I started with Traktor 1 on PC but I didn’t use it to DJ, just to mess about at home. I was still using Vinyl and CD. My mate introduced me to Traktor DJ Studio 2 and I started researching DJ software. I had seen a local guy using OtsDJ and I saw exactly what I did not want to become so i took the plunge and bought an iBook & Traktor 2.5. After using the iBook at gigs as a backup and a library playing out of the headphone jack I started to get into Traktor and realised I needed a soundard so i followed my mates example and bought the Presonus FireBox. Probably the best soundcard I have ever owned. Then when I was comfortable with mapping the keyboard and needed more control I looked at Midi controllers. This was when the Behringer B-Control DJ BCD2000 was still anticipated but it just seemed to take forever to become available in UK. In fact I just gave up ringing stores and then i noticed the Faderfox DX2 which looked perfect for small booths and use with turntables. So here it is, my first digital DJ setup: Apple iBook 1.25GHZ Faderfox DX2 Presonus Firebox
(all still fully functioning)
Next up was an upgrade to a Macbook Pro 2.16 and Traktor Scratch with the Audio 8. This made it possible for me to DJ with timecode and my beloved Technics which I had many years before I went digital. Crappy Vestax mixer but it did the job and still using the Faderfox. By this time I was using Traktor DJ Studio 3 with the Faderfox as well for non-timecode gigs.
DJ Stand that i bought from eBay and assembled myself. Needless to say it wobbled and was not brilliant although years later its been painted and is in use as a deck stand in my garden.
Around this time I became a Moderator on the Native Instruments DJ forum and got to know Rainer G. Haselier and discussed working together on his project Traktor Bible. Here are all 3 Editions of The Bible. Something that I am extremely proud of. Proud of my part small part in the books success but I also feel extremely blessed to have got to know Rainer as an extremely close friend. Whatever happens with Traktor or the Bible I know that I have forged a friendship for life with someone that I would not have met if it wasnt for me mouthing off on the NI forum, so my big mouth has led to at least one good thing. (sorry for the emotional waffle)
The next stage was buying a VCI 100. Unfortunately I dont have many pics of the VCI but safe to say that it was the VCI that really made me get into controllerism and brought me to DJTechTools. This was my second VCI which i sold on DJTT. My first was pimped out with DJTT knobs/faders/overlay but i sold it and then regretted it and bought another.
So a year ago me and my now fiance moved house and I got a room of my own to build a studio. Basically my girl was sick of my stuff being all over the house so I got a room for it all. Its a small room but it works. My mate Brian made the desk to fit as its an odd shaped room but there is about 15 foot of surface to work with. Heres some pics of it just assembled before all my junk was put in there:
All the records along the back are NI Timecodes, colours, test pressings and 7" with some Frosted Plates (Butter Rugz & Flying Carpets). Using the Scratchy Seal/NI timecode:
Production is something that Im just getting my teeth back into after years of absence. Small compact setup. Crawling before I can run. The Mac Mini is more that enuff for my needs. Logic and Maschine.
The S4 side of things plus my studio mixer. Everything goes into and out of the mixer. Although the timecode setup also goes direct to the KRKs as well.
The whole lot. Macbook Pro 2.53 Macbook Pro 2.16 iBook 1.25 Mac Mini 2.6 Dell box of annoyance. 2 x Technics 1210s inc Flight Cases 2 x Ortofon Qbert Cartidges Korg Zero 4 (now sold) 2 x Kontrol X1 Sennheiser HD25 Maschine MidiFighter Faderfox DX2 Audio 8 DJ Soundcard Presonus FireBox Presonus FireStudio M Audio 2 DJ Soundcard Akai LPK25 Keyboard Alesis Q49 Keyboard Kontrol S4 Allen & Heath Zed 14 Mixer 2 x KRK Rokit G6 Logic Traktor Scratch Pro Gibson Les Paul Custom Marshall 50/50 Power Amp Marshall 4x12 Angled Cab with flightcase (which I bought from Frankie Goes To Hollywoods Guitarist hahaha true, it has his name stenciled on the side). This amp was used by Cornershop to record their hit ‘Brimful of Asha’ they hired it from me for £50 for the week and then made millions, lucky them but everytime i hear that guitar intro i think “thats my f*cking amp” Alesis Quadraverb GT ADA MP1 Midi Pre Amp
1000s of Records and 1000s more in a storage unit with 1000s of CDs.
Fixed to the desk (ill get a better pic of the stands) but the desk is attached to battens that are attached to the wall and the desk is supported by the vinyl racks (bit like Ikea Exbedits but made by my mate.
There are also steel legs holding the corner up.
Ill get some better pics of the actual desk and its construction up over the next day or 2.
Your’s has to be one of the best and broadest setups I’ve ever seen on any forum. I don’t even know what I’d do with all of that! I’m still getting myself lost with the Twitch and X1! :eek:
Nice write up Karlos. Especially interesting was what you started off with. I don’t feel so bad with just my S4 and Maschine. But what I see what you ended up with. I have a while to go.
Still got it. Was gonna sell it but i love it too much.
Faderfox were knocking out a load of DX2’s for 100euros a while back but i think they have sold out so the price on eBay has gone back up. Maybe ill sell if i get a good offer.
That’s quite an array, it would be nice if I could fit my production and DJ area together to share the monitors like that. Does the zed 14 go to your monitors with all your other soundcards and mixers running into it?
Do you have any desire to get another DJ mixer now that the zero 4 is gone?
korg seriously needs to make a revamp of the Zero 4 such a beatiful mixer and so hard to find nowadays. looks like it was lightyears ahead of it’s time.
But what I see what you ended up with. 
I have a while to go.