Beginner advice

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Beginner advice

Hi. My name is David, I’m new around these parts. Thanks for having me.

I’m also new to digital dj-ing, and I’m looking for some help. This is my background. I used to have a vinyl setup about 10 years ago and felt very comfortable on the tables. I played out a bit, and wasn’t bad, but I never took it too serious and never learned anything other than simple A=>B mixing. Eventually I needed the money and so I sold my whole setup about 7 years ago.

Lately I’ve started missing it more and more and now I want to become a better DJ than I ever was. At first I wasn’t very interested in the digital option at all, but the rig I picked up came with Torq Connectiv. Now it’s dawned on me how much it will cost and how long it will take to build up a vinyl collection, so I’m starting to explore the possibilities that are available to me through Torq.

For now I have 2 MKIIs, a cheap, 2 channel Vestax mixer (no effects, high/low EQ and a fader), Torq 1.5 with the Connectiv box, an HP laptop with a 2.00 GHz processor, Windows 7 professional 32-bit and 3.00 GB RAM, a Mackie SRM150, and some cheapy headphones. So far all I’ve figured out with the Torq software is how to load up a song and control it with the turntable. I’m basically using it as though it were a crate of vinyl. Today I am going to sit down in front of my setup with the user manual and learn as much as I can about the program. My goal is to learn everything I can about Torq and decide where I want to go from there (As far as moving to a more expensive, newer program, or adding MIDI controllers, or some other really cool stuff I probably dont even know about) So this is where I need some help.

I sought out DJTT looking for tips and tricks. The problem I’m having is with a lot of the basic lingo/jargon/technical terms. I just don’t know enough about the basics to learn anything from the tutorials. Is there a thread or a page that lists definitions for basic terms? If not, can we turn this thread into one?

Also, I’m interested in some of your thoughts as far as where I should look to improve my setup moving forward. Sometimes my laptop lags and makes the track skip. Should I look at getting a Mac? Or should I just improve the one I have by adding more RAM and use the money toward something else? Should I get a better mixer first, should I upgrade to Torq 2.0 or Traktor or Serato? I really enjoy the fact that I can control the music with the vinyl plate but I’ve seen some of Ean’s MIDI fighter videos and that looks intriguing as well. Like I said at the beginning, at this point I’m not sure where I want to go with my music, right now feel like i want to learn as much as possible about everything that is out there. Any input you can share would be much appreciated.

Lastly I just want to say that I really enjoy the forum and the website. It looks like a great resource for music and information, and I can tell that there are a lot of intelligent and well-informed contributors. I plan on sticking around for a long time, so please say what’s up if you ever see me around around the forums. Thanks a bunch!

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the majority of people here will recommend traktor and few might say serato, it is fairly hard to help someone when you dont use the same setup as them its all just guess work :slight_smile:, if you had traktor I could tell you step by step what to do, and welcome to the forums by the way!

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Welcome to the forums! I suggest you experiment with different types of software ie traktor or serato so you can find the one that best fits your style of mixing. Personally I use traktor with midi controllers and a mbook pro.

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Weclome to the forums mate, torq is your lower end software, its good for what you pay for, but your two main programs, internationally, are serato scratch, or traktor.

Serato seems to be more accepted in clubs as it does not have a ‘sync’ button, as you have TT’s and have been brought up on TT’s i do recommend serato, video

or, you can use traktor, again with the same controller as above, but with more FX, and without the TT’s, making it easier for home use.

the kontrol X1, was made for traktor, but comes with a serato overlay, which works just as well.

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It’s entirely possible to use Traktor (technically Traktor Scratch, but still) with TT’s. I may have misunderstood what you’re saying? Serato Scratch you have to have TT’s. Traktor is more versatile in this regard.

My understanding is that Serato is used more than Traktor in the US, but that this reverse in Europe.

The best advice is to find a way to try them all out, and pick the one you like and that fits your budget.

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You can also use CDJs.

But yeah, traktor can be purely ‘controllerist’ which serato is not.

Nope, im UK and serato is still the forerunner as it dosent have a sync button.

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I’m UK and I’d say more Traktor than Serato but clubs here generally don’t seem to have either ‘ready to go’.

Lots and lots of inoperative TTs these days though - so much so that I always take my VCI or Maschine with me in case the DVS fails.

8

Here’s the FAQ thread.

Are there specific words or sayings you need help with?

