Frequently asked questions and answers about our Silent Disco rentals, equipment, policies and your amazing renting experience!
We’ve tried to include every detail that you might need to know when working with us below. Choose your category and find your answers to all of your silent disco party planning questions.
Our Silent Disco Rental Packages:
What comes in the box when we rent from Silent Disco Rental?
Each silent disco equipment rental package we send out includes the exact quantity of wireless headphones you want,
A multiple-headphone charger,
All three transmitters/channels are included with any size orde.
A prepaid shipping label is directly beneath the original label for the return trip.
Any necessary adapters needed to connect and operate your silent disco event seamlessly are included.
If you are NOT hiring a professional DJ, (steaming the music from Spotify/Apple Music/etc on your cell phone/tablet/laptop, we include a microphone with each transmitter.
Every rental of 50 or more includeds a complimentary back-up transmitter for use in the unlikely case of one failing.
There will also be a packing sheet – so that you know what should be in the box. Let us know right away if there are discrepansies.
On each packing sheet there are complete instructions for operation and on each transmitter are brief instructions for operation
Do I need to keep the box they came in?
Please keep the box and use it for the return trip.
Also the location of the prepaid return label is directly beneath the original label, which is in the shipping label pouch.
If you discard the box, you will have discarded the prepaid return label.
Switch out that prepaid return label right away.
Make sure the return label’s Bar Code is completely visible for the FedEx equipment to read.
Silent Disco Rental time-frame for shipping, returning and ordering:
How soon do I need to have my reservation in?
We prefer that you have your reservation in 10 days before your event.
That being said, Our website accepts rental orders up to 5 days before your event.
We need a minimum of five days in order to give you free shipping both ways.
We do have access to overnight and 2-day shipping options, but we pass that extra cost onto you.
Once you are within the 5 day window, we may need to charge extra in order to use two-day or overnight shipping in order to get your rentals to you on time.
If you are in the same region as our warehouse in upstate New York, we may still be able to give you free shipping.
Do you accomodate last-minute rush orders?
Yes we do.
We offer free shipping both ways if you order is in 5 days before your event.
But we usually need to charge for overnight or 2-day shipping if your event is closer than 5 days and we pass that cost onto you.
Additonally, our automaic ordering on the website stops you when your event is 5 days or less away.
So you need to contact us directly to place your order manually.
Text us at 607-427-6659 or email us at djjohnnyonly@gmail.com in order to make a manual reservation.
When will my rentals arrive?
We ship them to arrive within 2 to 6 days before your event. *
We do that to ensure they get to you on time. Shipping companies do not always deliver when they say they will. We want them to have room for unexpected delays.
We also do that to give you a chance to do a complete soundcheck well in advance of your event.
Do not wait until the day of your event to do a complete sound check.
If any of your equipment was broken during shipping, we need at least time to overnight you a replecement.
If you wait until the day of your event to do a sound check, we will not have time to overnight you replacement parts.
*If you have placed a last-minute Rush order, your rentals may arrive only one day before or even on the day of your event.
What shipping company do you use and is a signature required for delivery?
We use FedEx and a signature is not required to accept delivery unless you tell us that you want a signature required.
Note that you are responsible if the boxes are stolen off your porch.
So, if you have us shipping to a questionable neighborhood, you should request that we make a signature required for delivery.
When do we need to return the rentals?
You need to get them back into the hands of FedEx within 2 business days after your event.
Remember to switch the labels (to the prepaid return labels that we supply) and to peel off any stickers from the first trip.
Expecially remove any stickers that FedEx may put over the label pouch that obscures the prepaid return barcode.
If they have a sticker covering the new barcode, (typically that sticker will be a barcode from the delivery TO you) the box will be returned to you instead of coming home to me.
For best results, drop the boxes off at a FedEx pickup place or a FedEx partner. (Most Dollar General stores are FedEx partners – they will accept your boxes and get them to FedEx)
You can also call 1 800 FedEx in order to arrange for a pickup. They will stop by your place and pick up the rentals from you for no additional charge.
