Hey Guys,
I need advice on what Gear to Buy because I’m ON A BIG BUDGET. I am looking for a CDJ setup or MIDI controller as I imagine it is hard to find vinyl with most club tracks on it. I am looking at a NuMark NS7FX or 2 N7s and a NuMark X6. I have no idea when it comes to CDJ systems but keep in mind my budget is capped at 1500 MAX. I was hoping someone could shed some insight as to whether I should go with a CDJ setup or MIDI controller, or a time coded setup? Also, Where could I get online lessons to DJ or a training DVD? I heard about the sean gallagher DVD and will try it if nobody has anything better. Finally, What would be the best way to build my music library? I mostly want to work with club music (120 - 140 BPM) and house, to the likes of steve akoi, Afrojack, Skrillex, and David guetta, and songs like Like A G6, Sandstorm, and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Thanks Alot,
Brenny
You had stated timecode already, so I am assuming you have a little understanding that the tunes are not physically on the vinyl. This is where your laptop comes in to play.
I would say that the setup is not about “what” you want to play so much as “how” you play it.
Controllerism is a very adaptable method of mixing. I started that way and even with CDJs, I still like using my controller over them.
Maybe start with the S4 and get the best of both controllerism, CDJs (jog wheels) and timecode…
As for videos, youtube is your friend, Ellaskins, and mixingguide.com helped me quite a bit in the beginning, but I come from a musical background so it was way more getting used to using the gear than is was where to bring a track in and how to EQ and beatmatch etc…
My only concern with the S4 is I’m not the biggest fan of small jog wheels, which I really liked about the ns7, but is there a big enough difference for it to be worth my while to go for the s4, or does the S4 also have an option for timecode?
I think you will get way more bang for your buck with the S4. It’s made for Traktor (if that’s what you plan you using) so you don’t have to worry about mapping yourself. For someone just getting into controllerism, it is a time consuming process to do it yourself. But then again, it’s very gratifying when you finish. :eek: Set myself up there lol
I haven’t had a chance to try either yet, as I’m new to DJing and looking to getting set up, but the ability to use Turntables is a Big bonus for me. Also, what is mapping?
Mapping is making the buttons and knobs on a controller do what you want within the software. Be it volume, cue, play, effects…
If you want turntables then you need to know if you still want software. If so, you will need timecode. If not, a mixer is all you need and you’re good to go. Some on here might disagree here, but I don’t recommend that for a beginner. It is a lot easier to learn when able to “see” what you are playing on a screen. Once you know your music like the back of your hand and have the basics down, then without software might be an option.
Yeah, I can also get stuff not on vinyl for timecode (hell knows how hard finding Like a G6 would be BTW I checked out your channel its pretty good stuff
Thanks for all the help, and I think I will give the S4 a try. One last question though, what Is the best way to learn? I live in ottawa so no possibility to get 1 on 1 lessons but teaching myself seems kind of “stupid” not in a bad way but if I can learn to beatmatch faster with the help of someone else it seems to make more sense
The S4 is great and I think youll probably never want to get rid of it even if you switch over to CDJs or tables.
Like I said, Ellaskins and mixingguide.com who is also on youtube helped a lot of people inlcuding me. They have step by steps for beginners.
Download some tunes, beatport.com, junodownload, audiojelly are big for electronic, Itunes for your top 40 stuff. Watch the tutorials, go to local events and watch the DJ, practice practice practice. Get creative and have fun.
Beat matching is about 30 mins of lessons and then hundreds of hours of practising. There’s no fancy tricks, you just gotta learn the skill. There are plenty of videos on youtube, why not have a little surf and see if you understand what they are doing. Don’t be put off if it seems impossible at first, just gotta keep trying ;D
I wouldn’t advise getting the s4 if you want to use timecode primarily since while it is capable I don’t think it’s ideal. You don’t get an external sound card so you have to play with your s4 and that means you can’t really play at clubs with the normal turntable-mixer-turntable set up. It’s a cool piece of kit but it’s better suited for syncing and such. That and it’d really eat into the turntable budget which is not cool. Can’t go cheap on turntables.
I’d go for traktor scratch duo, 2 decent second hand turntables, some mid range headphones and a crappy 2 channel mixer with 3 band EQ if you want turntables
OR
2 decent mid range CD players that ain’t pioneer (so you get better value for money), a crappy mixer and some mid range headphones if you want to play with CDs
The CD option means no DVS to start with which could be a good thing since it’ll be a lot cheaper and easier to set up but you’ll lose out on all the funky effects and crap we love on this forum. Probably should try and find some different set ups and try them out first, see what you like.
S4 by itself as your main method of mixing? Awesome. But don’t use it purely as a step towards DVS.
