I want to take on Djing as a hobby, possibly professionally (kinda being forced into it, but hey, why not try it), if I enjoy it enough.
I narrowed it down to the following setups (based on what my friends will sell me):
My laptop, serato itch, and an allen & heath Xone DX controller (friend selling his to me for $350)..
OR
CDJ800 MK1s, DJM400 mixer, and serato/box (friend selling entire setup to me for $900)
OR some combination of the two?
What would you choose? I want something that, if I choose to continue professionally, will suffice for a while. CDJs interest me more for some reason, but Laptop Djing seems to be all over now. Any input appreciated, I need to choose and purchase this week!
nether the cdj setup is too outdated and the DJM 400 is CRAP. Serato Itch is just not happening. I would go the turntable route, pick up 800s and maybe an ecler nuo 2.0 and add traktor. Doesn’t get more professional than that
Nothing wrong with the CDJ or mixer setup, i dont know the value of the $ but thats a pretty decent deal,
“pick up 800s” what’s that supposed to mean? DJM800? CDJ800’s? some form of “800” turntable? “itch isnt happening” i know people who swear by itch over any controllerist software. “add traktor”? he has mentioned itch, or SSL, maybe he hasnt considered traktor but why are you telling him what to take ?
Who are you to make these statements?
I think youve been brainwashed by the masses.
On topic: i would go with the the CDJ setup as i use a setup not far from that on a weekly basis. SSL is handy as well, but again your relying on a laptop (and i know from personal use that after using DVS you NEVER burn off new cd’s )
xone dx, it’s mega cheap, and will do everything the CDJs/DJM does. unless you want to do any scratching - the DX jogwheels are not touch sensitive
(and be serious with yourself. if you want to spin hip hop, then maybe scratching is more important. but over other music genre’s I find that unless your James Zabiela, it tends to sound tacky… Obviously your mileage may varry, and there are exceptions to the rule. but yeah, just figure out whether or not you want to do any actual scratching, or whether a little cue point juggling will suffice)
Also, to be fair, i think that there’s this unnecessary dichotomy between controllers and hardware. Considering most controllers are aiming for 1-to-1 mappings anyway, and a DVS aims to mimic the functions of ‘traditional gear’ anyway (or, incorporate digital function using ‘traditional’ controls), swapping between the two is more a question of learning a new button layout, and maybe having your tracks on your HDD vs a memory stick vs a book of CDs. (I’m inclined to say that if you’re already familar with beat/phrase matching, even using traditional TTs after learning on a digital format shouldn’t be THAT foreign feeling, but I LEARNED on TTs, so maybe my opinion is skewed.)
get the xone. It’ll be a solid piece of gear that will be great to learn on, can do everything the ‘traditional’ set up can, supports 4 deck mixing, AND will save you a bunch of money you can put towards whatever, or just save.
I actually have been using traktor with a cheap controller right now, but after researching the xone dx, it seems most people say itch works seamlessly with that specific controller, and sometimes traktor can have problems, even when mapped out… so that’s why I decided if I got that controller I would use itch.
I was just leaning towards the CDJs/Mixer/SSL because I work in clubs and everyone seems to use a serato box.. so I just feel like since that’s what they use, I should start with something similar.
Of course I know the equipment is nowhere near as high end. But I wanted to find a compromise between price and preparing myself for upgrades later.
Truth is if you are going to play at a club (and you said you work in clubs) then play with what is most widely used/accepted and in the US that’s SSL with either CDJ’s or TT’s. I have 400’s as my personal set-up when I play on Saturday nights I play on CDJ-900’s and a DJM-900 it’s easy to just show up with me Serato box and timecode CD’s.
Having said that. Im a big fan of Itch also. I would get the DX is all I wanted was to play music for friends, small parties, or a small lounge that required me to bring my own gear.
@OP: For that price, I’d probably get the CDJs if they’re in good condition. Then turn around and sell the mixer and buy a real one unless you really want to keep Pioneer just so the EQs are similar to what’s probably in the club you work in. But for that price, it’s not horrible. Just make sure the CDJs aren’t broken, because that price seems a bit low to me.
The DX will have a lot more capabilities than the CDJs, but that’s not what you need when you’re learning. Beatmatching isn’t hard compared to not using the “possibilities” that are likely to drown you if you start on a xone:dx.
They’re overpriced pieces of crap that were designed by blindfolded rodents and assembled by trained cockroaches.
By that…I mean there’s nothing really wrong with it except that it’s insanely overpriced. $550 for a 2-channel mixer with shitty effects and no balanced outputs? Please! The only reason it exists is that Pioneer has a ridiculous marketing budget and they figured out that they were missing out on sales by not having something that cost less than $1500.
It’s nothing but a marketing gimmick.
I mean…I don’t like the expensive Pioneer mixers either compared to their competitors, but $550 for that thing is ridiculous.
Get the DX dude! I’ve been reluctantly selling mine on the forum and tonight finally decided to keep it actually! I’ve been going back and forth between selling by DX to buy a VCI-300 or keeping my DX! I got a bunch of offers (here and ebay) and have decided that I’m going to keep it because I just can’t let it go! 4decks, cues, effects, nice big play/cue buttons like cdj’s, Itch 2.0
If you’re not spinning hip hop, the DX is maddddd fun. Even if you are spinning hip hop, it’s still fun but you won’t have the touch sensitive jogs.
I’ve never used CDJ’s and I think CDJ’s will be my future setup (maybe? everyone dreams of cdj2000s right?) but for now and I believe for a while I’m sticking with the DX.
And as for Itch, it’s simply amazing I think for $350 you’re getting an amazing deal. Just make sure it’s fully functional and all.
I mean…seriously. The djm-900 is a significant step up, but it’s freaking 2 grand on google shopping. It’s got some nice effects, but there are really good mixers for half that price and freaking gorgeous ones for not much more.
Plus I’m pissed off because the whole world seems obsessed with effects. I get it…you can turn on a flanger and work a filter.
I firmly believe that the world would be filled with better DJs if Rane or Vestax had won.
(no offense, xone, I know you like your db4’s effects)
Yeah I pretty much agree. The 900 is a step up but I just think the feel of the mixers faders, knobs, and build doesn’t compare to any of the other top mixers in the price range.
I think effects are hit or miss, I’m excited about the db4 and db2 effects because they are just so damn good and transparent and don’t color the sound at all and they aren’t obviously effects on a DJ mixer or software.
A lot of the problem with why I think people grow tired of effects is because it is usually a few that have a distinct sound that you can recognize instantly. I mean when a DJM flanger, echo, or colour filter come on you can instantly identity it as a sound from that mixer. Just like you can instantly spot any traktor gater, lofi, reverb, or beatmasher since they are used so much and the way they add color to the sound.
A&H was late to the effects game on DJ mixers and they are doing it right with the studio grade iLive effects that take away that cliche cheesiness. I mean we always make fun of flanger violations but even the different flangers on the db4 sound awesome and I would never otherwise consider using one.
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