That sometimes takes a few days and can be a secrutiy risk if you need to leave the boxes unattended for FedEx to pick them up.
Remember that you are responsible for any losses before FedEx picks them up.
Where are the prepaid return labels located?
The prepaid return labels are located directly beneath the original labels and in the same label pouch.
You open the purple flap, pull out the top label and leave the bottom label (which is the prepaid return label) in the pouch.
Make sure the NEW barcode is showing clearly. If any stickers are covering it (especially stickers that have barcodes on them) they MUST be peeled off.
Otherwise FedEx will simply deliver the box right back to you. (If their equipment can’t ‘see’ the new prepaid return barcode, They will return it to you.)
Can I drop off the returns at a UPS place?
No.
Unless of course, that place also handles FedEx.
If there is any doubt, ask the person at the front counter.
Make sure you get (and save) a receipt when you drop the returns off!
Do I need to get a receipt when I drop the rentals off for the return trip?
Yes, always get a receipt when you drop off the rentals.
Save it.
And better yet, immediately take a photo of it and send it to me at djjohnnyonly@gmail.com or text it to me at 607-427-6659
Do I need to keep the box they came in?
Please keep the box and use it for the return trip.
Also the location of the prepaid return label is directly beneath the original label, which is in the shipping label pouch.
If you discard the box, you will have discarded the prepaid return label.
Switch out that prepaid return label right away.
Make sure the return label’s Bar Code is completely visible for the FedEx equipment to read.
How do I repack the box?
Please attempt to repack the boxes the way they came.
With the smaller boxes, consider taking a photo of the manner in which they are packed as you unpack them. Refer to that photo for your repack.
With our larger boxes of 72, there is a photo/diagram on the flap that shows how to repack.
Repacking them in the same way that we shipped them protects the equipment from breaking during the trip.
Not only does this keep the headphones safe but the manner of packing is 4 rows of 6 equals one layer.
So without counting, you know that one layer is 24 headphones.
Two layers is 48 headphones and 3 layers is 72 headphones.
This saves you a ton of time counting because as long as you stick to the pattern, you only need to count layers and boxes instead of each individual headphone.
Cost Payment Details
How much does it cost to rent Silent Disco headphones?
Your cost for the rental of a 20 headphone silent disco system is $233.25 including all three transmitters and shipping both ways.
Rental of 30 = $278.75 including all three transmitters and shipping both ways.
40 = $323.85
50 = $368.35
75 = $479.60
100=$590.85
150=$808.35
200=$1025.85
300=$1455.85
500=$2305.85
Each quantity is priced to include all three transmitters and shipping both ways.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Our website automation takes any credit card and processes them through Stripe Payments.
Purchase orders can be accommodated with large corporations and public institutions. You will need to contact us by email in order to set that up.
When do you need final payment?
If you use our website to place your reservation in our automated-one-stop rental system of www.silent-disco-rental.com, we collect your returnable security right along with the rent at the moment you place your reservation.
That being said, -If you want to change the quantity that you rent, we do allow that and will adjust your rent accordingly.
You will only pay for the quantity that you want us to ship to you.
What is the security deposit amount for the headphone rental?
We return your security as soon as the rentals arrive back home to our warehouse – assuming that there are no losses – of course.
The amount deducted from the returned security is on the last page of our rental agreement.
The most important one is $45 for a lost headphone.
The returnable security deposit is different depending on the size of your order. For your convenience, I have listed it below.
below
In most cases, we collect and hold the security amount upfront. Yes, you have to have the money on hand, but assuming that nothing goes wrong, I will be returning it to you.
If headphones are lost during the rental, they are billed at $45 per headphone and taken from the security.
When do you need payment of the security deposit?
The security deposit must be paid up front with the final payment.
What is the headphone shipping fee?
Free!
Shipping of the headphones costs you zero dollars! There is no shipping fee for you!
I pay shipping for you both ways as long as you make your reservation more than 5 days before your event.