Yea I get that I just meant to learn how to use everything and how to sample and loop but I guess that stuff just comes with practice. With pioneer is it more of you are paying for the brand than the quality? and the only issue is in ottawa there is nowhere to get DJ equipment so most of my stuff will be bought online. What would you recommend for a good set of turntables? I was thinking NuMark TTXUSB but I’m not sure how good NuMark is because there isn’t too much stuff about them. Also with the Traktor Audio 6 is it necessary to connect to time coded? Please understand that I’m still new to the DJ scene so i it seems like I have no idea what I’m talking about that’s why
From what I have read so far I think you’re still confused as to what everything is. If I were you i’d google and do some research on what you posted earlier - the medium to DJ through.
Read about each type in detail and try to figure out what you really want. Personally I currently have an S4 and it’s a great little kit as it is an all in one, but now I really am thinking about going pure time code (which is “pretend” vinyl - so instead of you playing off real vinyl you use the fake vinyl called time code and play tracks off your laptop).
Anyway like I said, if I were in your shoes right now, i’d first get everything clear in my mind. I’d check to see what I need, how I want to express myself, and I would write down all the mediums and their pro’s and con’s for me personally then I would narrow down my choices down to maybe 2 - 3, write down those pro’s and con’s and then ask for suggestions on the forums.
I feel that with Pioneer you’re paying largely for a brand name. Their high end products really do excel I don’t feel their lower range stuff is any better than the competition and as a result doesn’t deserve the higher prices. But that’s just my opinion.
I buy all my stuff online, it worked for me!
NEVER buy belt drive turntables.
I’m not your best person to talk to about turntables. All I know is that technics are excellent and I like any of the “super oem turntables” look them up and keep an eye out for all the different models on ebay and you might find them cheap. I saw one go for £60 the other day, incredible deal when you bare in mind that new ones with a different brand name stuck on them were going for £480 the same day.
The audio 6 dj is a sound card for traktor scratch. Basically it works like this. You have a vinyl record with a special “time code” on it. This code goes through the turntable, into your sound card and through into your computer. Traktor scratch then calculates how the vinyl record is moving and sends your track back through the sound card and into the mixer and then onto the speakers.
You need a sound card for several reasons. 1) You don’t have enough audio inputs and outputs on your computer. 2) the inputs/outputs are not high enough quality, meaning that even if it did work the tracks would sound bad and your tracks would be VERY unresponsive. 3) traktor scratch pro timecode control is limited to only sound cards made by NI or their certified mixers. (basically NI wants you to buy their crap. which is fair. it’s damn good quality crap)
I have been researching for about a month now but it is hard to find info on everything so I’m still very confused about it all. I know the different mediums available to use I think ( CDJ, DVJ, Vinyl, Time coded Vinyl, Digital controller) but that’s about all I know. I’m pretty sure I want to go time coded Vinyl as I like the feeling of moving vinyl under my fingers but that was also why I was considering the NS7 because of that, But honestly time coded sounds better. Thanks for the help though as any helps me on my way.
I can’t help you at all with the turntable deal, but you can also have timecode CDJs. This is an actualy CD that you put in each player and it will read off of your laptop just like timecode vinyl.
One more thing to add to your thoughts, but just thought I’d throw that out there.
I think you first need to decide if you want software or not. If you do, buy Traktor or whatever you plan on using and just mess about with that without any gear at first. Get used to how the whole system works. Then, after you get a feel for what you want to play, buy accordingly.
That’s what I’d do at least. Get your feet wet first you know?
You don’t need the best quality needles (what would normally be limited the sound quality) but you still need a good strong motor that will keep time well. Cheap turntables are hard to mix with and you will just end up throwing them away and buying better ones not long after so you may as well get the better stuff in the first place.
Technics are the industry standard. Obviously a safe bet, just make sure they are in good condition.
I think there are some good numark and vestax ones but I don’t know them, sorry. Maybe someone else can help.
Stanton ST/STR8-150 (good luck finding these cheap!)
American Audio HTD 4.5
Citronic PD-45/45mk2 (yay I have these!)
Synq XTRM1
Akiyama Acura DJ-4000
Reloop RP6000MK5
Ominitronic DD5250
Kam DDX5000
BST PRO-PR4.5
Koolsound TDJ-04
Those are all super oem turntables and effectively the exact same turntable but with a different brand name on them. They are pretty sound turntables so keep an eye open for on ebay or whatever since some of the lesser known branded ones sometimes go for really cheap.
If you do this and buy a scratch version and then decide you don’t want dvs you have wasted your money. And if you buy regular and then want scratch you’re a bit screwed!
I vote try out the demo version of the software first! Always try before you buy!
p.s. ive go more crap to say but i’ve not slept in nearly 3 days for fuck knows why and i cba to type it.
BTW I checked out your channel its pretty good stuff