Best way to start out? HELP needed!
Okay so,
thanks,
WillS 
equipment to start off?
Download the demos of Virtual DJ, Mixxx and Traktor and play with them every day for a month. When you are not playing with the software, be on this forum reading posts.
Read about midi controllers, CDJs, turntables, different companies products, look up controllerism and turntablism. Read as much as possible.
When the month is up, pick which software you like the best. By then, you should also know what kind of gear to buy, how much it will cost, what it will do, and to use it.
Once you have some choices, ask our opinions of them, and then go out and buy whatever YOU want.
Practice EVERY day, and donât get frustrated when it doesnât work. DJing takes time and practice.
Donât be afraid to post here if you donât understand something. We are all nice people, and will help you out, just use the search button first. Your answer may already be there.
And, have fun.
Like dripstep said, donât even bother with equipment yet. First choose your preference in software. Then, learn the heck out of it. When you get annoyed at having to click everything, youâll know exactly what it is youâre looking for in a controller or DVS system.
These are all wonderful suggestions. 10 years ago this would have been an easy decision but a difficult startup because you decided between CDjs or turntables, then chose a mixer, etc⊠heavy on costs, and little choice on the medium. Today there are WAY more choices on medium and a much lighter start up cost. Definitely try all of the different softwares. I just recommend Traktor because it was really intuitive for me and reliable when I started using software to dj, but of course to each his own. Traktor 2.5 might be a bit more confusing and its moving toward a mix between ableton and a dj program so be weary, it might be confusing at first. If you really want some hardware to start I would say get something cheap like the m-audio xsession and just mess around a bit, learn what a crossfader does, the basics of volume, and equalizers, cueing, etc. You can always sell gear as you upgrade to more advanced things.
ps just curious but what style of music do you think you might be djing? Donât really limit yourself here with a response; it just helps sometimes with suggestions. Like top 40âs music is usually just cued up and volume faded (though there are some pretty amazing top40âs djs too). If its hip-hop I would recommmend having some scratch functionality. If its 4 to the floor youâll want a decent mixer and effects etc. Not saying these are the exact recommendations but it helps
Okay guys thereâs some absolutely awesome help here and itâs just what I was looking for. In reply to the last post, Iâm looking to be a DJ in the area of house music/light dubstep/electronic. Does that change anything or do I sill approach it in the right way?
Thanks again guys
I would say stick with the plan still. The key to house music is beat matching, so for the future I would recommend some physical controller that allows you to control tempo. Personally i grew up beatmatching with turntables, i love the feel and they have amazing control, but can be pricey and also take up a lot of space. Traktor has a sync function that automatically beatmatches, im sure the other programs have something similar, but in my opinion you are missing out on a key technique that house djs should know. You wont need tolearn it right away or for a while. S2/S4 users, is it easy to beatmatch with the jogwheel and tempo without the sync? If you go the s2 s4 route in the future i recommend ignoring your computer when you beatmatch, just listen to the beats catching up to each other to line up.
Oh ps, im sort of leading you down the traktor route unintentionally, if you see another controller online or program you like better then please feel free to use those. I can just tell you that the most competitive programs are traktor, and serato in terms scratch functionality (controlling digital music with physical records, cds, or external controller). These arent your only options but 80% of people can recommend at least one of those.
^this
Being able to beatmatch is a great thing, and it is also âfunâ.
And mixing a entire set beatmatching is also something that at you end you can be proud.
Like a lot of people in the forum(i think), i use sync when i need to do more creative tricks, like beat juggle, controllerism, massive use of effects, but when mixing in proper ânormalâ way, i go for manual beatmatch, at least you improve your feelings with the music and songs.
I would steer you away from getting âjustâ software from the onset and jump in the deep-end with a proven controller & software combo, itâll also get you away from the âwatching the screenâ mentality.
A mixtrack pro for example is running under $250 and already has the 4 channel sound card built in youâll need to start playing/cueing as you should, as well enough knobs and buttons that can control everything in pretty much any software without touching the mouse or keyboard.
6 months down the line if you are getting pissed at the build quality, or djâing sell it or upgrade to an s4/vci400 or something more pro.
$250 bucks really isnât alot to outlay on any hobby these days.
In my humble opinion of course.
Thanks a lot.
What are everyoneâs opinions on the mix track pro? Itâs well within my budget but Iâm not sure as too how good virtual dj is compared with traktor?
I donât know much about mixtrack pro, but at that price I would recommend looking at the m-audio torq xponent as well:
It is very smart to get a soundcard/controller combo because you will have enough to run decent audio stuff from your computer and you will have hardware control too. The other thing is that you are not stuck to any sort of software when you buy a midi controller. If down the line you decide to upgrade to traktor, or serato, you can always map all of the midi controls to that specific program (but that is a bit advanced at this point for you, this forum is always here to help you do that). Anyone have opinions on mixtrack pro or Torq? You can always check amazon reviews for these as well. Looks like the Mixtrack has gotten pretty fair reviews, but less amount than the torq.
You know what based on the reviews I think youâre better off with the Numark instead of the torq. It looks like people have a hard time installing torq 1.5, which is what comes with the xponent. ANd torq 2.0 is $200 so you would be paying extra for an upgrade. Its also quite buggy from what I have heard. What type of laptop do you own? and how old is it?
Well, In some way I agree with who said ââDownload the demos and bla bla blaââ and in an other way I regret that idea, because that will make a SyncButtonPerson and I donât want that for his future, that will make him a horrible DJ or not a DJ at all.
I would recomend starting with a TTs+Mixer+DVS setup, so you will know from the begining how to Beat match and the DVS so you can use your MP3/WAV files from your computer, ATM the a setup like this one wonât be expensive, expensive vs a controller maybe.
But your free to do what you want, you can change the TTs for CDJs or you could decide not to use a software at all.Although I think Controllers are a good way to start If the SYNC button is mapped for something else.
I canât begin to tell you how wrong I personally see this being. Without knowing what software you like better, you wonât be able to make as an informed decision on hardware. If you donât know what you want to do, or what you can do, you are relying on what you read. As with anything, there is lots of love and hate for everything. People love the s4, people hate it. Serato is better, traktor is better. How will you know whatâs good if you donât try whatâs free?
I started on a demo copy of vdj, and a bcd3000, didnât turn me into a syncperson, or ânot a djâ
I wouldnt start with equipment, get a feel for what its like using a laptop for a couple weeks and if you like it enough then buy equipmentâŠbut if you wanna jump on equipment just get something used off ebay like a mixtrack pro and also get traktor/vdj
If you feel ready to drop cash. Buy a Mixtrack Pro for ~$250, and download Serato DJ Intro. This will hold you over for at least a year while you develop your hands on skills.
Also, make sure itâs a Mixtrack PRO, not a regular Mixtrack. The Pro has a built in soundcard, and allows you to use DJ Intro, which is miles ahead of anything youâll use with a controller short of $1000. You could waste hours dealing with mappings and effect chains using the hardware with Traktor, but if youâre wanting to get going plug and play, DJ Intro is your best bet.
Mixtrack + traktor.
Maybe have a look at a used s2, same cash, license included, and better control.