I now mix only once a week and one of the reasons (not the only one) is that when I had my 1210s I think I was more inspired to mix compared to my current S4 + Laptop setup. The spinning platters combined with an actual mixer was more enticing compared to the buttons and jogwheel of the S4. I’m not sure it’s all about the tactile nature of the 1210 either. The history, weight and asthetic beauty of the 1210s also helped. When I was mixing on 1210s I felt like I was part of a larger community. The S4 is popular sure, but the 1210s were like a real symbol of DJing.
I have still not had one person comment on my S4 setup, but almost everyone who saw my 1210s made a comment. Everyone knew what 1210s represented.
/end ramblings…
PS: I love my s4…but I thought this topic might generate some empathy - I know there are lots of people who’ve sold their 1210s to go digital
I haven’t had TTs, but I know there’s an easy way to make it digital with timecode. And if you don’t like timecode I think there’s this denon thing called SC-3900, i think, which has CD, USB and MIDI and a big platter!
PD: @xs2man 4 turntables? how do you do that? you don’t get crazy or something? anyway it’s a VERY nice setup!
Yep. Same here. Since the 1210s are gone I don’t enjoy mixing as much. Got an f1 and although it can be fun , the remix decks need so much preparation, i spend more time organising them than mixing
I kinda feel the same way. I’m going the digital vinyl route - I miss the feel and the fine control. Not that you can’t do that with a S4, but it just doesn’t feel right to me using a non-spinning platter that is essentially just a MIDI encoder. Might as well use a knob, imo.
It’s interesting how a simple turntable became a cultural relic. Maybe that has something to do with why it’s so enticing. Maybe some more experienced DJs than myself could chime in on this.
Yeah it was… but I sold it to buy a new Guitar FX processor.
It was a wrench but I wasn’t using it as much as I intended. Lovely machine but I just use a Macbook Pro now and hook it to the screens.
Serious questions:
Are you guys telling me that for someone who grew up on a digital setup, they can’t find that intrinsic feeling on their kit?
Do you guys honestly believe that TT’s or CDJ’s are that much more… alive?
It had plenty of power. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s not a full grown Mac Pro. I have to say I don’t have the knowledge of Logic to say whether a power user would be happy with a Mac Mini but I took some advice from users on DJTT before I bought it. I was told I would have no issues with Mini. I liked it a lot. I just had an almighty desire for a better FX processor so the Mini had to go for no other reason.
i tried a controller setup with traktor and i hated it.. i wanted to like it but i just couldn’t get in to it.
what funny is i really enjoyed using Ableton (apart from the warping)
ive moved to cdj’s now which kinda gives me the best of both worlds..
Yes. Honest answer is after playing on tons of different controllers and set-ups, including an S4…and man I tried to love that S4, came up with user mappings, etc. it all felt “lifeless” compared to a turntable. Same as having to midimap, and prepapring samples…felt as if I was more focused on computer programming than music.
Any two bit refurbished pc would run better and cheaper than a Mac mini. Seriously. Is it the operating system that gets you people to pay double markup or what.
See the issue I have with this.. Do people not realize if you are going to change methods to madess, you actually have to change the method?
I feel alot more “alive” and in control, doing alot more things with my Traktor setup. If you expect to go from vinyl to a digital setup and some how work it the same way to create the same feeling, you are far far far mistaken.
Ill never get this line of thinking “it doesnt feel the same”. Of course it doesnt, but because of your egotistical view towards a turntable or how it should “feel” you in no way help advance the current future. Or attempting to advance your own understanding of it.
Turntable away, they are great for the bedroom. You would never catch me hauling a 1210 to a club now a days, and i believe even 2 clubs here even have a pair of house tables anymore.
For the sake of fun and progression of your own mixing, TTs are great, they arent practical now a days for a standard club dj
Sounds like you are the one with the egotistical and short sided view pal. You choose to quote what I said and perhaps don’t agree with what I’m writing ---- but the topic of this thread is exactly what I’m relaying to the guy who asked above.
To give you some background because it seems like you know plenty about me from your post. I played on 1200’s when I was a teen in the mid-90’s and stopped DJing all together for about 10 years. Decided to take it up as a hobby at some point and bought a controller. It was cool, easy, and like most who get a controller now a days it was easy to play some tunes at the house and for friends. I got all into traktor, developed plenty of custom mappings, shared them with the forum, etc. ended up with the CDJ’s for a while, tried those, and although fun…it wasn’t until i got some 1200’s nearly 15 years since I had played on one that I really enjoyed playing tunes. Same goes for SSL, i prefer it to Traktor. It’s no ego my man ----- it’s choices, tastes, likes, etc.
…plenty of other folks on this forum have expressed the same “feeling” when using tables vs. a controller.
