Thinking It's time to my djing more seriously but don't know where to start

You can mix “properly” on any DJ controller with half decent jogwheels, just disengage sync and DJ away manually 🙂

Well Terry, to be quite honest, I used to sleep with a CDJ under my pillow for months when I just started. And I do believe I became a more pro guy because of it!

to the OP, what software are you using, and do you like it and want to stick with that? What type of events are you looking to be doing? Also, consider whether you want DVS or just other input sources, like actual vinyl or CDs… I am anxiously awaiting a Reloop Terminal Mix 8, I think it’s about the best bet for me, short of the DDJ-SZ… it won’t do DVS from what I’ve gathered, but that’s OK with me at this point, I can still mix in some CDs or vinyl … It ticked all the “must have” boxes, and most of the “wants” boxes, and was a leg up on anything else short of the SX and SZ… even slightly ahead of the SX based on my personal givens and druthers list…. Keep reading up, and watch plenty of videos on youtube, not just reviews, but also just mixes people are posting up, done with whatever controller you’re looking into.
Let us know how you’re doing, and these guys can surely give you some great input. Give them as much info as you can so they can better understand your situation, wants, budget, etc…. personally, I’m looking to pick up a small format CD player, or possibly a used CDJ I have a line on locally, as a backup and alternate device… But after seeing the DDJ-SZ, I no longer want a CDJ/DJM/CDJ setup anymore at all… I’d love a CDJ, but it must have hot cues, that limits things… For me, it’s Serato DJ with a controller, later I plan to add a backup device besides my iPod, and if I do a wedding I have access to the CDJ I may buy, but I plan to eventually have a Z2 with it’s own laptop, and use the Z2 and 2 TTs, possibly with my Maschine Mikro Mk2 as a MIDI controller for more buttons, into this setup I will run my other inputs, like the Terminal Mix 8 and Serato on it’s own lappy, and the CDJ/CDJs… I will have this in my home, and the Reloop and one backup will likely be all I take out to gigs. If I end up getting both CDJs from my friend, I may set them up with a case and my Stanton mixer, as a total backup system, but I’m only looking at the Pioneers as I have a line on them locally for basically free…. If I were considering NEW CD players, I’d look into small format ones like the CMP.800, or the Denon 2900(not small format), but I think the price on Pioneer CDJs is just ridiculous, and the fact that they still don’t get that hot cues should be there on every cd player… sorry to ramble on…. keep shining and keep us posted…. Moonshadow

Terry, you’re on the ball today, made some posts, then went to check my email before signing off to read some more Maschine manuals, and there were a handful of replies from you already…. hope you’re having a good day today, and thanks for the reminder on the Denon 1200 CD player, I am actually considering picking up a CMP.800 or one of those as I like the small size compared to a CDJ. The Denon and Stanton are both less than $300 now I believe, from a couple places here in the states… I have an iPod for emergency backup, and access to a pair of CDJ-800Mk2 that I can use if I need them, or that I could buy for almost nothing. I just need CD access for certain occasions, and would love it if the CD player had stuff like USB, Midi capable, HOT CUES(where you at on this on Pioneer…LOL), etc… For now my budget is spent, I’ll have to do a few gigs and that will give me a little time to decide… if you guys had to pick, Stanton CMP.800 or Denon DN-S1200, or used CDJ 800 Mk2, probably the pair for still less than one of the other ones… literally, after our gig together on Dec. 28th, my buddy has offered them up for “the cause” … I wouldn’t feel right not giving him something for them though… he has a newer set , 850s I think… to the OP, for the price of one newer Pioneer CDJ or Mixer, you could get yourself a controller with an aux input, and a used CDJ or a different CD player like the ones mentioned. For less than a Pioneer setup you have many options, we’re not talking about lunch money here, this is a decent investment, look into it heavily over a period of days/weeks, and once you think you have it sorted, post again and see what input comes in while you sleep on it a few nights…

Well the plastic disc is really not for serious things. You can do basic nudging and skip through the track, but not much more.
But I never intended it for that, I only used it into the AUX input of my TM4 as backup and actually never had to use it, except one time where I got sick to my stomach and it was easier to hit play on the 1200 where I had a “mega-mix” preloaded since the Serato Version back then had no auto-play.
Beside that I like to use it at home as a media player…