1ST DJ SYSTEM
How to build a mobile DJ system without breaking the bank.
So you want to become a Mobile DJ huh? If so, you've come to the right place. This guide will provide recommendations on equipment to help you build your first mobile DJ system without breaking the bank.
For the purpose of this guide, we'll keep our budget right around $3000.00 (including computer). I know DJ Barr built a beginner mobile DJ system for only $1550.00 but his system didn't include a laptop and I believe The gear I'm recommending is of higher quality and will provide more bang for your beginner DJ buck.
This is a beginner system in name only, the truth of the matter is even experienced DJs can use these recommendations to put together a portable system that rocks or perhaps you're a multi-op company that needs more than one event rig.
Our system will consist of:
A two channel DJ controller
One set of powered PA speakers
Wireless Microphone
Pair of speaker Stands
A four or six foot folding table
A five panel facade
Windows based laptop computer
RCA to XLR & 1/4 inch cables
Basic lighting & lighting software
BEGINNER DJ CONTROLLERS
Your DJ controller is the interface between you and the music! It's easy to confuse what you need in a controller with what you want in a controller. Also, keep in mind the more channels and features you have, the higher the cost. So for this build we're going to stick with two channel controllers.
Best Bang for the Buck
HERCULES INPULSE 500 BUNDLE
PROS:
Great value at $339.00
Professional quarter inch outputs
DJuced, Serato DJ Lite software, Serato DJ Pro compatible
Microphone and auxiliary inputs
CONS:
Short pitch faders
Great value and good performer
NUMARK MIXTRACK FX
PROS:
Good value at $279.00.
Serato DJ Lite software
Microphone input
Compact & portable
FX paddles
Long pitch faders
CONS:
RCA outputs only
No auxiliary inputs
A Solid Beginner DJ controller
PIONEER DJ SB3
PROS:
Good value at $249.00.
Serato DJ Lite software
Microphone input
Built in scratch effects
CONS:
RCA only outputs
Short pitch faders
No auxiliary inputs
A great performer
MIXARS PRIMO
PROS:
Microphone input
XLR outputs
Auxiliary input
CONS:
Price
No software provided
No auxiliary inputs
POWERED SPEAKERS
NOTHING has a bigger impact on the quality of product you provide than your speakers. In my humble opinion, this is where the lion share of your system budget should go.
Lots of things to consider when selecting the brand and size of your speakers such as:
Average room/venue size of your events
Number of people who usually attend
Music genre you usually play
Your ability to load/lift speakers
There are way too brands for me to cover all of them. However, here are a few recommendations to get you started.
NOTE: The 4th recommended type of speaker is a budget buster. However, I wanted to list them due to their popularity within the mobile DJ community.
Best bang for the buck
ELECTRO-VOICE ZLX 15P
PROS:
Fantastic value
Combination jack inputs
Integrated DSP
Great sound quality
CONS:
No external cooling
Great Performers
QSC CP12
PROS:
Fantastic value at $424.00 each
1000 watt class D amp
Light & Compact
Combination jack inputs
1/8th inch auxiliary input
Preset sound modes
CONS:
No DSP
Superior sound qaulity
RCF HD12 MK4
PROS:
Good value at $499.00 each
Unbalanced XLR inputs
Superior sound quality
CONS:
No DSP or processing
No auxiliary inputs
No Combo jack inputs
The hot speaker trend
HK AUDIO POLAR 10
PROS:
Portability
Combination Jack inputs
Integrated DSP
Price
CONS:
Can produce muddy mid bass
The hot speaker trend
ELECTRO-VOICE EVOLVE 50
PROS:
Portability
Combination Jack inputs
Integrated DSP
CONS:
Price
Weight (sort of heavy)
Can produce muddy mid bass
MICROPHONES
Microphones are another highly debated subject within the DJ community. Do you need an expensive Sennheiser or Shure microphone? Or can you get by with a more budget friendly offering? Do you even need a wireless mic? Or will a corded microphone work?
The answer to all of these questions is yes! You can get away with using a simple corded mic but In my experience customers prefer using cordless mics for their toasts and speeches. My advice is use whats available until you can upgrade.
Of course what you spend depends on your budget. I've heard cheap microphones as well as expensive microphones produce feedback. My suggestion is to look for a cardioid microphone as opposed to an omni directional mic.
