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Can anyone help me with a really good starter system for under 2000.00 for DJ and KJ business - catering to 100-150 people? I will pay someone to put together something I need, something that is not going to break down 1 year from now and someone who know's thier crap! i have been reading some posts and can honestly say there is alot to know and just want to do it the right way in the beginning and after some experience I can get what I need to upgrade, but need something decent to begin with. I don't want to do the PC hosting at this point either and want to focus on making people sound good. Anyway I am very very new to this so if anyone can help me with a list including every thing I am gonna need, like I say, I am willing to pay someone cause I need to get the show on the road - if anyone knows of a site or a persone who specializes in this or just wants to do it as thier random act of kindness for the day man oh man would I ever be appreciative!

Thanks,

Clara Colqouhn -

1. What part of the country are you in?
2. Outdoor or indoor venue? Makes a difference in amount of power needed and how much low end.
3. Do you intend to buy your songs as well with that $2000? This question can make a HUGE difference in your equipment budget.
4. Do you plan to do beat matching and full on DJ work, or just play some music? I'm not going into the equipment needed for full on DJ work, it can get overwhelming REAL quick.

FYI - Lonman here is the resident expert, but I'll try to do my best until he shows up.

You'll need:

1. Player
2. Mics
3. Mixer
4. Powered Speakers or Amp+Speakers
5. Cables to hook everything up.
6. Media
7. Effects/compressor/maximizer (optional and the mixer may have them on them)
8. TV
9. Stands, Misc.

Ok... let's start buying:
1. Player - RSQ 333 Triple Tray player - $225. When the single tray players are selling for approx $200 shipped it was worth the extra $25 for the 3 tray unit.
2. Mics - Fender P-51 mics - $50 each x 3 - $150. 2 for the ppl singing, 1 to announce with.
Yes, you can buy Shure SM58's at $100 each, but these are study, sound pretty good, and come with cables. Nady and a few others may be an acceptable choice - but I have experience with these.
3. Mixer - Mackie DFX 12 - $239
4. Powered Speakers - I must refer to Lonman out of my own inexperience/knowledge.
Why? This is where things get sticky AND expensive. You can skimp here and on the mixer to do small groups, but you'll be REAL limited in the shows you can do. I spent $805 on a Fender PD-250 for a small show and it worked VERY well for that show. I'm doing larger shows now and am spending another $1800 to upgrade to another mixer (Soundcraft Compact 10 - $240, NO EFFECTS) and powered speakers (still shopping). If you only want to buy once start smart! JBL Eon15 G2's are $700 each, Mackie SRM450's are $750 each, JBL Eon10 G2's are $550 each but will lack the bass response you'll probably want. Going with a smaller powered speaker means sacrificing bottom end or needing to upgrade soon. I don't have any recommendations that will put you at about $1000 for a pair (the price point you're probably looking for with everything else). You 'could' do a Soundcraft Gig Rac 600 and some non-powered speakers which may put you in the right price range - but you'll probably have to upgrade for any groups much larger than 100-150 (since you'll only have 600 watts (2x300)).
5. Cabling - $150. Probably a little high if you get cables with most of the equipment, but it's nice to have a few spares and be flexible.
6. I'd get the Sound Choice Foundations 1 & 2 - $500. You can go with other sets - Sweet Georgia Brown 1-66 - $110, Chartbusters 1-4 - about $500. The Sound Choice Foundations represented over 2/3's of the songs played at my first couple shows and less than half the tracks. They are well worth the money. Note that you still have to come up with the DJ music if you're doing that as well. I use my laptop and my emusic.com subscription to load up on dance, jazz, and other music. Burn to CD or play direct from the laptop.
7. Effects - Built into the Mackie DFX 12 and also the Gig Rac 600. - $0 BTW, the compressor, maximizer, etc. can wait.
8. TV - 13" TV - Wal-Mart $65
9. Misc - Stand for tv/mics - $70, Fender speaker stands - $120, RF covertor/cable to hook up tv - $25, Duct tape (ALWAYS TAPE DOWN THE CORDS) - $5

That's it. Not counting the media, power speakers or mixer you're looking at about $500. Those few items are where you spend the real money. BTW, all prices are either what I paid or the current list prices for the product online.

I wish you all the luck in the world in your new venture and I hope others can make some recommendations on the speaker area.

Peavey XR 684 F ($669)
Sehneheiser E835 3 pack ($199)
JVC/RSQ tripple tray player
B-52 MI 15 or SR-15
stands, tv etc


Those prices are from American Musical Supply. They have a web site and I have ordered (financed) from them in the past. The only reason I recomended the Senheiser Mics is that they are very SIMILAR to the Sure SM 58 and they come with a 10 yr guarentee. I personally, am partial to Peavey products and B-52 speakers but you can run with the JBL eon's as well. That would be perfect for an INDOOR venue. If you want to be able to run OUTDOORS, go to the Peavey XR 696 F. You won't be able to get a whole lot with only $2000 concidering the cost of equipment and cd's, but it'll be a decent start if you want to focus on sound "quality".

I am in the same boat on the speakers, but good luck to you!

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The best reason for having dreams is that in dreams no reasons are necessary

Hey all!

I will be indoor venues and i live in Montana, small towns, taverns, etc. For the DJ part of it, that will be later I guess once the karaoke thing is off the ground, but will play dance tunes in between sets of songs.

I am not worried about the larger shows now, but will be in the summer or at rodeo events. The budget is for mostly equipment, and the music would be separate - If I get powered speakers now it would eliminate the need for an amp? or could I just get the amp, the smaller speakers (Peavey PR-15) and later could I incorporate the larger power speakers into the gig and still use the amp with the smaller speakers. so there would be 4 speakers or is that overkill?

Thanks for the help!

Clara

Sent you a PM.

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