I started my DJ career with a Traktor S2 DJ Controller due to a limited budget to learn the craft of DJing and to be able to express my passion to spread good music in lounges and clubs. However i now feel that the time has come for me to upgrade my setup and invest in CDJ players and a DJ mixer. I feel that all clubs and lounges still would not mind if you play on their equipment and bring your own USB stick.
What is the CDJ models i should invest in? Which DJ mixer? Any budget models and is it worth buying second hand online?
pioneer cdj 850 and above and the mixer would be pioneer DJM 850 and above…basically club standard, of course there are other CDJs and other mixers but this is what you will find in about 95% of all clubs
Depends on how much money you are willing to spend.
The CDJs on clubs usually the best available on the market (or very close to it), so, if you want to train for club playing you should get the best possible CDJ. But they are ignorantly expensive, so money might be a problem.
Get some 850’s. They go relatively cheap on ebay/craiglist. If you can play with them, you can play with every other “better” player. An 850 give you the right amount of tools to learn all the important functions of a CDJ.
If you really want to get familiair with the pio-effects, buy a DJM 750 or 800 (a DJM 750 will cover all the effects of the more expensive DJM’s). If you don’t use effects, every decent 4 channel mixer will do (denon, reloop?)
I would recommend to use recordbox (usb). At this time, most clubs have cdj’s with usb. You only need to analyse your tracks once with RB and you can rock the 350’s, 850’s, 900’s, 900 nexus, 2000’s and 2000 nexus!
In case the venue has some cdj’s with no usb-function, burn some cd’s (the 850’s work fine cd’s).
Yes, any Pioneer CDJ & DJM will be good enough for training, the only difference is that the better the equipment is the more functions it has. So you will be prepared to use those advanced functions in the club.
Check out pioneers XDJ-R1 Controller. You can use it as standalone (just with USB/CD’S) or hool it up to a laptop and use VDJ with it…but i just use mine as standalone with usb. It has rekord box capabilities too. The unit is similar to a pair of 850’s and djm 850. But for a third of the price. The layout is the same as all the other pioneers stuff so its perfect for practising on at home to get you prepared for the club circuit. I highly reccomend it. Sure, you dont get as many effects as Traktor so in that respect it is not really an upgrade at all, but that if you want to be prepared for the Pionner infested clubs,invest in this.
Its funny how technology has advanced with traktor and Serato but yet, its the cdj units that are still king. Given the new spurt in people wanting to become djs and with dance music being a recent phenomenon in USA at the moment, i can see Pioneer sitting back and letting all the newbies of the scene buy into the cdj’s before we may even see a new daddy pioneer. Just a random thought
Another similar option if you’re looking for an All-In-One CD/USB/MIDI Controller could be the Numark Mixdeck series. Although it’s not recordbox compatible, the Quad gives you the added benefit of being a 4-channel standalone mixer, so you can hook up a 3rd CDJ (maybe one that IS recordbox compatible) if you end up needing one. Plus, since it can be used to control Algoriddims Djay iOS app, you can use it to mix from Spotify as well, if that’s your prerogative. Could be helpful in auditioning new songs.
