What are /r/mobileDJ's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Rock and roller.

Rock-N-Roller R12RT (All Terrain) 8-in-1 Folding Multi-Cart/Hand Truck/Dolly/Platform Cart/34" to 52" Telescoping Frame/500 lbs. Load Capacity, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AYLJXU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TM5PD4GA5405SHDHPWPZ

Yeah, you are WAY overthinking it :). Karoake is super easy nowdays, even web based solutions exist: http://www.karafun.com/flash/?song=48052 All you need is a laptop and a decent sized monitor, like a 23"

ROCKPALS 250-Watt Portable Generator Rechargeable Lithium Battery Pack Solar Generator with 110V AC Outlet, 12V Car, USB Output Off-grid Power Supply for CPAP Backup Camping Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SSMR6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_X081DGP40S2576ZZK2CT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I got this one to power my mixer and laptop for when I do events with limited power. (My speakers have their own batteries)

I think when I first tested it out I got around 4-6 hours of power for my Mac, mixer and two turntables

Mackie Element

I bought a couple of these portable, personal clip in-on fans thanks to a friend who was rocking one for a summer, outdoor gig. Pretty funny looking, but they work! Super clutch for setting up in the humidity / heat, and general comfort with a constant, personal breeze.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Y6XQQK8

I’m planning on doing exactly the same 😊 looking at this thing BLUETTI Portable Power Generator AC50S 500Wh 2AC Outlet 220-240V with UK Plug,PD 45W USB-C,Wireless Charging,Regulated DC12V Lithium Battery Backup for Outdoors Camping Outage Emergency https://www.amazon.ae/dp/B0925JCBY3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FF642M7XN34HCZEXRTM6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I would trust the anker “portable generator” power stations more than a simple battery bank for : -capacity -higher max power output (more available watts) -both AC and DC output (DC is more efficient but AC is arguably more universally useful) -more future proof for you to grow into

Something like this (they have various sizes):

Anker Portable Generator 778Wh, 545 Portable Power Station (PowerHouse 778Wh), 500W Outdoor Generator with 110V 2-AC Outlets, 2X 60W PD Outputs and LED Light for RV, Camping, Emergencies, and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LYMJJD5/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_JJSWH9A5TG61GGJP9FQ5

Multiple operations. You have other DJs working under your brand. You find and book the clients, then source the DJs. Some companies provide gear (even music and notes) to their DJs, others simply introduce the DJ to the couple and let the DJ handle it from there.

A good place to start: https://smile.amazon.com/Running-Your-Multi-Op-Michael-Walter/dp/146100943X

I would get 2 of these to start for like 350. https://www.amazon.com/Tomshine-Rainbow-Channels-Pattern-Wedding/dp/B073S78V3Q Buy them on prime, if you hate them..no issues returning them.

The ADJ H2O IR is more of a water effect. Decent looking for washing the dance floor or a wall. They retail for 200 a pop so not a bad deal for 2 of them if they haven’t been in heavy use.

Check Craigslist as well, you might have luck finding some cheap lighting or truss.

Boy, in that price range you should consider the Chauvet Kinta FX (YouTube video of it in action)

They are in your price range for a single light, $169 on Amazon and are sound-sensitive and cover quite a wide area on the dance floor.

Also, you can add more later and sync them with a DMX cable. The effect with multiples is pretty cool.

This is the set I’ve been working with.

I bought them when I was short on cash and I needed better speakers and didn’t want spend the money I had on a mic.

Never had an issue, but I’m sure something would happen sometime and I’m always sure the Shure mics have much better sound.

This is what you want: Monoprice 14AWG 25ft IEC

I have several in various lengths. Heavy duty and better than what your speakers originally came with.

