaffa tape etc.

 

If it aint broke.................. :shrug:

[jeffwall 0]

the trouble is getting the "quality makes" usually means that the gizmo's are on the mixer/cd/whatever anyway. So for me, its quality means more than the gizmo's etc

 

Just upgraded my mixer to x500......what a diffrence it makes, and just so happens to have the gizmos like fader start etc built in. But primary for me was the better quality than my last mixer

 

The D2 I bought is a player in its own right, but most importantly its back up for the laptop

 

But I do see your point....for some its a showoff thing

[Andy Westcott 0]

Is it safe to mention the Denon HD2500 again?? :hide:

 

This is a prime example of a piece of gear with loads of features I will probably never use.

 

It would be handy if another model was made - the Denon HD2500B ('B' for basic) for example.

This would have the same quality of hardware - HHD, processor, O/S, sound card, but have little more than basic CD player controls. Obviously it would be cheaper too...

 

To clarify, I think sometimes a DJ may require certain features and a particular level of build quality/reliability, but the only equipment available at that level is over-featured for them.

 

I had this problem when looking for a new CD deck - no-one makes a top quality CD player which does just that, without all those unnecessary (to me) features. I feel I'm paying way over the top for these features which I'd never use, and don't want and don't need.

[otronics 0]

Just own a PA mixer here. Use some of the EQ very ocassionally (along with external processing) and that's fine.

 

Nice to have pitch control for beatmatching on CDs and a few other widgets.

[alicat 0]

 

 

The D2 I bought is a player in its own right, but most importantly its back up for the laptop

 

Jeff. You cannot be serious..A back up for the laptop???. I have found a free LEGAL download to convert an external NTSF drive to a FAT32 (to rewrite the crate to) drive.

 

[UKHero 0]

The D2 I bought is a player in its own right, but most importantly its back up for the laptop

 

Jeff. You cannot be serious..A back up for the laptop???. I have found a free LEGAL download to convert an external NTSF drive to a FAT32 (to rewrite the crate to) drive.

 

Why can he not be serious I have a cortex HDC-1000 as a back up to my laptop... Mind you I have laptop back ups also lol but I set the cortex up ready to go if and it never has as yet the laptop lets me down...

 

BTW Andy if you want a HDC with less FX and widgets than the Dennon take a look at the cortex 1000 its basic but well built and works just like a dual CD player but with out all the extra guff.... And almost half the price..

 

Nik

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

OK Nik, I've seen the Cortex mentioned here and there, but haven't acually looked into it - in my mind I had pretty much already bought a Denon.

I will look into it though, as I need to make a decision pretty darned quick!

[BigBen 0]

I ask myself the same question Chris. Before I upgraded from my SoundLab entry level gear I asked many questions about upgrade paths. To replace what I had with similar entry level equipment would cost over £600. To move up to makes like Numark would have been in excess of £700, then came the big step to Pioneer and Denon that cost about £900.

 

I decided that an extra three hundred notes would be worth the investment because it gave me the following:

a) Better sound/increased connectivity options.

b) Ability to learn new skills.

c) More robust/reliable.

d) Better back-up/support from the manufacturer.

e) More suppliers who know a lot about the product (versus box shifters).

 

Big boys toys don't do much for me - I drive a Fiesta and use a Kia for the disco. We don't have a plasma or LCD tv, in fact all our tv's are over ten years old. I don't have a surround sound Dolby Pro-Logic cinema style living room. I got my first sat nav unit, less than £120, this year. However, the disco is used to entertain people on the biggest day of their lives...therefore, I need to make sure I can give them the best I can afford.

 

Like I said, my entry level gear never had any toys to play with so owning stuff that does have some gizmo's at least offers me an opportunity to learn these skills.

[brianmole 0]

Intersting thread CS! I am guilty of buying some pretty expensive audio gear (Pioneed CDJ1000 MK3, DJM600, Bose L1), but I use very basic cheap as chips lighting with the exception of the S&H DJ Booth.

 

For me, a PA mixer would not be feasable due to the lack of proper cueing (I need split cue to mix). The sound quality of some mixers is very poor, not so with the more expensive ones. Also, I recently took a budget Numark mixer apart to fix a fault, and the build quality was atrocious which is why it failed in the first place. This is not apparent on the premium makes like Denon, A&H, Pioneer etc..., and ultimately the reliability of the product has to be relative to the build quality and component quality. So, as I pride myself in reliability, getting the best quality sound and ability to mix, I can justify spending the extra on expensive 'toys'.

 

Having said this, I have backup audio gear which is cheap and cheerful (Denon DN-1800f, DN-X400), has all the basic features I need, and is well built and has great sound quality.

 

At the end of the day, I am very happy with these products, their features, and they do have a wow factor which I am proud to show off and use. My clients keep booking me too, so I do think that in some small part this is a factor to bear in mind.

 

Now then should I sell it all, and buy a switch and 2 walkmans?

[jeffwall 0]

It would be handy if another model was made - the Denon HD2500B ('B' for basic)

 

 

they do!! Numark D2! :Thumbup:

 

 

"I cant be serious"? Not sure what you mean?

 

The D2 was bought because it "mirror images" all the files i have on my PC.....in the event my Pc goes down (touch wood) it will be there ready for action.......

 

However thats only one use.....the other is to actually use it as a player. I ditch the laptop at some gigs....just use the denon 4000 and the D2 (gives me 4 players to work off) But at a wedding or bigger event, i always take the laptop with me anyway

[C.S 0]

It was just a thought really that if we are honest we can manage with the simplest of gear, mind you it is fun to have something to play with!

