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Gear Upgrade

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
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  • February 2, 2014 at 10:54 am #1027872
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    I would call that a real downgrade actually… no more real jogs, less pitch control? Even if you can map it (which you can if you know how) it will not be as efficient.

    February 2, 2014 at 11:43 pm #1027943
    Moray Clark
    Participant

    I see what you mean, I basically thought about my setup and what i use the most and the jog’s aren’t a huge part of it, only for the odd bit of pitch bending, and even then I use the buttons in the corners for those small adjustments.

    I’m looking at is as a route to eventually being able to afford a set of turntables/cdj’s to have a more complete setup. As you get all the timecode gear with the Z2.

    Or do you think the traktor S2/4 would be better?

    February 3, 2014 at 2:32 am #1027961
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    The world is going digital, why move to a setup where you want CDJs or turntables?

    It will cost you a whole bunch more and you actually will be able to do less.

    If you really need to DJ with CDJs if a club demands it you can still bring your laptop if they have decent gear (nexus) and if not you should insist bringing your controller.

    If Traktor is your way then yes an S2/4 Mk. II would be loads better, if you choose the S4 you can even use it with 2 turntables and have the best of both worlds.

    February 3, 2014 at 8:53 pm #1028059
    Moray Clark
    Participant

    Clubs here  mostly use turntables/cdj’s. I have a fair few vinyls but no way to dj with them.

    Traktor is my way but and would jump into the S4 but it doesn’t include Traktor Scratch does it?. Which is my main downside to it. And I would go for the S2 but I like the dedicated filter nob, and loop display on the S4.

     

    February 4, 2014 at 9:15 am #1028124
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    If you have a fair amount of vinyl how does using a DVS system do anything for that?

    Traktor does not play you viny it does use timecode vinyl to control Traktor so your vinyls would still sit in your basement…

    Here also most clubs have some kind of CDJ, still does not stop me from hooking up my controller to the provided DJ mixer and just go with it…

    I think you should watch our free basic videos on youtube again.

    February 5, 2014 at 9:40 am #1028262
    Isaiah Furrow
    Participant

    Terry, I can totally see where he’s coming from…. I am a serato user at the moment, and am looking to upgrade to a DDJ-SR soon.  I also collect vinyl, and hope to eventually have a Z2 and turntables, and run my SR into that… I will use the SR for mobile gigs and the TTs will mostly stay at home unless a client/bride wants the vinyl TTs for looks…. some people just want to use records still too….  the Z2 from my understanding, will play regular vinyl just fine, and let you go from record in your collection to files on your laptop pretty seamlessly…   giving you the opportunity to use some real vinyl, and also have your whole HDD full of music at your disposal…  I can totally see what the OP is getting at I think.   I have actually toyed around with not even getting the SR and going to Traktor, but I’d have just the Z2 and probably a Maschine Mikro to map to it, I do have some cheap Numark TTs for using now, but I’m loving Serato and really want both, so I think I’m sticking to a controller for now…   Funny, just recently my friend posted on FB about CDs, and them being a dead format… 30 years from now people are probably still going to collect vinyl, and CDs, and want to use them for listening, DJing, etc….   just my $.02 as a NOOB, hope my ramblings were more a help than a hindrance.

    February 5, 2014 at 6:02 pm #1028327
    Moray Clark
    Participant

    Santa you got it bang on, being able to play records and use your digital at the same time is the big thing for me! also have an absolute shed load of old cd’s! Guess I’m just one of those people who can’t let go of the old stuff. Gotta say the DDJ-SR looks sweet! But as you say it’s the ability to switch to an old record that you may not have digitally and then mix it in with a song from your digital library. Versatility!

    If I got the Z2 I’d probably get an X1 to make the setup good for taking mobile and playing purely digitally. Just trying to find out if anyone has this setup and has any problems with it etc.

    February 5, 2014 at 7:01 pm #1028335
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    The price to pay for that versatility is way too high imho. carrying all that extra gear and heavy cases of vinyl, keeping needles in stock, balancing the arm every time. Pfffff.

    The only valid reason for me would be the vinyl feel (which I love btw), but I’d still want the benefits of digital, so DVS. But, i’ll forgo that for the convenience and features of a full figital setup.

    Greetinx.

    <!–more–>

     

    February 5, 2014 at 7:34 pm #1028344
    Moray Clark
    Participant

    Yeah adding an X1 to my mixtrack pro 2 setup looks like not a bad option, you’re completly right vintage that feel comes a very ‘heavy’ price.

