HW or SW first: Chicken vs. Egg

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

HW or SW first: Chicken vs. Egg

Final setup would be:

Some sort of laptop (not sure Mac vs non-Mac for traditional PC user with an open mind) with a soundcard

DJ software

A controller.

Right now I have (as per my newbie post) a pure CD hardware setup. Obviously I cannot transition until I have everything in place (well I suppose at some point I could lug my mid-tower desktop PC around).

But in the meantime I can learn and burn…but what to start with first? I suppose I have to decide what controller/software to go with - folks here seem pretty keen on the VCI-100SE With Tracktor Pro, and just looking at the demo version of Tracktor I am mighty impressed.

So, my question is - do I buy the controller and use the LE software until I can afford the upgrade, or spring for the full Pro version now and save for a controller. If I went controller first, I would only be able to afford the VCI-100SE, not the arcade edition. Then again, it could be a long time til I can afford a laptop, so why not get fully used to the real software first?

Tough choices, or maybe not.

Any thoughts?

2

Well, the controller and software don’t do you any good without the computer.

And the controller and the computer don’t do you any good without the software.

But the software and the computer can still be used.

But keep in mind you are also going to need an audio interface.

So really, if you can afford the VCI-100SE you should probably save more, get a laptop and a cheap interface (like the Audio2), and then save for the controller while you build a pretty kickass hotkey setup.

3

I am leaning that way - I only lose the $100 savings from going LE to Pro vs right to Pro. Oh, I forgot to add, I do have a midi controller right now (M-Audio Oxygen 8), not suited to DJ’ing, but at least its got buttons to mash and knobs to twist!

So I could just grab the software, learn it inside out at home on my dekstop while I save for a controller and eventually a laptop (I would put the controller first, take time to learn it as well).

4

If you’re not concerned with playing live, then yeah, that’s a good order and you should be fine.

And the Oxy8 will work fine a DJ controller, just requires you to think outside the box.

5

Oxygen 8 not suited for DJing? Well, try it for Controllerism then :slight_smile:

6

I think Belchman uses the Oxygen8? kicks some serious ass with it too i might add.

7

That was. um..interesting - not sure I am gonna take mine part and all, but I can see how it would work.

This vid of his is neat: