I’m looking to get a cheap mixer and 2 turntables that i can learn scratching (starting to the bottom). There are a lot of expensive mixers and turntables that i can’t afford … bump. Should i start looking for used gear or new gear ? Which brand should i look for ? Any advice
Used gear all day. You can find come great deals if you shop used. If you only want to learn scratching, you only need one turntable, but if you want two, that’s fine too. For a scratch mixer, look for a Vestax PMC series mixer. They’re pretty much the standard scratch mixer with very good stock crossfaders. Once you have some money, you can splurge on a used TTM56, what I consider the best scratch mixer on the market for like $350 - $400 used. But a Vestax PMC05 can run from $100 - $300 depending on where you buy it. I typically use the used gear section on GuitarCenter’s website and just find an item and call the store asking condition, etc and if it sounds good, I’ll buy it over the phone and have it shipped to my house. So just look for a Vestax mixer. As for turntable, used Technics 1200s are not that expensive. With some looking, you can find them on eBay or GuitarCenter.com for $300 or so. If you want cheaper, I suggest a used Numark TTX or TT500. They’re proven decks and they’re pretty cheap. You can easily find a pair for $400 or so and they’re fantastic scratch decks, along as they’re a TTXUSB and not the TTX-1 which are prone to overheating issues. They are $400 new so used they should run about $200 or so each. Anyway, that’s my wall of text. Hope I helped! And might I recommend scratchworx reviews to help with learning more about a product and such.
absolutely, i’ve been looking into used PMC 05 , II /III PRO or PMC 07 PRO , but i need something with a 3 band EQ’s as
i need to use mixer also for sampling , production and eventual eclectic mixing gigs.
Found a seller that sells his Vestax PMC 07 PRO with bad working cross fader for 200 euros - do you think its a good value even without the cross fader?
means i would need to invest another 120 euros in new innofader right away …
That’s why i am interested in Ecler NUO 2.0 cause it offers 3 band EQ’s and what not for about the same price
as Vestax PMC 05 and hopefully a good out of the box crossfader?
Another question:
sometimes i see a used old original Vestax PMC PRO’s on eBay made in Japan rather than in China - is it much better built quality and still worth investment… or are they way to old for 2012 and i rather get something that is couple of years old ?
What about Stanton SK2F or any other brands … ?
sorry for to many questions : i am kinda lost with all the so called “scratch” 2nd hand mixers out there…
thanks for your reply
i keep reading on the web about some problem on the NUO mixers with FX loop - what exactly is about and does it affects NUO 2.0 as well?