What's the Big Deal about "Professional Equipment"?
In almost any industry equipment can be divided into two categories: consumer and professional. Look around a restaurant the next time you go out to eat. You'd never have a coffee machine like that in your kitchen. The stoves and refrigeration units are massive and definitely not something you'd see at an appliance store. The restaurant owner understands that consumer grade equipment can not withstand the demands of a professional setting.

The same is true with audio equipment. Consumer grade equipment just can't stand up to the demands that a professional mobile disc jockey service creates. Unfortunately, many disc jockeys dive into the business because they've "got a cool home stereo". It doesn't take long for the buttons to start falling off of the CD players and the speakers start to distort or just fry completely. Home equipment, no matter how loud and how cool it sounds in the family room, was not designed to withstand the sound pressure levels of a performance or the abuses brought on by constant loading and unloading.

That's why Music Source relies exclusively on professional grade equipment. Our Speakers, CD-Players, Tape Decks, Amplifiers, Mixers, EQs and signal processors carry well known and well respected names. (If you're into sound equipment, please read the next couple of lines...if not, skip down to below the picture) We use a state of the art dual Gemini CD player and Aiwa dual tape deck (for the occasional cassette). We're equipped with two microphones (Peavey hardwired & an AKG wireless) run through a Peavey reverb effects unit and a dedicated microphone EQ. Sound mixing and processing is handled by a Pyle Pro mixing board and Behringer equalizer. A BBE crossover running into two 1,400 watt Yamaha amplifiers feed 2 TOA/Peavey 3-way PA speakers and 2 Yamaha subwoofers. Additional TOA/Electro Voice 3-way PA speakers on tripods are available if necessary for specialized sound reinforcement needs and floorplans.



Each piece was produced with professional sound reproduction in mind. We use specialized carriers and operating consoles for our equipment that help to protect electronics and prolong equipment life. We have a dedicated equipment van that is constantly loaded to minimize wear on equipment and to ensure that we always have everything that we need with us when we arrive at your show.

When it Comes to Sound: Quality, not Quantity
Sure, volume is an important part of a dance show. A performer needs to be able to deliver enough energy to the dance floor to fully envelope the dancers in sound...but no one is asking to be blasted out of the room.

At Music Source, we have the fire power to effectively play the largest halls in Illinois. At the same time, we provide a level of sophisticated sound reproduction that delivers a clear, sharp musical program at any volume in any sized room

Redundant System Redundancy
As good as it is, it's a fact of life that, occasionally, equipment fails. Thanks to an effective program of proper care and maintenance, it's very rare that Music Source suffers equipment failure but it does happen once in a while. That's why each Music Source mobile unit has built in redundancy for all systems. With most mobile deejays, if the amp shuts down, the show is over...or at least the quality is severely reduced. Not with Music Source. That's why we carry a back-up amp, tape deck, dual CD player, microphone and mixer to every show. If something goes out, the show goes on. The only job of our back-up equipment is to be there in case of an emergency. We don't believe that equipment failure is an excuse to stop a show. That's why, since 1982, we've never failed to complete an event.

At Music Source, we're very proud of our top-of-the-line professional sound and light systems. We recommend that you insist on a deejay service that uses only professional grade equipment. But, we don't believe that you should base your choice of mobile disc jockey service on equipment alone. Think about this: anybody can go out, get a business loan and buy a ton of equipment. You could do it yourself tomorrow. And what would you have? A garage full of equipment.

Just having tons of equipment does not make a great deejay service. We get calls all the time from deejays who have gone out of business and are trying to sell tons of equipment in order to pay off that business loan. Why would a deejay fail when they seemingly have all of the right hardware? Because, ultimately, it's the trained and experienced operator behind the controls that brings the equipment to life and provides the showmanship necessary to really entertain your crowd. When you combine a great sound system with a trained, experienced operator and an outstanding music library then you have all of the ingredients necessary for a great performance. Actually, then you would have Music Source.

Music Source is a proud member of the American Disc Jockey Association. Logo ©Copyright 2008 by the ADJA, all rights reserved.