DJ Set Up Advice (This should be interesting)

[Discotrick]

I have a question for you Digital DJ pros out there. I'm not too familiar with midi mapping and my first question is...does anybody have a good tutorial or link on how to do it properly if I were to use Traktor?

My second question is more gear related. I plan to buy the Stanton SCS3 System and Traktor, but I'm pretty sure I won't be a big fan of the touch strips on the scs3m mixer so can any of you throw some knowledge my way in terms of a suitable replacement for that piece of kit? The way I want to run things is to use the two scs3d decks as normal decks and have the scs3m mixer as some sort of effects pad and then have a midi controller mixer or real mixer at the heart of it so I get to twist some knobs. So far I have an Apple Macbook Pro and the Traktor Pro software and I'm figuring out what gear to put together to make it work. So would this set up work? 2 x Scs3d decks + 1x Scs3m Effects/Mixer + External Mixer/Midi Mixer.

One final thing, what would you add to that set up to really make it fun yet retain its portability?

Fire away. You guys are the shit.

Peace, love & llamas.

-Discotrick

[DJ_Padawan]

First let me say that from my experience there is no right or wrong way to set up your mapping for Traktor. The great thing I like about it is that you can make the software work for you and not the other way around. If you are looking for a great source for mapping then you should check out www.traktorbible.com. There is a lot of valuable information there and will get you started with learning what works best for you and your style.

Second, to address the equipment is kind of a repeat of the first. There is no right or wrong configuration of equipment, it is all about your style and what type of work flow you are looking for.

Here is a few things to keep in mind when deciding what gear to purchase:

1. What style of mixing are you going to be doing? Are you planning on doing a lot of fancy cuts and button mashing like controllerists or will you be doing more traditional beatmatching and sync based songs?

2. What is your level of experience with DJing? Are you new to digital djing? If so then I would say to follow the K.I.S.S. mentality (Keep It Simple Stupid). The more faders, knobs, and buttons you have isn't always a good thing, IMO. Clutter and complex layouts are the quickest way to screwing up a mix, again just my 2 cents. Think of it like getting your first set of decks. You start with the basics and as you become proficient with that then you move on to more complex techniques and tricks. In this case more gear or fancier controllers. Most DJs I know didn't start with the most elaborate setup and try to incorporate everything right off the bat. Get the fundamentals down and expand as your skill grows. That's my advice, take it for what it's worth.

3. If you're planning on keeping it mobile will you be taking it to gigs where there is already a setup and you're adding to it, or are you bringing the entire setup? I've played everything from beach parties to small/medium venues and house parties and space is almost always an issue. The more gear you have the bigger footprint you need and the less space you'll probably have depending on the gig.

4. Mixing externally or internally? Again this comes down to personal preference. If you mix internally then you need more controls to manage those functions. I prefer to mix externally myself. There are plenty of people out there that will debate the benefits of either way but I think in the end it should be about what works best for you. If you can, play around with both ways and see which one you like.

That's my advice, take it as you will. I hope this helps you on your journey into the digital realm.

[Discotrick]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply! To answer some of those questions and maybe narrow things down...

1) I'm going to be doing the more traditional beatmatching and syncing of songs but I'd like to throw in loops and samples to enhance my mixes.

2) I'm relatively new to Digital DJing. I agree with the simplicity part but I'm also considering the next few years and hoping I get something that will still stay current. I don't want my system to go the way of Torq and the Xponent without any updates etc.

3) I'm hoping to be able to bring my gear anywhere from my bedroom to a party in another country to a club.

4) I actually figured out I won't be able to mix externally with a Numark DJ I/O or Audio2DJ and since those are the only soundcards I can afford right now, I'm going to have to say i'll be resorting to internal mixing.

Btw thanks for the headsup on the traktor bible. I wasn't aware that there's a mapping section so I'll consider it for my next book purchase.

[Conall]

You can mix externally with both those soundcards mate, you just route the outputs to seperate channels on a mixer.

[Ryan Leo]

I started a little more then a year ago with traktor and the scs 3 system.

I think before you drop the money on the scs 3 system you should wait for NAMM to happen and look at the new controllers comming out.

I'd say your better off getting a VCI-100 or something. The touch strips wont give you a feel like the knobs and stuff. Once I actually got the hang of it I didnt want to be using touch strips anymore. Now my SCS3 sits in my drawer.

