4-Channel or 2-Channel DDJ for Beginner

msnider44, post: 14382, member: 1417 wrote: Hello all – new guy and first post here. Thanks in advance for your help. I’ve been reading this site for the past couple of weeks, and it’s very useful.

Here’s my situation:
Looking to get into DJ’ing as a hooby at first. I love music, have a pretty extensive knowledge of it, and I have a creative side to me that I want to bring out. Digital DJ’ing is something I’ve been interested in for quite some time.

I’ve been doing a lot of research, and boy there’s a lot of shit out there to sift through. My basic question(s) come down to this:

1) For a beginner, is best to start with a 2-channel DDJ or a 4-channel DDJ
2) What’s the best software to start with (easier to learn) – VDJ, Serato, Traktor, etc, etc

Budget’s not really a concern, but I guess I don’t want to spend more than $1k on equipment since this is my entrance into the DDJ world. As I stated, I want to do this as a hobby at first to see if I like it and if I get good at it. At the same time, I don’t want to start low-end, only to feel the need to upgrade in a couple months or when I get the hang of a simple(r) DDJ. But is a 4-channel DDL really needed if admittedly I’m not going to be doing shows in front of hundreds / thousands of people in big time bars / clubs?

I’ve researched all the usual suspects, and I’m just really having trouble narrowing it down to one choice. Traktor S2, Traktor S4, Denon MC3000, Numark NS6 – any other equipment I should consider? 2-channel or 4-channel? Which equipment works best with which software – and what has the shortest learning curve? I have the laptop and sound equipment covered, but now I need the DDJ.

Thanks again for your help – any advice is appreciated and will certainly be put to good use on my end.

I was confused at first when you said 2 channel or 4 channel DDJ.
I thought this was specifically in reference to the Pioneer DDJ-S1 (2 channel) controler for Serato or the Pioneer DDJ-T1 (4 channel) controller for Traktor, but now that I got that out of the way…

If you want easiest software to learn get a serato itch controller. You plug the controller in the second you get it and all the buttons work and its very intuitive. I’m not going to say its the best or most powerful software out there, but the answer to your question among the examples provided would be the NS6 (if you wanted to go 4 channel).

4 channel is not necessary but allows you to expand later if you want to add on pair of cdjs, turntables, or in the event that your laptop crashes, you could just plug an ipod in and play it through the mixer (4 channel stand-alone mixer).

This is my thoughts and I’m sure everyone else will chime in and tell you theirs.

Best of Luck,

Also, I was torn between Traktor software and the Numark NS6 Hardware, I went with the NS6 and love serato, but they did just come out with the Numark 4trak which is the NS6 but designed/pakaged with traktor.
NS6-shop around $775 new
4trak- probably around $1100

4 channel is suggest.software now caters for 4 channels,so future proof yourself.you dont have to use 4 channels yet.

Before buying a controller I would download the free trial version of Traktor and Serato and start playing around with it. Really spend some time just seeing which program you like in terms of interface and which seems more intuitive to you.
After you have decided on your software, then I would start looking for a controller which best integrates with it and will serve your needs. Personally I went with Traktor and I’m really happy with it, but like Vinny and Chris said they’re probably just as happy with Serato. Point is there’s no right or wrong…it all about personal preference.