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Also, are you looking at home use or club use? rarely you will find a pair of solidly working TT’s in a club, if its just home use, and youve been brought up on a vinyl background, your going to want to continue with the touch of a vinyl, yes ?

Assuming you want to go this route, for home use i would look at a serato SL1 box,

your TTs connect into this, then this connects to your mixer. the box then connects to your laptop via USB, much the same as your torq box i think, and controls your tracks, via the special timecoded vinyl.
Now this SL box can be taken anywhere and plugged into any club system, most likely in a club you will find CDJ’s, so use the timecoded CD’s for the exact same effect.

If money is not a problem, and your looking at getting a new mixer? possibly? then there is an all in one solution called the rane TTM57SL

This has a serato SL1 box built into it so you plug the mixer to your laptop, then your TTs to the mixer as normal, it is also one of the most robust and hiQuality mixers you will ever buy.

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sept there are a few serato controllers like the allen and heath dx, vestax vci 300, numark ns6/ns7, novation twitch, pioneer ddjs1.

but these require serato itch and cant add turntables to them later as far as I know :slight_smile:

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Now, for traktor.

Again, you can use, what is called a DVS (Digital vinyl system) with the audio 4/6/8 or 10 DJ, For basic two deck mixing youll need, minimum, the audio 4 DJ

If you’re wanting sample decks, or a third TT, or whatever, youll have to go up the numbers etc to find a soundcard with the correct ammount of channels.

there is also smaller solutions, to mimic TT’s, i.e the vci 100

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These can be picked up rather cheaply from ebay to give you a taste of ‘controllerism’

At the other end of the scale, you have the S4,
4 channels, and you can connect your TTs into deck C + D for timecode use and have A+B as more decks? or samples? possibilities are endless :slight_smile:

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This is really your main choices for continuing to have platters/jogwheels/the touch of le vinyl.

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I dont know much about serato so im not going to get into it, but i assumed serato scratch and itch were two completely different programs.

imo, serato has a tighter DVS (I haven’t touched TSP2 yet) and Traktor is more for controllerists.
Not saying traktors a bad DVS, its a VERY good DVS, i just preferred serato.

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it is two diff programs but both made by serato with the same work flow :slight_smile:, Ive never used either but heard good things about them, it does seem for scratching, serato is the top contender and for controllerism traktor is, but both can do either :slight_smile:

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from what i’ve seen torq doesn’t look bad tho and the upgrade from 1.5 is cheap. also has a nice xml format for custom mappings etc. i love turntables but am pretty much addicted to the whole controllerism thing now. pretty sure i’ll buy some more turntables one day but not entirely sure why :stuck_out_tongue:

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8 replies in and someone finally tries to answer the OP’s question instead of sell him stuff…

I’m speechless.

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[quote]
Also, I’m interested in some of your thoughts as far as where I should look to improve my setup moving forward. Sometimes my laptop lags and makes the track skip. Should I look at getting a Mac?[/quote]

we were discussing OP’s other question.

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I checked the FAQ thread and didn’t see what I was looking for. I guess you’d call it a glossary of terms. I can’t think of any words or terms off the top of my head, I just know that sometimes I’ll check out a tutorial and usually get lost halfway through. I find myself in the tough situation of not being a total beginner but having been out of the game for so long that I can’t really be considered intermediate anymore. I suppose I’ll just have to resurrect this thread the next time I get lost in a tutorial. If that’s ok with you guys :slight_smile:

I appreciate all the advise on my second question. Hoodless, I was specifically looking for advice on how to improve my home setup, but I am also very interested in playing out as well. For right now though I just want to learn as much as possible, and create a rig that continues to challenge me and satisfy my urge to express myself. Money is a bit tight, so it’s important that I prioritize my purchases. That’s sort of what my second question was. What’s going to give me the most bang for my buck?

And I apologize, I know this thread doesn’t do much to promote meaningful discussion, I’m basically just soliciting advice for my own self-interest, but I do appreciate it and I promise to keep it constructive in the future. Thanks again

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that really depends on how you want to mix. best advice would be to mess with torq, or download SSL (which is free) or the demo of Traktor (even ableton if that works for you)… then you can start thinking about where you wanna go with your gear

and as for not knowing what people are talking about, post one of the videos, maybe we will have better luck.

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Or start another one with a more specific question. That would actually help, even if it’s as basic a question as “MIDI…how the F does that work?”.

What kinds of tutorials were you completely lost by?

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Hey man your selfishness is helping me out! I’m in the same boat as you only with way less experience lol