Whether you see traveling to your next audio gig as fun or a necessary evil, one thing is certain: safely packing your audio equipment is necessary for your work. But how do you pack these sensitive pieces of equipment to ensure they arrive intact?
This article lays out tips and tricks for packing your audio equipment. Whether you are a DJ, soundman, or field recorder, you get all the information you need to travel right. This includes reviewing a new way of storing and carrying devices that makes traveling and setup even easier.
Now let’s get packing.
How to Pack Your Audio Equipment
You can ship audio-visual equipment to your destination or take it with you, such as on a plane or in your car. The option you choose for transporting your AV systems determines the best method of packing.
Shipping is an excellent solution if you have bulky equipment, but not any packing strategy will do. For ideal equipment protection, use hard cases or sturdy cardboard boxes with plenty of bubble wrap.
Note that shipping items increases the risk of them becoming lost, stolen, or damaged, but you can insure your audio equipment for added peace of mind. To reduce theft, you can put hard cases inside cardboard boxes to disguise the equipment.
When your trip involves air travel, transporting audio equipment as checked luggage isn’t recommended. Baggage handlers are notoriously rough with luggage, and check-in luggage is easily lost or stolen. It’s best to keep the equipment with you in carry-on bags.
If you drive to your location, you can use the same carry-on bags or opt for hard cases. Some audio equipment is extremely fragile and comes with hard cases, but not all items require them; in fact, a soft case increases versatility while keeping everything in a smaller footprint.
Let’s look at recommended ways of storing each piece of equipment.
Speakers
Packing speakers is a breeze with rollable crates, which is why they are used heavily for concert venues. They are made to fit the most popular speaker models on the market and provide ample protection against drops and bumps. The hard exteriors and foam interiors provide secure protection. Many also come with wheels for easy maneuvering during travel and setup.
If the crates don’t come with foam, surround the speakers with styrofoam or blankets. Set the speakers upright or at least face-up inside each crate or box. If they remain face-down, downward pressure on the magnets can warp the basket when the speakers are bumped. Having the speakers face-up also protects the grill from scratches or damage.
If you plan to ship the speakers or check them in at the airport, mark the box as fragile and indicate which side is up.
Microphones
Microphones are deceiving elements in your audio assortment. They seem small enough to toss around and durable enough for a mike drop, but in reality, they are delicate and need to be packed carefully.
Most audio experts recommend foam-lined cases specially designed for microphones. Unless you have wireless microphone systems, the same cases should also have separate storage for the cord.
If you require compact storage and keeping microphones close at hand, you can use a carry-on bag with padding similar to a camera bag. Each section should be adjustable for tight storage while keeping each microphone separate to further prevent damage.
Wire and Cable Management
Packing quality cables such as breakaway cables is best in bags offering padded protection and advanced cable organizing capabilities. These bags save time and frustration during setup. Few audio chores are as aggravating and unprofessional as untangling a bunch of cables on location.
You can speed up your setup further by storing cables for the same product near each other. You can also label them to alleviate confusion. This work will save you a lot of time and frustration.
In addition to padded bags, you can also store the cables in clear, zipper containers for easier viewing.
Headphones
Properly working headphones are necessary for any audio gig. If your headphones come with a case, you have a head start. If you don’t have a case or require compact storage, you can use a padded carry-on bag. This same bag will let you access the headphones during your trip, allowing you to edit your work or prepare for the next gig. You also prevent theft by keeping the headphones close at hand.
An ideal bag has adjustable sections that create snug homes for multiple earphones while separating them from each other to prevent damage. The bag should also allow for separate storage of the cords.
DJ Controllers
A controller is extremely fragile and most often stored in its own hard case. A controller case provides ample protection while providing easy access to the ports and settings for a superior control experience. Most control interfaces come with a case, but if yours doesn’t, you can find one that fits your model online or at a music store.
A soft case may still work as long as there is ample protection; in fact, a soft case works particularly well in site locations where space is limited, letting you maintain full control of audio in small indoor spaces.
If shipping your controllers, use a hard case or cardboard box with ample bubble wrap.
DJ Turntable
A turntable is a notoriously fragile piece of equipment — particularly the belt. Still, packing a turntable is easy with the right case. A common solution is to invest in a hard case, but you can also pack it in a cardboard box with ample bubble wrap or in a soft case with snug compartments with ample padding.
