In It for the Long Haul After the obligatory look into the future offered in the previous issue, we pause to consider what it means to have "staying power." We'll look at how to develop stamina in business, how to make your gear last longer, and much more! ~ Dan Walsh, Editor-in-Chief CLICK HERE OR ON THE COVER TO THE RIGHT TO READ NOW ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLAYLIST: TECHNOLOGY Protecting Your Tech - Stu Chisholm Music Tech Extravaganza: NAMM 2020 - Staci Nichols NAMM 2020: Back to the Future? - Mike Buonaccorso PEOPLE AROCK and BPM Supreme - Mike Cordeiro Reflecting on a Decade - Mike “Dr. Frankenstand” Ryan BUSINESS Sus... [read more]

Next generation DJ solutions: The pro-mobile focused PRIME 2 and the rechargeable battery-powered PRIME GO, fully-featured 2-deck smart DJ consoles for ultimate creative DJ performance at any event Fort Lauderdale FL, USA (Jan 13, 2020)—Denon DJ (www.denondj.com), a leading manufacturer of premium DJ products and solutions, today announced the introduction of their new PRIME 2 and PRIME GO smart DJ consoles. They share the ultimate touchscreen interface experience, standalone Wi-Fi music streaming and are powered by the lightning-fast ENGINE OS platform. PRIME GO adds a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to provide extreme portability. Together, they represent the pinnacle of fully-featured, no-compromise pro-level gear for mobile and club DJs. Along with their 7” HD touchscreen UI experience, PRIME 2 a... [read more]

Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA (January 14, 2020)—RANE, the established innovator in the DJ industry, noted for their standard-setting solutions coupled with unequalled reliability and customer service, today announced the introduction of their new SEVENTY mixer, the latest edition to their solid steel, battleready Serato DJ mixer family. Built from the same intricate DNA that makes every RANE product a standout, the RANE SEVENTY’s intuitive layout takes a forward-thinking, yet familiar approach to performance possibilities. The RANE SEVENTY is ready to take DJ performances to the next level in a portable, travel-ready battle mixer. Your New Battle Companion The SEVENTY completely changes the battle. It’s so big, DJ Craze had this to say about the SEVENTY: "If you want to be the best, you gotta **** with t... [read more]

After 15 years with Pioneer DJ, Parkinson’s expertise will drive DENON DJ to new heights of innovation and performance. Cumberland, RI USA (November 19, 2019)—DENON DJ (www.denondj.com), a leading manufacturer of premium DJ products and solutions, today announced that noted DJ industry veteran Rik Parkinson has joined DENON DJ as their Director of Strategic Development. In this newly-created position, Parkinson will work with DENON DJ’s outstanding team of product and marketing professionals to build on the amazing success of recent products such as the DENON DJ PRIME 4 4- channel standalone DJ system and the SC5000M media player. read more]

Getting Ready Hey y'all...Got a quick-reading issue here for your enjoyment. It's all great stuff, in my not-at-all-biased opinion (thanks to all my great writers). However, a couple of pieces should be noted. For those of you running multi-system outfits, Joe Bunn (owner of one of the most successful such outfits in the nation) offers some sage advice on that important but often difficult decision owners face: when to move a DJ up to the next level. Also, we welcome Rachel Lynch, whose forte is reviewing and teaching about gear and performance, with her review of the groundbreaking, mobile-DJ-oriented new controller from Roland, the DJ707-M. Than... [read more]

In the first part of this mini-series on mobility (MB #202, Jan 2019, p.26), I discussed the many options that DJs have for bringing their shows to event locations. As I hinted near the end, once you’ve got that great ride, you need to consider what other items you’ll be needing beside your lighting and audio gear. Most are common sense, but I also include some based on real-life (often bitter) experience. Here’s the rundown... VEHICLE SUPPORT Aside from the usual complement of emergency gear that comes with most vehicles, such as a spare tire, jack and lug wrench (although when purchasing a commercial vehicle you may have to buy these items separa... [read more]

Wondering what you might get to play with on the MBLV exhibit floor this year? Let’s see what was new for DJs at the NAMM trade show this year to get a taste! #5 – ARMANDO CUSTOM CASES’ DJ BED When you’re “on the road again” and don’t want to pay for a hotel...why not just sleep in a flight case? Or how about some flight case chairs for your office or studio? For more info, scope out ArmandoCases. Read the rest of this article and check out the full issue at Mobilebeat.com ... [read more]

I was curious as to how InMusic brought all these specific brands under one roof and the reason for it. Aren’t Denon DJ, Rane, and Numark competitors? Before I left Chris arranged for a Skype call with inMusic’s CEO Jack O’Donnell to get some insight on what he sees as the future of the DJ world and the electronics industry. MIKE CORDEIRO: What was your inspiration for the Prime 4? JACK O’DONNELL: To bring first rate technology to the DJ community. Choices haven’t been available. I think back to how everyone was happy with their flip phone or Blackberry and no one saw a need to change until Apple handed them an iPhone. After that, you just c... [read more]

It’s no secret that most DJs love two main things: rocking the crowd and great gear. We have one of the few jobs in the world where we can buy the coolest toys... and then write them off at the end of the year. One piece of equipment that has been rapidly evolving and changing, not only in form but the industry as a whole, is the controller. In the last several years controllers have been replacing mixers for many DJs; the next generation of controllers aims to eliminate the need for a laptop all together. Enter the Prime 4 from Denon DJ. The Prime 4 has more technology built into it than a space shuttle! Imagine taking the stability and construction of a... [read more]

CUMBERLAND, RI - Numark (www.numark.com), a world leader and innovator of DJ solutions, has announced the introduction of their new Scratch mixer, a game-changing unit with pro features and comprehensive software that is poised to dominate the scratch mixer category and establish a new standard for mixers at an affordable price point. The Numark Scratch offers a versatile array of features, including 6 direct access software FX buttons that deliver quick access to a comprehensive array of effects, with both timing and intensity controls. These effects are triggered by a pair of intuitive performance base toggle pad... [read more]