DJGold

At Last Productions · Joined: August 8th, 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Hephzibah, GA

O.K. I am looking into buying a second digital system from DJRAK. The first system I bought was a custom system (CPU) to fit into my rack I already had. The second system I want would be completely brand new. But I am not sure what to get?!?!

Here is my problem . . . . Do I get powered speakers? or a small amp and use speakers I have now? I have four yamaha club 15's so I could actually use two for the new system and two on my older system.

I am also wanting to use the new system for smaller gigs and would like it to do all the same things my bigger set up will do, like play CD's, MP3's and CD+g (karaoke CD's), mutliple wireless mics, and light controller (co-pilot III) and I want it to be light weight !!!

My current system weighs in at around +/- 300lbs. (see attached picture)

I asking for equipment suggestions and ideas? If you have a set up like that and have pictures please post them.

Thanks!

Oh and the picture is actually out of date - I have added to it since taking this picture - lol

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:39 am Post subject:

It looks like you have a serious weight problem.... just like me! :lol: :lol: :lol:

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I've split my rack into two parts.

Bottom SKB Roto Roller rack has: Amplifier, UPS and DriveRackPA.

Top SKB Mini Gig Rig Rack has: Touch-screen monitor, mixer, lighting control, keyboard, CPU and wireless microphone receiver.

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The bottom rack can be lifted if necessary and acts as a rolling base for the top rack. The bottom rack fits under a table.

The top rack sits on top of the table... but is a beast to lift. It's way too heavy for one person to carry for any distance and I'm getting quite tired of it.

____________

I see two solutions:
Lighter Rackmount configuration.
Ultra-light Laptop configuration.

Things I'm thinking about:
I currently use a QSC PLX amplifier -- about as light as you can get. My other option here is to go with powered speakers, but I can't find any truly lightweight powered speakers that aren't a pain to lift up onto speaker poles.

The touch-screen monitor is fairly heavy, and I can lighten my load by getting a lightweight mostly-plastic LCD monitor.

The 4U Computer case is fairly heavy, and I can save a little weight by going to a lighter 3U aluminum case.

I've considered going to a 1U mixer... but then I'd need a second 1U to add additional microphone inputs so I don't know if that's saving any weight -- that's probably more of just a space-saver.

The UPS is mandatory for rack-mounted computers and I don't think I can get any lighter in that department.

The only way I can get rid of the UPS is if I went with the laptop configuration which would also combine the monitor, CPU and keyboard into one portable unit. I would have to have external hard drives, audio and video cards... so while I'll save a little weight, it won't be too considerable.

Ultimately, I want to comfortably roll my rack into the venue and easily set it up without having to lift any heavy equipment. I just haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to do it yet.

SirWolfy · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject:

UPSs by their very components are very heavy items and there are no really satisfactory ways of including them and keeping a system light-weight. So I went with a three-way breakdown of the equipment, similar in the way that CJ has. Here's our current configuration:

Small 10/4 case for mixer, compressor/limiter, karoke player (until karaoke is completely moved over to the CPSs), RF Modulator and power distro.

Large 16U case with rollers for three amps, crossover, EQ, power conditioner and UPS.

Tower CPSs with LCD monitor.

Once the process of converting all of our karaoke over to the CPSs, the old player will be removed from the 10/4 along with the C/L to make room for the 3U aluminum case and a keyboard drawer in the bottom and the CFX-12 hogs up the top 10 slots. I will be adding a pair of cables to the lid to keep it at the desired angle and mounting the LCD with an adjustable wall mount under the lid.

I'm looking at having to replace a lot of speakers this year, so I am seriously considering going all active with either Mackie SRM-450s and SWA-1501s or possibly even two of the Bose PAS Double-Bass systems; to completely eliminate the tremendously heavy-aurse amp case and possibly most of the signal processing gear too. Maybe use just a small 3 or 4U box to mount the C/L, UPS and wireless mic gear...

dokai · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject:

CJ Greiner wrote: The only way I can get rid of the UPS is if I went with the laptop configuration which would also combine the monitor, CPU and keyboard into one portable unit. I would have to have external hard drives, audio and video cards... so while I'll save a little weight, it won't be too considerable.

I suspect you're underestimating the weight savings, CJ. I know that I was surprised by how much of a difference it made when I switched over to my laptops. And I was originally using a medium sized workstation, not a 4ru server, so the difference should be even greater for you. The external audio and video cards are hardly going to weigh anything, and the external case and HD only weighs slightly more than the same HD would have weighed if mounted inside a standard PC case. Also, don't forget that space savings can mean a smaller rack, and a smaller rack is going to weigh less than a similar but larger rack.