Great Value
INNOWPOW WIRELESS MICROPHONE
PROS:
Price
Cardioid design
Metal body
A Solid Performer
SHURE BLX24
PROS:
Cardioid design
Sound quality
CONS:
Price
Plastic body
A Top Performer
SENNHEISER XSW
PROS:
Sound quality
CONS:
Semi expensive
Plastic body
Industry Standard
SHURE SM58-LC
PROS:
Sound quality
Durable
Metal body
Price
CONS:
Wired
LAPTOP
A laptop will more than likely be the 2nd most expensive equipment buy for your system. In order to keep cost down, we will need to compromise just a bit. In my humble opinion, I'll compromise on hard drive size because computer storage is ultra cheap, and you can bolster your music storage capacity by simply storing some of your MP3's on a 256GB memory stick, or even purchase 500GB SSD external hard drive.
A Note about AMD processors: I personally will not recommend any computer with a AMD CPU. This is based off of owning an AMD computer that wouldn't run Serato or Rekord Box Dj softwares. I'm not saying AMD processors won't work for you, but I won't use them and I only recommend items I have or would use.
Solid Performer
LENOVO IDEAPAD 3
PROS:
SSD hard drive
12GB of RAM
Intel i5 Processor
CONS:
Hard drive size
Great Value
14" HP LAPTOP, 10TH GEN INTEL CORE
PROS:
Price
SSD hard drive
12GB of RAM
Intel i5 Processor
CONS:
Hard drive size
Great Value
DELL LATITUDE E7480
PROS:
Price
SSD hard drive
12GB of RAM
Intel i5 Processor
CONS:
Small hard drive
SIX FOOT TABLE AND FACADE
For the majority of mobile events, you'll provide audio/visual entertainment (to include MC services) and dance floor lighting. This simply means YOU ARE NOT THE FOCAL POINT OF THE EVENT. It's easy to go overboard on set up and presentation but you only need to present your set up in a manor that is clean, neat and organized.
No quicker or cheaper way to do that than by using a table (recommend six footer) and a simple DJ facade. Some times a facade isn't needed, but I prefer to use them.
Quick and easy
SIX FOOT FOLDING TABLE
PROS:
Portability
Light weight
Price
Quick and easy
ROCKVILLE SPEAKER TRIPODS
PROS:
Portability
Light weight
Price
Recommended for four foot tables
FOUR PANEL DJ FACADE
PROS:
Portability
Light weight
Price
IMPORTANT CABLES & CONNECTORS
Now that you have all of this fancy DJ equipment, you'll need the right connectors and cables to ensure you get music from your computer/controller to your speakers.
Matter of fact, I'll recommend some connectors & cables needed to provide mobile DJ services in general.
XLR CABLES
Excellent value
I've been using these XLR cables for six years without any failures.
USB to Printer Cable
USB - A TO USB - B CABLE
Used to connect your controller to your Laptop. It's a good idea to have two or three of these cables.
QUARTER INCH CABLES
Not a bad idea to have a couple of these in your cable bag
XLR ADAPTORS
XLR Male to RCA Female
A must have if your controller only has RCA outputs.
XLR ADAPTOR CABLE
XLR Male to RCA Male
An alternative to XLR adaptors
XLR TO 1/4TH ADAPTERS
Female Adapters
Great for turning XLRs into microphone cords.
RCA TO 3.5MM CABLE
Must have to connect tablets and phones to your controller or mixer.
3.5MM CABLE
Must have for connecting phones and tablets
BASIC DANCE FLOOR LIGHTING & UP-LIGHTING
For this build lets keep things towards the cheaper side. For that I'll recommend a simple four par light bar (with stand) and four basic battery powered par par lights to up light our facade or perhaps a head table.
For lighting control I highly recommend SoundSwitch. SoundSwitch is a program that works in conjunction with Serato DJ software to generate automatic light shows.
DANCE FLOOR LIGHTING
An affordable lighting option
BATTERY POWERED PAR LIGHTS
Affordable Up-Llighting
DMX CABLES
Used to link lighting fixtures
TOTAL SYSTEM COST: $2687.00
So there ya have it! a powerful and reliable mobile DJ system with lighting for less than $3000.00. The system consists of:
Hercules Inpulse 500 bundle - $339.00
Electro-Voice ZLX 15P - $898.00
innopow Microphone - $135.00
Dell Latitude E7480 Laptop - $519.00
Rockville speaker stands - $50.00
Six foot table - $53.00
Rockville facade - $149.00
XLR cables - $30.00
USB A to USB B cable - $9.00
1/4 Inch cables - $19.00
XLR to 1/4th adapters - $10.00
RCA to 3.5mm cable - $6.00
3.5mm cable - $16.99
DragonX 4 Bar lights - $239.00
Laluznatz par lights - $200.00
DMX cables - $15.00
