Your EQUIPMENT "then" vs. Your EQUIPMENT "now".

Compare and contrast the first DJ setup you had vs. what you have now.

I was using Peavey Speakers.. a numark mixer... 2 Techniques $150 turntables... NO LIGHTS except a rope light. A cheap amp... not sure what it was. A cheap mic. NO BACKUP EQUIPMENT.

Now I have a PLX 3402... JBL MPros, a CD Mix2, a laptop.... Sunray2, VUE III, mini mace, rope lights, a Martin Acrobat I do not use...... Shure wireless lav.... and 2 SM 57s. A Fender Passport for backup.... and soon, an iDJ2 for backup.

When I first started as a hobby I had a pair of Pioneer direct drive turntables (I still have them and they still work :D ) a Pioneer home amp, a Sansui Amp, a Technics equalizer a pair of Pioneer 15" 4 way speakers that I still own as well as 2 JVC dual 12" speakers. Also used a Technics and a Marantz deck with a Radio Shack mixer. I forgot 2 strobes and 2 police beacon lights.

Currently I own 4 Cerwin Vega AB-36B Afterburner folded horns powered by 2 QSC RMX 2450 amps in bridge mono mode. 4 Yamaha S115V speakers powered by a QSC PLX 3102 and a pair of Talmus XT-215 dually 15" cabs powered by a Yamaha P7000. Source is a Tascam CD-302 CD player, Onkyo Tape Deck, Sony Vaio VGN-FE750FM lap top to an M-Audio soundcard, Behringer DX-1000 mixer (It's huge but I wouldn't trade it for anything ;) ), Behringer FBQ-6200 31 band equalizer to DBX crossover. Lighting is Chauvet Intimidator 2.0's (4), Chauvet Insignia 2.0 (1), American DJ DMX Mega Strobe, Chauvet DMX-500 color changers, 4 Chauvet Colorsplash Jr's, 8 Par 64's, a Chauvet DMX-55 controller and an Elation Light Co Pilot II

I have an addiction to buying this stuff :D:D:D:D:D

I have an addiction to buying this stuff :D:D:D:D:D

Me too!... but it sure eats into the profits, eh? :sqeek:

Me too!... but it sure eats into the profits, eh? :sqeek:

Yes, but they are a blast to use. I stretched the systems legs two weeks ago and it was a lot of fun. I forgot I also use an Antari Z-1500 II fogger made the lights shine.

My utility company loves it when I suck up all the juice. Thank God for power distribution :D:D:D:D

Compare and contrast the first DJ setup you had vs. what you have now.

I was using Peavey Speakers.. a numark mixer... 2 Techniques $150 turntables... NO LIGHTS except a rope light. A cheap amp... not sure what it was. A cheap mic. NO BACKUP EQUIPMENT.Consider yourself fortunate, my friend. You had pro-grade business equipment at least. I was working with junk. :D

When I started DJing for the in-laws at backyard parties I had:

One pair of RS Mach 1 home stereo cabs.
One RS receiver, 100WPC.
An old University Sound 35 watt PA amp that was used as a mic and line in mixer.
One Ampex unbalanced mic (found at a local flea market for $5.00).
One 5-disc RS carousel CD player.
One RS cassette deck.
One boombox for cueing up cassettes.
One set of ancient Pio headphones.

Over the next couple of years I graduated to three pairs of RS Mach III home stereo cabs and two RS PA amps to compliment the receiver. I had a whopping 300 WRMS per side and could now rock 'em at the school dances. :D

Well, when the RS amps weren't cutting out in the middle of the night, that was. ;)

Today:

Tri-amped system powered by
DCM1500 for tops.
DCM2000 for mids.
DCM2500 for subs.
Pair of dually 10" 2-ways.
Pair of dually 15" 2-ways
Pair of single 18" subs.

Pioneer CMX-5000 dually CD rig.
ProMix-7 mixer.
EQ2015 dual 2/3 octave EQ.
DBX Compressor/Limiter.
XC3000 active crossover.
Furman Power Pro conditioner.
SKB molded rack cases for the above.

Hope it helps.

OK, here's where my education came in handy. I have an EE degree. I may have started out by PAYING for cheaper equipment, but I was capable and DID modify it to an amazing degree. Doubling a 750 watt amp's output, making three-ways out of two-ways, replacing mic innards for better quality, etc., etc.... In short, though my old equipment didn't sport the "name" labels, they were almost, or equal to, and sometimes better. Still own the stuff too.

OK, here's where my education came in handy. I have an EE degree. I may have started out by PAYING for cheaper equipment, but I was capable and DID modify it to an amazing degree. Doubling a 750 watt amp's output, making three-ways out of two-ways, replacing mic innards for better quality, etc., etc.... In short, though my old equipment didn't sport the "name" labels, they were almost, or equal to, and sometimes better. Still own the stuff too.

