The equipment expenditures truly never end...

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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I have the idea that I need a 50 foot XLR cable to extend a speaker out a bit into the ball room for my big Dec 12th Holiday party. 450 guests in a ballroom near the size of a foot ball field. So I am using 4 speakers, and a sub. 2 speakers and sub normally set up near dance floor, then daisy chain another speaker 50 feet away, and daisy chain another speaker to that one another 25 feet out. I only currently have 25' XLR cords, or 10' cords so I went to Guitar Center today and purchased the 50 foot.

The 50' cable cost me $59.99.

Just when you think you have everything you need unless something breaks, you think of something else you need.

I also think I'm going to lighten up my big Cables bag. I have 4 of my old 1/4 inch speaker cables in there ranging 25 to 50 feet in length that I bring to every gig, except my passive systems both sits in my storage lol. I also have a bunch of adapters I NEVER use or seem to need. I think I can lighten my gear bag up moving into the holiday season.
 
I have 3 100' cables for such things as well. I have used them for weird things, like setting up my mixer, mic and CD on the sidelines of a football field and running the output back up to the announcing booth to patch into the PA system. My long cables are these: MQN-102 Blue Pro Quad XLR Microphone Cable with Neutrik XX Cord Ends .. 2 in blue and and one in black. Since I normally use these outside, the blue was preferred as it stands out a little so people can see it when run through the grass (even when roped off, people will find a way to cross the lines).

The EWI 50 footer is $38 .. less if you use the non-Neutrik ended version. These are quad cables ... 4 conductors with 2 for + and 2 for - (in addition to the shield) ... for heavy use cable, the redundancy helps.

They used to run auctions on eBay (where I bought mine) .. not sure if he still does that with excess inventory.
 
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I've been upgrading this year...and every upgrade means changing/rearranging gear in the bags/bins so now i have no idea where anything is.

the new Yamaha DXR takes XLR only...I needed TRS/XLR and power cords (since these are active and my old setup is passive) so my TRS/TRS needed replaced, then I need to go from them to the sub, so more XLR/XLR in a length that's useful. And the DXR's came with too short IEC power cords...

so that's more cords in longer lengths. I had some 50' and a 100' TRS/TRS so debating what to do as one venue I play I need a long cord to get around a staircase. Probably opt for an XLR/TRS (fem) 'adapter' or something. Haven't thought that far ahead yet.

got an acrobat - great, except I've gone to all DMX control and the acrobat has no 'sound' mode or 'auto' mode in DMX, so I'm gonna need a switch for that...my old amp case was setup for that but alas, the new one isn't.

As I rearranged, well, still sorting things out, I think I want 2 bigger bins...but how much bigger. Walmart had what I wanted , but apparently it's not at all walmarts..so I gotta go outta my way back to where I saw it. And bigger means i"ll put more in it...so it gets heavier.

I have a newer, smaller 'backup' bag which stays in teh car. the old backup bag was stupid heavy so this is a definite step up. My lighting case is a friggin disaster..power cords, dmx cords, short and long, o clamps, etc.
 
IceBurghDJ said:
I've been upgrading this year...and every upgrade means changing/rearranging gear in the bags/bins so now i have no idea where anything is.

the new Yamaha DXR takes XLR only...I needed TRS/XLR and power cords (since these are active and my old setup is passive) so my TRS/TRS needed replaced, then I need to go from them to the sub, so more XLR/XLR in a length that's useful. And the DXR's came with too short IEC power cords...

so that's more cords in longer lengths. I had some 50' and a 100' TRS/TRS so debating what to do as one venue I play I need a long cord to get around a staircase. Probably opt for an XLR/TRS (fem) 'adapter' or something. Haven't thought that far ahead yet.

got an acrobat - great, except I've gone to all DMX control and the acrobat has no 'sound' mode or 'auto' mode in DMX, so I'm gonna need a switch for that...my old amp case was setup for that but alas, the new one isn't.

As I rearranged, well, still sorting things out, I think I want 2 bigger bins...but how much bigger. Walmart had what I wanted , but apparently it's not at all walmarts..so I gotta go outta my way back to where I saw it. And bigger means i"ll put more in it...so it gets heavier.

I have a newer, smaller 'backup' bag which stays in teh car. the old backup bag was stupid heavy so this is a definite step up. My lighting case is a friggin disaster..power cords, dmx cords, short and long, o clamps, etc.
Click to expand...
Can always keep the long cords and make up or buy simple TRS/XLR adapters instead of replacing the whole cable (assuming they're in good shape).

GkX1cj8wa7an8AmYv1B8YhaZYZpf4aSRMHzoyxTys&usqp=CAY.jpg
 
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I have several bags. One is for long xlr cables and usually stays in the van. When I find situations where long xlr is needed I know where to find it. The main bag has enough ext. cords, xlr, and IEC power cords for most events and there's another similar bag that can be used for ceremony setups or brought in when more cables or ext. cords are needed.

Ricky, I find it odd that you've never needed 50 ft xlr cables but maybe it's because you've been using a passive system until recently.
 
I also carry a "backup" case in my van... never leaves... longer xlr's, power, extra 3-ways, and DMX cables, DI's, a back up mouse and power supply, adapters and black socks.... really lots of stuff.
 
