stlstudent
I’ll just go ahead and say forgive me, I am new to DJ forums and I am new to mobile DJ’ing in general. I am a school teacher by profession but was asked if I could DJ a school dance (100 kids) to help save the district some money as well as make money for a school club I sponsor (I was using school’s equipment so money went back to my club).
Since that first dance, I really enjoyed it and was ‘hired’ for the other 2 school dances and since then I have done a sweet 16 party and 2 wedding receptions. I have spent hours reading and trying to figure out as much as I can about mobile DJ’ing and even invested in some of my own equipment so I did not always have to rely on the schools.
I recently did an outside reception and I was very displeased with my sound (especially the bass). I know there are SO many factors involved and if I had time I’d love to take a course in sound engineering but for now I was hoping to count on those that have been doing this for a bit. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to give you my exact setup with all the details and then see if you can offer any constructive advice going forward.
*Was running all power off two outlets inside a nearby house. One was a standard 30’ extension cord with a 3 plug adapter on the end. (powered my two subs). The second was a run of romex heavy duty cable with a power strip on end that ran all other electronics.
* For my 2 satellites I had two JBL EON 615’s. (I also have two JBL EON 515’s on standby). I ran two subs which were the EON 518s and the JBL PRX718XLF.
* HP laptop running the MusicBee program connected to a Yamaha MG10XU via USB cable
* L/R ¼” plugs running out of mixer into the EON 518 via XLR, then out via XLR into the PRX718XLF inputs (daisy chained). XLR out from PRX718XLF to the two satellites inputs. Subs were set approximately 2 feet from one another and then satellites on stands about 10 ft out from the subs. On the first sub, EON 518s, the THRU was selected to send full signal to second sub and then the HI PASS was selected on the PRX718XLF to send to satellites
* setting was an outdoor receptions with a trailer house approx 20 feet behind me and a full size house 300 yds in front of me. About 6 large trees scattered around and vehicles parked to my left
Satellites seemed to have good coverage and clarity but seemed a bit lacking on power compared to indoors. The bass is what really hurt. It sounded ok during my quick sound check but once the reception started they seemed very weak. It would give bass but did not sound ‘clean’ and punchy but instead almost like a rattling or pop. The PRX718XLF definitely outdid the EON 518s bu it seemed like the EON was barely hitting at all. I would turn the gain up and the limit lights would flicker on hard bass but never consistently stayed on. I know it’s not exactly comparable but I can feel the base of a car in a parking lot 300 yds away from my house better than I did these two 18’s.
I apologize this is so long, but I would love some insight and suggestions for future use. Thanks everyone!
Nick
Since that first dance, I really enjoyed it and was ‘hired’ for the other 2 school dances and since then I have done a sweet 16 party and 2 wedding receptions. I have spent hours reading and trying to figure out as much as I can about mobile DJ’ing and even invested in some of my own equipment so I did not always have to rely on the schools.
I recently did an outside reception and I was very displeased with my sound (especially the bass). I know there are SO many factors involved and if I had time I’d love to take a course in sound engineering but for now I was hoping to count on those that have been doing this for a bit. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to give you my exact setup with all the details and then see if you can offer any constructive advice going forward.
*Was running all power off two outlets inside a nearby house. One was a standard 30’ extension cord with a 3 plug adapter on the end. (powered my two subs). The second was a run of romex heavy duty cable with a power strip on end that ran all other electronics.
* For my 2 satellites I had two JBL EON 615’s. (I also have two JBL EON 515’s on standby). I ran two subs which were the EON 518s and the JBL PRX718XLF.
* HP laptop running the MusicBee program connected to a Yamaha MG10XU via USB cable
* L/R ¼” plugs running out of mixer into the EON 518 via XLR, then out via XLR into the PRX718XLF inputs (daisy chained). XLR out from PRX718XLF to the two satellites inputs. Subs were set approximately 2 feet from one another and then satellites on stands about 10 ft out from the subs. On the first sub, EON 518s, the THRU was selected to send full signal to second sub and then the HI PASS was selected on the PRX718XLF to send to satellites
* setting was an outdoor receptions with a trailer house approx 20 feet behind me and a full size house 300 yds in front of me. About 6 large trees scattered around and vehicles parked to my left
Satellites seemed to have good coverage and clarity but seemed a bit lacking on power compared to indoors. The bass is what really hurt. It sounded ok during my quick sound check but once the reception started they seemed very weak. It would give bass but did not sound ‘clean’ and punchy but instead almost like a rattling or pop. The PRX718XLF definitely outdid the EON 518s bu it seemed like the EON was barely hitting at all. I would turn the gain up and the limit lights would flicker on hard bass but never consistently stayed on. I know it’s not exactly comparable but I can feel the base of a car in a parking lot 300 yds away from my house better than I did these two 18’s.
I apologize this is so long, but I would love some insight and suggestions for future use. Thanks everyone!
Nick
Posted Sun 15 May 16 @ 10:52 pm
wickedmix
you usually need twice as much outdoors compared to indoors .... there is not much to reflect the sound.
also putting speakers on poles above the crowd helps for the highs and mids.
your best bet when doing outdoors is to visit a local shop and get there advice on what to rent to cover the event ... if from what they say it sounds like you have enough try with what you have if not i would try out there suggestion and see how that goes.
also putting speakers on poles above the crowd helps for the highs and mids.
your best bet when doing outdoors is to visit a local shop and get there advice on what to rent to cover the event ... if from what they say it sounds like you have enough try with what you have if not i would try out there suggestion and see how that goes.
Posted Mon 16 May 16 @ 12:40 am
Djratedxxx919
what was your mixer setting?
Posted Mon 16 May 16 @ 3:07 am
stlstudent
Unfortunately I do not have a local shop, we are very rural but I will check around in the surrounding cities to see if there is anything, thanks.
As far as my mixer, I was only using one IN which was on channel 9/10 which is my USB line. I had that volume set at 3/4 and the main volume would vary from just past half to 3/4. I would never get to the red on my mixer but would just touch the yellow. I had the high just past half as well as the low on that channel as well
As far as my mixer, I was only using one IN which was on channel 9/10 which is my USB line. I had that volume set at 3/4 and the main volume would vary from just past half to 3/4. I would never get to the red on my mixer but would just touch the yellow. I had the high just past half as well as the low on that channel as well
Posted Mon 16 May 16 @ 11:52 am