Hi guys. My first post! I signed up hoping I could get some advice.
I’m 36 & been listening to hiphop since I was 14. I still listen to my old stuff. I don’t enjoy most of the new stuff. I’ve always wanted to scratch the songs I love & make up routines like I used to see in DMC videos etc. This is something I want to do just for my own enjoyment at home.
Today I stumbled across the Vestax Spin DJ USB Midi Controller:
& thought it looked very affordable. This has awoken my 22year old desire to get into scratching so I started looking around the web & found this great forum.
I haven’t got around to this before because of the cost of 2 turntables, a mixer & rebuying all my music in vinyl form & also the space that this setup requires. That’s why the Vestax spin got my attention. However I am not the sort of person who just buys the first thing they see. I’d rather take a bit of time to make sure I don’t regret any purchase.
This review said something that makes me think I’m getting my hopes up:
I’d appreciate any suggestions from those more knowledgable than me. I have a PC & a MacBook if it matters.
I can certainly relate to your thought process and desires. I started with very similar goals, mostly wanting to scratch hip-hop and re create some of the classic routines. There are a few different routes you can take but in the interest of simply answering your question, this is going to satisfy all of your conditions nicely.
tbf, I bought a VCI100 and couldn’t learn to scratch on the little platters. I’ve had a lot more success since I moved to TSP with Technics 1210s and use the VCI100 as a mixer/sample deck.
You won’t be able to scratch on the Spin unless your already good at scratching. If you want to stuck to a controller the new Traktor S4 has proven to be scratch worthy. The Numark NS7 as well. That said, you still can’t beat a couple of turntables.
photojojo is right, nothing beats turntables.
However you can learn scratching on a NS7 or V7s (I did and still do) and transfer hat you learned with very small effort to real turntables. If its about scratching and MIDI nothing beats them currently, because they are as close to turntables as possible.
I dunno about the equipment - but judging from your age I’d love to get hold of your record collection (I’m 32, and like stuff from around the same time).
I’ve been DJ’ing since I was about 19. For scratching, absolutely NOTHING beats turntables and a mixer. The good thing about that is, you can get a cheap(ish) digital vinyl set up for around £300 these days that would do you fine for scratching.
DJ Decks is a digital vinyl system that lets you play audio files from turntables. It means any tune you can get your hands on, you can scratch on real turntables. You can get a Serato style skin for DJ Decks - I use a modified version myself and it’s AWESOME.
The best bit about DJ Decks, is there’s a fully functioning free trial that works for 30 minutes. Perfect for DMC style 6 minute routines.
Total digital vinyl set-up for a little over £300. You’ll have to use your existing computer, and your hi-fi for the output - but once you’re up and running you’re laughing. It also means that you can rip all of your existing vinyl to the hard drive. Great thing about that is - you’ll have DOUBLES of all your tracks. Just what you need for those DMC routines.
I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread - just to see if you start banging out mixes full of 80’s/90’s Hip-Hop!!!
I got into DJing late and come from a very similar background. I inherited some money a few years back and bought some turntables, a mixer and Traktor Scratch.
If you really have a love for golden age Hip Hop do your self a favor and get some Technics, you wont regret it. Get what ever mixer you can, and you can always upgrade.
Personally I’d stay well away midi controllers to learn how to scratch on, Numark V7’s are a whole different story tho, however you’ll be locked in to one software only, depends if that’s a problem or not.
I reckon a second hand pair of 1210’s are a great way to get an instant pro setup, there soooo cheap at the mo! Plus if scratching is all your really interested in, just buy one for the time being and get another later when you fancy learning how to mix. The next problem yet very important is finding a decent scratch mixer.
Sadly there are many budget mixers labeled as scratch mixers simply because they only have two channels. Stay well clear from budget mixers if you want to take scratching seriously! Even a beginner scratch dj will knacker all the faders in a matter of months as there not made to last. That being said you can drop a Innofade into virtually any budget mixer or pro mixer, plus its a purchase for life so when you upgrade mixers you can fit the Innofade into your new mixer.
I’ve recently taken a learning dj under my wing and guided him through his recent purchases. I sold him my first 1210’s for £250 and I found a Pioneer 707 scratch mixer on Ebay for £140! And the extra bonus is he managed to grab a copy of TSP for the current 50% off price. Now that’s a proper pro battle setup for much less than half the retail price.
I’d definitely keep an eye out for a second hand Pioneer 707 scratch mixer as they often come up on Ebay for a fraction of there original retail price. Many of the second hand 707’s are owned by mixing dj’s who don’t put it through as much grief as scratch dj would. They were snubbed by the scratch world, most probably because there made by Pioneer and not Vestex. But there made like tanks with an infer red cross fader that will never wear out. If you haven’t guessed by now I’ve owned a 707 since they first came out six years ago, it’s been gigged all round the country and had hardcore practice sessions on it night after night, but it’s still performing as if it was only a few months old.
If you buy the right second hand kit, it will look after you and I’d say it’s the cheapest way to get a Pro set up. On a side note, I’d stay away from second hand Vestex gear, despite the pro label, in my experience Vestex kit doesn’t last as long as Rane or Pioneer.
Great points Sir! Do not ever under estimate the value of a rock solid mixer its just as important as a set of good tables. Nowadays there are good alternatives to technics but nothing beats a battle tested mixer, believe that! For me that would be Rane!
Then upgrading to Time Code(Scratch Live or TraktorScratch Pro) in the future will be easy.
Can’t say that I agree with the Vestax comments. I had an 07-ProD for 8’ish years, and it was an amazing mixer. I’m gutted I got rid of it. 05-Pro’s are built to last, and you can get 'em on ebay pretty cheap. Stick an Innofader in there and you’re laughing.
I think we can all agree that an innofader will turn a crap mixer into a pretty bad-ass piece of scratch kit.
To be fair to Vestex my 08 is as solid as anything I’ve ever owned, I love that mixer, easily the best sounding battle mixer there is(not counting the Rodec Scratchbox, I’ve never played on it). I missed out on the legend 07 mainly because of my experiences with my ancient 05 and then 06, which to be fair were built at a time when not many mixers were built like tanks. But they are the only mixers I’ve ever virtually destroyed just through excessive use, a bit like my mark 1 PDX 2000 Turntable and I’ve even had to open up my VCI to maintain the jogs.
I agree that Vestex do make SOME brilliant rock solid equipment, just like the 08 and latter versions of the 07, where production was moved from China to Japan. There perfectly capable of making quality, but sadly on many occasions they choose not to.
I’d like to thank everyone who replied to my post long ago. With the advice I got from you guys I decided to go with the Numark NS7. I ordered them on eBay and couldn’t wait to tell you guys. But the guy dropped them so he refunded my money. By the time I got my money back something came up so I didn’t end up getting my NS7. Finally it looks like I’m going to be able to afford buying something to scratch with. Before I purchase I’m wondering if the NS7 has been surpassed by anything. Would love your opinions.
the NS7 is still your best route if you go with a controller. That being said I absolutely second that you should look for a used set of 1200’s and a djm 707 that’s exactly what I spin on and its as solid setup. If you decide it’s not for you you can sell them for what you got them for.
The NS7 is really good, but its trying to replicate the 1200/battle mixer setup, get the real thing!
oh and I’m 36 and spin goldenera too btw… check out my soundcloud!
I started out with a Numark Mixtrack, it was good for mixing but horrid for scratching. I then moved to an S4 which is a billion times better, but i still missed that “feel”. Just recently picked up a used pair of 1210’s and i’ve never been happier. I say two TT’s and a controller/mixer man. You wont be disappointed.
