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All those years ago it was vinyl based, then came CD’s and we thought technology could advance no further. We embraced Minidisc, and still take them to functions now, as we found them totally reliable. Recently however, after my Disco partner moved back to his family home, I found carrying and searching through boxes of CD’s was becoming a real chore, and so having become an active member of a Mobile Disco Forum, I sought advice on the alternatives. It soon became clear that MP3 was the way forward , so after copying  all my CD’s to this format the main playout device is now a Cortex Hard Drive Controller, with thousands of songs accessible from the Hard Drive in seconds. A laptop is the auxiliary device and database, and if Internet access is possible, can also be used to download legal MP3’s during a function, to get that vital request. A combined Minidisc/CD player is connected to the fourth mixer channel partly for peace of mind for me, and mainly to play CD’s brought by customers to play for their special songs. ( I haven’t used the peace of mind option for months).

The sound system can be two speakers discreetly placed in a smaller more intimate venue, right up to the full system of eight boxes containing twelve 15” drivers plus horns for the larger event. As the old tagline says “ From a whisper to a roar”

Lighting has evolved similarly, and might be two LED panels and one filament scanner where space is at a premium, or could be as big as  a three metre truss with four LED panels, five barrel scanners, two Moonflowers, two effect lights, and a choice of centrepiece lights. A cluster  laser is on the shopping list for the near future for functions where it would be a useful item.

The space required varies from little more than two metres by one for the minimum rig where space is limited, up to most of the stage where visual presence is vital.