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Working as a mobile disk jockey (DJ) brings with it a number of challenges that a resident club DJ doesn’t have.One of the main issues is the need to carry all of that essential DJ equipment to each and every gig, wherever it is.

I’ve worked as a DJ onboard cruise liners, in a hospital, on the radio and in various clubs but these days I make my money as a mobile DJ. Each week I meet new people with diverse musical tastes in some fantastic locations. I’ve played gigs in stately homes, tents, gardens, onboard ships and yachts and even on a private jet flying to America. It’s the variety that I love about this work, but lets get back to those challenges.

One of the biggest problems that us mobile DJs must overcome is the need to carry all of our equipment to every gig. The club DJ only has to turn up with his selection of records and CDs whereas I need a medium sized van to carry all of my DJ gear.

These days I’m lucky enough to have a fantastic assistant who helps setup and break down my sound and lighting rig at each gig. But back in the old days, before I was commanding a decent fee, I had to do it all myself. The key to selecting equipment for mobile use is compactness. It should ideally be small and as light as possible.

The DJ speakers that I use are the powered variety. This means no need to carry power amplifiers and much simpler system setup. These mean fewer cables to worry about and less that can potentially go wrong. For the past two years I’ve been using an excellent pair of active JBL PA speakers and they have proved to be a fantastic choice.

Another key consideration is lighting. Club DJs rarely need to concern themselves with club lighting systems as these are generally already in place and often have their own dedicated operators. Working as a mobile DJ means we’ve got to do it all ourselves. But luckily these days there are some compact DJ lights that use LEDs making them relatively lightweight, low power and cool.

But I think the most important piece of DJ gear is the music. This isn’t equipment you say, and you’re right. But I’m actually referring to the medium which can be vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and these days MP3 files. This all means that I need some turntables, a CD player, a DVD player and something to play MP3 files. I tend to stick to just one CD player, a pair of Technics decks and my laptop computer. I route all of these through my excellent DJ mixer and I’m just about ready for any requests, from Mantovani to the Wombles.

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Whether you are a preacher or a pop star, having the right sound system makes all the difference. A lot of people assume that the content is what matters most, but when you are dealing with large groups of people, this is not really the case. You have to be preaching the right words or playing the right chords, of course, but if you really want your audience to respond to your performance, you need to have more than that. You need them to be able to hear every word loud and clear. You need a pa system that give s you the most power, clarity, and depth possible on your budget. You need to be able to hear yourself, as well as having other people hear you. In short, having great sound is key for any performer.

A lot of people think that simpler sound systems are better, particularly if you do not have the budget to hire an av technician. This is not always the case, however. Straightforward PA systems are good for parties in your friends basement, but by investing a little bit of money in a multi-speaker surround sound system, you can really take things to the next level. This is especially true if you are going to have multiple musicians playing at the same time. With a big band, sound monitors are almost a necessity. Without them, no one will hear any one else playing, and the sound will be muddled and unclear.

Of course, bigger is not always better with your sound system. Sometimes, a single small tube amp speaker will cut it better than a big PA. If you are playing dirty, crunchy rock with a 3 piece band, this can be the best choice. There are times when high fidelity is not where it’s at . For times like that, a small sound system will take you where you want to be. You do not need a lot of power, or a lot of clarity  just a peddle, a mic, and some screaming tubes!

So depending on the event and location, one must choose the proper PA system. In churches, the sound must be delivered in a less trebly tone and everything to be in striking a perfect balance. So don’t commit the mistake just by settling for any kind of sound system there is without analyzing what the needs of the event are.

Article by Chris Bradley, you can learn more about him at his profile

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We all want that great surround sound that you get when you go to the movies. How do you get great quality sound from a home theater audio system? There are so many options available when it comes to choosing your home theater audio system, that it would be impossible to not get the movie theater experience at home.

How Many Speakers Should You Use?

The number of speakers you use in your home theater system, is entirely dependent upon how large of a room your theater occupies. A smaller room will require far fewer speakers, and a larger home theater audio system will need many more. To safely gauge how many speakers you will need, divide the number of square feet in your theater by ten. That should give you an accurate estimate of how many speakers to use in your home theater audio system.

If you have a moderate sized theater, six speakers should be more than enough. Be sure that you have: a center speaker, which will provide the “in front” of you sound for when people onscreen are talking; two front, side speakers and two rear, side speakers, which provide the surround sound effect; and a good subwoofer. I prefer a subwoofer with a dial control so that I can manage my home theater audio system with greater ease.

How Much Should You Spend

When purchasing the speakers for your home theater audio system, you will find that there are high quality speakers available in every price range. A good rule of thumb, is to spend no more than one third of your total home theater audio system budget on speakers.

Speaker Placement, Layout And Function

Remember that there is a defined layout pattern when you set up the speakers for your home theater audio system. Understanding what each type of speaker does, and placing it appropriately is essential to getting the best sound out of your home theater audio system. A speaker put in the wrong place could cause audio feedback or even interfere with your picture quality.

Your center channel speaker should always be placed directly above your theater screen. This allows for more realistic sound when listening to people on the screen talking. Be sure, if you haven’t already, that your center channel speaker is video shielded. Most are, but it is always a good idea to check to make certain.

To get the best quality sound out of your home theater system subwoofer, you can either place a wicker basket over it, or face it toward a wall. Facing your subwoofer toward a wall turns the entire wall to a giant subwoofer.

No matter what your budget is, if you shop around for the best deals, you can get a great home theater audio system that will carry you and your family away!

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