How Many Cables ?

[HeadlineDJ]

I thought this might be an interesteing topic to start, so here goes:


How Many Cables/Connections do you use to Fully setup your Audio.

Do not include lights or any Audio linkup's to lighting controllers.. Just stick with Playback, Mixing, Amps, Speakers, Mic's, Headphones, etc...

So if you had to set up without any lights or effects, What is your routine?

[HeadlineDJ]

I'll kick it off...



I use an all in one DJ Box so use minimal Connections for most of my Audio.


1) Set Box on Table and Plug Mains into Box.
2) connect the Main Mixer out on Box to my Amp Rack
3) Screw Keyboard into locking socket
4) Plug Mouse into Rear of Keyboard
5) Plug Headphones into Box
6) Plug Mic into Box
7) Plug Mains into Radio Mic Power Pack
8) Connect Right Speaker lead to Amp Rack and to Right Speaker
9) Connect Left Speaker Lead to Amp Rack and to Left Speaker
10) connect back-up player in amp rack to Box input
11) Plug Mains into Amp Rack


Audio is now Fully Set up.

The amp Rack is internally wored with Compressor Limiter, and the Box is internally setup with PC, TFT, Mixer, DMC-1.

Speakers use 4-pole Speakons each end.
Keyboard uses a 4-pin screw locking plug to stop unwanted disconnections.

All Cables on Box and Amp rack fit to front, so no unsightly cables on view towards client side.

In the near future when I build my New amp rack, I aim to use a hybrid connection between the box and rack so I can use ONE connection to link most items up and have the radio mic fitted into amp rack.

[Scott McKinney]

Computer system on table and plug in Power and run Left and Right XLR outputs from Mixer to 2 powered speakers.
All Done.

[HeadlineDJ]

So you have 5 steps plus headphones and mic?

Do you use a radio mic or corded mic?

I am trying to establish the exact number of steps required to be up an running with sound.

So you would use the following:

1) Set PC DJ System on table and plug in Power.
2) connect Left XLR from output to speaker.
3) Connect right XLR from output to soeaker.
4) connect Power to Left Speaker.
5) connect Power to Left Speaker.

Then I assume you wold use the following in additoin.

6) plug headphones into PC DJ system.
7) plug Mic into PC DJ System. (optional if not contained within system)


What about your keyboard and mouse are these self contained also?

It's rather surprising the actual individual steps we take when setting up a show.. The lights alone are incredible when you calcualte every connection and bolt you tighten..

[Scott McKinney]

I'll see about getting a recent picture to post. Mike and headphones are already set-up in the system. When I open the lid, there they are. Mike is wireless. And I suppose, plugging in power could be 3 steps as I have to plug in each powered speaker and the console. No keyboard or mouse to hook up as I run Notebooks with touch-pads.

[Musical Madness]

My system is much like scott's!

I set the sytem on the amp rack stack,
Then

1. PLug unit into top amp rack that contains UPS.
2. Plug the amp rack with UPS into wall
3. Plug speakers into power,
4, plug speakers into amp
Ready to roll!

Mouse, Keyboard, XKeys controller, and wireless remote are all pre wired into my system, as are 2 wireless mic headset systems and my headset that never gets unplugged.

My extended setup is to plug the outputs from my backup system mixer into the main mixer so I have 2 complete computer systems up and running.

[HeadlineDJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>1. PLug unit into top amp rack that contains UPS.[/b][/quote]

Jeff, can you provide more detail on the above step..?

As per step 1, what does that exactly involve, is it just one cable, one plug or is it a couple of cables..


What I am after is the EXACT number of steps required to setup, so if you use powered speakers then you have at least 2 steps per speaker, Audio in and Power.

So using powered Speakers would have a minimum of 4 steps.

The purpose of this thread is to try to determing if we are all using the absolute minimum steps to setup... I'm sure some of us will be ables to reduce our setup time by utilizing others ideas....

Sometimes the obvious stares us in the face and yet it takes seeing or hearing someone else do the same thing to make us notice that we can actually save time and the number of cables etc...

I keep my DJ Box seperate form my Amp an dProcessing rack so that My DJ Box can Fly as normal Baggage or I can take it onto clubs and use their internal systems.

However for mobiel use I would benefit more from an all in one system, inculding amps etc..

My DJ Box weighs under 28Kg.. Thats fully flight cased and ready to fly.

[Musical Madness]

The power strip from my PC cabinet, plugs into an outlet built into the side of my amp rack directly underneathe the computer cabinet, and this outlet plugs into this APC UPS

The UPS is plugged into another power strip mounted to the side of the Rack case, and then has a Flush Mount AC Inlet mounted to the side of the case as well. I take a electrical drop from here to the wall.

As for my powered speakers, the cables are cable tied together, and of the same length, and my entire show is configured to connect thru one power drop. Both connections are right there, and can only be plugged in one way. I consider this one "Drop" per speaker, one drop for power.

Technically, I would also run extentions from the power distribution block to the mixer for speaker connection.

Anyway, in the door, it takes me all of 5 minutes to setup sound and begin to play.

[mp3jrick]

My current set up is an Odyssey 10ux2u and has a power strip inside.
I use powered speakers and a Behringer line mixer because I do karaoke.
When I set up I have the laptop under the top lid all set up, I never disconnect it. I pop off the back door where I pull out my main power plug and sound card output. Velcro'd to the back lid I have a wireless reciever.
So all I have to do is plug in my main power to the mixer and the gig box.
Plug in the line out and the wireless out to the mixer and 2 xlr's to the speakers and I'm done.

One other tip: If you are using powered speakers with satalites on sticks over the subs, I installed longer 25' main power cables on the subs and put a surface outlet on the sub to power the satalite with. This gives me tremendous options with power sources. I have even run my whole left power feed from the right sub. I can actually run all 4 speakers on one plug on either side of the room.
And, you all know how convenient the outlets can be located in some venues.

Now if I could just find a short cut to the light show......

[shdixon]

Power to the Speakers (SRM450 & S1500 each side)
Power to the Digital DJ console. (Everything pre-wired)
XLR to each Speaker Sub
XLR jumper up from the sub to the SRM450s