That's just DAMN COOL, Joe... :sqbiggrin:

Oh man, I started out in Karaoke, and morphed into a DJ. I didnt even have a rack for the PA, I had a carpeted podium that would handle 2 standard size pieces side by side, and could stack it all up out of customer view. When I started DJing, I bought 2 RCA 5 disc carousel players and put them on my podium under my PA equipment, then mixed them with my Mackie mixer, LOL. I was using the carousel player as source for my bumper music for karaoke, so buying another to DJ from for about 60 bucks seemed like a no brainer, LOL. Primitive, but I was efficient with it, and no one knew unless they looked at my gear. I would imagine back then SOMEBODY had a good giggle at my expense, just as I would today if I saw such a makeshift set up.

After I got a rack for the karaoke gear, I invested in proper DJ eqipment, then a second rig for DJing only, then on and on to where I am now, years later. LOL!

CD Walkmans
Nikko Amp
Cerwin Vega DX9's
yamaha dual 10 band eq.
v-tech mic
all of it owned by dad.....

Since then his investment has grown into my investment. He used to DJ in the 70's and stopped shortly after meeting mom. I met my wife after I was a DJ, so I thought it would be easy....WRONG! I still can't convince her to let me have my way with the bank account.....

I'm into EV, Sonic, Crown, Crest, QSC, Shure Wireless, AKG, Chauvet, American DJ, everything is DMX......
2-subs and around 10 - 15's if I need em.....


I think I need more subs....Now where did I see that craigslist ad again?...

1) v-tech mic


2) I'm into EV, .....Shure Wireless, .... Chauvet,





1) Had their own kinda sound, didn't they? :sqwink:


2) My top 3!!! REALLY love the EVs

1) Had their own kinda sound, didn't they? :sqwink:


2) My top 3!!! REALLY love the EVs

I actually use the case the mic came to store my dremmel in.
Donated the mic to my school!

Yeah, EV Eliminators are good for smaller rooms....I'd love to add 2 more....

Guess which is which?

one is 1985,
another one is 1995
and another one is 2007

LOL.... (pretty obvious uh?) LMAO...

Still spinnin' the "kid" is 18, (he is the same age as when i started):sqerr:

actually,
my very first equipment consisted of:

2 1100 belt driven techniques turntables
one :sharp" cassette player
one radio shack mixer
one techniques (100 wtt) amp
2 jvc home speakers
1 radio shack microphone

i was da'bomb back when

lol

PS the pic doesn't show my 1200's and my Serato...

Bose 301 home speakers
Peavey sp2s
JBL Eons G1's
Mackie 450's
EV sxa250's
Bose L1s

1979
4 (bolted 2 by 2 ) locally made 12" 3-way home speakers.
Kenwood 3500 integrated amp (35 watts per side @ 8, 47 @4)
RS 6 channel mono mixer
Sony TCFX6C logic controller cassette
RS logic controller Cassette (can't remember the number, something...43)
RS "Highball" mike.
Pioneer R-305 headphones
1- Technics L-35 turntable
No lights

2007
Toshiba 2.4Ghz Notebook with 120Gig HD and Indigo soundcard
Peavey Clubmix mixer
Denon DN-D4000 mp3/cd as backup for pc
Peavey Kosmos
Shure ULX wireless
Sony MDR-v150 headphones. (I have the MDR700DJ but was affraid they would walk)
Furman conditioner w/lights
Bose L-1 with subs.
ALL kind of spin-n-pukes, Intels, fog, chase, ropelights, bubbles and so-on.

you kids and your toys! When I started there wasn't any of that new fangled stuff,,,,, geezzeee,,, we carried our Sears phonograph to gigs in the snow with no shoes on.......

... PS the pic doesn't show my 1200's and my Serato...
Wow... that pic reminds me of my old Gemini tabletop rig. Odyssey facade stand and all. :)

My first system was all Radio Shack baby!!!!!

Optimus 15's, 2 channel (yes, 2 channel) mixer with one mic input, and a 250 watt amp. I was using 2 Pioneer 6 disc changers (the kind that took the front loading cartridge trays).

I went from there to a SoundTech 6 channel 500 watt powers mixer and Mini-discs.

