DJ Setup Help

[doneadisco]

Hello all, I’m just looking for a bit of help with regards to DJ setup / gear. I have been mixing since around 1993 so have loads of experience with turntables however, I packed it all in about 6 years ago after going down the promoter route which I really didn’t enjoy and this put me off everything music wise for a while.

Finally realised that I had stepped away from something I love and am now at a point where I am looking to get back into DJ’ing and have just been using Traktor and Ableton with a mouse to learn the programs and am now ready to get the DJ setup purchased.

The problem is, I haven’t got a clue what to get! There are so many options!! I was looking at a Traktor S4 alongside either turntables or CDJs with a mixer. Or possibly the Xone 4D or Xone DB4 with a couple of 2D controllers.

Any help or advice on setup would be greatly appreciated with regards to this.

Also, what sort of setup is available in the clubs as well?? I would really like a professional setup that most clubs have! Is it better to have individual controllers I can take around with me or go for CDJs as the controllers?

Thanks in advance!

[Nicadraus]

Since you have been a vinyl turntable user, I think the best route for you is to go for a DVS. Traktor Scratch Pro if you're more into EDM than hiphop. In this way, you'll be able to hook up your DVS at any clubs where CDJ or turntables with any regular mixer are available. Pioneer CDJs, Technics 1200s and Pioneer/A&H/Rane/Ecler mixers are commonly installed at majority of clubs and bars.

Now for your personal equipment, getting the S4 isn't a bad idea. You can also add either the CDJs or turntables later if you wish to and your DVS (TSP) will be compatible with the system as well. The S4 will also be ideal to use it for gigs but will be a burden carrying it around with a laptop all the time. Also consider that not all DJ booths have enough space to accommodate the extra gear.

Good luck on your gear hunting.

[samjl]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you in terms to getting back into it, spent months researching what to buy since I was confused like you too. I decided to go with CDJ's in the end, I just preferred them to a controller and knowing I won't need a laptop every time I want to use them. It's really all down to what you're comfortable using since you'll probably have it for a while.

For clubs pretty much everywhere I've been they've had CDJ1000's/2000's and a DJM 800/Xone92. 1000's aren't that expensive anymore and still the club standard since 2000's are pretty expensive which is why I think some clubs hold back on upgrading to them.

[fullenglishpint]

If you want a club standard setup get 2 pioneer CDJs, a pioneer mixer and a serato box. Get HID enabled CDJs (850s, 900s or 2000s) if you can afford them because they work much better than timecode CDs.

That's a good fun way to go, but the controller route is equally valid. The setup above will easily set you back a few grand, whereas you can buy an S4 or similar for a fraction of the cost and have all the functionality. It really just depends on what you want to do, what your mixing style is etc.

If you have a shop that stocks DJ products near you, I'd encourage you to go and try out as many things as you can.

[doneadisco]

I am now looking at one of the following:

1) S4 with Kontrol X1 running Traktor

2) Xone 4D as a standalone unit – I presume I wouldn’t need any other controllers with this or would i?

3) Xone 92 or Xone DB4 with a couple of 2D controllers – my thinking is purely down to cost. The CDJs will set me back a good couple of grand compared to a few hundred for the controllers. I am also thinking If I manage to play out anywhere, I can just take along my controllers and plug them into a soundcard then into a mixer anywhere (is that correct thinking or am I just making that up)?

I have also ruled out turntables as I have been told that Technics aren’t made any more!! 6 years out and look what happen’s haha!

Also, is it possible to sync Ableton with Traktor so I can bring in my own creations and use the Ableton effects etc? If so, whats the best way to go about this?

Thanks again all, much appreciated and you are helping me to get my head around this all!

[Sherlock Ohms]

I have also ruled out turntables as I have been told that Technics aren’t made any more!! 6 years out and look what happen’s haha!

They're not made, but as they're virtually bombproof there's tonnes of them on the secondhand market.

the only thing to bear in mind is that some clubs are phasing them out (though to be fair this does ssem to a be a US phenomenon - all of the clubs I play in the UK have decks)

[Bassline Brine]

Honestly something to think about software wise, if you are interested, is The Bridge. It links Ableton and Serato together so you can trigger stuff pretty easily.

I've not used it myself, but it's one of those features I see as being REALLY powerful in that combination.

You can also route traktor and ableton together, but it's a bit more "behind the scenes" really.

Either way, you're going down the right path of what you are looking at. The biggest thing here... your budget is all over the place. Figure out what you are willing to spend, and if you don't really need to worry about it... then get something that is similar to what is in clubs.

I really like controllers, I think they are cool. But I have a funny feeling that if most (not ALL) could actually afford a beefy mixer and CDJs/TT's, as opposed to the much reduced price of a controller, they would probably get those. Some people really do push the envelope with that a controller can do above and beyond a traditional setup though, so it really comes down to how you like to spin.

[doneadisco]

Yes, i saw some videos on the Bridge and it does look fantastic, the only problem is that i'm not that big a fan of Serato. Is there anything like this for Ableton and Traktor?

[doneadisco]

Would it be possible with the 4D to have one controller in charge of Traktor and the other controller in charge of Ableton which will enable me to use the effects from Ableton over the playing tracks from Traktor?

[Will M.D]

Just to throw it out there, you can Re-wire Torq & Ableton

Also Technics still rule & you can still pick up new ones as a lot of places are still stocking them I believe Just expensive now!