Dj getting back into the bizz

[hilo4noff]

hey all, I'm a dj getting back in to the business after 18 years out. I'm really leaning toward the dr250s paired with the titan 39s as my main set up. And as I'm thinking that because of an upcoming move that more of my gigs will be outside after the move, just adding another pair of titans should cover up to 300 people inside or out. Am I on the right track here? The one statement that sold me on the drs was that they are on a whole nother level of speaker. (probably from the ot12's page) The difficulty in construction or time to completion isn't an issue because I'm looking to be ready to launch by next wedding season.

As everyone has been where I am now, as far as looking to put together a great system, your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Rich in Illinois.

[DJPhatman]

Since you will always run with subs, consider the DR200. Delta pro c (16 Ohm driver) loaded, you can run 4 in mono from a single amp channel! Outdoors, this is worth a lot considering available power. As a bonus, their small size will make you happier at the end of the night.

Keep a 1:1 sub to top ratio, at a minimum, but you might need 2:1 subs to tops outdoors. Have you thought about transport and storage? Build cardboard mock-ups of everything you plan to have, so you will know how much space you will need.

[hilo4noff]

Good idea on the dr200's and the math.

Yeah, I've got a dedicated minivan for the hauling and It'll hold a 4x8 sheet flat on the floor with the rear door closed completely, so as long as I'm doing an inside gig, that should be enough room for just about any dj configuration. May have to recruit the wife and the car for additional outside gig requirements.

Speaking of recruiting the wife... This is a little off topic, but well worth retelling. I was considering purchasing a small pa that my wife could run for the actual ceremonies to offer as an up sell to the usual reception package. Something that would work just for the bride, groom and preacher's vocals and maybe some processional music. All mid-range and some highs, so I stopped in to the local guitar center and explained what I was looking into and he showed me this suitcase setup by fender. (the speakers clamp on the to the ends of the mixer module for easy transport). I thought that it was a neat "all in one" kind of idea... until he plugged it in that is. With the thing playing jazz from his ipod and at 80% volume...My first question was "is your ipod turned all the way up?" It was, and we carried on the conversation 3 feet in front of this running pa at full tilt without having to raise our voices! Unbelievable! This was a typical interaction I've been having trying to figure out what junk I was going to have to over pay for to get back up and running.

I know it's hard to remember the world of speaker choices before we knew about Bill's designs,but let me tell you from my experience these last 3 months...they are dismal and the prices and power requirements are just depressing.

Onto that small pa for the ceremonies... what would be a good small full range speaker design? I could probably get by with one of the smallest jacks indoors or out.

[DJPhatman]

Onto that small pa for the ceremonies... what would be a good small full range speaker design? I could probably get by with one of the smallest jacks indoors or out.

SLA Pro, all the way! Decently small, excellent coverage, relatively inexpensive to build, just no bottom end. Add a Yamaha EMX212S powered mixer, and you have an awesome portable system that only needs one power cord. I own and have used the EMX line of powered mixers, and prefer them over all other brands of powered mixer.

[jcmbowman]

+1 on the DR200s if you're going for a minivan-scale rig. I do bigger shows whenever possible, so the 250s make sense for me, but the thing I've learned is that there's a world of difference between running 1 DR a side and running 2. The DRs are line array speakers - the taller the array, the better the sound.

As far as the mini-rig, the SLA Pros are the deal for that. If you're wanting to do couple + clergy + music, you may wish to contemplate a small wireless rig as well. Putting the groom and the clergy on wireless lavalier mics and giving the bride an option of a lav or handheld (if she has an assistant to hold the mic) would be a huge selling point. Every time I see a bride and groom trying to manage a corded mic, even if it's on a stand, it just looks really awkward, and you can tell they're annoyed by the process.

[hilo4noff]

Yeah the ceremony sound and mics are a pain, but there has to be a covert option... like maybe a bouquet mic? what about a tiny one clipped on to the top binding of the bible that the preacher is holding? Or maybe someone in the balcony with one of those clear satellite dish microphones aimed at the podium. The idea is really to put together a like a dvd montage of the whole day from different videos taken and offer that maybe as a thank you for hiring me kind of surprise gift. As dvd creation has gotten easier, even I can do it now.

On the speakers you are saying run 4 of the 200's always just for the better sound?

[SeisTres]

If you have a minivan, four 23" t39's is probably all that you will ever need, indoors or outdoors. And oh yeah, don't skimp on the drivers and use the recommended ones; skip the 10". I could get my t39's standing up in my minivan and it was completely amazing how just how everything fit in there. Since you packspace is limited (compared to a trailer) the dr200 make sense.

And yes, that's what they mean, run all four of them all the time. However, it's not required but it personal preference.

As for the smaller stuff, the slapro are a neat little package, but I still prefer the jack10 since the size is really not much bigger and that extra extension it has works wonders. Although i'm perfectly fine with with anything that reaches down to 50hz (yes, even subs) the >100hz tunning of slapros/otops did not rub me at all the right way for full range stuff.

[LEVLHED]

I was going to suggest a Jack for the ceremony/music stuff because it is full range. *if* it were only going to be speaking voice stuff then yeah an SLA would suffice. But as soon as you start playing a track or something you're going to want to go lower than 100hz..

[Gauss]

Here's my T39 (23.5"), with my DR200s sitting on the folded back row.

[Dan30]

Here's my T39 (23.5"), with my DR200s sitting on the folded back row.

Hook it up. You can call it your AutoTitan.

[hilo4noff]

The van looks full... wait a minute, folded down back seat? Yank that sucker out of there. I have both rows of back seats stacked up in the garage for now, but they will finally see use in a couple of weeks as my dr builders break lounge in the garage.

[Gauss]

I shoot for efficiency, so no need to get the max space from the van. I throw a rack and cable bin on top of the Titan, slide the stands in the left side and call the sound good. I haven't needed more than I have yet The lighting and table goes in the front row. My needs are not everyone's but it has worked for a variety of situations (junior high gyms, charity car wash, and wedding receptions.)

When I pack for my friend with the JBL dual tops and dual subs, we take out the seats and fill it up. He packs a lot more, including a 24 channel mixer in a flight case. I may try standing the Titan up now that SeisTres mentioned it.

My seats are really heavy, so I hate pulling them out. Plus, I don't have any good place for them -- I only wish I had a builder's lounge, I did most of my construction at the neighbor's and other people's houses.

I have been thinking of finding a convertor to run the system from the car...

[Tom Smit]

Convertor to run the sound system? Try auto amps.

[bzb]

And you freaks were telling me to get a minivan. Sheesh. This is what I fit into my 2001 Tahoe for the gig last weekend:

2 24" T39s
4 OT12s
1 Gator slant rack
Plastic tub with 4 uplights and stands
2 Global Truss ST90, 2 speaker stands, and 8 feet of truss
1 Colorstrip in case
1 Martin EFX600
2 Martin SCX500
1 Jack 10 in the front seat
Traktor S4 in road case
Laptop bag
Bag with all the cables
A Coke and a smile

Oh, and me driving it.


Poinf is, you should make cardboard mockups of the designs and see if you can Tetris them all in. I'm really good at Tetris. High score, what's that mean? Did I break it?

[Preston]

Hi, I'm in East Peoria. Let me know if I can help. I'd be happy to let you demo a few cabs. I'll be set up at Christy's next weekend if you'd like a listen.