Suggestion for decent, cheap DJ Mixer??

[RubiconProSound]

back to mixers...

please define "cheap". What's the budget?

I run a Denon DN-X500 for most of my stuff and for about $370 it's all the mixer I need. It has 4 channels but with rotary input selection on each channel it adds plenty of inputs. It also has balanced XLR outputs, booth output, subwoofer output, and it's 19" rack mount.

Prior to the Denon I had a 4 channel Numark that held up very well. It's quality isn't on par with a Pioneer, Denon, Rane, etc. but it will get the job done and it holds up better than Gemini, Pyle, and other entry level brands. I think anything in the "C" series would meet your needs and your wallet...The C3 offers balanced outputs and an option for USB.

http://www.numark.com/mixers

[DJPhatman]

To answer your mixer question, I suggest a Rane MP4. Works with Serato, has a USB soundcard built in, but, sadly, is no longer available new. Find one used or NOS.

[NCcrashman]

ALL great posts and suggestions. I am buying DJ software and using a pc. Truthfully, if I could keep my hardware (excluding ssound card) to $100 I would be happy. I have no plans of being a pro DJ. Now to the tough part. I want to make it very clear that this comment in no way, shape or form is meant to anger or piss anyone off, but no way, shape or form will I invest 40+ hours to dj a wedding. I simply don't see the point. I did speek with a local guy who does a ton of weddings that now lives in a different area about this and he agree's with me 100%. First, I'm not going to be "scratching" or doing anything advanced. Second, if you can't organize a 4 hour event you shouldn't be doing it. Lastly, I simply don't think it's as hard as some make it. It takes personality to get the crowd going and a decent music selection (of which I have to build). I'm absolutely NOT trying to offend anyone here. I think full-time dj's who are pro's and do parties ARE a rare bunch and I admit I cannot do it. However, a wedding is a different beast in itself. I have been to lots of weddings where the bride and groom were very pleased and I didn't see a thing I couldn't do. If I said I was going to dj every single type of event out there, I would understand but I'm not. Even though I live in a college town where there are all types of DJ events, I'm sticking strictly to weddings.

-Patrick

[Dave Non-Zero]

My average wedding last year was just over $2k.

with 40 hours work.

I average around $700 for weddings

with 15 hours (plus a few more in travel to meetings and writing emails etc.

seems about similar per hour. The extra that soundinmotion can charge probably comes not from his skill as a dj, but from the reassurance he supplies the B&G. And for that he needs to provide a more personal service. Each to their own, but i agree with both parties that the professionalism at a wedding is important. Its not 'just a wedding' to the people involved, its THEIR wedding. you need to remember that!

[bzb]

I think you missed my point. I've done a good number of $1200-$1500 weddings - these were basically "given" to me by planners who know me and the work I do. In other words, I *could* charge $1200 for the same service and not spend a second more in preparation - but I choose not to. I think around $50/hr for my time as a DJ is a good value and I'm happy with it.

Come to think of it, actually, I spent FAR less time at the ones that I got paid more... maybe I should change my pricing.

In the end, the client might get a little more out of spending 2x the amount of time... but their experience and happiness with the service would be no different. I could choose to be far less efficient with my time, but that's just not me.

I like to compare it to my corporate job: I'm one of those "young whippersnappers" that doesn't believe in the 8-5 regiment. We're a 24/7 operation, and we're constantly tethered to our mobile devices. Because of that, there's some weeks that you end up spending 60 hours on the job, and other weeks where you get the job done in 30. There's some people who just like to sit at a desk and fill in time. I want to get shit done.

Consequently, I'm known at work as the guy who gets shit done... and I'll get all these "urgent, priority" projects that have insane deadlines with no requirements. It's probably a good reason why I'm as laid back as I am, else I think I would have already offed myself by now