The Lowdown
If you’re an iPad DJ with a controller looking for a simple, neat and head-turning way to set your gear up either in public or at home, this could be it!
Video Review
First Impressions / Setting up
Got an iPad and a DJ controller (Pioneer WeGO3, Reloop Beatpad, Traktor Kontrol S2 etc)? This little set-up is a great way of setting up in any venue to get all your gear at the right height, and to look really neat and organised too – no table or surface required at all. Want to know more? Read on…
In Use
The problem for digital DJs is two-fold. Firstly, for DJs who sometimes play in venues that don’t have permanent DJ booths, where do you set up? Do you trust that they’ll have a surface at the right height for your controller? Or stand it on a crate or something to get it at a decent (ie not back hurting) height? Then what about your laptop? Do you take a separate stand for that? It can all get messy.
With iPad DJing, the opportunity is there to tidy things up a bit. Some controllers (Reloop BeatPad, Pioneer WeGO3) have a “slot” at the back for the iPad. I don’t like this solution personally, though, as I think the screen is then too low down. With something like the Traktor Kontrol S2, though, it’s even worse, as there’s no built-in stand at all. You can use a normal laptop stand for your iPad, sure, but it’s overkill and not very elegant. Surely there’s a better way?
The solution
I’ll happily admit I hacked this one together. The “DJ controller” stand here is actually a keyboard stand. It’s sturdy, though, it’s lightweight, it’s quick to put up and take down, and it’s perfect for DJ controllers too. Meanwhile, the tablet stand is really meant for keyboard players who use an iPad or similar for their “sheet” music rather than real printed sheets.
It’s this latter tablet stand that really brings it all together as a solution, as that’s what stops you needing a table or surface at all, making the keyboard stand a viable alternative. An an added advantage of the tablet stand is that it raises the iPad to the right level for glancing at when DJing.
The iPad stand just clamps on to one of the legs of the keyboard stand, and the iPad is spring loaded diagonally into it. While it’s a bit wobbly, it is secure, and the whole point of having a DJ controller is that you touch that, not the iPad, so that’s fine.
Conclusion
All controller DJs have to contend with gear being set up at the wrong height (always too low, of course), and iPad DJs have the added issue of where to put their iPads, even if there’s a slot in the controller, as I truly don’t think this is the best solution.
This little combo from Hercules Stands solves both problems. It’s neat, lightweight, portable and great value. If you’re an iPad DJ with a controller looking for a simple, neat and head-turning way to set your gear up either in public or at home, this could be it!
• The laptop stand I referred to on the video is reviewed here.
