DJ decks

[subharmonic]

So I am thinking about adding some decks to my setup. The problem is I am a guy who gets all excited about an idea of something but has an issue following through with things like practicing if I lose interest. So keep that in mind, however I don't want to buy something that is useless either and assume I just can't do it cause it just because it wasn't a good starting point.

So since I have a NI 2DJ card already I was thinking of getting a Numark Stealth mixer (under $170). But then I started looking at the NS7 refurb'd for under $1000 that seems more like something that would work better (and the moving plates is darn cool). I am having a hard time thinking either of these will make their money back in the short term but possibly in the long run as if I get into them I will surly practice.

I am thinking bedroom DJ for a bit then maybe local bars. I would like to do EDM for the bars, and dub/house for friends parties. I am using PCDJ Red at the moment but since I am a mobile DJ I feel like I am a really advanced iPod some gigs rather than a entertainer and would like to integrate myself with the music more.

So there it is. Any comments or suggestions would be helpful.

[bzb]

Traktor S4.

Call Paul Allen @ Sweetwater and see what he can do for you - mention that Guitar Center has a 10% coupon and they'll usually beat it and add their own warranty to it for free.

I've spun in bars and clubs for around 8 years. I've used 1200s, TTX, a variety of CDJs, Torq Xponent, MixVibes, Serato Scratch, ITCH on a VCI-300, and my go-to controller for the better part of 4 years was the VCI-100 using MixVibes and Traktor Pro. I recently got the S4 and absolutely love it - and I'm a hip hop DJ. I almost bit on the NS7 (which is far more geared towards a hip-hop/scratch DJ), but I'm primarily mobile now - and the size and weight was not something I was looking forward to. Also the platters are just "one more thing to break"... and I simply don't really trust Numark.

Although the S4 is a good bit larger than the VCI-100, I got the case for the S4 so it's not all that much different from carrying my Slappa bag into a gig. The case doubles as a laptop stand, too, and holds most of the gear that's related to the unit and laptop.

For an EDM DJ, the Traktor S4 really has no equal right now.

[petegt]

I have a numark mixtrack, only just started to dj about a month ago but so far I'm really liking this controller, have used a behringer bcd3000 which felt like a dinosaur in comparison.

The numark NS6 looks awesome so id say that or the traktor s4

How is the NI2DJ sound card? Low latency?

[SoundInMotionDJ]

Definatly go with Traktor Pro 2 for the software. I have a VCI-100 Arcade Edition...and I love it.

The S4 makes me drool...but the VCI-100 is in the "more than I need" category (for now).

[LEVLHED]

Kind of a tough call to make from here. Perhaps if you looked at it as you will NEVER make any money from it, what would you buy? From the perspective of just sticking to the bedroom and messing around for your personal enjoyment.
That way you won't put the pressure on yourself to make it pay you back...unless that's what you want!

Personally, I use/love Gizmo Labs RPM controlled by a Denon DN-HC4500.
I come from a long PCDJ lineage, starting out w/the original SL1200 (old blue). I went all the way up to Red 5.2, skipped FX/Dex/etc until Reflex came out (made by Jorgen, the original SL1200 programmer). Long story short, PCDJ dropped Reflex...I was lost, until Jorgen started Gizmo Labs and essentially released Reflex under his own name and has continued development.

But, I also do not scratch at all. I do beatmatch (RPM is ridiculously easy for that).
I do know RPM does the whole scratching thing, but that's just not my bag. I guess I'm more of a glorified ipod..make that two ipods...with 20,000+ songs...that beatmatches...on a really sweet sounding system

[subharmonic]

Kind of a tough call to make from here. Perhaps if you looked at it as you will NEVER make any money from it, what would you buy? From the perspective of just sticking to the bedroom and messing around for your personal enjoyment.
That way you won't put the pressure on yourself to make it pay you back...unless that's what you want!

That seems like some sound thinking. I think that sometimes I need other to talk me down from the things I build myself up to (ahem 36"+ THT was/is in my mind).

So I am getting some suggestions in the $700+ range one in the $500 range. Is there anything on the $200- range? I can swallow that price range and not feel too bad if it collects dust.

