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Your Dream Booth
Hey guys
I have the great fortune of having a best friend who is opening a nightclub, and I want to share a bit of the fun.
Since he knows that I spin, he left it to me to pick out the main components of the booth. Not the nitty gritty - we'll leave that to the professionals - but stuff like the CDJ's, TT's, Mixer, and anything else I'd like to pick out.
Obvious choice for TT's are 1200 MK5's, and the equally obv choice for the CDJ's are the latest 1000's.
Now about the mixer... I was thinking about a Xone 3D, V6, or S-2 but maybe a Rane MP44.
Any suggestions on the mixer or any other component?
Re: Your Dream Booth
Obviously 2 1200's, probably MK5's. M5G's are nice but aren't commonly found in club installs.
CDJ's - Of course you'll want CDJ-1000 MK3's, probably 3 of them.
Now the mixer...Xone 3D is a bad choice as nearly all of it's features can't be used by a guest DJ, and it's complicated and confusing. The V6 is way overpriced (and now discontinued), though the Xone S2 looks nice. The Rane MP-44 was a common club install a few years back, sounds decent and well, it's a Rane so it's built well and will last.
Xone 92's are also pretty common, as are DJM-800's, but I personally wouldn't want a DJM as the "house" mixer (just have it and bring it in if people request it).
For a workhorse 19" install mixer, the Rane mp2016a + xp2016 is very common (for rotary of course). It has more than enough channels to accommodate all sorts of audio routing in a club booth, and it's built like a tank and sounds fantastic. I see you are in NYC, these are installed all over the place with good reason. I have one at home
For the ultimate in sound quality, it's the Urei 1620le (also rotary). Limited feature set, so you'll need a separate isolator and VU meters, and some DJ might be intimidated by that. But it's smooth as silk and sounds amazing. Stereo in Montreal still uses one, as did Twilo in NYC. Both legendary systems.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by stevebutabi Hey guys I have the great fortune of having a best friend who is opening a nightclub, and I want to share a bit of the fun. Since he knows that I spin, he left it to me to pick out the main components of the booth. Not the nitty gritty - we'll leave that to the professionals - but stuff like the CDJ's, TT's, Mixer, and anything else I'd like to pick out. Obvious choice for TT's are 1200 MK5's, and the equally obv choice for the CDJ's are the latest 1000's. Now about the mixer... I was thinking about a Xone 3D, V6, or S-2 but maybe a Rane MP44. Any suggestions on the mixer or any other component? |
A v6 would be awesome but to be realistic most DJs would probably prefer something that isn't rotary.
That's their problem
Don't like rotary? Get the hell out of my booth bitch. lol.
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| Originally posted by Zild A v6 would be awesome but to be realistic most DJs would probably prefer something that isn't rotary. |
Re: Your Dream Booth
| quote: |
| Originally posted by stevebutabi Hey guys I have the great fortune of having a best friend who is opening a nightclub, and I want to share a bit of the fun. Since he knows that I spin, he left it to me to pick out the main components of the booth. Not the nitty gritty - we'll leave that to the professionals - but stuff like the CDJ's, TT's, Mixer, and anything else I'd like to pick out. Obvious choice for TT's are 1200 MK5's, and the equally obv choice for the CDJ's are the latest 1000's. Now about the mixer... I was thinking about a Xone 3D, V6, or S-2 but maybe a Rane MP44. Any suggestions on the mixer or any other component? |
Re: Re: Your Dream Booth
Those are nitch mixers, bad for a club install where you have guest DJ's.
Imagine walking into a club and seeing a SVM-1000 in the booth? Too confusing, too expensive, and too nitch.
Get the rane rotary and a djm-800. If a DJ doesn't like the rane, patch in the 800 to the rane and let them use that.
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| Originally posted by miamitranceman Wow, I wish I was in your shoes. I'd definitely get an 800 for familiarity-sake but...here's the dark horse...how about either an Ecler EVO or the new Pio SVM-1000 so you can expand to video easily if need be? |
What will the main music format be? If it's a mixed club that will also play hip hop, the Rane TT57 would be the perfect choice, as it has Serato built in. Most hip hop DJ's use Serato and a lot of EDM Dj's started using it too.
Rotary mixers are a really bad choice for mixed genre clubs. Specially if hip hop DJ's are playing there. They can't cut or scratch with rotaries.
The Xone 92, Pioneer DJM800, Rane TTM57, and the Rane TTM56 are pretty much the club standards. At least here in LA. Actually, the Xone 92 is usually only found on EDM clubs and it's pretty rare.
