Hi all, just registered, what a fantastic site this is! I hope you guys can help me out
I’m new to the DJ world, but I seem to have the hunger for it! I have a few questions and a bit of a dilemma, perhaps you guys can help me out.
Regarding a set up for myself, I dunno to go for the Traktor S4 or for 2 CDJ 350s and the DJM 350?! Theres a bit of price difference and I’m only a student so it;ll take me a while to do some saving!
I’ll be just playing in the room for a good few months then maybe a few parties here and there but nothing major planned yet.
None of my friends are into DJing so I can’t try their CDJs and the music store in Ireland aren’t greay so its not as if you can go into a store and try the stuff out!
so which route would you go down?
next question lol
Do you have any tips or tricks for a total beginner?
Is there any websites or programmes I can use to become better or is it down to practice makes perfect?
Hey, if he’s dedicated, why not? I started on an S4, and picked up all my gear in my sig within 4 months (this being my fourth month), including the MacBook pro.
I suggest you look at your budget realistically and then decide from there. From what i’ve heard the 350s aren’t great. However, each person does have their preferences. I know I was happy with my S4 purchase, but you may not be. At the end of the day though, remember it is your choice.
Hey man. Welcome to DJTT. The first thing to decide is whether you are going down the controller route or the cd/vinyl route. I would personally start with manually beatmatching only because that’s the way I started and it’s alot of fun to learn. However, if you have the hunger like you say you do, you will definitely change your gear on more than one occasion so don’t feel that the choice you make now is what you will stick with!!
Whatever happens just totally enjoy it and do things that make you feel comfortable and confident because that more than anything will project itself to your crowd (no matter how big or small)!!
I already have a macbook pro, its rather new, maybe a month old or so.
I am dedicated. I’m 24 now and always wanted to DJ. When I was 13 I bought 2 turntables and a mixer, but i never stuck at it cause I didn’t understand what to do and I had no you tube or forums like this to help me out!
I’m doing a Multimedia degree course so maybe thats where the interest is coming back from and the fact that every weekend I go out and just stare at the DJ box and dream lol
I love everything about DJing, not just the music, I love the lights, the crowds, everything! this is something I wanna do!
Regarding my budget, I have about 1000euros to spend. Hopefully its a enough to get me a decent kit?
What do you think of the S4? I’d love to hear some feedback from users.
Hey, thanks man, an honor to be chatting with guys that love to DJ.
As I said I’m not sure which route to go down, the music shops in Ireland haven’t got cdjs or controllers set up so I could have a go on them to get the feel of it and I have no mates interested in DJing.
As said about my budget is a 1000s euro at max.
I have a Macbook pro so maybe getting the S4 would be a good option?
I’v downloaded the trial version of traktor and just been getting use to it messing around with. I’m also watching lots of videos on youtube and also reading a book at the moment on “How to DJ properly” so I’m fairly dedicated.
Ha I dont think I’ll be ready to play to any crowds for a while man, I’ll leave that up to the pros like you guys
the S4 is a great buy. 900 euro in the shops in Ireland.
but you may get cheaper if you look around, but as you probably know, there is not much choice here when it comes to dj stores.
the S4 is an all in one software/hardware and soundcard. so it will do the job nicely indeed. i know, i have one
i started with the vestax spin and an x1. perfect beginner setup if you arent particularly looking to drop a ton of money on CDJ’s or an S4.
deff a great setup to get your feet under you and then once you get to the point that you need an upgrade (like i did recently - the s4 IMO is the way to go. i love it. sooo sexy)
You have the exact amount of money to buy the S4 + a good pair of headphones + a taxi to return home.. What are you waiting for ??
Well, if you promess to press EVERY button and turn EVERY knob daily its ok to buy it.
Otherwise, if you will only will turning the jogs, crossfader an eq., you better go for a cheaper (half the price) options like Vestax VCI100, Reloop Digital Jockey, etc
Thomann basically price the market. Their service makes up for a slightly higher price compared to other online stores who maybe cheaper but don’t offer 30day moneyback, extended warranty periods and free postage, even for guarantee repairs.
If I was just starting out then I think I’d be looking at the S4 or XoneDX if I had the money to spend. However; the VMS4 from American Audio is also a very good product for half the price of the S4 and although not up to the same standard as the S4, it isn’t half the quality and wouldn’t hinder the sort of work you will be using it for and I’m sure it’s now shipped with Traktor LE for Europe. Buying the VMS4 would leave you the money to purchase Trakor Scratch Pro 2 with an Audio10 at a later date which would allow you to either use the VMS4 on its own, the Audio10 with turntables/CDJs, or even a combination of of all should the situation fit.
There are so many digital solutions out there you can can get lost in your search. Yet, at the same time if you’re diligent you will find the perfect solution that could likely give you more for your money than plumping for just 1 product that may have a few compromises leaving you never fully satisfied with your purchase.
thanks for your advice mate. I’ll look into the VMS4.
I look at videos of these controllers and then I look at cdjs and the controllers just look so cheap and almost like a childs toy to them and I think to myself are they really worth 900euros or so? Would it not make more sense to buy a pair of second hand cdjs? Decisions decisions!
I dont like cds AT ALL.. Because of this, my opinion is not imparcial, but biased…
But remember:
With a controller you will be working in the digital domain.
With a CDJ you will be working in the analogic domain.
Controllers and Laptops are portable, you dont have to carry hundreds of cds with you, you CAN mix two tracks of the same album (With CDjs you cant)
Additionally with the S4/Tracktor Pro you will have 8 sample decks.
You can run Ableton Live in the background to do smart mixing or to “Play” in certain tracks (Ie.: with an extra Apc20 or 40 controller) and a long etc.
But if you are way more inclined by a more “classic” Djing and want a more “proffesional” looking controller you may want to take a look to the
PIONEER DDJ-T1 Traktor Edition, wich is very classic looking and cost 1045€
whats great about the S4 is, its great for all levels of DJ,
i started on using CD players before pioneer kicked the CD player market up the ass with there CDJs and ive used almost every type of player out there,
a couple of years ago a friend interduced me the VIRTUAL DJ (software only) and he was showing me this and that and i was like WTF thats gay, your using a poxy laptop touch pad to dj, thats the gayest shit in the world. but then a few months later he got his hands on a VCI 100 and then called me up to have a go, i was like holy shit, this f~~king rocks. so i went out and got one myself and i loved it, then i moved onto the S4
and i will say this one word sums up an S4… “FUN”
Ive never had so much fun mixing or even just messing about banging out the beats learning all the cool stuff you can do on the S4 that you cant do on a CD player.
you already have what most would consider the most important thing in a set up (a macbook pro) id recommend the S4 over CDJs (or what ever brand) anyday
(not including some time coded setups-because thats quite frankly a different ball game that i aint familiar with)
S4 to me at least is a bargain considering your getting top notch software and the free upgrade to traker 2 when thats out in April, a built in soundcard and the hardware is top notch (appart from the gain knobs-because they do suck)
one latest CDJ is way more expensive than an S4…
but this is just my humble opinion.
also. on a side note, if your just unsure about midi controllers in general, why not consider buying a fairly cheap numark or hercules or reloop controller just to wet your feet before jumping in the deep end ?
ya might find a nice bargain somewhere.
also. the stand i use should fit nicely in a box room, as you can see in the pics, it dont take up much ground room at all, one of the main reasons i got it, as i too am tight on room space…
- the s4 IMO is the way to go. i love it. sooo sexy)