The best way to transport this piece of stereo equipment is to remove a few parts before packing. Start by removing the dust cover. Then remove the cartridge and stylus, followed by the counterweight, platter, and belt. Each item you remove should be wrapped separately and thoroughly. If you have a suspended turntable, lock it down or use cardboard to secure it.
Field Recorders
You may carry field recorders with you while you work. If so, you benefit from a case offering soft protection as you move around.
Many cases attach directly to your belt or come with a shoulder strap. A versatile soft case such as a carry-on camera bag can also hold a field recorder over the shoulder, and it may even have a pocket along the top for easier viewing and quick access while recording. The same carry-on can also carry other audio equipment between destinations, reducing the number of bags you need for travel.
Field Mixers
These audio systems are similar in size to field recorders and have similar packing and transport needs, which means the same solutions work. Mixers typically come in a case, or you can buy one online, but take the time to find a case that fits the mixer perfectly; otherwise, the mixer may slide or bump around inside and become damaged. If you use a separate bag, ensure the bag has padded compartments that limit movement.
Compact Disc (CD) and Disc Player Transport
Packing your disc player is the same as packing a controller. For CDs, you will need to prevent scratches and breakage while keeping them cool since CDs can warp in heat. You can purchase a wide range of solid or soft, zippered cases designed specifically for CD storage.
For compact travel, remove any CD jewel cases or inserts and place the CDs into individually protective sleeves.
Shotgun Microphones, Boom Poles, and Reflectors
Audio equipment can come in many sizes and shapes. Shotgun microphones and boom poles are long and thin. Parabolic reflectors, on the other hand, are wide and narrow. Additionally, there are size variances in each design.
Given the size ranges and fragile nature of this audio equipment, microphone systems often come with bags that keep them compact and secure. If they don’t, smaller shotgun microphones can be placed in a soft carry-on bag or, like any other piece of equipment, you can ship them ahead of time in hard cases or cardboxes with ample bubble wrap. You can save costs for shipping larger shotgun models and parabolic reflectors by storing them in a hard case with other equipment.
Windscreens and other Wind Protection
There is a wide variety of windscreens on the market to meet various needs, and their sizing also varies. A soft bag with adjustable sections helps protect windscreens during transport while keeping them separate for easy access as needs arise.
Tape
Tape is your best friend. Whether you need gaffer tape, velcro tape, electrical tape, or colored tape to designate specific walking areas, a soft carry-on bag with adjustable sections makes storing and accessing any tape easy during setup. And since the tape isn’t fragile like other audio equipment, a soft bag will do.
Laptop
Your laptop is one of the most important pieces of equipment for audio gigs, so it’s important to pack it carefully and keep it with you. Keeping the laptop on hand prevents theft, loss, or damage from baggage handlers and shippers while keeping you productive while you are on the go.
The right bag has soft padding for storing and accessing your laptop and ample sections or pockets to keep your cords, mouse, stylus, and other electronic equipment safe and in easy reach.
BrightLine Bags for Advanced Equipment Protection
A carry-on bag that functions like a camera bag offers versatility in design and function. These bags transport expensive electronic equipment safely with extensive padding, durable exteriors, and advanced organization capabilities. These traits make it an ideal companion to a hard case, or even an alternative to one. But one company that is taking these benefits to a whole new level is BrightLine Bags.
The company’s line of bags holds similar electronic equipment such as cameras, laptops, and drones safely and securely. Padded interior compartments are adjustable to keep sensitive items from sliding and banging around in the bag. The camera bags also offer a zippable compartment on the top, giving you clear access to equipment, such as your mixer.
But these benefits are just the beginning. The bags also have zippable edges, letting you customize and add as many exterior sections as you need. At the same time, you get the choice of adding individualized pockets for increased organization and storage. Additionally, the Flex Array series of zippered interior pockets help with improved compartmentalization while giving you a clear view of what’s inside.
The bags are well suited for transporting a wide range of audio products, including:
Microphones
Audio cable
Wires
Headphones
Controllers
Mixers
Disc players
CD
Field recorders
Mixers
Windscreens
Laptops
Tape
These bags are not only high quality, but they have also been trusted by flight crews for years thanks to their durability and versatility. And with bags that are specially designed for electronic devices, you get the ample protection you need.
To see the full line of bags, click here.