Beginning DJ, what controllers and software should I invest in?
First post!
I’ve been noodling around with Traktor for a while now (almost a year) and have become quite familiar with it. Used it at my first gig yesterday, which went horribly, but at least I learned a lot and got a fair taste of what to expect from now on.
So after that gig, I decided to take the DJ game a lot more seriously. Now that I’m prepared to give it my all, I’m ready to invest in both the software and hardware that I need to take it to the next level.
Problem is, I’m not sure where to start. On the software front, I’ve heard that Traktor is a solid choice, but it seems like Serato is a more common choice for professionals… I could be wrong, but that’s what I thought I’ve been seeing.
As far as hardware goes, I was pretty set on getting a Vestax Typhoon, but now I’m not sure anymore. I’m looking to spend 300-500 on the controller and whatever the software costs in addition.
Help would be most appreciated for a relatively new guy looking to take it to the next level!
My advice, Do you like traktor? Use traktor F*CK what everyone else says. Have a good time and play on what you like. Suggestion for a controller would be the s2 or mc3000 both entry level and a good price right now. I use the mc6000 because I need more than 2 channels to do what I want too. You can always upgrade. Do what you like and have a good time doing it.
I do like Traktor a lot, the sync and auto grid functions are usually spot on. The interface is nice and I’m getting really comfortable with it, so it looks like I might be sticking with it because at this point I’ll be improving quicker than if I were to switch over to Serato…
The S2 looks really nice, I might end up picking it up online or at an audio shop around here. Thanks for the suggestion!
Another suggestion if you’re taking this seriously. learn how to beat match, You never know when your laptop might fail and you’ll have to play on cdjs…Seriously It’s only a suggestion I don’t hate the sync button but always be prepared.
The gear and software really depend. What kind of music do you play? Do you use a lot of effects/samples? Do you just play track after track or do you remix on the fly?
Well, I really like to play house music/prog house/live mashups, but as a DJ I feel like I should be prepared for any style of music? I like to play track after track while mixing them with transitions, as well as making mashups and remixed while playing.
Not sure what’s recommended for that…
I definitely agree, I’m able to beatmatch but hey, I can always get better.
If you’re going with a controller, Traktor has been doing midi-controlled DJ software for a lot longer than Serato (though SSL has been around for a while, Itch is a relatively new development). For controllers, Traktor will offer a lot more flexibility and has a much larger community for support. If I were just getting a controller now I would go with Traktor.
The “professionals” thing has several components to it. 1) When Traktor first came out, it had a ton of reliability and bug issues. This reputation has been exceedingly hard to shake, though Traktor runs fine now. 2) Serato is simple and thus was easy to transition to for the DJs who used CDJs/TTs. 3) DJs who like to use video in their mixes generally use Serato - Traktor does not have support for video. 4) Serato has vertical waveforms which a lot of DJs like to use for visual beatmatching.
All of that said, I own both programs and far prefer Traktor - enough to the point where I’m ready to sell my SL3 and not look back. There’s nothing wrong with Serato really, it just doesn’t have nearly the flexibility that Traktor does. The only things it has going for it over Traktor in my eyes are 1) Video mixing capability (for an extra $200) 2) The Bridge (for an extra $600 for ableton) and 3) supposedly better timecode with CDJs currently. I find Traktor’s user interface, while more cluttered, far more useful in terms of the amount of information it imparts. Midi controllers work much better with Traktor (the controllers for Serato work fine, but you have to use controllers specifically made for Serato for them to work as expected in my experience) and you have a lot more choice in terms of which controller to use with Traktor.
With Serato it’s basically the Apple tagline - “it just works” - unless it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t there probably isn’t a whole lot you can tweak to make it work. With Traktor, if something doesn’t work the way you want it to, chances are you can tweak a setting or do some creative midi mapping to get around the limitation.
For your budget - definitely the S2. If you have some extra cash you might want to pick up an X1 as well at some point once you learn the basics on the S2; it’s a nice complementary controller and will come in very handy if you ever go to DVS (digital vinyl system - using Turntables and/or CDJs to control Traktor/Serato) which a lot of DJs eventually do.
Use the software you are most comfortable with. Porter Robinson uses Traktor, Skrillex uses Ableton, and they both put on great live shows. Sure, Serato is the industry standard, but that doesn’t mean it is the “best.” Every DJ has his own style so you need to build the proper software/hardware around you to compliment your style. I suggest downloading demos of different softwares and heading to a Guitar Center to get a feel for different hardware and go from there.
I started off with a vestax spin… same thing as the (typhoon) except for Mac. Within a month it made me realize I wanted something more. So I got a VCI-100se and thats what I have now. I’ve been using that for a year with traktor and its amazing.
I like this guy. HE says what should he INVEST in. Thats what its about dude. Investing yoru time and money, for a return hopefully one day. If not, you loving it right?
IF you only starting now, I would say Traktor. This is because it gives you bang for your buck. You can do a lot with it. Serato, to me, is a tool some who does not wanna go all out with loops and cue’s and mapping etc. They want to mix externally with a mixer and DVS. To me thats Serato. Yes, they have extended their package but thats to try and real it the DJ’s that like Serato but want more. Instead of wanting them to then use Traktor, they have brought that aspect of their game.
Traktor is a full package (minus a few select elements, like VST support..Video etc.) So if you still to find your genre and style…Traktor I think would be the way to go. You do not have that jaded attitude of …I need to beatmatch and pitch my records. You are new to learn the latest technology. Traktor will give you the full experience and value for your money.
You might as well get the Soundcard from NI that allows you 4 external decks. That would be your top\ultimate setup. One of the TSP2 packages would be good.
I would wait till they drop Traktor 2.5 Remix. Then the older packages will be like half price. Good time to spend you coins.
Thanks for all of the input, I think I’m going to go ahead and pick up the Kontrol S2 w/ Traktor and practice up with that for the time being. It looks like that thing will last me a while and will last me through both the beginner and intermediate phases of progress.
P.S. Everyone so far on this forum has been SUPER helpful… Thanks DJTT
If I order the S2 off DJTT (which I was definitely planning on doing because the extras are SICK), is it still gonna cost me $399 for the bundle? I saw that a lot of places are selling it at $599 now after that sale that NI was having or whatever that was…
Also, how long would it take to arrive? Right now, I’m living in L.I., and I’ve got a gig lined up at the end of the month. I’ll be ordering the Kontroller within the next 2 weeks (due to my pay schedule), and I’m a little worried whether or not it will be around in time for me to get a little comfortable with it before using it in front of an audience of any sort.
do it, don’t do it, whatever. Just dont’ talk about it here.
Live and let live. bill gates once said that he would rather people steal Windows than some other OS, then when they decide to (or have to) pay for it, he knows his clientele is growing.
So make your own choice on that, depending on the legalities in your locale, but we don’t support that here.
firstly. pay for your software or i’ll drag you out the alley like i did with JulianVeloso up there
second. get an s2
third. grid your tunes manually, i wouldn’t trust traktor’s autogrid as far as i could throw someone who uses a cracked version (and i’ve been using it about 7 years)
The only thing that crashes is Windows (from my experience)
and Mixxx is free and open source (iirc). There are always options. and afaik, traktor was never cracked, but someone made a keygen for it (or something to that effect)
Updates are nice to have though, for bug fixes!!! If you don’t purchase your software you can’t update it! (and plenty of controllers come with it if you buy them new anyway)
ANYWAY, the S2 is on sale through the end of march, I thought… so you got yourself a month.
