Vilhelm_I
Hi!
Basically, I´m 16 years old and I want to start training to become a DJ.
I need some DJ gear to learn mixing on and there are plenty of products out there. I just wonder what is best for learning to mix and maybe scratch a bit since I wont be playing out for some time. I will be playing mostly House, Progressive and maybe a bit Trance to. But I want to be ready for any kind of music since I want to please everyone.
I own a pretty powerful macbook pro so in theory, i could buy virtual dj and only play through my notebook, but I want to be more hands on, and DJ-ing only with a notebook is... well.. pretty lame.
Also, i have a huge personal collection of high quality mp3 files and only a small CD-collection which I probably won´t use.
So if I´ve understood this right, my hardware options are either a MIDI-controller or some CD-players and a mixer (thinking about a pair of cdj400s and a djm400 from Pioneer) since I won´t be playing vinyl at all. And also, is there anything more you need, like amplifiers or other hardware?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
/Vilhelm
Basically, I´m 16 years old and I want to start training to become a DJ.
I need some DJ gear to learn mixing on and there are plenty of products out there. I just wonder what is best for learning to mix and maybe scratch a bit since I wont be playing out for some time. I will be playing mostly House, Progressive and maybe a bit Trance to. But I want to be ready for any kind of music since I want to please everyone.
I own a pretty powerful macbook pro so in theory, i could buy virtual dj and only play through my notebook, but I want to be more hands on, and DJ-ing only with a notebook is... well.. pretty lame.
Also, i have a huge personal collection of high quality mp3 files and only a small CD-collection which I probably won´t use.
So if I´ve understood this right, my hardware options are either a MIDI-controller or some CD-players and a mixer (thinking about a pair of cdj400s and a djm400 from Pioneer) since I won´t be playing vinyl at all. And also, is there anything more you need, like amplifiers or other hardware?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
/Vilhelm
Posted Sun 11 Jan 09 @ 5:01 pm
sirkitbreaker
I would say start by looking at what you can afford. If you know anyone with gear try and check it out. Go to a music store and see if they will let you try stuff out. When I was young i went to guitar center every week and tried out turntables and mixers
Posted Sun 11 Jan 09 @ 5:09 pm
Vilhelm_I
I would say start by looking at what you can afford. If you know anyone with gear try and check it out. Go to a music store and see if they will let you try stuff out. When I was young i went to guitar center every week and tried out turntables and mixers
Money isn´t a big problem since i´ve saved a couple of years for dj equipment, but I just wonder if it´s smarter to buy a midi controller to learn on first and then when you´re out dj-ing buy cd players and a mixer?
How did you start? What was your first DJ setup?
/Vilhelm
Money isn´t a big problem since i´ve saved a couple of years for dj equipment, but I just wonder if it´s smarter to buy a midi controller to learn on first and then when you´re out dj-ing buy cd players and a mixer?
How did you start? What was your first DJ setup?
/Vilhelm
Posted Tue 13 Jan 09 @ 7:30 pm
Caliente123
Instead of buying twice. Buy what you really want to get and thats it. You buy something cheap and you cant even sell it cause no one wants it. You can check out www.Craigslist.com for used and even new gear. There lots of people that buy things and end up not using it because they have no time. I bought so much from here and saved alot.
Posted Tue 13 Jan 09 @ 11:29 pm
MPH2008
I agree with the above comment 100%. I bought my first pair of turntables when I was 16/17 (now 29), and since then I have only ever used turntables for mixing until a year or so ago I came across the pcdj thing, I would have to say hand on heart that VDJ is the best software out there.............for me anyway. I sold my decks just after my little girl was born because I no longer had the time to mess about like I used to, but now I have some decks and I have gone the timecoded route because I couldn't let go of the "hands on" feel of DJ-ing. I thought about getting the Total Control but I'm so glad I didn't, purely because of my experience on decks. So what I'm saying is, if your heart tells you to go for something, go for it. Hope this helps in some way?
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 5:27 am
Haui70
Hy vilhelm,
i would say it's more a question which kind of dj you want to be later!
Turntablism, controllerism, club dj, mobil dj, etc.
I think it is not a good way if you beginn with some midi-controller if you want to became a turntablism.
Also I think, buy cheap you buy two times!
Bye
Haui
i would say it's more a question which kind of dj you want to be later!
Turntablism, controllerism, club dj, mobil dj, etc.
I think it is not a good way if you beginn with some midi-controller if you want to became a turntablism.
Also I think, buy cheap you buy two times!
Bye
Haui
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 6:32 am
sonido1902
Vilhelm_I wrote :
I would say start by looking at what you can afford. If you know anyone with gear try and check it out. Go to a music store and see if they will let you try stuff out. When I was young i went to guitar center every week and tried out turntables and mixers
Money isn´t a big problem since i´ve saved a couple of years for dj equipment, but I just wonder if it´s smarter to buy a midi controller to learn on first and then when you´re out dj-ing buy cd players and a mixer?
How did you start? What was your first DJ setup?
/Vilhelm
Money isn´t a big problem since i´ve saved a couple of years for dj equipment, but I just wonder if it´s smarter to buy a midi controller to learn on first and then when you´re out dj-ing buy cd players and a mixer?
How did you start? What was your first DJ setup?
/Vilhelm
This is what i do..i go and i ask them if i can try the turntables and they say yes...thats where i tried the Vestax-300...and serato....:D!!!
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 8:02 am
xeon
I started when i was 15 on turntables, later on cd-players, later on controllers, later i bought new turntables. I am just buying new controllers and/or cd-players (all in one) now :D
Best feeling you get with turntables, so i've got at home turntables for home use (DJ has to have a pair of them! :P ), controllers in one setup, cd-players in other.
Decide what do you prefer. I suggest you to buy second hand turntables to get real feeling (VDJ + TCV), later what you want.
Best feeling you get with turntables, so i've got at home turntables for home use (DJ has to have a pair of them! :P ), controllers in one setup, cd-players in other.
Decide what do you prefer. I suggest you to buy second hand turntables to get real feeling (VDJ + TCV), later what you want.
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 9:13 am
sirkitbreaker
i started with used turntables and a brandnew vestax pro mixer. I didnt want to go cheap on the mixer cause i was planning on doing turntablism so i need it to be right.
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 2:04 pm
Farm yard Bob
I started on cdj's and a djm500. I would recommend pioneer all day long.
Now however I have turntables and a very basic numark mixer, can't remember model number, but it has usb, so if ever I encounter a problem with timecodes, or a turntable dies on me I can always just plug the usb from my mixer into my laptop and carry on thru the night.
My advice would be dont go buying 1210's or expensive cd players, because half the features will cofuse you untill you have the basics down and even then you wont use them.
Its like buying a car, you woudn't nip out and pick up a porsche, it may look swanky and make people look twice, but you wont half look a tit when you pile it into a lamp post.
Now however I have turntables and a very basic numark mixer, can't remember model number, but it has usb, so if ever I encounter a problem with timecodes, or a turntable dies on me I can always just plug the usb from my mixer into my laptop and carry on thru the night.
My advice would be dont go buying 1210's or expensive cd players, because half the features will cofuse you untill you have the basics down and even then you wont use them.
Its like buying a car, you woudn't nip out and pick up a porsche, it may look swanky and make people look twice, but you wont half look a tit when you pile it into a lamp post.
Posted Thu 15 Jan 09 @ 5:03 am