Now, everywhere I look everyone says ‘Stick with Pioneer’ because clubs play out using Pioneer and that’s all very well said, but I’m an 18 year old student and Currently I have A novation Twitch Controller. I am however looking to step up my game and play cdjs but I’m on a very tight budget, so I’ve researched and I’ve came across these: Kam KCD550. Has anyone got any experience playing with these? And do you think they are a good buy for a beginners cdjs? I can Pick up one for £182, so They are cheap. And I know the rule, you get what you pay for.
If anyone else has any other suggestions on what good CDJs I should buy do please let me know.
I’ve just sold a pair of 800mk2s for £540 but you can probably get some a bit cheaper.
Still selling a Pioneer DJM600 if you’re interested and I’m not too far from you. Check out the for sale section if you want to see it. Mint condition.
The way I saw it was if you get comfortable on the Pioneer stuff (specially the bigger models - CDJ800 and up, DJM600 and up) it makes it a lot easier when you get in a club when the pressures on and you’re already feeling uncomfortable enough your first time.
Lets not try and make out like its difficult to get comfortable with a play button, jogwheel and pitch slider. Anything with these three things will get you “comfortable” enough with a club booth environment.
That said the pioneer 800’s are decent if you use CDs or timecode. Whereas the stantons are a smaller unit but have USB input and are midi mappable. I’d personally buy the stantons for their greater usage options.
It’s not difficult but it’s a lot less stressful the first time you step in to a club to play in front of a few hundred people, knowing that you know exactly what to expect. Most smaller to medium clubs/nights round here will have 1000s so not much point bothering with USB yet in my opinion, unless he wants to have to burn a shed load of CDs later on down the line or start using timecode then. That is if he does want to be looking at playing out soonish.
If not, something USB compatible is definitely worth looking into further as burning and labelling CDs is no fun.
Makar1, I kind of get what you mean but come on pitch bending is pitch bending. You would become accustomed to the differences within your first mix.
KS2, seriously?! The jog wheel, pitch slider and play/pause buttons are in the identical place on each machine. I’d be more worried about the mixer than the CD players. I’ve never understood this thinking.
If none of the hardware matters, there’d be no point in getting CDJs at all. Just buy a MIDI controller with long pitch faders for half the cost of a basic CDJ set.
Good point. And I agree. I wish there were more controllers like that. I’ve never used an EKS OTUS, but the idea of that controller really appeals to me for that exact reason. Now that music collections are more laptop based rather than physical media I think there is a gap in the market for CDJ “style” midi controllers. The OTUS didnt seem to take off though and I don’t understand why.
KS2, I totally understand what you are getting at. And personal opinion is EXACTLY that, and everyone is entitled to their own. Peoples exeriences differ and its good to be prepared.
OK so nobody has any experience with the KAM KCD 550? i was going to start a new thread until i’ve found this discussion.
i’m looking for a solid cd player for home use, good jog wheel in the price range like numark ndx 400 and kam kcd 550 - there aren’t any other alternatives atm.
hahah I found bought Numark tt1610 turntables and a Pioneer DJM - 300 mixer on ebay for £51 I guess I’ll be playing vinyl for a bit now, It was a complete steal if I’m perfectly honest, apparently they are completely functional so I’m gunna try and improve my mixing on these instead of buying some of the cdjs! then eventuall sell them on and gain profit haha WIN/WIN
