Tips and Tricks: Makeing life easier with your mobile setup.

Well I said I would give some tips, so here's the easiest one that I could figure out for mobile DJ's out there.

Ever have issues of not having enough outlets?  Some of you may figure daisy chaining power strips will help that.  You can never have enough outlets (or extension cords for that matter, especially if you are running lights as well).  I figure, why not make setting everything up easier. . . .It seems retarded at first, but wouldn't you have the peace of mind knowing that your $$$ in equipment be safe while you are on the decks?  I've been and seen what happens when equipment get spikes, or power surges.  It's not pretty!  But I've always been on the safe side.  You can also go into buying the Furman Power conditioners, but you can save some of that for pro gear. If you already have pro gear, then you shouldn't be reading this. . .you already know what to do, and probably have more money than I do. . .(donations please?)


A 12 outlet power strip answers most of my issues, especially if I have another Dj on my equipment, and they're running on SSL as well.  The cost depends on the type your buying, but should cost between $25-$50.  12 is overkill, but think of the amount of time that this can save.  My set-up that needs power consists of 2 powered monitors, Behringer B215A, 2 Technic 1200 MK2 turntables, a Vestax PMC07-Pro Mixer, a Behringer XENYX 1202 portable mixer, my laptop, an external power supply for SSL, and a Western Digital 320GB External HD (older brick type).  That's already 10 outlets I need.  I usually keep the monitors nearby, as I hook up my turntables up to the XENYX 1202, but that's already 2 more than what most standard power strips allow.  Or even worse, 5 available if you daisy chain the power strip to another to get at least an additional 6 more.  That's just too crazy, and in the long run, a waste, as I know Dj's who don't even use all the outlets, and just use extension cords.  But alas, this is my set-up, and not yours.  You can set it up however you like.  By my point is, I now have 4 available outlets that are available to me, or my fellow Dj's.  Extra speakers, probably a powered bass sub.

I haven't even gone into the applications for the lights yet.  But the pic above shows you the amount of gear you can place onto a truss.  Think about it. . . .zip-tying this strip right onto the truss itself, and then just mounting everything else. Then just setting everything up and connecting it all, and just plugging in 1 plug for ALL the lights.  Or if you run DMX-controlled lights, or have the set-up for Slave and Master for power, you can easily do the same with a 6 outlet power strip and run everything through one outlet.

I myself have 2 of these.  One stays in my studio, and the other as I travel.

I do, however, offer that anyone that is a mobile Dj, invest in one of these things. . .


Or rather a multiple one, so if you have to, connect one so it doesn't overload the power on the single power strip, and cuase your equipment to go "bye-bye".  This particular one costs about $10.  You may want to look into the multiple one, as it may server you better in the long run.


I could go into more detail, but most of you may not care. . .I'm just "throwing it out there. . . .hoping it takes root!"


Vicious Li!

Update on the Magma Switchbox

The Magma SwitchBox


I had emailed the good people at Magma, and they informed me that there is indeed a push to get this little piece of mind for sometime State-side. I'm also assuming there is another version on the way out, as they've also mentioned they are trying to get a prototype ready for NAMM this year. Something tells me that that they want to update the either the look, and or drop the price down from the $200-$350 price tag. (I'm hoping the earlier rather than the latter).


Like I mentioned earlier on this piece, it allows 2 dj's the share the same set-up, without losing any time, or fussing over transitioning between dj's during sets. It also frees up 2 more inputs to allow either 2more CDJ's or 2 more turntables if you wanted (make sure you have some sort of line adjustment, like a BBE FJB-200 Phono Preamp, or something similar) so that there's no distortion or line differential. What does that exactly mean? Just plug your turntable into the line input of your mixer. . .you'll definately hear the difference. . .but moving on. . .

This is good news for those who Dj with other people, and this is a MUST HAVE for club installations.

Now I'm blabbing. . .but I am excited to hear this news, as I have been looking for this for a year now. There are a few places that have this on the net, but you'll be paying an arm and a leg for it. I really hope that the price point does go down, and that it remains passive, so I don't lose an important outlet for remedial things, like that to power my laptop, or my external HD.

I'll eventually give a quick tip for mobile Dj's. Simple, Easy, and it won't cost that much. Depending on your set-up.


Peace guys and gals.

Dj Windz One'
aka Visious Li.

It's been a while. . . .

Forreal forreal!

These past few have been quite enlightening, and fantastic, but I'm not going to get into details cuz this is not the forum to. . even though it is my blog.

Okay. . . .not much has been going on, but I have been following a few tidbits for my "Gadgets and Gizmos" segment. . .So here it goes. . . .as late as it is. . . .

"Gadgets and Gizmos"
The AKAI LPD8


This has been on my list of "must try" for sometime now. . .all I can say is that this feels a lot fetter than the Korg nanoPad, and a little bit more responsive. But it has 4 less pads than what I'm used to, so setting up the five cues on SSL is a bit tricky. The knobs are okay if your are using Propellorheads Reason 4, but if you are going that route, you might as well pick up the Korg padKontrol. But it's good to see AKAI pushing the smaller units for the on to go producer that can't afford to have the MPD32 with them at all times.



The Magma Switchbox

Okay. I have been looking all over the web to find out where I can buy this piece of ill shit. . .Guess what? They only sell it overseas and this beast costs round $200! Even worse it's been out for some years now and NO ONE (that I know of) has ever utilized it fully.

What the Magma does is gives the ability for 2 Dj's on different DVS's (Digital Vinyl System) such as Tracktor, Serato Scratch Live, Virtual Dj, or even Final Scratch (POS!!), to finally share the same equipment. 2 tables, 1 mixer, 2 laptops?!?!?! With this you can. It gets wire crazy, but at least it allows for a more smoother transistion. I'm a purist, but with my own equipment salvaging up all my precious space in my truck, I would rather go without the vinyl. That being said, this is an answer for house parties. This was initially set up for club installations, but I have not seen 1 club in San Diego utilize this piece, or have even heard of it!

In the pic above, you can also see that it also opens up the line input of a 2 channel mixer. So the possibility to have 4 inputs makes endless mixing possible. . .or a live, on the fly remix. Not so unheard of, but to have 4 turntables running at the same time, 2 digital and 2 on vinyl. . .that would be an awesome sight.



Trends and circles
I've been out of the loop for sometime now, and have been falling off what's on the radio. Not too much a a loss, but good enough that I even missed the Mayer Hawthorne album dropping. But I've been busy with my own studio buildup. A very slow process, but as Mr Oda has said. . ."Slow and steady, homie, wins the race!" I've just found myself in a slump as of the past few months. No gigs, no worthwhile stories to share with the world. I just dive right into projects though. Projects that take most of my time. a couple of which I'm taking my time with. My "All In The Name Of..." mixtape series is taking shape. the 1st AITNO... mixtape, Volume 1:Family was released as a cover for the Mag Flux album releases. I wish I could've done more to it, but "do wit whatchu got" attitude got the best of me. So the next few projects for me is going to take some time, as usual. AITNO...Volume 2:Motown is going to be a double. . .Volume2,Chapter 1:Motown and Volume 2,Chapter 2:Motown Soul are in the works, as well as the pushed back "Love" volume for Valentines day (as was orginally planned).

I'll try to be up to date on here, but I make no promises. . . .


Stay classy, Interwebz!

Dj Windz One"
aka Vicious Li