Gear I Should Own (help a noob)

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Gear I Should Own (help a noob)

Hey guys,

pretty much i’ve been researching DJing for the past month in regards to what exactly I want to do. I’ve decided to go digital, and it would be great if you could help me out :slight_smile:

I have a brand new macbook pro, and I am thinking of purchasing the following gear:

  1. Vestax VCI-100 Midi Controller (with traktor)
  2. Presonus Firebox Soundcard

what else do i need to buy to start mixing asap and then start to play house partys and club gigs?

Any help would be fantastic, im also not sure about how everything works together etc (ie do i need to buy a seperate mixer to mix on traktor with the vci-100?)

Thanks!

-Moo:slight_smile:

2

Get yourself some good headphones and cables and you are good to go buddy :stuck_out_tongue:

3

what cables in particular?

haha that shows the extent of my knowledge…

4

well apparently the vci’s usb cable isn’t that flash so you’ll want to replace that (these guys sell good ones in the store) and some good quality RCA’s to run from your soundcard to the mixer or stereo.

5

is an average 2-chan mixer ok to start with if im playing gigs?

6

I’d go for a 4 channel personally. You definitely get what you pay for wit mixers

7

i’m on a pretty tight budget, suggestions?

note: i live in australia where things are expensive lol

8

with a firebox you need some RCA cables, chinch to RCA cables or a chinch to RCA adapter (as i use with my firebox, see pic below), depends on your amp connections..

320×320 3.39 KB

/edit: too late.. the forum just didnt want to work :disappointed:

9

must be a big amp by the size of that pic mate :stuck_out_tongue:

10

oh i see, that helps :slight_smile: so the midi controller is connected to the computer by usb, the computer is hooked up to the soundcard via firewire? then rca cables from mixer to speakers etc?

11

yep most controllers dont have soundcards in them. you go from the S/C to the mixer

12

haha.. right..
do you actually need a mixer? with rca/chinch cables from the soundcard to some kind of amp w/ speakers should do it for practicing, doesnt it?

13

thats right. you can run those cables straight into an amp if you want.

14

that’s what i was thinking?
heh good discussion!

15

but for gigs and stuff i’d have to get a mixer?

16

if the venue doesn’t have one then yup. usually if they are set up all you need to do is plug into theirs and you are away. You will want to get your own eventually though

17

ok sweet, does that mean i’ll have to know how to use their mixer?

18

No-one has really mentioned amplification. You will either need to plug into some active (powered) speakers, or into an amplifier and then to speakers.

So if you have a separates hi-fi system you can use RCA cables to plug your Firebox into say the aux inputs of your amp and then the tasty harsh beats you’re dropping will come out of the stereo just like your CDs/radio.

If you don’t have that option, or it’s not practical (e.g. because your hi-fi is in the living room and you don’t want to set up your DJ gear in there) then you will need to buy some monitors.

I have used both of these arrangements and there is basically no difference from a bedroom use point of view.

19

yeah, my parents don’t use the stereo anyway… lol

and if all else fails i have 2 logitech systems that could work…:open_mouth:

20

you’ll be blowing the cobwebs out of those speakers before you know it mate.