New Here with Tough WMA Issue to Mull Over

This is a tricky one to answer. Quite frankly, I am not an advocate of re-compressing to another format (transcoding). And even then it would depend on the quality level of the WMA’s.

Without going the entire route about bitrates and such, the end-result is the same. It’s not a desirable action to take imho.

So, building a core collection of 600-800 tracks wouldn’t be to bad. Also you can try sourcing digital versions of stuff you already own online. Re-ripping vinyl isn’t a task I would take on lightly either. CD’s are a lot easier. Ripping a track is a matter of less than a minute usually. So if you are talking 800 tracks, that would take you less than 15 hours or so. While waiting for the next rip to finish you can do the tagging and such on the previous rip(s).

And rip into FLAC (lossless) so you can always reproduce CD-quality tracks should you need to. It’s easy when you are done to convert the FLAC into MP3 should you so desire. I use Platinum Notes to work on my tracks before adding them in my collection, but just flat conversion software will work also. Always convert with the highest quality settings is the best advice here.

Hope that helps some.

The only real laptop-less option today is really the new Denon Prime series. I own the MCX8000 and while it is a great controller, there are still some limitations to not using it with software. What it does do is make it easier to put the laptop to the side and use the screens more for visual feedback and most basic things. Extensive searching, browsing and such still better on a laptop with keyboard. As is setting some FX and stuff.

The SC5000 Prime players (full dual layer!) have built-in i5 processors, an iPad mini sized HD touchscreen (glass, not that plastic feeling you get on cheaper phones) that is really fully functional. Combined with the X1800 Prime mixer you have what is an “old school” setup of two players (actually 4 with the dual layer functionality) and a mixer, but with all the features of a modern digital DJ setup.

While I have never longed to own the CDJ Nexus (having played with it regularly) and being completely happy with all the controllers I have owned, the Primes are high on my wishlist.

Clearly the pricing is a bit different. While lower priced than a (not really) comparable Pioneer Nexus2k2 setup, it is still a LOT more than a controller.

I would say your plan sounds solid. If only to find out the do’s and dont’s and your personal workflow. Having a look at the (moneyback guarantee) How To Digital DJ Fast course might help accelerate your learning curve.