Bob and Jack met when studying at UWE. Since then they've been in a band together and along with others started Revinyl Sessions in 2015. The sessions run every two weeks in pubs around Bristol and over the last two years they've built a small community which bond over their appreciation for vinyl.

Bob and Jack believe that vinyl is an excellent way to bridge the gap between the young and the old. Doesn't matter if you're a DJ or just playing your favourite records, vinyl gets people talking. At Revinyl, they have watched people develop over time - going from playing vinyl in their bedroom to having a go in a supportive but public environment, alongside a guest DJ. 

From their wide experience of being sound engineers, tinkering with technology and and teaching others to DJ. Bob and Jack feel passionately that mixer technology hasn't developed as far as a lot of other live sound kit.

- They see big problems in the build quality of current industry standard mixers. Many are unreliable and break easily which can be a disaster during live performance.

- Mixers can present a steep learning curve for beginners and many DJs often lack knowledge when it comes to signal processing and gain structure.

- Clubs and venues generally always need to hire a sound engineer to babysit the DJ, gain staging the sound.  

- Mixers all tend to follow the same pattern in terms of controllers and functions. This can be a hindrance for DJ's with different acessability needs. 

There are plenty of possibilities for DJ mixers to be more accessible and versatile. With this in mind Bob and Jack want to make a platform that is as accessible as possible, that allows performers to create the best quality listening experience for their audience. 

- If you had a mixer that automatically fixed problems with gain structure and signal processing (sort of like a safe mode) this would save sound engineers a lot of work and ensure that visiting DJ's lacking in experience don't cause sound problems for venues.

- They hope to develop something that isn't limited by the controls on the surface, but that users can adapt to fit their style. Creating a DJ mixer that is totally programmable to fit the needs of whoever is using it.

- Jack has being working with a DJ suffering from hearing loss and is developing a program that works for them. A member from the audience that works with the Beautiful Octopus Club Night cited that accessibility needs can be as simple as need to change the colours of the levels lights or making labels pictorial rather than word based.

The project is still very much in the ideas stage and the first steps it to get together a basic bit of software that they can start testing their ideas on.

During these early stages Bob and Jack are looking for plenty of ideas and feedback.

They will be starting to build their prototype soon!

The next Revinyl Sessions is at The Bell Pub, next Wednesday from 8:30pm. More info on their Facebook Page.

Posted by guest blogger Tom Dalling (Watershed Cinema Usher)