LED Starcloth....or just a Black Cloth?

[thex-faders]

Hi all,

Recently myself and my colleague Tom have been looking at changing our LED star cloth for a plain black cloth.

We have used the LED one for over a year and as it is only connected to the deckstand with velcro straps it has never looked particularly amazing as it droops in the centre and is always reall difficult to attach when DJ'ing on your own.

Both of us are at University full time so DJ as much as we can when we are home and take the odd gig here and there during the year, so our funds aren't sufficient enough to cover buying a proper LED Deckstand Booth which I think retail for about £400 :eek: !

As a cheaper alternative I'm currently looking at making a plain black cloth that attaches to the deckstand via velcro (but not in straps) all for about £40 :)

What is the general feelings towards just having a plain black cloth as opposed to a flashing LED one? Our lighting setup is quite powerful so I dont think it will affect out light coverage at gigs, but I'm just concerned that now most people just expect DJ's to have these LED Deckstand Booths and if we just have a plain one it may be a tad dissapointing?!

Anyway I'd really appreciate all your feedback on this just to see what people think!

Thanks,

Adam Taylor
ATR The X-Faders

[Shakermaker Promotions]

From what I have read in the past on here, it's kind of 50/50 towards Starcloths.

Personally speaking - I always used a black velvet cover for my deckstand. I did this for around 4 years and it always looked neat but since I have been using the Starcloth, I think it makes it look more classy and professional. I've even had comments about it (good ones).

[WWDJ]

Black cloth. I'm just not that keen on starcloths and they never look neat IMO except on a proper booth (out of my price range).

That said, even though my presentation has improved recently I still have further to go.

[Vectis]

they never look neat IMO except on a proper booth

Never used an NJD serge cloth then? Looks fab on my Ultimax.

[WWDJ]

Never used an NJD serge cloth then? Looks fab on my Ultimax.

I haven't no. Where can you get those from ?

[Corabar Steve]

http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-14278.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[Vectis]

I haven't no. Where can you get those from ?

Lots of places sell them but it seems only CPC keep stock in reasonable numbers.

Pretty good value too - comparable to your prolights and similar 'crinkly' cloths but they hang so much better being made of a heavy woollen material.
Take no notice of the picture on HTFR ... that's either not an NJD or it's the worst hung cloth I've ever seen.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

If you go to the NJD website, you will see the one.
I have the same one (4ft) but it does my head in to be honest as it's fiddly. I have a 4ft Giraffe stand and when it's all up it looks cool but it doesn't completely cover the sides. There's a gap each side of about 4 inches but it's not a big deal. Sometimes I have the JBL's close to the rig so it all looks compact and it covers the gaps.

[Vectis]

it's fiddly

... compared to a prolight.

The NJD doesn't have velcro tabs, it has ties. Lots of them. And this means it takes a bit longer. But once you get the knack it can be done in about 2 minutes. You don't have to tie all of them - but you do need to work out which ties are necessary for your rig. I probably tie no more than about 10.

It's precisely because of these ties that you can get it so taut.

Velcro = saggy.

Ties = taut.

Simples :)

[WWDJ]

The CPC price looks good actually and it looks quite nice. I have read conflicting dimensions over the height 1m or 1.2m I would need 1.2m.

Also are the LED's replaceable as I would have to be very careful with it I guess.

Could velcro be retro fitted with care, as my booth rail is prefitted with velcro.

[rob1963]

Hi X Faders,

A plain black cloth gets my vote.

[sxboy]

Plain cloth & star cloth, you decide

[sxboy]

Oh and the palin black cloth cost no where near £40, from memory was about £11.

Daren

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

Plain looks great,
Plus all the starcloths i ever see are BROKEN!!!
and not cost effective to repair
Looks good plain i must say

Cheers

[mark@pegasus]

I have to agree when attached directly to either a giraffe or the Ultimax stands the starcloths can look scruffy which is why I attched a strip of of velcroe to the top and bottom of mine so not relying on the straps and it attches to a custom frame that bolts onto the front of my 4ft Ultimax stand and never really had any problems of sagging (unless I have to rush to set up)

[thex-faders]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your feedback on this! I can completely see what people are saying about sometimes the star cloths looking tacky, as thats the problem i've suffered for the last few years!

Also I have the same problem of the star cloth not quite covering the whole of the stand and leaving about 4 inches either side! Though it isn't a massive problem, we find if you set up at an angle to your guests (due to space problems) that people can see through to where we rest our amps etc, which isnt that good!

We have a standard 4ft Deckstand which is good but doesnt give us the height at the front of the stand to cover our mixer behind the cloth. Therefore over the past few days with the help from my very talented grandad :p I've been able to make this additional piece of frame that will allow a cloth to go up higher and thherefore cover the majority of our equipment. I havent sorted the cloth out yet (hence this thread!) but I was interested to see what you guys though of this addition!

9220

Its a timber frame which is attached to two peices of curved metal that fit into the square holes on the deckstand tightly, but are secured with two screws just to be safe! It's really strong and fits perfectly :)

Anyway I'd be interested to see what everyone thinks to this!

Adam

[WWDJ]

this is what I did

http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25725&highlight=rail+booth

in action

http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26756&highlight=rail+booth

The only downside I can see is I always need the veritcal poles in place. I am going to make some short versions for when I just want to use the stand

[thex-faders]

cheers dh140770

Ye that was our other option, however we had the same thoughts it does need the upright sections and we don't always use the overhead so this seems like a better option.

But it does look really effective and is just an easier option for us at the moment than buying the boothpro etc. When finances let us we will look into it though. :)

[thex-faders]

Hey Guys,

I have finished the new attachement for our stand with the black cloth! Let me know what you think :-)

9254
9255

There is a curved metal piece that fits into the square hole on the deckstand, this is attached to a wooden frame that stands just over 10 inches higher than the tables. Then the cloth is a standard black cloth (doubled up for thickness!) that attaches onto the top and bottom of the stand with velcro!

All in all total cost was about £50 for the modification to the existing stand....so not a bad investment!

Adam

[mike8863]

once its flatened out a bit it will look great. I now only use starcloth for weddings, and a similar set up to yours for all other gigs.
Good work:beer1:

[Excalibur]

A while ago, I was in touch with the DSB lads about a starcloth, cos they get 'em a bit taller. Sadly, I didn't get one, but that was down to me not them. I went for a plain cloth, and I'm more than happy with that. One day I may get a starcloth, but I'm in no rush.