A company in Cardiff have developed an innovative solution to annoying the neighbours at two in the morning by coming up with the means to create a silent disco.
The GX Group, in conjunction with silent disco provider Silent Arena, have created unique wireless headphones that ravers can use at a silent disco. But the difference with these headphones is that they could also introduce the concept of multiple DJs playing the same gig at the same time. The coloured diodes on the outside of the headphones would indicate to other dancers which particular DJ a person is listening to at any time. They also have the added effect of creating quite an ‘organic’ lightshow on the dancefloor!
Silent discos are not a new concept, but they are gaining popularity particularly in locations where repeated complaints about the noise of a ‘normal’ disco have been made by local residents. They allow dancers to choose which music they listen to, which is transmitted from the individual DJs via wireless connections. They’re also proving to be increasingly popular at festivals.
The GX Group has developed a system that allows users to flick between three channels, and then visually demonstrate which DJ they’re listening to according to the colour the diodes emit. The final prototype was launched at the Reading Festival in August. And it’s at festivals that the headphones could really come into their own, allowing multiple music tents or stages to co-exist side by side without the horrendous mish-mash of sound that normally results from several tents or stages all competing against one another.
Making things interesting for DJs
DJs could soon find themselves playing to a ‘silent’ crowd, which could be quite disconcerting to start with. But the fact that festival goers and clubbers could effectively choose their favourite DJ and instantly broadcast their preference via coloured headphones could certainly make things ‘interesting’ for DJs as they compete for the affection of the crowds. It could possibly even lead to better DJs, as they’re forced to up their game to get the crowd onside.
It would be wise, however, to check your DJ insurance before becoming involved in a ‘silent disco’, and in particular your public indemnity insurance cover. Studies have shown that wearing headphones for any prolonged period of time and at high volume can cause permanent damage to a person’s hearing. So it would be worth making sure you’re not financially vulnerable should a festival-goer using the new headphones later make a claim for hearing loss.