This one is short and sweet. The ever-increasing use of computer firepower in the live sound biz has resulted in a plethora of laptops on gigs.
It is to the point that I almost never go out on a gig without at least one, and there are often three or four – one running Smaart, one serving as front end control for the system processors and one for playing walk-in music on iTunes and checking FaceBook during the show. (Oh, don't pretend you don't do it. I have been on major tours and seen mixers monitoring eBay auctions…).
One problem with this abundance of processing power is where to put the damn things. As laptops multiply, that footprint at FOH is shrinking. I have seen some big shows lately where the FOH position consists of a console and maybe one outboard rack. Not a lot of surface space for a laptop, and forget about two.
Another very real issue is glare and being able to see the screen. I have become increasingly aware of this since moving to Vegas and doing outdoor gigs in the desert. The heat itself is hard enough on gear, but a direct hit of Mojave sun makes it way worse, and makes seeing the screen all-but-impossible.
So I always love to find something that takes care of a problem simply and elegantly and economically. The DigiNest fits that description very well.
Let's get the first part out of the way. Yes, the name could be a lot cooler and much more descriptive of what it is. I hate the name, too. But let's look past that. What you get is a well-constructed carry-bag, and inside is a heavy-duty tri-pod stand that looks like maybe it is the base for a music stand. At the top of the stand is a wedge-shaped attachment that slides into the bottom of a metal platform that sits horizontally. So you get a table, not a vertical music stand.
The other item in the bag is a black nylon shroud attached to a collapsible frame that terminates in "feet." On the top of the table surface are a series of channeled blocks that accept the "feet" of the shroud frame. Bottom line is that in about 2 minutes, you can unpack and set up a height-adjustable table covered by a black nylon kind of tent that is roomy enough for my 17-inch-screen MacBook Pro. And if you still have glare issues, there is an attached piece that is kind of a cape that you can throw over your head and shoulders to really block out the light (or to keep others from seeing that you are cruising questionable websites when you say you are tuning the system…). With the "cape" on, you kind of look like one of those 19th century photographers working under a shroud. But it works.
The "tent" only attaches to the platform at the "feet," which means there are built-in "blow-thru" vents on the sides and the back. In a Vegas breeze (which most of the rest of the world would call a high-wind warning), I still have to put sandbags over the tripod legs, but I have yet to have the DigiNest go sideways on me.
And the really cool thing is that you can get it direct for less than a hundred bucks. When was the last time that you found something that really made life easier that cost less than $100? Now, if we could just get them to change the name…
DigiNest Laptop Stand and Shade from Bili, Inc.
What it is: A glare-cutting stand for your laptop.
Who it's for: Laptop users who'd rather not use their laptops on their lap tops.
Pros: Solves FOH space crunch, hood helps cut desert glare, website stares.
Cons: Not everybody is thrilled with the DigiNest name.
How much: $99.99
