Controller Clinic #42: DJ Set-Up For A Confined Space

Phil Morse | Founder & Tutor
Read time: 2 mins
Last updated 6 August, 2017

The WeGO3 is a small and versatile controller that for the space-challenged, has the interesting feature of working with iPad as well as laptop.
The WeGO3 is a small and versatile controller that for the space-challenged, has the interesting feature of working with iPad as well as laptop.

Digital DJ Tips member Dave writes: “I wonder if you could help me choose a digital set-up for a room with very limited space (it will need to fit in our living room and we’ve got two young children so not too many wires etc). I’m thinking Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 (good value, does all the basics) with M-Audio AV-40 speakers (good value, pretty small, no need for separate amp).

“What do you think? Am I missing a better way of getting everything I need into a confined space? Smaller or even wireless speakers would be good (they don’t need to be very powerful but we need to get something as we don’t have hi-fi or TV speakers) but I didn’t see much. Any suggestions? The only other issue is the deck stand, can you recommend something that will
take everything but can be folded away when not in use?”

Digital DJ Tips says:

Well, that’s the joy of controllers, that they can be used in a small space and tucked away in a drawer when not in use. you and many, many other readers have exactly this situation to deal with!

Your choices are sound. The Mixtrack Pro 2 is good (the Mixtrack Pro 3 is longer but shallower), and the M-Audio AV-40s are excellent speakers, striking just the right balance between flexibility, size and sound quality.

These tiny Minirig speakers are so good, you may want to see if one will do!
These tiny Minirig speakers are so good, you may want to see if one will do!

M-Audio has just launched the AV-42 model as a replacement for the AV-40s, which we’ll be reviewing soon, so look out for those. Wireless speakers are a no-go due to latency (or delay) between the material being sent to them and them actually reproducing it. If you are really pushed for space, though, the Minirig speakers are tiny, rechargeable, and can work with Bluetooth or wired (for the best of both worlds), and they are loud and sound great.

Controller-wise, you might also want to look at the Pioneer DDJ-WeGO3, which is even smaller, and has an interesting advantage, in that it works with iPad too. With an iPad, you can make your set-up even smaller, and the We-GO3 doubles up as a stand to boot. (It works out of the box with Algoriddim’s djay 2 software, which is very good). Alternatively, stands like the Reloop Laptop Stage or Magma Traveler can keep your laptop at a nice working height, while folding away nice and small when not needed (particularly the Magma model).

Good luck!

Do you have a micro DJ set-up? What would you advise Dave in this situation? Please feel free to add your ideas in the comments.

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