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Topic: looking it a new hobbie

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OK! so i'll be straight up haha...
I don't know anything about DJ-ing... I have a background in live audio (live mixing for theater/bands and wireless) and I don't have any equipment of my own and I want to start a new hobbie.

so my question would be... where to start?

Obviously I need equipment... can anyone give me some recommendations on what to by as a beginner set up? Not looking to spend $1,000s but wanting a nice little set up to learning how to remix music.

Any other pointers?

Thanks guys.

-JP
 
Posted Thu 10 Dec 09 @ 2:36 pm
ok point number 1 and you may not think it now but you will thank me for it later,lol, if and when you decide to buy vdj software make sure you register it in a name you will be happy with to use on these forums for the rest of your life, coz whatever you choose will be set in stone, just remember five years down the line and you at mod level (lol) you could still be stuck with "juststartingout" as your tag, lol.

well after buying vdj, you will be wanting a controller of some sort, rmx is middle of the road on price and is an ok controller. speakers? do you like your neighbours, same goes for the amp, unless of course you go the powered speaker route.

if you give an idea on budget it may help the guys as well to point you in the right direction.

hope your new hobbie works out fine for you.
 
juststartingout wrote :
OK! so i'll be straight up haha...
I don't know anything about DJ-ing... I have a background in live audio (live mixing for theater/bands and wireless) and I don't have any equipment of my own and I want to start a new hobbie.

so my question would be... where to start?

Obviously I need equipment... can anyone give me some recommendations on what to by as a beginner set up? Not looking to spend $1,000s but wanting a nice little set up to learning how to remix music.

Any other pointers?

Thanks guys.

-JP


just like tayla said, a good controller will be great start with and the rmx will be a great recommend as it has the sound card in it and it can be hooked up to your pa system or your surround sound .. that will be a start, other than the basics of getting of course music..lol..
 
Hi mate

Your background in live work wil stand you in good sted for what you want to do. Most of the equipment, while different to what you may be used to working with is, technicaly, fairly easy to get your head round. Your plus points are: 1. you already understand how sound works and how to reproduce it to a good standard. 2. if you are used to working with live setups, the sound side of DJing is easy because all the compression/balancing/de-essing and all the other good stuff is already done for you. Re-produceing live music is an art/skill in itself as is DJing. The hard part for you is learning how to control/guide/read an audience (these are things the band/theatre group have been doing for you until now) and deciding what area of DJing you want to go for.

I work in both areas and they are individualy as chalanging as each other.

The others have recomended the Hercules RMX and I am not going to buck the trend as it is a very good place to start. As far as the other equipment you require, again you need to give us some idea of how far you want to take this. The good news is that you need far less equipment. The RMX will plug into a HIFI amp just as easily as a PA rig so go for it and don't be afraid to ask for advice. Thats why we are all here.

Daz
 
Why does he need a controller, I and many others using VDJ have been DJ'ing for years without even knowing what one does..
 
he does not "need: a controller, but i cant speak for no one else but daz prob can chime in..when you work live sound you WANT that feel of a "board" under your hands, its just a feeling you grow with...sure he can do a show with just a computer and vdj but he has asked for some things to start with..
 
I am with you on that one.

Nobody needs a controller until they decide they do. But once you have used one (assuming you get the right one for you) you will hate not having one. So many of VDJ's features require far more direct tactile feel that it does not make much sense not to use one.

It depends entierly on how you want to use VDJ of course and for some the lack of a controller may not be a hinderence. I think for most DJing applications where you are trying to manipulate the music, most people will get fed up with the mouse after a short time and will just want more feel.

Daz
 
Hey guys thanks a lot for the advise thus far - much appreciated. what are these turntables that scratch MP3s and are they required to remix with the RMX?

Does anyone know anyone in the LA area that might have one used for sale that might be upgrading?

Thanks again!

-JP
 
depends what you mean...do you mean time code cd? time code vinyl? numark ns7 the list could go on... theres actually alot of equipment out so that would prob be a question that would prob need a little more clarification....
 
Hi mate

The RMX is a compleate stand alone solution everything you need including an LE version of the VDJ is supplied. You don't need to add anything to use it (bar a PC or Mac of course) The RMX controls both the mixing and transport functions of VDJ.

Daz
 
I agree that a controller is not necessary. But as a hobby/bedroom dj I found that the investment in the Hercules DJ Control MP3 (the cheapest controller I could find, but still great after 3 years) made the hobby of djing that much more fun.

Good luck.
 
depends what you mean...do you mean time code cd? time code vinyl? numark ns7 the list could go on... theres actually alot of equipment out so that would prob be a question that would prob need a little more clarification....

Well I see a lot of DJ connect turntables to their mac and scratch on those??
 
so another question... and please dont jump my case haha

what is scratch live and how is it different?
 
Traditional controllers like turntables and CD players now play timecoded vinyl/discs that allow the hardware to interact with the software as if you were playing the actual record/cd. That's what you're seeing on youtube videos etc..

Serato is another software that is used to mix live, like VDJ, Traktor, etc..

My advice would be to buy the software, hook it up to your home stereo and practice just using a PC to start out with. I personally use timecoded vinyl but I didn't invest in hardware until I got serious about DJing again.
 
yeah,,,i started out with a rmx,, and when i said yeah i really wanna do this...i upped to turn tables...for tcv...got me some cd players in my sites now.......
 
MAYBE U COULD START ON STANTON CDJS
 
Ok cool, great, Thanks again guys!

-JP
 
Does anyone know of some tutorials or training videos that could help to teach the software or is it one of those "dick around with it until u get it" kind of things?
 
ummm not sure what that really means but...there are some tuturials on the the youtube..but thats just it tutorials...but the real task is and will be hands on and PRACTICEx3
 
oh for sure... I just dont know what all of the features are much less how to use them. Thanks for the tip.

Was anyone able to find or know anyone in LA that has a used RMX for sale?
 


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