I'm thinking of the guest DJ's that will use the equipment. So honestly if it's a mixed club, I would not even consider the Xone 92. I would narrow it down to these three choices, Pioneer DJM800, Rane TTM57 w/Serato Built In, and Rane TTM56.
The beauty of the DJM800 is that it meets the EDM DJ's & Hip Hop DJ's half ways. So it's a win win situation.
I have mine personally...
Anyway.. if this is the sort of place that you intend on booking A listers or touring DJs, then you need at minimum:
3 xcdj1000s- mk2 or mk3.
3 x1210s/1200s with Ortofon DJ/Niteclub carts and styli. Mk2 or mk5s will do fine.
1 x efx 500/1000
Do not even think of deviating from the cdj/1210 choice... trust me- will cause more problems and hassle for you.
1 x DJM800 (I can stand the fucking thing- its a POS- but its on so many riders its unbelievable now...)
1 x A&H 92/62 - choose the 92 over the 62 as it has the sends etc and is better suited for wiring in monitors and stuff for music with MCS or guest PAs. If you dont plan on any of these then stick with the 62.
1 x rane rotary with the eq/cross fader expansion unit. God solid workhorse and still used lots.
The above are workhorses, commonly used and known, and proven. I would not suggest much else.
Forget your SVM-1000, Djm1000s, Ecler, V6/urei (as good as they are)...way over the top, not familiar to most Djs, and if any dj wants one they will request on their rider or bring their own.
Yes i did just say buy three mixers- or at MINIMUM the djm800 & one of the others. All your bases are covered then, and it takes 5 mins to swap one out. Plus you have a spare for when one gets beer spilt/blows a channel/fuse/whatever.
Extras-
- Some of those small black lamps you can get from Ikea. You need some light in the dj booth.
-Some vermona Dj action filter 2s/stanton Djf-1 (or intimidation have just relaunched the same filter unit again under another name).
One per CDJ and one per turntable is ideal. or you can double one up using one cdj and one TT on each and switch using the button on the front. These are also requested surprisingly often but my no means essential. Just nice!
Some Djs are such a HUGE pain in the ass nowaday with their techincal rider requests... certain mixers, certain other things wired in, effects etc and hire costs can be prohibitive.. basically hire it more than a few times and you might as well have bought it in the first place.
Oh and in case you couldnt tell...I do this for real so this is all from experience
For the sake of flexibility, I'm a firm believer that install systems should have good connectivity (good aux systems, good fx send, lots of channels) and a solid set of routing and monitoring options, rather than FX etc... if a DJ wants to use fx or any outboard gear, it should be up to them to bring it themselves but at the same time you don't want your mixer to limit what can be included. Basically, any features that can't be implemented in external equipment should be present on the mixer and any features that can be external shouldn't be there.
The DJM1000 is a common choice for this reason and tbh it's probably one of my favourite mixers to find in a club.
I'm also not sure if leaving the decision of the gear to use purely down to a DJ is the best plan... the sound engineer will know the rest of the setup (amps, compressors, etc) and certain mixers are prefered for installs for sound tech reasons, e.g. I know some clubs have installed particular Vestax mixers in the past as they're easy to limit the output from to stop DJs who love red lights and gains turned to 4 o'clock from overdriving the system.
Agree with the above, you need several (probably 2) mixer choices to meet rider requirement requests.
Definitely think about installing a patch panel between the decks and the mixer(s). Makes it so much easier to patch a different mixer in, or throw in a DJ's DVS system without moving everything around and potentially damaging the gear.
As a former club owner, Freak hit the nail on the head. I personally put a 92 in mine, but the 800 is found in so many riders now it's hard not to have to put it in in the 92's place. IMO, the 800 is shit compared to the 92 as well.
2 Pioneer CDJ 1000 Mk3's
2 Technics 1210's Mk5 G's
DJM Pioneer 800 Mixer
HDJ 1000 Pioneer Headphones
Pioneer EFX 550
Apple Mac Laptop (Macbook)- Abelton Live Sofeware & Cubase & Logic
3 Moniters.
Keyboard & Guitar
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| Originally posted by Fino1 HDJ 1000 Pioneer Headphones Apple Mac Laptop |
And there is no Pioneer EFX-550... only the 500 and the 1000. And the 500 should NOT be installed in any new installations at this point. It's 10 years old and sounds like poo compared to the 1000.
