My First Set Up

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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My First Set Up

Hi All.

I’ve been on Macs for years as a designer, been listening to sets and mixes for most of my life live and recorded. Recently started picking up Trakor and loving it. Really starting to get to grips with it.

So…about to launch into hardwaare and finding it a minefield. Should I go down the route of a single control unit - S4 versus DDJ T1??? Or should I be looking to set up in another way with individual components? Would love to know the pros and cons of the various options. I don’t reckon I’ll be filling floors at WMC next year but I don’t want to rule out live appearances! Clearly, I’ve seen all sorts of different set ups in clubs all over, been scouting around online for a ghood while and I’m now feeling a bit queezy about where to start spending money.

I reckon I’m clear on the NI vs Pioneer vs Numark vs Vestax etc single unit question as there’s plenty of lucid discussion about that out there. It’s the single unit vs separates (or maybe single ‘plus’ separates??) I’m keen to understand.

Your views on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks to you all.

;•)

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Personally i prefer a modular set up because i can taylor it to my style of playing and if something does not gel with me or breaks it’s not such a big issue to replace it with something new. also i can just take what i need to gigs.

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Oh and welcome to djtt :wink:

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It’s really a personal thing. I like all-in-one units (well, maybe separate soundcards) for their simple ease. Plug unit to amp/speakers, plug to laptop, open Itch, press play, rock out :slight_smile: I do house parties so it’s about size and ease.

But Zimfella’s idea about separates makes a lot of sense too, it’s just a preference (but I fooled around on a Xone 62 the other day and I GET it!). The only difference is cost, space and set-up time (separates is more on all three).

Welcome to Traktor too. But your never going to get the full experience until you use it with a controller, the mouse is NOT a DJ tool (LOL). I have yet to use a DDJ unit but I did not like the feel of it in the store (gravitated quickly to the 62 but also liked the S2/S4 “feel”). And with a S2/S4 it is really easy to “expand”: MidiFighter, X1, F1, ahh the list goes on…

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In some cases, the type of music you play will lend itself to a basic setup (i.e. House music = 2 decks (L&R) and a mixer (in the middle) with a few effects… this being the most basic and adaptable to numerous styles) (this is not word of god… it’s just the lowest common denominator..be it modular or all-in-one)

If you have access to some setups (friends or otherwise), I’d spend some time there first.

The number of options available to you are staggering compared days of old when you basically had to conform to the 12’s and a mixer setup.

Now you can configure your setup to fit your style like a glove. This may be a costly exercise unless you test drive.

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Thank you!!! Wicked site.

And your previous post makes total sense.

So if it’s a modular route, what’s the best foot forward in your opinion? Am I going to be able to get all the functionality of the S4 for the same money? If it’s a case of Deck A • Mixer • Deck B >>> Laptop then what kind of units would I look to track down?

TYVM

;•)

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I think there can be a compromise between controller and modular. I got a cheap Vestax Spin, that is mapped to four channels and a midi-fighter as my first rig. Sure I want to upgrade to an S4, but I figure I will probably drag the midi-fighter around for years, it is extremely versatile. I think there is some merit to getting a cheap all in one controller and banging it out in your bedroom with it for a year or so to see if you enjoy djing, before taking a huge plunge into spending.

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I’d honestly say that for total adaptability in most booths and set-ups, nothing beats a Kontrol X1. honestly, i wish from day 1 that I had used a X1 with a mixer, and an external soundcard. I’ve added turntables to my setup, but i could totally just go into basically any club booth, plug in an X1 and my soundcard and rock out. No hassle with ‘will my controller fit’ etc, because you just move the CDJ or TT about 6 inches over and whack it in!

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Rdale has a point. i started with an all in one cheap controller. that lasted about a year before i got “rapid gear aqquisition syndrome” watch out for that.

On the other note it also comes down to personal taste. You need to decide on weather you want to mix externally with a mixer or use traktors internal mixer. Both have advantages and disadvantages. To me the mixer is the heart of the setup. build the rest around that.
If you decide to kix internally go for an all in one unit or the k2 would be good aswell for that.

What sort of budget you on?

cheap modular stuff check out djtech modular units. I used them and they do work.

others
denon do the dns2000
Reloop contours
NI x1
Beringher are bringing out some soon.

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+1 on the x1

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Thanks mate. Appreciate your thoughts.

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TYVM. I take your point. X1 is well worth more thought.

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lol I get you on the Traktor control with a mouse/keyboard issue! Very quickly very frustrating! Funny but everything I read about the DDJ vs S4 talks about feel. From what I can gather the S4 is a much more sturdy lump of kit. The all-in-one is look favourite on space, cost and set up at the moment! Good points on expansion too. Didn’t have much of an idea what else could easily be bolted on.

What’s the score with ‘separate soundcards’ then?

TYVM

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Good points, thank you

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I feel very comfortable so far with the on-board mixing. Wouldn’t necessarily know why I’d look to do it ‘externally’ at this stage. Got around £600 to let go of. Big fear is that I’d launch in and then catch the same syndrome! I have an issue with buying cheap gear per se. By and large you get what you pay for and I tend to opt and pay for robustness where possible. I’d also like to be a self-contained as possible moving forward but just want to make sure I don’t waste any large sums in the first place by taking the wrong route to kick off and ending up with obsolete kit.

