What gear should I get to learn how to scratch on?
I want to get a main set for my room, and take out on special occasions.
I already have a S2, but I want a mixer and some turntables, what do you guys recommend? I can’t spend a lot of money
just learn on the s2 for now. you can at least start getting the muscle memory of scratching and using the crossfader down. i would save up for some technics for the long run though, which you can sometimes find for a good deal on craigslist and the like. i think it’s better to learn that way then to buy crappy turntables only to upgrade later since you currently have everything you need to get your feet wet.
Definitely get a turntable, I scratch a lot and theres no comparison between an S4/S2 to a turntable. One of the biggest problems I have with the S4/S2 is that neither give you any kind of feedback for where your cue point is (VCI 380 has the LED circle). Although you can learn on an S4/2 it’s much better to learn on vinyl, you have a greater range of motion and you don’t have to look at your computer screen to see where your sample is. Nothing against the laptop I just find it better to be looking at what your hands are doing, I feel it reinforces the learning.
You could also upgrade to the S4 and do timecode vinyl with it. If you can afford a tech 1200 get one, if not you can always get a cheaper direct drive stanton turntable. I started with that and some butter rugs (essential, since the torque is lower) and I got by just fine.
pick up a cheap super OEM turntable and a basic scratch mixer. Shouldnt cost you more the $250-300.
I picked up a pair of stanton t120cs and a behringer nox404 for 450 or so
I am a huge fan of direct drive CD players, ie, CDJ’s with motorized platters. I think the combination of something spinning plus the versatility of having CDs is pretty cool when it comes to hardware. I however am completely done with hardware and have gone the full MIDI route, but that’s a different discussion. and it must be said, I will still miss the pull of the platter at my fingers.
oh, I’m selling my denon DN-S3500’s right now. just throwing that out there 
Save your money for 1200/1210’s. Anything else is shite, and only a f*cking noob would tell you otherwise.
you are a fucking idiot. Having owned techs and a bunch of super OEm decks, the stanton St150s are superior to 1200s in every way for scratching. Only fanboy morons who haven’t used them say otherwise.
Shame on you, sir.
Get decks, 1200/1210s/SuperOEM/Stanton STR8 150s are all good.
You can do the basics with any mixer, though getting something with a GOOD crosfader, and nice clear area around the faders is a plus in the longer term
If I were buying a new TT it would be the stanton… used I would still probably lean towards a 1200. I really am a Technics fanboy, they really made a solid piece of gear, but that day is done and the stantons seem like the current champion.
if ya wanna scratch just use your ass… lol but in all seriousness, find a used DJ kit from numark or stanon etc…
I’d be on the lookout for a used 1200’s. I just scored 2 for 400 bucks (2nd time in the past year BTW). They are a little beat up but all cosmetic. It’s what I’ve always used so that’s what I can recommend.
don’t use a “dj kit”, they are toys…
Get a set of super OEM tables and a stanton SA-3 mixer (it’s a tiny mixer with a wicked P&G crossfader) although I believe the behringer NOX series all accept their infinium crossfader so that could be another slightly more expensive alternative. The last option is to get any mixer that accepts an innofader but an innofader cost’s more than most cheap mixers and more than an SA-3. You will still need at least an Audio 4 to run everything though.
I wouldn’t attempt to use the crossfader on the S2. If you used different software I’d suggest the stanton djc.4 as it allows timecode control, and has a great crossfader & great hanpin construction quality with more than enough buttons, encoders and knobs to do anything you want with.
And can you fix your signature calgarc it has been annoying me… just close the url tag properly with a forward slash / eg.
[/url]
The SA3 doesn’t have a P&G crossfader AFAIK. Also the NOX series actually ships with the infinium fader installed so no upgrade is needed. And the infinium fader and NOX series are pretty solid options for sub $300 scratch mixers. Plus Behringer offers a 3 year warranty these days.
I am at a loss why anyone would buy a single beat up 1200 for $300+ when you can get 2 super OEM decks for less than $400. Its stupidity. Its like buying a 5 year old macbook over a current PC because of an Apple logo. Paying more for less.
I could be mistaken, that’s what my mate told me.. I have scratched on one and it’s a nice fader, the eq sounds pretty crap in comparison to better scratch mixers though, but when scratching you barely ever do anything with the eq but turn down the bass.
I own a set of str8 150’s myself but I can see the appeal of the Techs. No turntable has matched them in the looks department especially the black MK5’s. Most clubs do have tech’s as well which can make it a bit easier to adjust to the torque although a good DJ should be able to adjust to different decks fairly easily. The re-sale value is really good as well so if you want to get something else selling them is easy. I will probably buy a set one day.
So it’s just aesthetics and the ‘prestige’ of owning 1200s regardless of how beat up they are?
I don’t buy the whole club standard bollocks. If you have the skills to scratch well , you can do that on any decent tt.
Well you don’t have to buy beat up, you can get a good looking tech for around 400 - 500 each if you look hard enough. Aesthetics and prestige means allot to some people.
I use 1200 mk5s + S4 with an Innofader. I had 1210s for years which is why I picked up a “new” set of Technics this year. Before that I had the Numark TTXs and they are a superb deck to scratch on, probably better than the 1200s. I got the 1200s out of nostalgia (and they keep slightly better time for beat mixing than anything else).
That other idiot banging on about Technics or nothing is well, an idiot.
Yeah I guess. But given you can pick up a pair of ST150s in near perfect condition for $500. It just seems crazy.
Don’t get me wrong, 1200s are fantastic TTs with an amazing history and I love playing on them, but the wankery surrounding them, especially now that they have been discontinued is nuts.