[brianmole 0]

It was just a thought really that if we are honest we can manage with the simplest of gear, mind you it is fun to have something to play with!

Well our wives will agree with that! :dan+ju:

[Bolan-Boogie 0]

I'm not being personal to anyone here, so please don't think i am.

But a lot of it is to do with ego's and we are all guilty of it !

Its 'Boys & their toys... My D*cks bigger than yours ! lol

I think it has been mentioned several times previously about how many thousand mega watts of power we are now supposedly using in comparison to our little 150 watt disco's we used to run many years ago.

Who notices........Us not the punter (Hence the Ego). I have Dj'ed 28 years 22 of those professionally and have been guilty also of using mega watts, but now i do a little local residency with a Yamaha EMX 660 (Cracking little amp !) 600 watt mixer amp a lappie with external hardrive with tops and subs and not 1 person would know if i were using 150 watts, 600 watts or 6 thousand watts. Most of the stuff comes from the same place, its all about Badges and Ego's !!! Lol

 

:djurant: Rant over

 

 

Sorry Guys..... I'll just get my coat ! :hide:

[UKHero 0]

I'm not being personal to anyone here, so please don't think i am.

But a lot of it is to do with ego's and we are all guilty of it !

Its 'Boys & their toys... My D*cks bigger than yours ! lol

I think it has been mentioned several times previously about how many thousand mega watts of power we are now supposedly using in comparison to our little 150 watt disco's we used to run many years ago.

Who notices........Us not the punter (Hence the Ego). I have Dj'ed 28 years 22 of those professionally and have been guilty also of using mega watts, but now i do a little local residency with a Yamaha EMX 660 (Cracking little amp !) 600 watt mixer amp a lappie with external hardrive with tops and subs and not 1 person would know if i were using 150 watts, 600 watts or 6 thousand watts. Most of the stuff comes from the same place, its all about Badges and Ego's !!! Lol

 

:djurant: Rant over

Sorry Guys..... I'll just get my coat ! :hide:

 

Hi Bolan I think we generally sing from the same hymn sheet and I agree with what you say above... But!

 

I do think people have come to expect more in the way of sound and light quality than they did when we started, all those years ago, lol...

 

I remember using cassette decks for some stuff jingles (remember them) etc... I think some punters are more savy nowa days as music and equipment are more available...

 

Nik

 

[Gary 0]

"What use a 42'Plasma HD to a blind lady?"

[Bolan-Boogie 0]

Hi Bolan I think we generally sing from the same hymn sheet and I agree with what you say above... But!

 

I do think people have come to expect more in the way of sound and light quality than they did when we started, all those years ago, lol...

 

I remember using cassette decks for some stuff jingles (remember them) etc... I think some punters are more savy nowa days as music and equipment are more available...

 

Nik

 

Nik... Iremember using the old 8 track jingle cartridge machine, i used to know a guy in the industry who used to do me personalised 8 track jingles at £25 EACH and at the time they were cheap !!!!

Then came the cassette deck and of course Manchester Mix.... Bill Mitchell Voiceovers about 100 jingles on a cassette for about £25 per volume and thought i was in gods pocket !... How things have changed. My God i feel old now !!! :dan+ju:

[UKHero 0]

Nik... Iremember using the old 8 track jingle cartridge machine, i used to know a guy in the industry who used to do me personalised 8 track jingles at £25 EACH and at the time they were cheap !!!!

Then came the cassette deck and of course Manchester Mix.... Bill Mitchell Voiceovers about 100 jingles on a cassette for about £25 per volume and thought i was in gods pocket !... How things have changed. My God i feel old now !!! :dan+ju:

 

The cart machines were made by Sonifex I used to use them in my day job at the time at Beacon Radio...

 

All ads jingles and news cuts were played out on them... Sadly defunct now for Digital play in....

 

Bill Mitchell wow what a voice I still have some of the Manchester Mix jingles... Funny how in the old days we used jingles but generally dont now.... I guess they do break the flow when people are dancing but was more fun in the old days... Cuing up casseette decks lol play past third tone and pause or if no tone play til jingle starts eject tape and use finger to roll tape back half a turn lol....

 

Great days and great memories... The kids are spoilt today lol...

 

 

Nik

[Bolan-Boogie 0]

Great... I love the Jingles, still throw in a couple now and then, especially the yearchecks between tracks

Eg remembering 1982 etc ............These Kids, what have they missed huh ?? Lol

[UKHero 0]

I had 2 gerrard (Spl) transcription turn tables that i fitted in to my Fal 50 mono disco unit wow non of this cheating with HDC units and yes laptops lol or even CD's we were real DJs lol Cue hovis music lol

 

Nik

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

Real DJs!!

Oh yes - you won't get the HDD brigade bending a stylus by an aggressive back-que...

I've spent many an unhappy pound on replacement stylii!

 

As regards wattage, I feel this has become a bit of a numbers game in the same way as computer processor speed etc. has, and unless you work largish venues and play a lot of contemporary dance you really don't need the power. I run with a measly 300 watts a side to the bass bins, but have found this ample in almost every case. I'd love to run a kilowatt or more a side, but I can't justify the cost.

[UKHero 0]

Real DJs!!

Oh yes - you won't get the HDD brigade bending a stylus by an aggressive back-que...

I've spent many an unhappy pound on replacement stylii!

 

Hi Andy it was a joke I use a laptop and accused by a select few on here of not being a proper DJ or using Domestic Laptops instead of state of the art HDC's

 

But DJing was more hands on in the Vinal (spl) days... As much as I love my set up now I do have a fondness of the old turntables back cueing etc... Slip mats and all that... I guess its true that time remembers the fond memories more favourably than the bad ones....

 

Nik