My new gear, PA, Lighting, and other bits

Right on guys, please give any input you can once you get a chance to check out the Reloop…. I have pre-ordered the Terminal Mix 8, and some of the reasons include, the RGB pads and similar layout to my Mixtrack Pro 2, long pitch faders, large jogs that will hopefully be as good or better for scratching, or should I say learning to scratch…, 4 ch. mixer section, and being powered, not USB powered. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. So far I’m loving the lights and speakers, they will be a great start for me to add to over the next couple years. Just about ready to start actively seeking gigs, hope to have some pics of my setup and lighting soon. Stoked, thanks to all who make DDJT so great!
Now to learn to use this Maschine Mikro and 2.0 software,… not nearly as simple as hooking up the PA system…LOL
Keep shining folks…. Moonshadow

nice review, DDJT and Kareem from DJBooth.net both popped up when I got online, nicely done, both of them. They helped to clear up a few things, and I’m glad I’m waiting with one on Pre-order. I have one question Terry, for you guys… is there any chance you can confirm just how the aux input works, it appears to have a master/SW switch for the mic and aux, does that mean you can route the mic and aux through the Software, and possibly add a reverb to the mic, or use the Aux for a single CD/vinyl deck, and use timecode? Looks to be a perfect step up from the Mixtrack Pro 2…. for anyone who hasn’t seen it, this is great inspiration for any MTP2 users out there… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSPM1HfK114, his latest video is on a Reloop Beatpad. The reloop won out for a lot of reasons, the jogs and ability to backspin, long pitch faders, 4ch mixer section, non USB powered, RGB pads, set up well to fully use Serato DJ, similar layout to MTP2, …. the only downside was the wait…LOL I’ll be hoping someone can clarify how the aux does work…. keep shining folks! Moonshadow

Terry, Chuck, or any other Moderator, please let me know if the title of this thread can be changed…. or if I need to make a new thread…. If you can change it, please make it “My new gear, PA, Lighting, and other bits”. Thanks so much for all your help. Had to jump online again and take a break from the Maschine documentation, it’s been a while since I’ve done this much reading…LOL Almost 1000 pages in all, but over 200 just in the Hardware Control Reference and Quick Start info…. 700 pages of “Manual”… I am giving myself until Friday to play with this new gear, then it’s getting packed up for gigs and the Maschine will be a 1 session a week thing for a while. Trying to not let it take too much away from DJ and Scratch practice. Have a good day today folks, shine brightly…………. Moonshadow

Well, the gigs on Friday and Saturday both went well. I am still in love with the new PA and lighting equipment, all of which got many compliments. I have picked up some filing supplies to help me keep track of things, and a day planner book, as well as some nice report covers to use for my sales/marketing materials when I meet with clients. I am now working on a page on facebook as well as a simple website. Soon I hope to have some basic paperwork done up, invoices, bidsheets, contracts, pricing info, and photo examples. If anyone can give me input on such things that would be lovely. You can check out my facebook page at facebook.com/BehewahBeats or my website at benewahbeats.vpweb.com …. this is all in it’s infancy, and is certainly a work in progress, but at least I have some of my own photos now and not just stock photos from vistaprint…. 🙂 Hit me up if you have any input folks!
As far as the lighting goes, I have yet to use the Obey 3 other than initially hooking it up to a light when they first came in. In practice, I have been using a pair of the SlimPar 56 lights behind me when I play, the gig on Friday I put one up on the bar/counter, on full white, to help people see with the main lighting turned down. Another was placed on the snack/food table so people could see the cupcakes…LOL I have picked up a 25 foot DMX cable so I’ll be able to put 2 on the floor behind me as uplighting and put the other 2 up on the light stand, but I need a couple more o-clamps as I like them more than using the bolt through the t-bar method. I am using a pair of Mini Kinta lights(master/slave), a 4Play CL, 4x SlimPar 56 lights, and a Hurricane 901 fog machine. This seems to be a great starter setup. I hope to add to this over the next couple years, but for now it is great! I want to add things like Mega Strobe FX12(pair), more uplighting/wash fixtures, a pair of 4Bar Flex lights, a second 4Play CL, Gobo Zoom 2.0, and maybe some spotlights of some sort, eventually I’ll add a couple of moving head or scanner type lights, and a Motion Drape/Façade set.
I think that this setup would help me bring a show unlike much or all of the competition in this area, thus helping me secure a good share of the market. The market here is small, so I feel that being able to stand out compared to the competition is important. So far, I’m more than pleased with my “starter” setup and I think it’s put me well on my way to achieving this goal. The PA system I’ve started with, just plain EPIC! I love the ZLX speakers and plan to get at least one more ZLX12p, for fill, monitor, and backup purposes. The sub I’m using is the ZXA1 sub, it is small and portable, but packs some punch. I am looking into possibly adding more 12″ tops, as well as 15″ subs. Love the looks of the new EV line, but they’re not at all cheap. Also looking into others like the Cerwin-Vega P-Series, and similar speakers. I’d love it if there were more options for 15″ subs. Thinking that EV should do a 15″ ZLX series sub, it would really round out the lineup and I’d be able to stick to only EV speakers. For now I’m going to put the speakers I have to work and make them earn their keep. My first PA additions will be the third ZLX12p, and likely a second ZXA1 Sub.
My goal is to make enough to pay for the first wave of equipment by the end of this year, and then to be mostly done with equipment purchases by the end of year 2-3, at that point I will hope to see some real “income” from this venture, but for now I’m investing most of what I take in, back into the business. For instance, I picked up a new Dell laptop Monday, along with my “office” supplies, and it was all paid for by the 2 gigs I did over the weekend, with enough to spare for dinner. The Dell isn’t super fancy, it’s windows 8, intel i3 I think, 4GB of ram(anyone know if it’s easy to add ram?), and a 500GB HDD… I have a 1TB backup drive, and hope to get a second to put in the closet, as a backup-backup. I am not yet using the new Dell, will likely start setting up Maschine on it soon, and when my new controller gets here I’ll put Serato DJ on it as well. Oh, I picked up a Mikro Mk2 for making remixes, mashups, and eventually, original music. Also, have the Reloop TM8 on pre-order. Well, there’s my book of a post, thanks to anyone who took the time to read it, and especially to anyone who takes the time to give input of check out my website and FB page. Off to the coffee pot for cup #2, and then it’s time to wake up the kiddo to get ready to catch the bus. Keep shining folks, and thanks for making DDJT so great! Moonshadow facebook.com/BenewahBeats