my setup is more aimed at recording mixes or online broadcast than producing tunes and much of the kit is lower budget and also deliberately kept small in size as I am trying to cram a lot into a small space and have to use this computer for normal work as well.

currently

Controller / grams mixer : citronic mpx 10 running virtual DJ on dual head Win7 x64 system (actually a cheap zoostorm with a blue LED fan)
On-air mixer : behringer X1222 USB with “mic fader open” mod (well a reed switch taped to the front panel and two rare earth magnets in the fader knob) on mic channel 1. This triggers an arduino what sends MUTE code to the Sony amp on IR and also lights a number of super bright LEDs.
audio recorder : Tascam DR-05
studio monitoring kit : Sonicraft 124FX downstream of this which controls the monitor speaker volume and also provides a suitable level to the Tascam (or it overloads as it has one of them wierd input stages what can supposedly go from mic to line level but is way easy to clip)

Custom headphone select switch made from 4 pole DPCO toggle switch and the housing of a busted electric fan (switches cans between the PFL output of the Citronic and the mixer output so I can hear this if the speakers are muted)

Eventually I will get a relay and link that to the arduino as well so I can trigger all of them remotely. whilst you might not normally see this setup outside a radio studio it has its advantages to prevent feedback from mics etc and also route multiple audio sources…

The behringer and the MPX10 are mounted in two cheap “road cases” from CPC (probably wouldn’t stand up to hardcore gigs but are cheaper than getting a whole console built).
Also a old laptop with a cooked battery is mounted on a stand and with a second monitor on display 2 provides carts playout, audio level metering and streaming (by using the Behringer internal soundcard and also a external USB one to play out the carts).

Everything apart from the citronic is in fact connected using separate analogue channels on the behringer, I’m not a fan of the practice of “putting all your eggs in one basket” that the digital DJ software tends to encourage. If your laptop or computer crashes, then you are proper hosed unless you have some other way of playing out audio…

A 1000VA UPS (originally bought for the computers) now feeds the audio kit as well, I could go downstairs and put off the mains at the incomer and still have tunes for about 30 minutes lol..

The old laptop did also do the studio clock but I’ve now got a loudness meter on there (I also use this equipment to check PV radio’s levels and audio quality). I’ve got a even older machine and a slightly flaky display I could use for the clock (its not a big disaster if that clock cuts out as every other piece of kit in here is synced to NPL direct so the time should be spot on). Also that way I can set that to different timezones when required. There is even a MSF receiver downstairs but I haven’t rewired it yet (its a bit of a mission due to the interference these days).

One of them LED clocks otherwise costs €400 alone without the receiver for the national time standard…

this mornings monitoring setup – shows the loudness monitor in use – and once you have got used to it everything else can be done by ear…

Pic showing the MPX10 and the PC screens. It has been shifted to the LHS of the Euroclock (showing CET) – a more logical place and avoids the ropey picture caused by a long VGA cable. The 3rd monitor screen is now showing the cart machine, above the MPX10 is a mini keyboard which can be used to trigger it.

Even though the Dutch tjingle has way more cart banks and features, I still prefer the locally developed Sonicart as its easier to keep an eye on I am very unlikely to need any more than 10 in a stack.

the front panel of the old microwave (the rest of the case is now used to house my other radio receivers) is currently the “mic live” light (hides the arduino prototype board but still allows access to the trigger button)

@thelog 483696 wrote:

Very nice. I will get myslef a nice shiney clock like that as soon as I get my shit together again. Infact if I could have a room decorated in a particular style. I would like to have it like a 1960’s or maybe 70’s WAR-room style. Likey say what you see in films like Fail safe, or china syndrome. Retro is so cool

this is a good example, especially as they picked a more “homely” colour scheme in line with that era as it was supposed to reduce the stress levels of the operational staff..

Archived: York – 20 Group ROC HQ – (York Group) – 2008