This bad boy: https://www.amazon.com/Global-Truss-ST-132-Pack-Clamp/dp/B01M11YF17/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543617738&sr=8-2&keywords=st132+F24

I dislike Karaoke pretty bad, but when I'm out of options on a gig, I buy a week subscription to KaraFun and run it on an old 10" iPad with an iPad mount on a mic stand. I connect the audio to my mixer via a Bluetooth Rx I have connected to my mixer. Here's a list of the stuff I use:

• iPad Mount: https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-inches-Adjustable-Microphone-Samsung/dp/B01NBILOUA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1529354149&sr=8-8&keywords=ipad+microphone+stand+mount
• BT Rx: https://smile.amazon.com/Logitech-Bluetooth-Audio-Adapter-Streaming/dp/B00IQBSW28/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1529354194&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=logitech+bluetooth+audio+adapter

Karafun has the ability to fade in vocal, and even has a remote control feature that users can search for songs on their phones and add them to the song queue themselves. Yo DO need a wifi connection either from the venue or via a 4g phone that has a hotspot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXW1GTZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B06XXW1GTZ&pd_rd_wg=faplx&pd_rd_r=DZVY2W7CF9R94SN2PB1G&pd_rd_w=1yD58

This thing is better than my $700 sennheiser, I was happy to find it but mad that it was better lol. Pair this with the Behringer Europort MPA40BT and it's great for ceremonies in remote locations.

Logitech Bluetooth rx on Amazon: Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Bluetooth Streaming https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IQBSW28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1ht4Ab1RFN9GQ

I use one on my main mixer. My portable ceremony system is a behringer battery powered pa with BT rx built in

I carry a small mixer like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-802-Premium-8-Input-Preamps/dp/B000J5XS3C

I have a tablet that I backup all my music on, and I have a 15-minute "premix" on the tablet. I've never had my mixer or laptop go down, but if they did, I would either route the tablet through the mixer (if the laptop went down), or swap the extra mixer and tablet for my DJ mixer (if the mixer went down), and then play the 15 minute mix while I reboot the laptop or troubleshoot the mixer. If I wanted to be really paranoid, I could route the DJ mixer through the auxiliary mixer and have the tablet ready to go for an almost instant switchover!

If neither could be revived, I could finish the gig with the music on the tablet and mic input on the mixer. I use the edjing software on the tablet.

I also have some extra laptops from my office, so I'll usually toss one of those in the car as well. And for big gigs, I use a separate laptop to control the lights, and it has Serato intro, so I could use that. It's all about options!

Shure sells a rack mount shelf for the BLX line. you could go a cheaper route and get a generic shelf with some industrial strength velcro

Hey Petey! Thank you so much for the super long response! So I have lots of questions esp. re: lighting alternatives (I can't afford the $3-4k of lights alone you recommended right now, that's my entire budget)...

One question I have is: If I buy one 18" sub, are two 15" tops a waste (and should get two 12" tops instead)? I've had a few folks at the local Guitar Center say that some of the mid-bass that a 15" offers over a 12" is redundantly being done by the 18" subwoofer, and that 12" might either be better or least I wouldn't notice not having 15s. Any insight into that??

Also, I bought a Pioneer DDJ-SB2 last weekend for $249 to mess around on and I feel like I've learned a lot. I like the idea of ultimately getting a more expensive 4-channel controller, but in the meantime, could I add a Yamaha 6-channel mixer to control other inputs (incl. wired mic and wireless mic(s))?

Lastly, I was looking at cases for the controller with a place for the laptop up top - specifically the Odyssey cases. Should I get one built for the DDJ-SB2 like this and upgrade later? Or go ahead and get a larger one built for the DDJ-SX like this and put the Yamaha mixer in the case with it right next to it?

They're probably decent enough, again I would consider RCF. These are within the same range, check around forums to see what folks have been saying about them.

Yeah the DDJ-SX looks pretty solid. For transport, I've been using a RSX hatchback since I've started, even with tall 3-way speakers! I have a 4-ft height adjustable table that folds in half so I just slot it behind one of my seats.

I've been looking for a USB to DMX adapter that's reasonably priced, and now the cheapest / simplest I can find is this @ $72:

https://www.amazon.com/DMXking-ultraDMX-Micro-adapter-dongle/dp/B00T8OKM98

Nice overview! You mentioned that you have your DMX cables gaffed to the trussing but the power cables were velcroed on. Are you leaving your DMX cable runs on the truss when you break it down and store it, or are you re-gaffing them each time?

I can't recommend velcro cable loops enough, if anyone in this subreddit doesn't own any yet, please pick some up. They're so cheap and take away so many potential headaches.

you can always get some stand skirts to class it up a little:

http://www.amazon.com/SKRIMS-Speaker-Stretch-Spandex-SKRIMS-3B/dp/B00IIVYGQM

Use white ones and put some uplights inside and it'll look pretty nice too...