Thanks for all the pointers. Really helpful stuff.

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Hi
I have gone from
1: two turn tables and a mixer
2. 2 cdjs and a mixer
3. m-audio xponent
4. NI S4
5. Pioneer DDJ-T1
6. Pioneer DDJ-T1 + Midi Fighter3d (Ordered the 3d last night)

I honestly have to say that my favorite is the DDJ-T1. The layout is nice and clean. Yes it is plastic, but if you use a flight case when transporting it, you won’t run into any issues. If you get a 3 year extended warranty, like from Guitar Center, if anything does happen to it, ya send it in and get it fixed or replaced with a GC gift card for the original price plus tax from the day you bought it. Use that gift card to get whatever new gadget has caught your eye.
When in a club its great to just bring in the T1 and laptop. I sometimes spin with a friend of mine and the booth that normally holds 2 turn tables and a mixer (in cases) can fit both of our rigs (my T1 and the VCI 400 he is buying off of me lol) side by side. I set up in 7 min and tear down in 5. I scratch a little bit and the T1 has the best feel for it out of the controllers that I have used. I know the S4 is waaayyyyy more precise in regards to the jog wheel but on a 4" platter its pretty difficult to scratch very accurately. (at least for me).
I can’t wait for my 3d to arrive to see how the 2 run together. I get the feeling that I am going to become a traktor mapper once I get the 3d and can experiment with it.
Big ups for controllers! I always have a back up though… Just in case something goes wrong with my laptop or controller I always have some other form of music, such as my iPhone that I have a grip of music and mixes on, that i can plug into the sound system and keep the music going.
You can just do soooo much more with controllers and software than with anything else.

Just my thoughts :slight_smile:

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I like modular setups. I change things around all the time, and I would rather use a mixer than an all-in-one.

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If you want to mix internally check out the k2 or go for the s2. plenty of money left over for a nice set of cans and monitors :slight_smile: that will start you off well with plenty of options to add on. :slight_smile:

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You know, and I know this might be the common thought process on the board, but going for a more traditional setup and using modular controllers is another very solid option. It’s a bit more expensive, but there are a lot of key factors to involve as well.

If you get CDJ’s or TT’s (either or really, both are generally installed in clubs although CDJ’s are more prevalent these days in smaller venues) you won’t have to bring them with you. They will be at the place you will be spinning, unless it’s a mobile gig or house party where you’d need to bring a whole setup anyhow.

There IS a stigma for certain promoters about hiring guys with controllers. Albeit it’s fading, but a lot of booths don’t have the space to setup a large thing like the DDJ-T1. So it’s something to keep in mind. It really shouldn’t be a deciding factor, use what you will, but it’s something I see a lot of people running into once they are very familiar with the equipment they’ve invested in, and then ask about it later.

If you take a look, a hard look, at the DDJ-T1, it’s basically two CDJ-400’s and a mixer connected together. I’d honestly say, find two CDJ-400’s and a mixer, and use that instead with an external audio interface. It would also leave room so if you wanted to add an X1 or other additional controllers, you’d be able to as well. Also, as the mixer is a really important part of a setup, it’s nice being able to switch that out or upgrade it if you want to. And honestly, resale values on CDJ’s and TT’s are MUCH higher if you ever want to change things up.

I can’t say enough how much just messing with the spinning vinyl on turntables is just… magic. It’s something you can’t get from any other medium, and I personally still love finding deals on good records and being able to play those as well.

If you want a controller, and you’re interested in vinyl with traktor, then the S4 with the scratch upgrade is a really solid option as well.

Really, it’s a tough choice what to decide to get for yourself. Personally I believe in using CDJ’s and TT’s because those are what are installed in the clubs, and that’s where I eventually want to be playing. Having versatility is key though.

Through financial issues and whatnot, it took me much longer to initially get my setup. But I personally decided with two 1200’s, a decent mixer, and Serato. And haven’t looked back. I now have added dicers and an MPKmini for additional controls, but that’s part of finding your niche.

Whatever you choose make sure you’re going to be happy with that choice for a long time. Because honestly, it’s not a cheap investment :slight_smile:

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If you like tumbling around on the second-hand market I would recommend getting CDJs. (like mentionen earlier, resale value is high).
My story of equipment goes like this;
First off
Numark OmniControl. Not to bad for the money.
Kontrol S4 when it was launched, sold a couple months later.
in favor of cdj 100+djm300
but that was meh so i sold and got
cdj 1000mk3 with djm 400 (had for a while and really enjoyed mixing on them)
But wanted rekordbox compabilty so i bought
cdj 850’s and upgraded to djm 800 built a custom bench for them and used for a few gigs
got the s2 and a midifighter when it was firesale here on techtools
Got a nice offer for the 850+800 set so i sold it.
After a month i realized i missed the cdjs,
got a bargain deal on 2 cdj 2000, bought them, also got a djm 350 mixer.
used for 2 weeks and then i sold them again because i know value will drop when the new model comes.

Note: I bought all cdjs and mixers second hand. And I earned money on all of them.

Now i only have kontrol s2 and midifighter left and for now i wont get cdjs until i move to a bigger apartment.
My point is, i think it was worth having all cdjs, got to try them out, feel and learn them and re-sell for even more than what i bought them for.