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You go into the store expecting to spend $200.00 you come out of the store with $2000.00 worth of new toys :D . There are some perks for being kid-less and an amazing career :D
 
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In a pinch I have been known to end to end two 25ft XLR cables to make a 50 footer or 1 25 with a 50 to make a 75. Sound is never worse for the wear although I am sure there is some loss across the one connection. Not sure what the limit is on how many you can end to end before it gets too bad to do????

See: Can I connect 2 XLR cables together? [Archive] - The Acoustic Guitar Forum
 
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Jas said:
I have several bags. One is for long xlr cables and usually stays in the van. When I find situations where long xlr is needed I know where to find it. The main bag has enough ext. cords, xlr, and IEC power cords for most events and there's another similar bag that can be used for ceremony setups or brought in when more cables or ext. cords are needed.

Ricky, I find it odd that you've never needed 50 ft xlr cables but maybe it's because you've been using a passive system until recently.
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I used all Passive until 2013.

My sister, brother, and Dad STILL use all passive. However, my brother has a set of 10 inch powered Altos now that he uses for ceremonies, cocktail hour, but he still uses his old Community 15' speakers from 1997, and old Yamaha work hourse AMP for parties, reception

I have 2 100' 1/4 inch real thick gauge speaker cables. I also have two 50' 1/4 inch, and 4 25' banna plug to 1/4 inch speaker cables that I have for my passive set ups. The 100 foot cables sit in storage, but the other cables are all in my gear bag. I have only used 2 10', and 2 25' XLR cables for my powered speakers. I also have a couple of 20' XLR to 1/4 cables that I used for corded microphones that I could use for speakers if in a bind.
 
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I keep it simple- blackout (duh), slow, fast, sound active and then I have an all white for the bridal dance and a dinner setting which I use if i have my speaker stand scrims and have those pars set to the bride's color. I also have a strobe setting never used it..may use it tonite at teh HS dance just because, well I've never used it. Maybe to open the night.

I got smart at the last gig. I now take two laptops- the new dedicated one and since it's been new and 'learning' (aka testing) I've had the old one along and on (saved my butt at a wedding when the new one decided it would be a good time to reboot about 80% of the way thru the father daughter dance). Anyway, I have my light control on both and have been tabbing between but I too often forget to change the lights for slow dances and other things. So now that I got smarter, I run the lights off the backup machine and keep the lighting software up - easy to get to and a reminder!

I played with the 6 and 7 channel and see a lot of fun possibilities, but have to spend the time to program it all.
 
IceBurghDJ said:
I keep it simple- blackout (duh), slow, fast, sound active and then I have an all white for the bridal dance and a dinner setting which I use if i have my speaker stand scrims and have those pars set to the bride's color. I also have a strobe setting never used it..may use it tonite at teh HS dance just because, well I've never used it. Maybe to open the night.

I got smart at the last gig. I now take two laptops- the new dedicated one and since it's been new and 'learning' (aka testing) I've had the old one along and on (saved my butt at a wedding when the new one decided it would be a good time to reboot about 80% of the way thru the father daughter dance). Anyway, I have my light control on both and have been tabbing between but I too often forget to change the lights for slow dances and other things. So now that I got smarter, I run the lights off the backup machine and keep the lighting software up - easy to get to and a reminder!

I played with the 6 and 7 channel and see a lot of fun possibilities, but have to spend the time to program it all.
Click to expand...

I like it simple as well.....Freestyler to me was the perfect fit because Macros are so easily created. I utilize 2 computers, with my assistant taking care of the lighting.

I have a small case that houses my dmx splitter, usb dongle, power and my UC3 controllers

24578_434817171123_5119020_n.jpg
 
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Randy A said:
I like it simple as well.....Freestyler to me was the perfect fit because Macros are so easily created. I utilize 2 computers, with my assistant taking care of the lighting.

I have a small case that houses my dmx splitter, usb dongle, power and my UC3 controllers

24578_434817171123_5119020_n.jpg
Click to expand...
What material are you using for your facade panels shown here? I am liking what you are laying down if it is robust! I have been using translucent corrugated plastic (propagates light very well and evenly) which are inexpensive and rigid as opposed to Lycra that others use. I find Lycra to be quite costly and can look ratty after a while. The downside to the corrugated plastic is it easily marks up and if you don't baby your facade it can start looking like crap in a real hurry necessitating a panel change out which is easy to do and cheap but is also time consuming....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMEBnsoXwiE
 
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Navydiver said:
What material are you using for your facade panels shown here? I am liking what you are laying down if it is robust! I have been using translucent corrugated plastic (propagates light very well and evenly) which are inexpensive and rigid as opposed to Lycra that others use. I find Lycra to be quite costly and can look ratty after a while. The downside to the corrugated plastic is it easily marks up and if you don't baby your facade it can start looking like crap in a real hurry necessitating a panel change out which is easy to do and cheap but is also a whole lot of work....
Click to expand...

Home Depot .... flourescent lighting covers. I've cracked one in the several years of having it, but it's super simple to replace. A few screws and slide a new panel in. I'll see if I can find a pic of it in transport.
 
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