I'm really looking forward to the new pioneer controller myself. Too bad it didnt have VU meters

Good luck with it

[DjWindzOne]

I'd put in my 2 cents. . .but it looks like Padawan answered them!

I have had TOO MANY controllers that I have condensed into 2 main controllers that I use with my 1200's; Novation Dicers and the Korg Nano Kontrol. You don't want to overcrowd your own set-up with thing your not going to use.

I don't want to repeat anything here, but it all comes down to your own style and what you're comfortable with. My studio has a FULL midi capable set-up, and the mobile gigs are condensed to 2 controllers ONLY. "Know the Ledge" and figure what works best for your budget and style.

[joeblack949]

do yourself a huge favor and dont learn on all digital gear, find someoen with a pair of techs and learn to spin vinyl first, or cds. then once you learn to dj by ear not by sight you can move onto all the cool toys. ppl starting out with all the controllers that do everything for them are rushing into things without a proper foundation and training and they never get to develop a style or learn to mix by ear not by their eyes. if you skip that step you'll always be spot on yeah but you'll be missing something.

[TrailerPark]

do yourself a huge favor and dont learn on all digital gear, find someoen with a pair of techs and learn to spin vinyl first, or cds. then once you learn to dj by ear not by sight you can move onto all the cool toys. ppl starting out with all the controllers that do everything for them are rushing into things without a proper foundation and training and they never get to develop a style or learn to mix by ear not by their eyes. if you skip that step you'll always be spot on yeah but you'll be missing something.

Yeah I like this advice! Not that I have been DJing for years or anything, but I started out doing small early club sets on CDJs with barely any mixing at all, got a little better every time on the CDJs and then got a few better time slots until I got to open for the headliner of the particular night I was doing. Now I have gone and gotten myself a VCI 100 to use because I got the basic mixing down on the CDJs first. But yeah, each to their own I guess. Got to walk before you can run is how I see it. Although all I want to do is run haha

[Discotrick]

do yourself a huge favor and dont learn on all digital gear, find someoen with a pair of techs and learn to spin vinyl first, or cds. then once you learn to dj by ear not by sight you can move onto all the cool toys. ppl starting out with all the controllers that do everything for them are rushing into things without a proper foundation and training and they never get to develop a style or learn to mix by ear not by their eyes. if you skip that step you'll always be spot on yeah but you'll be missing something.

Hehe I'm new to Digital DJing, but I've already gotten used to the feel of Vinyl. I bought a Vestax mixer and Str8-80's a couple of years ago and used those for a while. Never really left the bedroom with them and ended up selling them after 2 years of continuous use. I've got the beatmatching down but I want to start DJing again and I decided a controller would work more to expand my horizons. Now that you mention it, my cousin is looking to get into DJing but he wants to buy a controller. Do you think I could teach him if I just told him not to look at the waveforms and just beatmatched by ear? Or would that not work?

[joeblack949]

I started djing 12 years ago, back then we didnt even have serato, we didnt have final scratch, in fact when i first heard about final scratch many years after starting i didnt believe such a thing would even exist. lol! Ive been hired by many people to give dj lessons and i would never toss a controller in there unless they're come from a strictly very experiernced producer background. even so i would make sure they got some time in on some tech 12s, real vinyl, vestax pmc 250 is my favorite mixer to teach on. very basic and very nice sounding. i'd teach them to match by listening, even practicing without headphones, i'd come along andd move the fader when they got it just right, anything to throw a little challlenge into it, someitmes i'd purposely uncalibrate the pitch so it'd be double zero'd and they'd play on that for a whole session. toss em warped records, and when they fuck up teach em to never admit to it, when you fuck up in fornt of ppl you dont go, fuck i didnt mean to tdo that sorry everyone, no you scream WOOOOOO and everyone else does the same thing. also when i teach someone using timecode i put postits on the screen so they cant see the wav's or bpms, djing isnt about trying to do math in your head and count bars on a screen its about feeling the music and paying more attention to your mixer, cutting, equing, efx number one comlaint i hear about djs today is the dj starting at the screen kills the entire performance for them. i have ot say i agree so use timecode or get controllers with good visual feedback so you dont end up staring at the screen the whole time