DJ Skills - What Type of Flight Cases Should a DJ Use?

As a professional DJ the chances are that you are going to have to move your equipment on occasions, especially your decks and mixer. The best way to protect them is by using specially built flight cases. In this article we are going to discuss the best types to use.

I have been a semi-professional DJ with over two decades of experience in hand. During that time I have come to understand that the best way to protect my equipment and to prolong its' life is through the use of flight cases.

In case you are wondering what a flight case is let me explain. Flight cases are ruggedly built boxes, which are tailor made for each piece of kit. So for example for a 19" mixer you can buy a 19" mixer flight case. As well as having a tough exterior each case is lined with thick rubber foam which protects the item within during transit. Trust me when I tell you they will add years to the life of your equipment.

So two key points you should consider when selecting the correct cases for you

1) Build Quality verses Price - Now days there seem to be huge differences in the prices of the ranges of flight boxes available. The reason for this is simply due to the build quality of the various ranges available. When it comes to DJ equipment I always suggest you buy the best quality you can possibly afford as it pays off in the long term. The same applies to these equipment cases, the cheaper ones are not built as well and will therefore not offer as much protection. If you only have a small budget my suggestion is that as a minimum you should ensure that you buy metal cases and avoid the plastic ones.

2) Coffin verses Individual Cases - It is an unfortunate name but there is a long box that will accommodate both decks and a mixer which is known as a coffin. These are my personal preference as they enable me to move my decks with all the audio cables already connected. This is not only convenient and a time saver but also preserves the life of the connecting joints on both the decks and mixer. However not everyone has room or the strength for a coffin, as they tend to be long and heavy. This is where individual DJ flight cases come in real handy.

My final tip is to suggest that you invest in a lightweight collapsible parcel trolley with a couple the elastic straps known as bungee cords. This will allow you to stack and shift your boxes easily when playing out.