Hey guys. I’ve hit a dilemma. Ive been djing for almost 4 years now and i want to expand my talents as a dj. Ive been using traktor for most of that time and i want to start tapping into remix decks and using effects more often. I feel like I’ve gotten down general mixing. Can manually beat match and everything. I know how to use the eq’s to master the mix and everyting. But i feel the next step is going to remix decks and effects. Ive been thinking about getting a s8 for awhile but its $1200. Ive read the old article back from in the day about this but technology for djing has gotten better since then. So as of june of 2015, with all the equipment we have at our disposal now. What would you guys recommend for the direction I’m going towards. Im a regular at a bar in town and i play everything under the sun. This isn’t gonna really a ‘practice at home’ set up. I’m out every weekend djing. Also I’m gonna be branching off to other clubs soon so i need to keep portablilty in mind.
So what do you guys think. Any help and opinions would be greatly appreciated.
If you’re a regular DJ at a Regular spot playing anything and everything then don’t you want your setup to mimic the clubs you currently/ will play at in the future?
S8 or D2’s if you can afford them… If not, then get an F1 or the Midifighter 3D. Both are great for effect+remix control - this is how I roll right now
But the clubs I’m going to next use all in one controllers. mostly serato users. so should i just stick with the all in one or go to a nice modular set up with two d2’s and a good mixer?
because the club i dj at right now doesnt have a mixer. i have to bring my s4 and plug in to their big 8 channel mixer way off to the right. its for running all of their other sound equipment too so its not for the dj to use. But for the clubs in boise it seems like almost everyone just brings their own controller and rocks it out. Mostly all serato users. few of them use cdj’s but other than that it seems to be ‘bring your own equipment’. so i dont know if i should spend the money on getting a nice mixer and two d2’s or just get the s8. but all the four channel mixers i like are all about 2000$. i wish they would just sell the s8’s mixer separately and it would make my life a whole lot easier.
Depending on what you want, you can get two D2s and a mixer for a little more than an S8 to maintain the modular setup.
Nobody says you need a Nexus. The Denon x1600 can be had for under $900
Or the new A&H 43/43c.
Make it even cheaper if you get X1 midi fighter or an F1
Plenty of options.
I would go modular. You can always upgrade bits or downgrade bits as and when you feel.
I bought myself a Denon DN-X1700 for dirt cheap and they are awesome mixers (also Traktor scratch certified if you ever wanted to go down that route). Then just add a couple of X1s or D2s or F1s or a launchpad or whatever you want really.
If you buy an S8 you are tied to that complete package.
Technology moves on so be future proof and buy a decent mixer (with internal soundcard) as your hub then add to it as and when you feel.
Ok i looked at the x1700 you told me about and it looks like an amazing mixer. But heres a major part for me. Is it more fun to use a modular setup. Can you be more creative. Cause i personally like the idea of slapping a few midi fighters, and a d2 onto the mixer and going from there. Also would that setup be more versatile for down the road?
But for you guys that roll into clubs with a modular set up. do you have any issues with the owners or managers with it? Do they look down on your or just not care what you do? Because like i said, here in boise they all use controllers that are just plug and play.
ok second question then. Im gonna get the denon x1700. great mixer and traktor compatable. Should i go with a x1 mk2 or go with the new d2? which is more user friendly.
I’d recommend going with the X1mk2 and an F1 … They’ll do more than a single D2 and run from USB bus power, and get you going for a little less money.
This will allow you to mix 2 tracks with the X1mk2 and control effects, and then you’ll have the F1 for some remix deck fun as a third deck.
Regarding your question about taking modular setups into clubs, most of the places that I play have a DJM850/900NXS and a pair of CDJ2000/NXS installed and I normally have enough room to slide my pair of X1mk2 either side of the mixer. I’ve not had any issues with club owners/managers because at the end of the day it comes down to what you play and how the dance floor reacts. If I feel the urge or if space doesn’t allow for my X1’s then I’ll use the CDJ2000’s as HID control (still using the DJM as soundcard). I’ve remapped some of the buttons to give me all 8 Traktor cue points and beat jump so that I can do the things I do with the X1’s. As I use hardware mixers I use the on-board mixer effects (sparingly, I’m not an FX spammer) and so don’t use the Traktor effects, in fact I’ve remapped the buttons on the X1’s to help with setting grid and cue points quickly on the fly.
All of that being said, I have recently purchased a D2 and have started using it over the last 2 weeks gigs. Last night because space allowed I used: CDJ2000NXS (deck C), D2 (deck A), DJM850 (soundcard), X1mk2 (deck B), CDJ2000NXS (deck D)
It’s much bigger than the X1, it needs a PSU (that fell out of the clubs crap power strip last night, I put it back in and it picked up straight away like nothing happened!), I’m yet to find a case/bag to put it in so I had to take the original box … However it is really neat to use as a single deck controller as I hate having to push that DECK button because you lose Play/Cue/cue-point buttons for the other deck. Because I was able to use the CDJ’s to control the other decks the D2 worked well into my set. With the ability to control 2 decks with one controller straight out of the box without having to change Deck/Layers the X1 wins for most gigs … But the D2 screen is awesome!
No thank you so much. Im feeling the x1 is more space friendly and it does the job just fine. I did a lot, i mean a lot of research last night and i thought of how my set up should run. When i dj i have hardly ever used more than 2 decks. Only time i have is when traktor glitched and i couldn’t run a song through channel b. So i started thinking about just getting a z2. Its a lot smaller than a 4 channel. runs tracktor straight out of the box. and have looping, cue points and effects on it already. I think i may get one because i honestly don’t see myself ever running more than two channels. so on top of the z2 I’m thinking about getting a x1 and mapping it to run all 6 effects knobs on just one channel. then hitting a button to switch over to another channel. Then I’m gonna buy 2 midi fighter 3d’s and use ean goldens jam on it mapping for instant deck gratification and remix decks. perfect modular setup in my opinion and i can have fun mapping and remixing my sets on the fly. Plus its all super portable.
