I feel terrible to say this...but I think I made a mistake choosing a midi set-up!
ARGH!
Let me explain. When I discovered that I wanted to do DJing, I was torn between cdj and midi. What made me choose midi?
1. Cost. Cdjs just seemed too expensive.
2. Sigh...the ease. Pre-syncing the bpm, 8 frigging cue points, all sorts of extra features...it was so obvious. So much more can be done with Traktor, and it can be learned so much more easily.
Now that I have been DJing for almost 6 months now...I feel like I have invested in the wrong set-up. I have Traktor Pro, an Akai APC40 which is fully mapped, and an LPD8. I also have an audio 4 dj as well as an audio 2 for back-up.
I feel now that I should have invested in cdj. Reasons being
1. !!! CLUBS USE CDJS !!! This is the main reason! I play progressive/trance /electro house, which is CLUB music. I have zero interest in playing at house parties, the main place where I can see myself playing is a club, and that's about it. Hauling in this huge piece of junk to hook up to a mixer along with a laptop, and lpd8...what a pain in the ass. Making sure the sound levels are even if mixing in and out. Club owners discriminate against midi-users. There are so many factors as to why bringing my set-up is a pain in the ass.
2. Clear mind! I don't want to constantly stare at a laptop, at a frigging screen. I am tired of looking at a screen. DJing is a musical hobby, not a computer hobby! The classic DJ set-up just looks so...great! Buttons and knobs and the disc of course! All audio! It looks great from the audience perspective compared to pressing some buttons and knobs and staring at a computer. Using actual cds!
3. Zero transportation issues! Headphones, cd binder...what else is there? So clear and fresh and...agh so nice! Just go to a club with a small bag and that's it.
4. Actually learning to properly beat-match! Actually learning to use/spin the disc! No confusion between deck A and B!
I need to calm down lol, but this is very concerned as I've invested a LOT into the midi set-up. If I exclude everything non-midi (ex. headphones, speakers, etc.). I will have spent... practically 800$! At most, if I were to sell some of it, I could get back about...maybe 300? I wouldn't sell traktor or the audio 2, but the rest would go. As a university student working part-time at not far from min. wage that also needs to pay for his ridiculous tuition costs, that concerns me.
Anyway, cdjs don't seem all that perfect, the flaws I dislike are:
1. Lack of cue points. #1 no way am I buying a cdj-1000. The rest of the cdjs however, seem to lack cue points. I really dislike this as I rely on my cue points very heavily; I really love to get songs in and out on perfect timings. On one hand, this would force me to learn my music more. On the other hand, I don't know if I need extra work, school is enough mentally already.
2. Cost of course.
3. Harder to use and less options, hence mixes might be more basic. I am not an effects DJ anyway, but this is a factor.
ANYWAY, phew.
What do you guys think?
Bookmarks