    Anybody got any views on the new S4?

    February 6, 2014 at 3:31 am #1028421
    Isaiah Furrow
    Participant

    I’m tossing up the setup I envision…..   a CD player, possibly 2 , two AT-1240LP or Reloop TTs,  into the Z2, with a Maschine Mikro mapped for extra buttons….(have it on it’s way any day now, gonna start into production), into the Z2 I will have my DDJ-SR or Reloop TM8…. best of all worlds….   I will likely use the Serato controller and laptop for mobile gigs, unless the client/bride wants vinyl for looks….  versatility , ability to learn to use any gear basically, fun, ect…   I would have no problem with one crate of selected records for the night, and my laptop, a Z2 and 2 TTs or CD players.   As long as there is space, if not, well, I guess I’ll sort that one out, use what’s there, etc…

     

    February 6, 2014 at 7:09 am #1028434
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    “… if there is space …”, quick tip here: Bring your own space! i.e. don’t depend on the venue to supply the table or platform for you to put your gear on. But bring your own DJ stand.

    I used to be dependant on what the venue had available. 99% of the time tables were not the right size, not the right size, looked to the crows like an afterthought (even with a black skirt around it), wasn’t totally capable of carrying a big load., etx.

    Here’s two examples of how you can look pretty professional in 30 seconds:

     

    http://www.bax-shop.nl/dj-meubilair/prodjuser-dj-truss-table-2-opvouwbare-tafel/product-details.html</span&gt;

    http://www.bax-shop.nl/dj-meubilair/prodjuser-dj-stand-dj-meubel/product-details.html

    Or … if money really isn’t an issue:

    http://www.bax-shop.nl/dj-meubilair/prolyte-liteconsole-xprs-presentatie-en-dj-stand/product-details.html

    Love that last one, but I need two gigs to earn that kind of money to spare. You can really do it up nicely, with lights behind the white panels, with your name engraved on the aluminum top panel. And still pretty portable (sort of).

    Greetinx.

    February 6, 2014 at 9:03 am #1028445
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    That is some DJ setup… would be way too heavy for me. Carry all that stuff?

    I put my controller and my laptop in my backpack go to the club and rock away…. if I am really really on a “highend” gig (like a festival) I add my second laptop and Maschine they will have a mixer on stage anyways and I mix my controller to the Maschine from there. Still all in one big Magma Backpack…

    Do not get me wrong. I love vinyl. I have prolly sold more than 2000 vinyls (or handed them out) and still have half my basement full of them. But I also had to carry around crates full of them to gigs and that sucked beyond belief. The other half of the basement is CDs that you had to carry around in even heavier crates… holy weight batman…

    Even a DVS system (I love to scratch, I am not really good at it, but hey…) it is nice, but carry 2 turntables around when the jogs on the Terminal Mix are easily as good to scratch on? Also if you are mobile you need to setup a huge coffin or cable from scratch each time… with my controller I wait for the PA and light guy to setup his stuff while I have a cold beverage then go up to my DJ stand, put my controller and laptop there and connect 2 cables…

    But dreams are great, sometimes reality will get you.

    February 6, 2014 at 9:07 am #1028446
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Oh and I am cheap I just use this:

    http://www.bax-shop.nl/dj-meubilair/prodjuser-dj-stand-dj-meubel/product-details.html

     

    February 6, 2014 at 10:31 am #1028460
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    I just edited my post Terry. You and I use the same stand. And I love it. The advantage over the “trussy” one is that it has a closed front (I have a 60x60cm RGBW LED panel hanging on the front), so it looks more tidy than an open one, plus my legs aren’t THAT great! LOL

    I have to say the big one is awesome. Stick a beamer behind it, fire up Cross with video’s and just have all kinds of stuff projected on it. Logo, psychedelic themes, video clips, moving texts.

    And it’s nice and big and has a great place to leave your laptop and several other pieces of stuff.

    The price is a showstopper at current, but it has moved way up the wish-list I can tell you. Right under the MC6000 MkII (decided to get one, the lay-out change is good news, the 24-bit sound card not necessary but a bonus and it will give me a chance to try out Serato at last :-)).

    Greetinx.

    February 7, 2014 at 8:32 am #1028586
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Yeah I like that stand too. But I did not yet have a weak moment to shelve out 1k for a stand hehe

    Good choice on the Mk II, I think it is really great and you will love Serato.

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