UDG Review: Creator Digi Hardcase, Urbanite MIDI Controller Flight Bag, Laptop Stand & Digi Trolley

It's been a long time since I've wanted to try out UDG bags and products; the company is known for their good quality products that come highly recommended by the world's best DJs. Finally a long-awaited shipment of products from UDG arrived on my doorstep, including the UDG Creator DIGI Hardcase Large, the UDG Urbanite MIDI Controller flight bag, the UDG Creator Series Laptop/Controller stand and the UDG Ultimate Digi Trolley to Go. While it's true that I've heard good things, I was curious to find out for myself if the UDG products are really deserving of their reputation, and slightly higher than average price tag. Here's the lowdown on a few of their hot new products.

UDG Creator Digi Hardcase Large

This is a special lightweight case developed especially for the travelling DJ/producer. It's constructed from durable compression molded EVA material, which is durable yet won't weigh down your gig bag. The Creator Digi Hardcase opens like a CD book, and inside there's enough room for two external hard drives, cables, flashlights, USB keys and any other small items that a DJ would need to take with them. The case comes with a 7-Port aluminum USB hub, 1 x 5V/2A power adapter with four exchangeable adapter plugs for Europe, the US, the UK, and Australia. Each power adapter comes neatly secured in their into their own nylon compartments, and the case has elastic straps inside it that will hold a DJ's necessities neatly in place. Overall, it's a well designed case for travelling Djs that will keep hard drives and other valuables protected while on the road and ensure that important items stay organized.

UDG Urbanite MIDI Controller FlightBag 

UDG has launched a new line of bags called the Urbanite series. This is a great new line of bags designed for DJs and producers on the go and is especially oriented towards those who use controllers. I tried out the Controller Flight bag in medium, which fits the Pioneer DJ-SB, NI Komplete S25, Traktor S4 MK2/S2 MK2, Numark Mixtrack Pro II, Reloop Beatpad, Akai APC40 MK2, and the Vestax VCI-400DJ. The case is has a stylish, modern design and is made from good quality materials. The outer shell is a softer fabric that's re-inforced with thicker materials inside, and the main compartment of the case has a high density egg crate interior padding which will protect controllers. 

One feature I really liked about the case is that it comes with removable padding, so the size of the internal protective area inside the case can be tailored to your specific controller. It's a good idea for UDG to include these removable pads, as there are already so many controllers available, and new ones are released all the time! Some of the other features of the case include a zippered pouch on the front, with two zippered nylon pockets and two fabric pockets inside. Essentials like headphones, and hard drives can be easily stored in these area. On the back of the bag, there's a large zippered pouch for your laptop to fit into and a pocket on the back of that bag that's large enough to hold a few records.

The bag can be carried with you on the go by the heavy-duty handle, or by the removable shoulder strap. Overall, this is a great bag for the road that features a cool minimal design and is built to last. If you don't have a DJ controller, you can use it to transport smaller MIDI controllers and your laptop stand. The Urbanite MIDI controller series of bags are available in medium and large sizes and would be a good investment for those travelling to gigs.

UDG Laptop/Controller Stand

I liked this stand instantly when I opened up the box; the first thing I saw was the black neoprene zippered sleeve that features the UDG logo. I'm big on carrying cases for equipment, so this was definitely a great first impression! When I opened the case, I found the foldable aircraft grade anodized aluminum stand inside. It's worth noting that the carrying case features elastics that hold the stand and sub tray in place, which comes in handy for keeping stand secured during transportation. 

The stand unfolds easily, and the angle can be adjusted for both the top laptop compartment and the bottom two legs. The height of the stand is also adjustable, which is a good feature that will help DJs be more comfortable during sets. There's a separate detachable sub tray that can be secured onto the stand that's capable of holding a Traktor/Serato box, sound card or FX unit. The stand is well constructed, and will withstand to the rigors of the road. It's easy to quickly setup and tear down, as none of the main parts of the stand are detachable. The UDG laptop stand will fit 13”–18” laptops, iPad or controllers. Overall, this is a good choice for a laptop stand for club and mobile DJ and controllerists.

UDG Ultimate Digi Trolley to Go 

I feel like this bag was a long time coming to me, since it's been a few years since I've actually owned a DJ bag with wheels on it! The UDG Ultimate Digi Trolley to Go is a solid, rectangular type multi-purpose bag for the travelling DJ. Inside the bag are four compartments; the largest is big enough to hold your mixer or controller. It fits the Pioneer DDJ-SP1/WeGO2, the Rane Sixty-Four, Ableton Push, NI Traktor Z2, Reloop Mixage IE, Vestax Spin 2 and the Novation Twitch. The large compartment also features a removable padded divider with pockets for your headphones and hard drive. There's a second padded area behind the main compartment for easy laptop storage and the top of the bag features a nylon mesh zippered pocket that's cleverly concealed behind a padded area that bears the UDG logo.

The front of the bag features two smaller pockets (the larger of these has two mesh pockets inside) for storing smaller DJ items, or perhaps even a few snacks for the road! Best of all, the bag has two inline wheels and can be easily rolled behind you using the two-stage trolley handle. If you'd prefer to carry it, there's also a secure handle on top of the case and a longer detachable strap. This is a great case for the travelling DJ; its cutting edge design and portability will appeal to those who are looking for quality, style and wheels on their baggage.

Overall, this is a great line of products and my first experience with their entire line has been very positive. UDG is producing high-quality products for DJs that will help them to safely transport their equipment from place to place in style. Their product lines are well-designed, and it's obvious a lot of thought has gone into creating products that will be useful for DJs on the road. If you haven't tried out anything from this cool brand yet, I highly recommended trying out one of the many UDG products. Your DJ gear will thank you!