Why add a Mixer to your Mobile DJ set-up? There are several reasons for adding a mixer to your Mobile DJ set-up. In a simple word; “Control.” Depending on what the GIG is you may be asked to provide additional audio feeds. Easy to a PA Mic, a line to another part of the venue, and always a feed to the videographer.
A DJ mixer is a type of audio mixing console used by disc jockeys (DJs) to control and manipulate multiple audio signals. Some DJs use the mixer to make seamless transitions from one song to another when they are playing records at a dance club. Hip hop DJs and turntablists use the DJ mixer to play record players like a musical instrument and create new sounds. DJs in the disco, house music, electronic dance music, and other dance-oriented genres use the mixer to make smooth transitions between different sound recordings as they are playing. The sources are typically record turntables, compact cassettes, CDJs, or DJ software on a laptop. DJ mixers allow the DJ to use headphones to preview the next song before playing it to the audience. Most low- to mid-priced DJ mixers can only accommodate A controller, two turntables, or CD players, but some mixers (such as the ones used in larger nightclubs) can accommodate up to four turntables or CD players. DJs and turntablists in hip hop music and nu-metal use DJ mixers to create beats, loops, and so-called scratching sound effects.
Source: Wikipedia
As your business grows it can expand without changing everything. You can upgrade your speakers without changing your controller. You add talkback to your system. More on that later. Adding a second DJ to the mix is a breeze. There are several brands of 8 and 12-channel mixers that are inexpensive.
Equalize The Room
Every venue, every room, and every situation is different. The more control you have over the output of your sound the more you appear like a professional. To EQ the room – Let’s say you’re playing a set in a club, and they don’t have their own DJ gear. If they have a PA system you will most likely need to have 1/4 inch or XLR cables to do so. But the venue’s speakers are of poor quality and not satisfactory – they sound tinny with very little bass. You end up DJing with your controller EQs set to compensate, right? That’s not optimal. Much better to use the EQ on a live mixer to sort this out, then you can DJ with all your controller EQs flat at 12 o’clock, using them creatively, as they were intended.
Increase the Number of Outputs
To split your controller’s output – If your controller only has one set of outputs, you can be stuck if – for instance – you want to have booth monitors too as well as the main dancefloor speakers, or you want to record your set along with other DJs, musicians, etc, or you want to run a cable off to someone else who may be live-streaming the event. A small live mixer immediately solves that as it is very likely to have at least two sets of outputs. I use a very basic 2 channel, four-deck controller with one RCA output that I connect to an external mixer. For what I do as a Mobile DJ that works fine.
Let’s say the venue you are working in has a need to connect a guitar, a piano, or another instrument. You really don’t want that line running through your controller. That’s a good way to need a new controller because you just fried yours.
Record and Live-stream
If you do a conference chances are they going to want a copy of the presentation or teaching that happens. This is a good way to increase your revenue stream without a lot of additional costs to use. You can charge anywhere from $500.00 to $1,500.00 for a basic Live-stream and the same for recording the program. To record to another computer – Assuming you go for a digital mixer (ie one with an audio interface built-in, that has a USB socket on the back to plug into a computer as well as analog outputs), you can plug directly into a computer that isn’t your DJ computer to record or to live stream. No need to own a separate audio interface – just get a live mixer with one built-in.
Add Multiple Microphones
Use it to plug in multiple microphones properly. Many DJ controllers won’t let you plug in more than one microphone input, may not have EQ, often won’t have reverb (useful when working with a singer), and definitely won’t have phantom power for
a microphone that needs it… basically, DJ controller mic inputs suck (not always, but often). A live mixer lets you plug your mics in somewhere you get that control back. When DJing you will come across many types of requests. A quest that wants to sing to a song through your system, General announcements, and PA for the host are all likely to happen. When they do you need to be ready for them. You will have different types of microphones for different tasks having a mixer you can accommodate most requests with ease.
Conclusion
An additional mixer is one of the first things to my system if didn’t already have one. It will allow for a great deal of flexibility and is an additional revenue generator if you market it correctly. This will also help you with performance reviews so you can get a feel for how your mix is doing in real-time. I know this is one more thing that adds to the complexity of the system but I feel it’s invaluable for business to grow.
Adding a mixer will also allow you to additional areas to run an audio feed to or get an audio feed from. It will increase the likelihood that you will be asked to do more GIGs because you can accommodate more complex requests.
I know this may sound a little cheezy, “Be Prepared for Everything”. People and customers at the venue will to you for solutions that arise during your GIG. The more prepared that you are the outstanding reviews and referrals you’ll be getting.