When you get your packages, there will be a prepaid label in the sleeve under the original. You simply switch that label out. Then drop them off at your local FedEx office or contact FedEx to have them pick it up.
The only time you pay for shipping is if you put in a rush/last minute order. In that case we pass the expedited shipping cost on to you.
Headphones
Are these the ‘light-up’ type of headphones?
Yes, they are Green, Red and Blue.
Both Ear Cups are illuminated by bright LED’s.
They show green, red, or blue depending upon which of their three channels are activated.
Hi, I’m Johnny Only and I am holding the exact headphones that we send you.
Here is our mascot, Pascal, modeling the different colors.
Do I need three devices in order to use all three channels?
Yes, You need to connect one separate device to each of the three transmitters/channels that we give you in order to hear music on all three channels.
Do I have to use all three channels?
No, You can just use one, or two.
Remember that you select the unused channel on your headphones, you will hear static on the channel(s)/transmitter(s) that you are not using.
But you won’t hear it if you don’t select that channel on the headphones.
The sound on the channels that you are using will be clear and strong even if you only use one or two.
Can I choose what music to listen to?
Our clients use the streaming platform of their choice to stream the music of their choice.
Spotify is our preferred and Apple Music is a close second.
The user interface on both is extremely easy to use for all ages and they both provide a family/multi-account plan that will power all three transmitters. *
*(You still need three devices and three accounts, but the family plan gives you multiple accounts that can be played on multiple devices simultaneously.)
Our clients also have good succes with YouTube and Amazon Music and SoundCloud and literally any streaming audio/video platform out there.
Are the transmitters pre-loaded with music?
No, Our clients use the streaming platform of their choice to stream the music of their choice.
Spotify is our preferred and Apple Music is a close second.
The user interface on both is extremely easy to use for all ages and they both provide a family/multi-account plan that will power all three transmitters. *
*(You still need three devices and three accounts, but the family plan gives you multiple accounts that can be played on multiple devices simultaneously.)
Our clients also have good succes with YouTube and Amazon Music and SoundCloud and literally any streaming audio/video platform out there.
Do you provide playlists?
Yes we do!
They are free to you and we invite you to use them!
Can I use silent disco to teach yoga or other classes?
Yes, you can. (You transmit your voice and your music at the same time and on the same transmitter/channel)
The transmitters for personal devices (cell phone/tablet/laptop) is battery powered and can fit into your belt or pocket. (The TX-60RF)
You would use the mic that comes with it, clipped onto your collar.
You would use the separate volume wheel to control the volume of your voice over the music. You would engage the mute button when not talking.
The whole class would stay on a single channel.
This would work for any type of class format from Zumba to Spin Class to Yoga to meditation.
What controls are on each headphone?
There is an on/off switch, a volume wheel, and a three position switchable channel selector.
Earpieces light up Red, Blue, or Green depending upon which of the three channels you select.
What is the reception distance for the headphones?
Under optimum circumstances the reception distance is 300 meters in any direction from the transmitter.
That is more than three football fields. Also, because these use FM signals, they work through obstacles like walls. It doesn’t have to be line of sight.
What if I can’t get the music loud enough in the headphones?
This usually means that the device playing the music is not turned all the way up.
If the music is playing on a phone, laptop or tablet, make sure that the volume is turned all the way up on both the hardware and the software. (turn your headphones down before you do that)
If it is a DJ-controller/audio-mixer-board, that doesn’t need to be turned all of the way up, but it still does need to be turned up higher than you have it.
Make sure the DJ keeps her Silent Disco headphone volume at no higher than 50%. If she has headphones much higher, then she is going to be setting the controller/mixer/laptop/phone/tablet output volume too soft. As you can imagine, the dancers always want their volume higher than the DJ. (So if the DJ keeps their headphones at 50% volume, that allows the dancers to turn their own headphones up significantly higher.)
No, you can’t change the batteries. They are rechargeable lithium-Ion Batteries that are hardwired in.
They come to you fully charged so you don’t have to charge them unless your party is longer than ten hours.
They have proprietary charging ports so you can’t recharge them without our chargers.
We do include a charger that will charge 16 headphones simultaneously with each order- just in case your party does go longer than 10 hours
Headphone Charger
How do I recharge the headphone batteries?
Your rentals arrive to you fully charged. You won’t need to recharge the headphone batteries unless your party is longer than ten hours.
However, we do include a complimentary battery charger, which charges 16 headsets at a time.
You plug the charger into the wall, connect the charger cord and plug in the headphone to that. It will glow red while it is charging and green when it is done.
The headphones operate for ten hours on a single charge.
It takes 3 hours to charge the headphones to capacity if they are completely drained when you start.
Here is a video that I made for you to give you visual detail: https://youtu.be/1CFfvNB8hE0
Are Silent Disco Headphones disinfected/virus safe?
You can play music into the Silent Disco Headphone system via Bluetooth by connecting your cell phone/tablet/laptop to the Transmitter via Bluetooth.
But you can’t connect your phone/tablet/laptop to the headphones via Bluetooth without our transmitters being in the signal chain.
So you can run playlists into the transmitter via Bluetooth and the transmitter sends the audio to the headphones via FM frequency wireless radio waves.
But the signal from the transmitter to the headphones is an FM signal.
So, the headphones are FM, not Bluetooth.
Transmitters
Do I need three devices in order to use all three channels?
Yes, You need to connect one separate device to each of the three transmitters/channels that we give you in order to hear music on all three channels.
Do I have to use all three channels?
No, You can just use one, or two.
Remember that you select the unused channel on your headphones, you will hear static on the channel(s)/transmitter(s) that you are not using.
But you won’t hear it if you don’t select that channel on the headphones.
The sound on the channels that you are using will be clear and strong even if you only use one or two.
Can I choose what music to listen to?
Our clients use the streaming platform of their choice to stream the music of their choice.
Spotify is our preferred and Apple Music is a close second.
The user interface on both is extremely easy to use for all ages and they both provide a family/multi-account plan that will power all three transmitters. *
*(You still need three devices and three accounts, but the family plan gives you multiple accounts that can be played on multiple devices simultaneously.)
Our clients also have good succes with YouTube and Amazon Music and SoundCloud and literally any streaming audio/video platform out there.
Are the transmitters pre-loaded with music?
No, Our clients use the streaming platform of their choice to stream the music of their choice.
Spotify is our preferred and Apple Music is a close second.
The user interface on both is extremely easy to use for all ages and they both provide a family/multi-account plan that will power all three transmitters. *
*(You still need three devices and three accounts, but the family plan gives you multiple accounts that can be played on multiple devices simultaneously.)
Our clients also have good succes with YouTube and Amazon Music and SoundCloud and literally any streaming audio/video platform out there.
Do you provide playlists?
Yes we do!
They are free to you and we invite you to use them!
There is a microphone that comes by default with our TX-60RF. (Each transmitter/channel comes with its own mic that only broadcasts to listeners of that transmitter/channel- You cannot broadcast to all three channels using just one microphone. You have to use each transmitter’s mic to speak to each transmitter’s listeners.)
It is a lapel mic. You clip it to your collar.
It has it’s own separate volume control and a mute button.
Always have the mute button engaged when you are not talking on the microphone.
*This only applies if you are using your cell phone/tablet/laptop to stream the music. If you are using a pro DJ with DJ controller/Audio mixer, you would not receive a mic from us because you would use a professional mic that comes with the DJ.
Can I use silent disco to teach yoga or other classes?
Yes, you can. (You transmit your voice and your music at the same time and on the same transmitter/channel)
The transmitters for personal devices (cell phone/tablet/laptop) is battery powered and can fit into your belt or pocket. (The TX-60RF)
You would use the mic that comes with it, clipped onto your collar.
You would use the separate volume wheel to control the volume of your voice over the music. You would engage the mute button when not talking.
The whole class would stay on a single channel.
This would work for any type of class format from Zumba to Spin Class to Yoga to meditation.
How long does it take to set everything up?
It will take about 5 minutes to get get everything plugged in if you don’t count opening up the boxes.
It will take you longer to decide what music to play than it will to plug in the three transmitters.
(If you are using personal devices such as your phone, tablet or laptop, the transmitters are battery powered and the connection can be Bluetooth, so you can be completely wireless if you want)
This video gives you an overview for plugging into personal devices like your phone/tablet or laptop: https://youtu.be/cuLre-54W6I
The only thing to “set-up” is to power on the transmitters and pair them with your music playing device via Bluetooth. (That is if you are using personal devices like a cell phone/tablet/laptop)
If you are using professional DJ controllers/Audio mixers, you connect them via audio cables.
So it is truly plug-n-play technoloty
Oh yeah, you have to make sure you turn up the volume on your device and press play.
And once you plug them in, there is nothing more to do. They are ready to go.
This 3 minute video gives you an overview for plugging into professional devices such as a dj would use. https://youtu.be/l3ymUKY7jKM
What devices can I plug into the transmitters?
Cell phones, tablets, laptops, mp3 players, Alexa, DJ controllers, Audio mixers and anything with an audio out/headphone out/ or Bluetooth out.
Most of our clients use the bluetooth. It is high quality and easy.
It is the same process as connecting your phone to your earbuds, a car sound system or a bluetooth speaker.
And of course, when you connect to the transmitter(s) via Bluetooth, no headphone jack and no aux chord and no dongle is required.
How loud should the volume be on my device going into the transmitter?
If you are using a phone, iPad, iPod, or computer, start with all of the volumes (both software and hardware) all the way up.
Next turn the volume knob on your headphones to about 50%. Now listen with the headphones and switch channels. If any channel is louder/softer than another, adjust the music-player-device volumes to level the volumes across the channels.
You want all channels transmitting approximately the same volume so that when users switch channels on the headphones, they don’t have to adjust the volume knob.
If you are using a pro DJ mixer/controller, you want to be listening in the headphones while you turn it up. Have your own headphones at about 50% volume when you choose your controller volume. That way, the dancers can turn their own headphones quite a bit higher than you have yours. Dancers need to be able to turn their own headphones up quite a bit louder than the DJ would.
Where should the “off_low_high” button on the transmitter be positioned?
This question refers to the TX-50RF transmitter that is only used with professional devices such as pro dj controllers and audio mixer boards. (Our clients who don’t use DJ’s have the TX-60RF)
Leave it on the “low” setting unless you have a football field sized area you are trying to fill.
The “low” versus “high” refers to signal strength and not to music volume. (Again, it is NOT a volume switch)
It will not affect the music volume but it can negatively affect the transmitters susceptibility to interference from nearby electronics. For example, the clicking noise that can be heard if a live headphone or cell phone gets too near the transmitter can happen more often when on the high setting.
Only use the high setting if you are in a huge area and/or some of the guests are losing reception in their headphones.
The “off” position turns the unit off, but you can simply unplug the power when done and leave the transmitter switch on “low”.
If you use the high setting, it increases the suscetibility of the transmitters to interference from nearby electronic devices.
Troubleshooting
Can’t get transmitter to pair with my device.
Turn off the transmitter.
Turn it back on.
Press and hold the Bluetooth button until it starts flashing both red and blue (Just blue is NOT enough)
Open Bluetooth menue on your device, scan for available devices
Select TX-60RF
Points to remember:
Don’t use both the aux cable and Bluetooth. If you are using the aux cable, don’t use Bluettooth – likewise, if you are using Bluetooth, don’t use the aux cable.
You will need three devices to use all three transmitters. In other words, one device per transmitter.
When pairing, turn on, and pair, just one device to one transmitter at once. In the Bluetooth menu of your device, all the transmitters are labeled TX-60RF, so it is easy to get confused if you turn on a ll the transmitters at once. They will all look the same in the Bluetooth menu. That is why you want to pair them just one at a time.
Intolerable Interference (drop-outs/static) on one or two channels
You probably have two transmitters set to broadcast the same channel frequency.
