Karaoke Forums

I am going to be building out two rigs for new venues in January. I have spent some time looking at wheeled DJ stands that will handle standard 19" components.

I have found a couple that I like but they seem pretty pricey to me.

Examples -

http://www.planetdj.com/i--FZGS1316WDLX
I like this one because of the slider for the laptop (though I may be doing rack mount PC instead) and the table that can be made from the front panel.

http://www.planetdj.com/i--FRGS1016WD
Very similar to the previous but almost $200 cheaper

That gives you an idea of what I am looking for. The side tables aren't absolutely neccessary but are a nice addition when space allows for it.

Any suggestions from the veterans out there?

-Chris

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-Chris

i have this one
http://www.odysseygear.com/odyssey-prod ... table.html
like your first option but with 16 space front. i added a 2 sp drawer with foam inserts to hold mics, batteries, sanitizer and mouse.
and a 4 sp drawer with foam for my box of slips, pens, and laptop.
the bottom has enough space to put my books in like a bookshelf. changed the cord on my power conditioner to a 40' cord and only one cord for everything.
makes my life very easy and Odyssey is great quality.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

That was a freaky deja-vu moment when I saw your picture.

I have a Yamaha Soundboard (may be the exact one) and a Furman power conditioner set exactly the same on my existing rig.

I am currently using the VocoPro rack that came with the first system I bought. It is a good rack but I have my laptop sitting in the fold-over lid. Makes for an achey back after 4-5 hours.

I have been poking around on the net and I keep coming back to the Odyssey cases. They are the front runner right now.

-Chris

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-Chris

Here's another case that I can attest to as being good:

http://audiopile.net/products/Cases/CU_ ... heet.shtml

I have the 22" rack depth version, which was required for my quite-deep Yamaha MCX166 mixer. Audiopile is in the Northwest, so your shipping would be less than it was to me out east.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

If these are only going to be used in karaoke bars then great

while ok for karaoke in bars , in the UK that wouldn't work if you wish to do different types of work such as a higher end wedding DJ. As a full time DJ/KJ i chose a stand which i could fit into small pubs but could expand and make look classy for weddings .

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"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

I guess I don't understand. With the addition of:

http://www.idjnow.com/StoreModules/Prod ... =FAC-6048B

and appropriate bunting, I think these can look great.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I have also seen some screens that are translucent allowing lights to shine through. Makes for a good effect in dimly lit rooms. There is a local KJ that uses them for his Saturday show and it looks pretty slick. I will try to catch up with him and find out about manufacturer and model info.

-Chris

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-Chris

what are you using Rob Star? share cool stuff with the class.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Styles vary from country , what is cool in the UK and classy is very different to what works elsewhere, i have DJ friends in The USA , Germany , New Zealand and The UK ...the point i was making was bear in mind the enviroment your working in ....if you can get a facade or covering booth for certain events thats great.

I tend to use the same 4ft dj deck stand covered with a DMX starcloth , then use either a overhead bar or a T bar for lighting

http://www.robstar.co.uk/mobile-disco/why-choose-us/gallery
http://www.wishesweddingdj.co.uk/wedding-gallery

I don't tend to take many pictures of the gear itself as marketing wise most people in the UK are more interested in seeing i can fill dance floors and how neat and tidy and wireless and not messy it will look. There is currently a trend against lightscreens and tacky looking light shows , and a massive move towards mood and up lighting and minimalist type set ups with quality sound and not tons of lighting effects but quality.

I feel you need to look at buy equipment that you feel is adaptable to any scenario and event you want it to work in.

If that sort of rack ticks all your boxes then fine but its better to consider all these things before making potential mistakes.

I currently have gear in flight cases rather than a big rack on wheels as many venues are up stairs, have no lifts and require to be moved several hundred yards where rolling isnt an option, i have done a few marques where stone chip driveways mean rolling a case is impossible if its on small castors or even fairly large wheels .

I also run an estate car (i think some of you guys call that a station wagon)With fuel and insurance costs increasing so much it is cheaper ti run than a van so a tall heavy case would not fit in my vehicle or be easy to lift in and out..so bear that in mind also that transporting and setting up maybe an issue. chris mentioned multiple operators this maybe a factor if they dont have the right type of transport also not everyone is a strong guy if you have smaller less physical hosts carrying several smaller items rather than one big item it is often easier.

as i said if your setting it up and leaving it in a single venue fine but as a full time operator i have to do a variety of gigs at multiple venues so choosing a case /stand you have to take these things into consideration.

Brian S Redd a famous USA mobile dj who is recovering from a stroke uses a folding table and a skrim skirt which can be lit up using par cans etc


If you dont ask yourself all the right questions at the start of the project its hard to know if you have come up with the right answers and that's when costly mistakes can happen when the trial is in the real world.

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"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

@Rob - Very thoughtful information. I appreciate you taking the time to write that up.

In my case, I am looking for "anchor" venues where I can leave my equipment on site. So moving it won't happen very often except from storage to the setup area.

Also, keep in mind that buildings in the US aren't a bajillion years old as they are in the UK. Most of the buildings on the west coast of the US are <150 yrs old and even the older buildings have been retro-fitted to accomodate persons with disabilities (which means ramps and lifts are typically required for any public building).

When I make my foray into the wedding and private party scene I will likely have a dedicated rig and it will have a different configuration.

-Chris

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-Chris

deleted do to image not clear

http://youtu.be/DX7OSbTKKgU

One of our set ups, minimal lighting at a small venue Christmas party. But the facade always gets big complements, despite what Brian Redd says .

I like your façade. I like the sphereon . In my venues and the way the Brits think Drinking is a sport, i would mount it somewhere where they wont trip over it or knock it over..but i like that set up

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"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

Thanks Rob. Yeah, we get rowdy people here too. I've had speakers knocked over, stand and all, mic's thrown/dropped etc. Fun stuff. I actually received the rotosphere the day of this gig. Normally I would have it in a safe (Safer ) place. Lucky for me this was a tame crowd

This is why i like a 4ft "goal post stand"


with a overhead bar a inverted light like that I think would look great .

I can see why a rolling case would work for a lot of you guys.

I am looking into uplighting a custom skirt on a 4ft "goal post stand" so it will look a bit like simpmechs

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"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

That facade/screen in the video is the translucent type that I mentioned earlier. I would like to pick up one of those. Anyone have a link?

-Chris

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-Chris

I made it. Much much cheaper than buying it. If you can't build it yourself then I suggest http://www.dragonfrontboards.com. its a good place to start looking

**my unit is a 5 panel and its Acrylic. If you look at the Naga by dragon board their 4 panel Lycra version will run you almost $500.00. I have under $75.00 in material to make mine. **

That's a pretty nice set up Rob. Simple and clean, the l.e.d. mirror ball would work great up there. I too cannot benefit from a rolling set up. I often wish I could, but my situations call for other set ups.

Here is another example of the facade, this time with a very inexpensive laser going in the back ground. You can be very creative with the lighting on these, notice how it not only lights the room but also the facade.
http://youtu.be/5G-cxmGsR-w

@simpmech - <light bulb moment> I didn't even think about making one myself. I am pretty sure I can find the translucent material locally (or order some cheap). would make for a nice weekend project.

Thanks!

-Chris

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-Chris

these are giving me some fun ideas as well. thanks for sharing

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens