So I Did A Little Something New :)

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djtaso

DJ Extraordinaire
Apr 4, 2017
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www.djtaso.com
I finally got myself a new set up look! I've been in the works for this since the beginning of summer. I almost bought a Hoerboard, but by the time the customizations were done I wasn't thrilled with the price, nor the overall look and practical function of constant set up and breakdown, being able to adjust wires, etc. I found someone local looking to take this project on, as he makes custom cases and coffins and understands the practical aspect of it. We went through a number of prototypes, and did a lot of customizing since August to get it just right. The look never really changed much with one exception, but the way the wires ran, the placement of the laptop stands, the road cases that actually wheel them in and such were always making minor improvements. For those curious about the wiring, the other side of the podium is exposed with shelves and pass through holes for wiring from the coffin all the way down. The front of the booth has a magnetic white cover, so that if someone ever needs an audio feed, or a wire needs to be changed, I can pull out the front cover and slide the controller forward to reach the back. I got a lot of compliments this weekend bringing it out, and I loved the overall appearance. There are going to be certain situations where this wont be practical and I get that, but the white coffin works as a standalone unit as well and can always go back to my old school look as well.

I know I am not the first to do this, but I am one of the few, and the reason I personally chose to go this route is because of the fact that I want to bring the focus back to the djing and the art of mixing. Not to hide behind a wall where people think one just presses play and doesn't do anything creatively. I'm a dj who is constantly moving and doing something and not the type to ever kinda just stand around. My mixing incorporates a lot of the tools on the controller including the platters, frequency knobs, effect knobs, etc and it's not unusual to have people watching me and recording me with their phones as I djd. I also feel that I'm connected better with the crowd like this, and in the crowd, as opposed to hiding between a barrier. The lighting and other controls go behind me with the facade hiding those. The bride and groom thought it was really cool last night, and loved how I "always have the hottest setups".

Let me know your thoughts.

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Oh that is so cool! Another reason why you will stand out. And I agree with your reason!

Can't wait to see the 1st v log using it!

Can we get a pic of the top looking down and the other side?
 
Much better than hiding behind a facade. Taso, I am in the research stages of buying a stand like this, but with the new Phase coming out, I am going back to turntables.

Who built yours? I want :)
 
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I think it looks outrageously good - the laptops almost floating in space is just great! I'm scratching my head trying to think how you can hide the wires to them (as I'm sure you did), but I got nothing.
 
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I don’t have a lot of other pictures, as I just started using it this weekend, you can kind of see some other details from the photos below. The last photo is a sample of another one of his designs that has a little bit of a frame and a pull out “rack”. Mine doesn’t have the frame or the pull out rack but it shows you how it’s exposed, and where the wires pass through. The wires were hard to see in the photo because we used white gaffer tape to match the white of the floor.
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Much better than hiding behind a facade. Taso, I am in the research stages of buying a stand like this, but with the new Phase coming out, I am going back to turntables.

Who built yours? I want :)
Info is on the watermark of the photo I just posted above. He’s making one now for turntables.
 
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I decided I want to use our lighted facade more often in the future. Just got to get the right lights for it. Great looking setup.
 
The Luxury Mattress in front of the DJ look had actually grown on me...

....I would not like the speakers set up behind me like that.

Also, you now have a higher chance of someone coming near your booth or walking by and spilling a drink over your controller or on your laptop.

...Only happened to me twice in the past when I was not using a table topper facade, but it can happen.
 
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More pics! Always thought of making one of these myself. How do you like having the speakers set behind you?
I have a monitor that's next to me, it was placed in front of one of the trusses, and had it blocked with a white box with sandals. For the photo was not plugged in for the pic since I want the photo as clean as possible.
 
The Luxury Mattress in front of the DJ look had actually grown on me...

....I would not like the speakers set up behind me like that.

Also, you now have a higher chance of someone coming near your booth or walking by and spilling a drink over your controller or on your laptop.

...Only happened to me twice in the past when I was not using a table topper facade, but it can happen.
As mentioned I have a monitor at every event. I actually have the speakers behind me or very much in front of me quite often depending on the venue, so I always feel the need for a monitor.

As far as drinks and such go... I actually feel safer as people view me as "fragile" territory I think lol. With my facade, people had no regard of bumping into it, and even tried to rest drinks over the top and onto my road cases laptop lip... super annoying. Now, there really is no where for a drink to be placed, and its as if people purposely leave extra space between me and them. The laptops I have secured with double sided gaffer tape across the bottom so they dont slide or actually get pushed off. But again, there was no concern at any point for something like that happening. Only been 2 events with it so far, so time will tell.
 
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Tough looking setup. Your client is right, you do have one of the slickest looks going. One question, why are the truss uplights in front of the truss instead of inside?
2 reasons. First was always because I never liked the shados from the truss bars when the uplight was on the inside... not a clean look. 2nd is becuase we have electrical boxes on the bottom and top of the trusses with 4 electrical outlets prewired to save time for wiring, so you can't fit it in there either anymore.
 
Agreed - I would not like the speakers behind me either. I learned long ago that your Mic should always be behind your speakers for best performance.
Depends on the quality of the mic and the speakers. I rarely have feedback issues. In fact, my mic is always on and just resting on my console ready to be used... yet nothing get's picked up (just listen to my videos). To each their own though on the placement... I know I am not the only that has them lined up like that though (regardless of my controller being in front)... it really is a streamlined look when all the equipment is lined up like that. I'm sure in certain venues they could run streamlined with the controller, but since I was already on the dancefloor, not much further back I could go.
 
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The slide out rack is a really cool feature! I can't spare the transport space at this point to do something like this. But I like the look. And I definitely like having the mixing on display.

Well done!
 
Being so physically exposed instead of being behind your former facade would make many here (I assume) feel a bit vulnerable.

Aaahhh....but you're young and a nice looking enough chap (unlike me), so it will work for you. :pillbiggrin:
 
I tried to buy those lights from Ebay and my card was declined. I think I have to update my card and then it will go through right? Thanks Taso great lights.