Getting started, need help with set-up and gear
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Getting started, need help with set-up and gear Posted on: 08.01.2012 by Daria Hogoboom Alright so I've been looking into DJ'ing and it seems fun and I'm willing to give it a try. I've been looking into a time-coded Vinyl setup as it interests me the most. Though I have several questions on it:1. I'm unsure whether or not the vinyls actually hold the songs or you are getting the music to play from Mp3's on your computer which are then loaded into your software of choice and the vinyl's are there just for the scratching and feel of vinyls while having the convience of digital Djing or that you need to find the Vinyls with the music at record stores and such? 2. What would be the best software for a time-coded vinyl setup, like is there one particularily designed with it, or the ones most compatible? 3. I'm on a low budget here so what are some brand names i could look into that at least give me a decent quality while still remaining relatively cheap, for mixers, time-coded vinyls, software, speakers, and headphones? I know I'm asking a lot but for anyone to respond with links and helpful information I'd be really grateful . | |
| Audrey Pinda 18.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
I skimped and saved, bought used stuff off of craigslist. And I still ended up paying more for my setup than I originally had planned. 1200 MK2's - $150 for the pair, $225 for repairs (on both). Total = 375 for both Rane TTM-56 - $250 for the mixer Road Cases for the TT's and Mixer - ~$100 each. Total = $300 I hadn't really planned on the road cases in my budget, but I'm glad I bought them. Total came out to be about $925 + gas traveling all over the place to get stuff. Add Serato SL1 in, which I got a deal on from a friend, and I spent well over $1000 for my setup. And I consider it fairly well bargain bought. Turntables and cheap don't go hand in hand. |
| Ladonna Schlender 09.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by ebilbeats
Giving people the absolute maximum you can spend will give you much more accurate and realistic suggestions. |
| Minerva Pitney 08.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by ebilbeats
The records play MP3s from your computer m8, as far as which one to choose from, my opinion is to get a seriously basic (probably free trial type) programme to try DJing out on before you splash the cash out on a more pro setup! unless ur minted of course! just to see if you like it and wanna pursue it further! try this video to see what the differences are, i use traktor and im into house music, serato as far as i believe is more for hip hop / scratching but hey, im no expert! see what DJ Qbert says! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTj-L7EKCL8 |
| Daria Hogoboom 08.01.2012 | Alright so I've been looking into DJ'ing and it seems fun and I'm willing to give it a try. I've been looking into a time-coded Vinyl setup as it interests me the most. Though I have several questions on it: 1. I'm unsure whether or not the vinyls actually hold the songs or you are getting the music to play from Mp3's on your computer which are then loaded into your software of choice and the vinyl's are there just for the scratching and feel of vinyls while having the convience of digital Djing or that you need to find the Vinyls with the music at record stores and such? 2. What would be the best software for a time-coded vinyl setup, like is there one particularily designed with it, or the ones most compatible? 3. I'm on a low budget here so what are some brand names i could look into that at least give me a decent quality while still remaining relatively cheap, for mixers, time-coded vinyls, software, speakers, and headphones? I know I'm asking a lot but for anyone to respond with links and helpful information I'd be really grateful . |
| Jerry Montella 20.01.2012 | Ill agree with smittten on his post, I dive in and bought time code about a litte over a year agg! I started with Serato enjoyed it, had tons of late evening fun with it, but it is limiting on what you can do. Serato is strait foward DJ software, a pure turntablist program. This past summer I bought an S4 cause I wanted more flexablity with FX and loops and I have to say I do not regret the purchase in any way, except I wish I would not have sold my TT and mixer. Nothing about this hobby or profession is cheap, so it all comes down to what you want out of it.. |
| Len Lukawski 20.01.2012 | I got a pair of vestax pdx2000 that I will sell for $200. One works just fine, the other needs feet, platter and possibly new motor - hence $200. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_o8a...4eAUAAAAAAAFAA |
| Sam Hanno 20.01.2012 | http://www.ebay.com/itm/Full-DJ-Setu...#ht_500wt_1226 hop on it if you can. everything you need but headphones. PDX2000 aren't techs in that they're not the industry standard, but they're fine decks all the same. might be little wierd on 1200s in a club for the first time, but same skillz apply. and the ttm56, one of the best you can have |
| Sherry Nyblom 19.01.2012 | I spin techno, but use serato. Its not true that only hip-hop and scrqtch djs use serato and edm djs traktor. All depends what you want from your dvs. I can recommend serato, but its more expensive at first then traktor (but all updates free unlike traktor). And if you get sl1, keep in mind no i-series cpu for you on windows platform. |