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| Originally posted by tintin11 Those are not things the club should provide... especially the laptop. |
Make sure you have unused mixer inputs and AC power outlets for people who bring in their own gear such as laptops and try to make it easy for them to do a hookup. Maybe have the spare mixer inputs on a clearly labelled extension cable in cases where the mixer inputs are not easily accessed.
It's a pain having to crawl around a dark booth hooking up stuff for half an hour, do your gig, and then crawl around again reconnecting the original club gear when you're done.
Also it's good to have some empty table space for the guest DJ's gear, so they don't need to move the regular club gear or pile their stuff on top.
Yep, that's why I suggested the patch panel. Makes everything configurable external from the gear.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tvmann Make sure you have unused mixer inputs and AC power outlets for people who bring in their own gear such as laptops and try to make it easy for them to do a hookup. Maybe have the spare mixer inputs on a clearly labelled extension cable in cases where the mixer inputs are not easily accessed. It's a pain having to crawl around a dark booth hooking up stuff for half an hour, do your gig, and then crawl around again reconnecting the original club gear when you're done. Also it's good to have some empty table space for the guest DJ's gear, so they don't need to move the regular club gear or pile their stuff on top. |
Just install 1 macbook pro and the latest version of Ableton, all the cool kids... I mean clubs... are doing it
Make sure there's room in the booth for the outstreched Jesus pose.
i think the djm800 would be perfect. the layout is perfect for any dj. and you can have a rotary kit if anyone wants rotary. it's also built like a tank. if i had a club i'd have 1000's and an 800 for sure.
i have both, so i guess i need a club...
Allen & Heath 62/92.
Pioneer is rubbish in comparison.
Thanks for the great suggestions. All noted.
There will most definitely be hip hop & top 40 dj's (the bottle service dj's *sigh*) playing there and most in NYC seem to use serato, so the mixer has to work with that.
If I had it my way I'd just get the Urei 1620le with separate isolators and levels but hey, I won't be the only guy playing there
I don't know if my buddy will be interested in buying more than 1 mixer, so since I'm not big on the 800, I may go with a Xone 92 or 62. Those can work just fine with serato right?
Yeah they work just fine with Serato. Serato works with any mixer really, though it's helpful to have lots of inputs so you can use the Serato "thru" feature (for each deck, you have one output coming from the computer, and one pass-through for playing "real" vinyl).
If they expect to have a lot of Serato DJ's, it might be worth just picking up an SSL package and leaving it connected in the booth all the time, then DJ's can just patch in their USB and be done.
I wouldn't even consider the 62 at this point, but that's just me. The 92 "fixes" all the annoyances of the 92. And the studio style faders of the 62 will piss off hip-hop DJ's.
Bottle service and top-40 hip hop... eeks. But it IS a business, and that's what's making money right now.
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| Originally posted by stevebutabi Thanks for the great suggestions. All noted. There will most definitely be hip hop & top 40 dj's (the bottle service dj's *sigh*) playing there and most in NYC seem to use serato, so the mixer has to work with that. If I had it my way I'd just get the Urei 1620le with separate isolators and levels but hey, I won't be the only guy playing there I don't know if my buddy will be interested in buying more than 1 mixer, so since I'm not big on the 800, I may go with a Xone 92 or 62. Those can work just fine with serato right? |
Re: Re: Your Dream Booth
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Ryan0751 Obviously 2 1200's, probably MK5's. M5G's are nice but aren't commonly found in club installs. |
Being that hip-hop DJs will be spinning most of the time, an Allen and Heath would not be appropriate. I was thinking that it would be mostly EDM jocks playing.
Have a look for a mixer specifically set up for scratching and cutting.
Re: Re: Re: Your Dream Booth
The Xone's are built like tanks, they don't tend to break easily.
Anything that's not common is a bad idea for a club install and you simply won't see it done.
For hip-hop, the Rane TTM-56/57 would be perfect, but you'd probably want another mixer bolted down for the mix DJ's. Like the Xone 92, or Rane 2016.
Check out clubsystemsinternational.com. It's a magazine that looks at the details of club installs and such, you'll see lots of booth photos.
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| Originally posted by the_gamemaster No way do you want MK5G's in a club. They're pretty much limited collectors editions, and people only really buy them as an investment. They're going to get hammered from being in a club, and don't have better sound quality or anything like that. Possibly look at top of the range Stantons, they have more features, but thats only choosing something different for variety's sake. I'd say probably a pioneer for the mixer for durability. Don't know how long a Xone would last though because ive never used one. Apparently they do have awesome filters though, even if they are more suited to the EDM DJ. Maybe a Korg zero4 as it's got everything in one unit, and is cheaper than the DJM800. |
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