My final (when I sold it a year and a half ago) system consisted of:

Numark CD-Mix 2 station
Gemini 32 band EQ
1 Gemini X-1 amp
1 Gemini X-4 amp
1 Set of Gemini 12's
1 set of Gemini dual floor standing 15's

My final (when I sold it a year and a half ago) system consisted of:

Numark CD-Mix 2 station
Gemini 32 band EQ
1 Gemini X-1 amp
1 Gemini X-4 amp
1 Set of Gemini 12's
1 set of Gemini dual floor standing 15'sI can see why you sold it, Pat. ;)

Hey, I ain't got no room to talk. I was a RS DJ for several years. Come to think of it, I still have the old $99.00 RS 3-mic mixer console. It was scratchy and unbalanced right out of the box but Wolfie played many a show with it. :D

1979:
(basically my home system)

Pioneer SX-650 Rcvr.
Omega 3-way floor speakers
(2) Garrard beltdrive turntables
(1) Radio Shack 4 channel mixer

no lights

=========
2007:

(1) Pioneer CMX-3000 dual cd player
(2) Pioneer CDJ-800 MK2 tabletop players
(1) Denon DN-4500 dual cd player
(1) Numark CDN-25 dual cd player

(2) Peavey C-4 amps
(1) Peavey C-8.5 amp
(2) Yamaha P-2000 amps
(1) Yamaha EMX-600 powered mixer

(6) ETA power conditioners
(4) Ashly XL-100 crossover units
(4) DOD SR430QX dual 15 band EQ's
(1) Alesis 3630 compressor/limiter/gate
(1) dbx 166XL compressor/limiter/gate
(1) AMDJ SCFC 8 channel lighting controller
(1) Chauvet SF9005 Timer Switch Control System
(1) Tascam CDA-600 Cassette/Triple tray CD player
(1) Tascam X-15 4 channel mixer
(1) Numark CDM-100 4 channel mixer
(1) Gemini PSi -4 2 channel mixer

(1) Sennheiser E100 (g1) wireless headset mic
(1) Sennheiser E100 (g2) wireless headset mic
(2) Shure PG-58 Wireless handheld mics with optional lav transmitter
(1) Shure PGX24SM58 Handheld Mic System W/Sm58 Mic
(3) Samson hard wire mics

(14) Altman par 56 500 watt wide flood cans
various MBT, AMDJ spin n puke lights
(4) Martin Mx-4's
(4) Chauvet Insignia's
(1) 16" mirror ball
(20) pin spots
(1) MBT small fog machine
(1) Martin/Jem Magnum 2000 fog machine
(1) MBT Bubble machine

(2) Yamaha SM-115 stage monitors
(2) Yamaha SM-112 stage monitors
(2) Yamaha S112 mains
(2) E.V. SX 500 Mains
(2) E.V. SB 180 folded subs
(1) MTX pwrs bandpass sub
(2) Elliot 18" subs


I'm sure I've probably forgotten some items, but this is what I can remember for now.

Then: Turntable, dual cassette deck, 3 single tray cd players, the rest was patched together from whatever my buddy had available.

Sometimes, I'd be using a 6-channel powered amp and other times it would be his road rack with his Crown amps and using one of his 24 channel (I know, overkill) non-powered mixers. Same with the speakers; whatever he had available...I used.

Needless to say things are better (equipment wise), but I don't run a lot of "high-end" equipment. And guess what, I've had no failures or major problems...yet! :sqwink: Gotta a lot of room for improvement and will..one step at a time.

I used to crack up with all the "high end" guys in my area who would come into a place with their JBL or Makie stuff, and sound exactly like my Gemini stuff. My entire rig cost $1500 new (not counting the lights) and sounded exactly like the ten grand rigs they were lugging around.

1) we carried our Sears phonograph to gigs 2) in the snow with no shoes on.......



1) I still have the crank......oh, wait, did you have an ELECTRIC one?


2) I wear sandals year round, so I'm STILL shoeless in the snow....

I only listed my main "DJ" rig. If you want to talk about backups and my Live Sound concert rig........Your gonna need a LOT more room on your server! :) :) :)

Ask Valerie what SHE has! :)

2004:

2 Carvin 15" Speakers
2 Carvin 12" monitors
2 MTX Subs
American DJ Dual CD Player
Gemini Mixer
QSC Amp
10ft I-beam Truss
T-bar
American DJ Topaz and American DJ Electra and 2 par 64's
Corded Shure SM58

I sold every last thing listed above and purchased....
2007:
JBL Eons
JBL MRX518s
Crown XTi2000
QSC RMX2450
Denon X500
Numark CDN-88
2 Shure Wireless
3 Furman Power Conditioners

Lighting:
3 Martin SCX500's (soon 4)
Box Truss (Global)
5ft I-Beam Truss System
2 Snap Shot Strobes

I'm saving to get another SCX500 possibly.

After I joined forums and started meeting DJ's my set-up has changed a ton.

I only listed my main "DJ" rig. If you want to talk about backups and my Live Sound concert rig........Your gonna need a LOT more room on your server! :) :) :)

Ask Valerie what SHE has! :)


are you talking to me??

talking to me?

you must be talking to me....


(j/k) (taxi - r deniro)