How is the NI2DJ sound card? Low latency?

Not sure about the latency but the card seems to work fine for me. I think it sounds great, use it when listening to music with my cans on my computer. I lent it to a friend who had VDJ crash using it, but their rig is suspect too so not sure if that was the issue.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

So I am getting some suggestions in the $700+ range one in the $500 range. Is there anything on the $200- range? I can swallow that price range and not feel too bad if it collects dust.

If you want a MIDI controller with two platters...

Vestax Typhoon (PC). The Vestax Spin is basically the same thing for Mac.

If you are just wanting a MIDI controller to play around with:

Midi Fighter

M Audio Axium 25

[SoundInMotionDJ]

How is the NI2DJ sound card? Low latency?

The sound card is excellent. For $100 it has no equal. Small, very well build, and loud.

Using ASIO drivers on an OLD laptop (1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, WinXP) I am able to get <10ms latencies on the card, and <15ms on the full audio chain.

With a dual core laptop with 4GB or RAM, I have seen others get 5-6ms on the card, and <10ms on the full audio chain.

[subharmonic]

Wow that Midi Fighter looks cool but not sure how good it would be for a starting controller, seems like I would be spending a lot of time mapping and remapping. Wouldn't that be a little more for additional to the main controller? So if I am not scratching I can just get a midi controller? I want to be able to mix tracks like daBears is the goal I am going for if that helps any.

[bzb]

Definatly go with Traktor Pro 2 for the software. I have a VCI-100 Arcade Edition...and I love it.

The S4 makes me drool...but the VCI-100 is in the "more than I need" category (for now).

Don't play with an S4 then. Ean Golden, the same guy who did the VCI100AE, had a lot of input into the S4.

Here's the thing OP: you get a cheap controller, and you're FAR more likely to let it collect dust. The more expensive controllers are just plain more fun to play with, and the price tag adds motivation for practice.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

Wow that Midi Fighter looks cool but not sure how good it would be for a starting controller, seems like I would be spending a lot of time mapping and remapping.

Establishing the beat grids in Traktor is the lions share of the time. The automatic mode is OK if the songs are EDM or have a drum machine....the auto on tracks with a live drummer is more miss than hit (not too much different from some live drummers... *rimshot*).

After that, pick a handful of songs to work with at a time. Establish a few critical cue points. You can even drop cue points on the fly....if you are into that kind of thing. As with most DIY hobbies, this can take as much time as you can throw at it.

Wouldn't that be a little more for additional to the main controller? So if I am not scratching I can just get a midi controller?

All the controllers I have listed are MIDI controllers. So "just get a midi controller" is true...but the look and feel of midi controllers varies considerably. Some midi controllers are associated with more traditional "mixing", but more and more the term "controllerism" is being used to describe the use of midi controllers for DJing.

Ean Golden has a lot of videos on youtube that show VCI-100's, midi fighters, and even the S4 in action.

Moldover also have a lot of videos including several on controllerism...and modding a midi controller to be more custom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2McDeSKiOU

There are also "digital vinyl systems" (DVS)....Traktor and Serato are the two dominate software packages for DVS. These can work with vinyl or with CDJs, using timecode media.

I want to be able to mix tracks like daBears is the goal I am going for if that helps any.

Sorry...but Da-Bears....that only means one thing to me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d32OeqbYbHg

[subharmonic]

Cool tool. I guess I am starting to rethink this spinning thing and yes it is more of a controllerism thing that I would be trying to do. Maybe even get myself a "freebird" button. LOL


daBears
http://mixes.dabears.ca/

Thanks for all the input so far guys.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

Maybe even get myself a "freebird" button. LOL

Freebird is fine...but....NO Stairway.

[subharmonic]

M Audio Axium 25

If I stretch my budget, which is at a fat zero after talking to the wife some more should I be drooling over a Novation 25 vs Axiom 25 key midi controller like Mold uses?

[Monomer]

NI audio4dj with Xwax (FREE!) plus 1200's


besides that, vinyl till I die.


It's the perfectly imperfect medium.