Last week, DJTT article got error-published (as it is gone now) which gave me a idea about creating our own bag-content series. Therefore, I made an open group on Flickr and I invite you all in order to expand knowledge.
The idea behind sharing-bag-content is to see what other DJs bring along (to gigs) in order to prevent show-stopping situations like cable breakage, weird mixer outputs, not enough power outlets, etc.
Flickr is a fine tool for this task because it allows tagging portions of image and anotating, thus allowing a fine-grained description of every picture element.
Hope yo’all get the idea and join, as I’d really like to share and discuss what is in your party pack.
For a digital gig:
HP Pavilion Laptop
American power supply and adaptor
Audio2 DJ
VCI-100 Controller
Sennheiser HD-25 Headphones
Plug extension lead
Power surge protector
10 metre RCA extension lead
2x2 metre Headphone to RCA (audio 2 output - 1 is a spare)
2x2 female to female RCA adaptors (for joining leads)
2x2 big to small RCA adaptors (in case the PA takes these)
2xXLR to small RCA adaptors (in case the PA takes these)
Gorilla pod light (it gets dark)
a loop hum isolator
a few mix CDs to give out
some flyers
a marker pen (writing down the name of tunes for people)
a couple of small screwdrivers (1 that can open the VCI, one to adjust the platter sensitivity)
gaffer tape
To play timecode:
As above except an audio8 instead of audio2, multicore cables, an extra hum isolator, spare carts for decks, vinyl brush, 45 adaptors. The VCI stays because I might mix on it.
Just got back from a trip to Japan and a few small club gigs which tested the portability - I need to get a better bag. Fit everything into my messenger bag but it was too heavy for one shoulder. I will post a list too :
13" MBP + Power Adaptor (although I left one behind in a club - thank christ for Mac stores, but still ¥7800?!?!?!)
320gb USB HDD + USB cable with RF chokes
Novation nio2|4 + USB cable with RF chokes
2 x 3m stereo RCA Cables
Generic cans (with awesome sound isolation)
I just jack into the house mixer. On occasions I didn’t even unpack my cables; just unpatched the CD deck end and repatched into nio.
2 laptops (black 13" macbook, IBM T61p)
2 laptop stands
laptop cooling pad (the IBM gets pretty hot)
2 ground lifts
backup timecode vinyls
timecode CDs
a couple or regular vinyls
sennheiser hd25 (+ backup cans)
korg kp3, korg kp2
pioneer efx-1000
korg nanopad black
akai lpd8
2 vestax pdx3000s
ecler evo5
rme fireface400
APC80
maschine
virus TI
2 FW cards, FW cables, USB cables (+ backups)
USB memory stick with the most important software & driver backups
a crapload of audio cables, adapters and power adapters
(too many to list, but I’m ready for almost any kind of situation)
surge-proof power strip
gaffa tape
LED pocket light
small towel
I hardly ever need my backups, but it’s good to be prepared.
Hah, a truckload of equipment.
I like the towel, you should always know where your towel is (Hitchiker’s). @fltech: numpad, well, it serves as extra keyboard keys, I’m no too impressed with buttons (too small and flimsy) but it does the job (controlling the extra deck).
What I gather so far anyone should have:
USB A-B with rf choke
trackball mouse is better than regular (desk-space-wise)
power extender/twoway with earth lifted (I sport both for portablity)
hum isolators aka. ground loop isolator,
altough quality ones can be quite bulky and heavy, I wonder how do the cheaper (thus lighter and smaller) versions perform
female to female RCA adaptors (for extending cables)
at least 2 extra RCA-RCA cables
lamp (my SonyErricsson W810i outperforms many flashlights)
some sticky tape of whatever-kind. Also some wire ties.
What I pack and is not clearly shown on the picture (I think about creating another one):
DIY multicore, 8 lines RCA-RCA with RCA-1/4"TS converters on one end
2xfirewire 6-4pin cable for PreSonus Firebox
reusable cable ties/wraps
screwdriver pair, scalpel knife
connector male 1/8"TRS to two female 1/8" TRS
cable male 1/8"TRS-1/8"TRS
patch UTP cat5.e
bluetooth & wifi dongle (pre-post gig gear)
2xUSB A-Bmini (for LPD8 and other gadgets)
6x 1/4"TS - RCA (usually for those cayze XONE mixers)
extra 1/4"TRS - 1/8"TRS
for extending presonus from 6 to 8 outputs (via headphone out) or connecting some weirdness to some other weirdness
small laptop mouse
converter 1/4" TRS to 2xRCA
senheisser earbuds (for extra debugging)
That should connect anything to pretty much anything (when I finish xlr converters).