You can see which channel the transmitter is broadcasting on by the lite LED readout display.
You can change the transmitters broadcast frequency (and the LED display) by pressing the “Channel” button.
The transmitters we sent you are color coded as Blue, Red and Green.
Blue Channel transmitter LED should read “1”
Red Channel transmitter LED should read “2”
Green Channel transmitter LED should read “3”
If you still have interference, make sure the transmitter(s) are at least 12 inches away for other electronic devices.
Cell phones and Silent Disco Headphones should be kept at least 12 inches away from the transmitters.
Occasionally walkie-talkies and other recreational broadcasting devices within 500 meters of your device can be causing it. This is not a problem with our equipment. Thankfully it rarely happens.
Can’t get the music in the headphones loud enough
Turn up the device volume all the way. In the audio settings of your phone/tablet/laptop, turn the volume to maximum.
Turn up the software volume all the way. In the Spotify, Apple Music or whatever streaming plateform you are using, turn up the software volume in the user interface all the way.
While doing this, turn down you headphone volume to about 50%. That way, your dancers will be able to turn up much louder during the peak excitement of the dancing time.
Nothing but static on one of the headphone channels
This usually means the transmitter that is broadcasting on that channel is turned off or not receiving a signal from the device you have connected to it.
Make sure the transmitter is on. Make sure the LED readout corresponds to the channel you are trouble shooting. Make sure the device connected to it is actually connected and is playing music.
Blue LED should be 1
Red LED should be 2
Green LED should be 3
Not all songs are the same volume on my playlist.
On Spotify, in the settings, make sure that “volume leveling” is turned on.
On Apple Music in the iOS settings, make sure “Sound Check” is turned on.
The volume is not the same across the channels when I switch them.
This is a device volume problem and not a headphone problem.
Set your Silent Disco Headphone volume at half. Leave it there for the rest of the steps.
Go to the Blue Channel’s connected device (the device connected to the first transmitter) and set the device volume (don’t touch your headphone volume) to a comfortably loud level.
Go to the Red Channel’s connected device (the device connected to the second trnasmitter) and set that device volume so that it matches the volume on the Blue channel (without touching your headphone volume).
Go to the Green Channel’s connected device (the device connected to the third trnasmitter) and set that device volume so that it matches the volume on the Blue channel (without touching your headphone volume).
Done!
I hear a burst of static when I turn on the headphone or switch channels
This often goes away after a second and stops completely once the circuit warms up.
These systems use FM frequencies to transmit their audio and momentary static that goes away after a second is not unusual or a cause for alarm.
If it is continous, it is likely caused by the transmitter being turned off or the device is not connected to that transmitter, which is addressed in the static FAQ
I hear occasional ticking in the headphones on one of the channels.
This is typically because you have a silent disco headphone that is turned on too close to the transmitter.
It could also be a cell phone that is too close to the transmitter.
Headphones that are turned on and cell phones should be kept at least 12 inches away from the transmitters.
The music fads out for a minute on a channel and then comes back up
That is because you either just received a text or a call on your phone.
Set your device to “Do not disturb”. That will solve the problem.
When I touch the antenna, I hear a slight change in the audio
This can sometimes happen with FM frequencies (which these are)
Usually it is solved by simply not touching the antenna.
If it seems like it is a problem that does not stop, give us a call or text.
If you have ordered 50 or more headphones, you have a backup transmitter already in your possession.
If you ordered fewer than that, and the antenna is really giving you troubles, and you still have two days before your event, give us a call or text and we will overnight you a replacement transmitter.
Do I need to have three streaming accounts in order to have music on all three transmitters/channels?
Yes, you do.
Only one individual account can run on one device and only one stream can happen from one individual account no matter how many devices you have.
Spotify and Apple Music and most of the other streaming platforms offer a family plan that allows multiple accounts streaming simultaneously.
You will need to have three accounts in order to stream on three devices.
You don’t have to use all three of the channels/transmitters we give you, but if you do use all three, you will need three streaming accounts.