| Len Lukawski 18.01.2012 | DVS is certainly more expensive than the controller route. What's best for you depends on what you want to do and how committed you really are. Getting cheap stuff now can often be false economy. Take a short stroll though these boards and there are hundreds of stories from people who bought low-end and found themselves boxed in with months. Also realize that if you get to that point you'll be punting your gear for a lot less than you paid for it. If you are allergic to rants, click away now As for starting off on DVS being "bold" (sorry whoever said that) that's absolute garbage. That's how people got into this and learned how to mix and scratch for decades before controllers came along. I look at it like driving. Learning with manual gears maybe harder but it means you can drive anything. If you suddenly had to drive an automatic you'd pick it up in a few minutes. Have you seen what happens when automatic drivers "try stick" for the first time? It's not pretty. Don't get me wrong, I am a massive S4 fan, I like and use SYNC and whatever else makes sense at the time. The difference is I can mix on turntables which means I can walk int any club with a pair of decks and just get going. Learning on controllers in almost no way prepares you for mixing on turntables - yes you can turn snap, sync and quant off but it's not the same - sorry. If you dont mind only ever driving automatics - that's great. If you wanna drive anything that comes your - don't be scared of DVS BE BOLD |
| Sam Hanno 18.01.2012 | damn $250 for ttm56? wish i'd found that deal... anyway, i was in a similar boat, secondhand 1200s off of craigslist, they needed repairs (still do actually). don't forget to budget for cartridges and headphones. the xone xd-40 are solid and theres a NYC joint that sells em for about $50 on ebay. you can get shure m44-7 carts with headshell on amazon for $70 a piece. well over a grand for me, after TSD2. Do yourself a favor and find a pair of the exact same record with some simple instrumental beats for learning to beatmatch. a lot of scratch records have one or two instrumental beats on them Keep something in mind about DVS software. the Serato SL1 doesn't play nicely on a windows 7/Intel core PC (lack of support for USB 1.1 architecture). some people have found workarounds, but they're not guaranteed, as i found out the hard way, and i was lucky that the ebay guy i bought from accepted the return. |
| Audrey Pinda 18.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
I skimped and saved, bought used stuff off of craigslist. And I still ended up paying more for my setup than I originally had planned. 1200 MK2's - $150 for the pair, $225 for repairs (on both). Total = 375 for both Rane TTM-56 - $250 for the mixer Road Cases for the TT's and Mixer - ~$100 each. Total = $300 I hadn't really planned on the road cases in my budget, but I'm glad I bought them. Total came out to be about $925 + gas traveling all over the place to get stuff. Add Serato SL1 in, which I got a deal on from a friend, and I spent well over $1000 for my setup. And I consider it fairly well bargain bought. Turntables and cheap don't go hand in hand. |
| Yong Aptekar 17.01.2012 | DVS is expensive. You are looking at 2 turntables, a mixer, and a sound card. Easily $1000. What's your budget? |
| Ladonna Schlender 09.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by ebilbeats
Giving people the absolute maximum you can spend will give you much more accurate and realistic suggestions. |
| Nereida Jasnoch 09.01.2012 | Starting out with time control vinyl sounds pretty crazy and bold to me. If you wanna play it safe (like most of us) get a decent but still cheap controller (Hercules served me very well) BUT if you have your mind set on time control after weeks of research and there is still no doubt in your mind, go for the time control. Another thing: (this is just my personal view on this) Traktor: (wich I prefer) More features, more possibilities, sample decks etc... Serato: A more simplistic approach to mixing, the focus is on the 2 decks, the very essence if you will. But basicly the time control will perform just fine with both, but you need do find out what you prefer in terms of the other stuff like effects, user interface,... Last but not least: I could write a lot about this but I am tired as hell, so I'll keep it short: Low budget and time control they don't mix IMO |
| Darby Whittey 09.01.2012 | I'm believeing since you're new you'd be better off going with a digital controller first, for simplicity, so you can get the hang of mixing, and playing with audio, because it is really easy to learn on, and if you're anything like me if things are really hard at first you won't pursue. i would have never starting dj'ing on cdj's because matching beats takes time to learn, and i would have given up. but because i started with digital i was able to have fun at first just playing music with sync, before i learned how to beat match on cdj's. people who use vinyl are incredible, that takes much more time to learn how to beat match and get going. if you really are on a budget, and as in budget i mean like $2000 or less, you'd better go digital. because it'll be hard to find quality gear for less than that. |
| Daria Hogoboom 08.01.2012 | Thanks DjGhille, I'm more into electronica in general myself, but a slight hip-hop feel isn't bad either. Anyways yeah I've been messing around with the free version of Virtual DJ and it's pretty neat. I might end up getting Serato over the price difference cuz i can't afford to be picky. Oh well, thanx anyways for the info. |
| Minerva Pitney 08.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by ebilbeats
The records play MP3s from your computer m8, as far as which one to choose from, my opinion is to get a seriously basic (probably free trial type) programme to try DJing out on before you splash the cash out on a more pro setup! unless ur minted of course! just to see if you like it and wanna pursue it further! try this video to see what the differences are, i use traktor and im into house music, serato as far as i believe is more for hip hop / scratching but hey, im no expert! see what DJ Qbert says! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTj-L7EKCL8 |
| Alix Schambers 08.01.2012 | i'm pretty new to this stuff as well but the two industry wide known software/hardware interface are Serato and Traktor. You can start your search there and i'm sure you'll find more information than you can handle. If you're in a real tight budget then consider digital controller to start with before investing hard earned cash on gears. |
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