Just out of curiosity, how much is "heavy"? We all complain about how heavy everything is, but I've seen no hard numbers from anyone, myself included. I'm going to go weigh my system and post the results.

dokai · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: WANTING 2nd DIGITAL SYSTEM

OK, my "most frequently used" rack weighs 74.5 lbs, according to the "physician" scale at my local YMCA. That does not include the weight of my laptop, but does include the wall-wart for the laptop, which is hard-mounted inside the case. That weight also includes my external HD. Basically this case contains everything I need - I just connect speaker cables between the case and my speakers, connect the laptop, and I'm done.

While 74.5 lbs isn't light, it isn't THAT bad. It is about as heavy as I want to go, though. I could lighten it by moving the amp (QSC PLX-3002) to a separate case, but I'd rather just move one case.

My "big show" cases are lighter because I run multiple amps which are housed in a separate case from the rest of the gear, but then there are two cases. They're probably 50 lbs each, plus or minus a little.

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject:

My UNpowered speakers are 55 lbs each... and I think that's almost too heavy. We're supposed to be MOBILE DJs, right?

I'll go see if there's a way I can measure my top & bottom DJ racks using the bathroom scale. :lol:

Professor Jam · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:23 pm Post subject:

stardjandkaraoke,

I have two of the Odyssey cases you have - one for audio production and the other for video - I have a few other systems like my Space Jam and another that are not roll-in as that one and my monitors slide-up out of the unit and slide on tracks down into the unit for safe storage and I don't have to disconnect anything. I have three CROWN Amps, cross-over, EQ, Furman power and other components - should weigh a ton lol.

I never started using my Computerized Performance System due to wanting less-weight as so many others - I remember a DJ called Charlie Stone that many years ago created a similar system to mine and had to later sell it - he could not load it into his van - several years later he say me loading after an event and was amazed to learn I have a large extended van with a built in handicap lift - I don't have issues with weight and everything goes into the van in one load - I also strap my storage cases and speakers onto rock-n-roller carts and it all lifts and packs into the van - A breeze and no back strain...

If your speakers are in great shape use them.

I forgot to mention you should consider attending the Computer DJ Summit this October - Here are the details: http://www.computerdjsummit.com/welcome.htm

At Last Productions · Joined: August 8th, 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Hephzibah, GA

Professor Jam,

Thanks for the info on the summit. You might recognize that picture, I sent it to you when working on your book and asked for pictures of different computer based systems.

I am wanting a system that weighs less for several reasons. I want to be able to use it as a second system at places where I do the wedding and the reception and it is not the same room. My wife, who helps at all the receptions I do, would like to be able to do B-Day parties and smaller events when I have to work my full time job on week-ends. Also I do smaller wedding receptions (less than 100 people) and feel that my system now is a bit large and over kill at some of these events. So weight is not the only issue, but I do want it to do the same things!

Thanks

Phillip

Star DJ and Karaoke

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:

CJ Greiner wrote: The only way I can get rid of the UPS is if I went with the laptop configuration which would also combine the monitor, CPU and keyboard into one portable unit. I would have to have external hard drives, audio and video cards... so while I'll save a little weight, it won't be too considerable.
Please note that most external drives that are bus powered run slower than externals that run off AC. Might not be an issue for audio, but probably would be an issue for video.

jbrown157 · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: Re: WANTING 2nd DIGITAL SYSTEM

This topic is of great interest to me since I am in the process of assembling my first PC-based system. So far I have two identical IBM thinkpad laptops running PCDJ red VRM and a pair of 250 gig external hard drives. My main music library has been ripped and am now working on organizing files and fixing tags. I tested the system over the weekend and learned that I need windows XP to use a large HD without partitioning. The laptops are off-lease units and had win-2000 installed (even though they originally came with XP)... not acceptable, so I ordered XP for them.

I still need to decide on how to set up the system. I too would like to be self contained and as lightweight as possible. The system will include a power conditioner and wireless mic receiver, plus the outboard PC equipment. I'm looking at cases, controllers, mixers and sound cards, etc. Some of these items have been discussed in another thread. I'll be paying close attention to the various products at the MobileBeat show in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'd be interested in seeing pictures of other laptop based rigs that you guys are using. What works? What doesn't work? What would you do differently if you were starting over? I'm sure there are a lot of great ideas out there. Thanks in advance!

Professor Jam · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: WANTING 2nd DIGITAL SYSTEM

Quote: Thanks for the info on the summit. You might recognize that picture, I sent it to you when working on your book and asked for pictures of different computer based systems.
That was SirWolfy - he wrote the book "So You Wanna Go Digital" ---- I only wrote the forward ---- Its worth purchasing if you are building a system.

At Last Productions · Joined: August 8th, 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Hephzibah, GA

Quote: That was SirWolfy - he wrote the book "So You Wanna Go Digital" ---- I only wrote the forward ---- Its worth purchasing if you are building a system.

Oops - got confused!

This would be my second digital system. I might just look into getting the book.

Professor Jam · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: WANTING 2nd DIGITAL SYSTEM

mixing with CD's is digital -- I use a CPS (Computerized Performance System) that's what you use as well...