DJ Onks: On his own level
Staff Writer | Friday January 22, 2016 15:54
Looking back, DJ Onks said he has always been experimental with electric components. “I always had a passion for music and the surprising fact about this is that I have never studied any technology at school,” he said.
DJ Onks said he was always curious about technology and wanted to know more about sound technology. “I became a DJ and I managed to buy my own sound equipment so I acquired the necessary experience,” he said. He added that as he came across sound problems in his profession, he was forced to fix everything for himself.
DJ Onks said during the course of time he learnt the relationship of electrical sound components. “The idea came and I wanted to come up with something that can make my DJ(aying) job easier,” he said. DJ Onks told Arts & Culture that he compiled components and came up with his mixer that used two phones and it worked.
“I didn’t stop (there), I continued to develop the idea further for years now,” he said.
The 35-year-old said he is satisfied with the idea now because it uses a single phone compared to the two before. DJ Onks said he has been using the mixer for two years and people were impressed with the technology.
“It makes the task easier because I can mix songs while on the dance floor. I can even move around, but the fun doesn’t stop (there),” he said.
DJ Onks said other fellow DJs want to own the product because they have seen what it can do.
DJ Onks said when he realised that his mixer could take him to higher places he registered the product with Registrar of Companies in 2013. “People want this mixer, but I still feel it is not a finished product,” he said.
He said he wants to be fully satisfied before he can release it into the market. He also plans to make other components for various DJs so that they can help promote it.
“I use the mixer in social functions and music shows,” he said. DJ Onks who is a resident DJ at Mountain Valley in Gabane said he used to have a slot in Bonni Dintwa’s show in Duma FM a few years ago. “I had used the mixer in Btv’s Flava Dome and Pula Power,” he said.
Describing the selector in detail, DJ Onks said the unit is built from a 120x70mm black-coated metal box specifically designed to fit the unique needs of Android users.
“Any portable music source compatible to Android such as cellphones can be inserted at the top of the unit,” he explained.
He said the mixer works as a central route system sending audio signals of two different songs to two different channels and mixing the outputs to produce a final mono output mix.
“At the same time it functions as a mixer within a mixer so that the user can pre-listen to the next song in the headphones and prepare transition,” he further explained. DJ Onks also indicated that to learn the basics of mixing music, it is best to start by using the audio selector.
“In playing the audio selector employ the control knobs on the front panel and you will be able to equalise and produce a professional mixing with less work to do on your touch screen,” he said. He said the advantages of the mixer are that the unit does not need to be plugged into the main power supply. “The main unit has a built-in rechargeable battery and the wired headphones have a battery compartment for storing two batteries in case the main unit runs out of power,” he said. DJ Onks said he designed his mixer to work with the already existing software. He has now established a company called Audio Sounds Pty Ltd to push for his selector to be market-ready.