New to all this… Looking for a bit of advice

Please excuse any errors, but i’ll try to answer your questions

1. I’m sure you’ve read the reviews online, and though it’s not a system i’ve used, the Mixtrack Pro 2 is pretty much universally accclaimed as a good beginner controller. Keeping everything from the original, and adding on to it, it is a very good piece of equipment to start with.

2. I would reccommend the full course. its methodical, teaches you a lot without a lot a lot of technical gibberish, and is probably the least expensive tutorial out there. Serato seems to be more hip-hop friendly (according to DJ Tech Tools), and if scratching is going to be a large part of your routine, I offer two caveats
a) Purchase the “How to scratch for Controller DJs” course that DDJT is about to release. It looks to be as high quality as any they’ve published, and just the introduction alone helped clarify in my mind how to scratch with a MIDI controller
b) The three major software programs (Virtual DJ, Serato, and Traktor) are 80% the same, so it should be a small matter to transfer the knowledge shown in the video from Traktor to Serato. If you’re still looking at Serato, and you plan on scratching frequently, you might want to consider a Vestax VCI controller. The VCI-300 paired with Serato has probably the most lauded jogwheel response of any controller / software combination, but is notorious for only controlling 2 decks and minimal FX control, so a small supplemental controller would probably necessary. More balanced options also include the VCI-400, 200, or even the 100 (if you can find one)

3. There are several reviews of good monitoring speakers on this website, so feel free to browse through the hardware reviews. Personally, I’m looking at either M-Audio AV40s, or KRK Rokit 6s. Phil had high marks for them in the reviews, so you might want to take a look into those

I’ll just limit my comments to the speakers issue (and the advice to go for the full course :-)) for now.

There are really three points i would worry about (that’s just me though):
1) single or pair?
2) only at home/bedroom?
3) power or precision?

Let me elaborate.

Single or pair.
When I practice I use my SINGLE road worthy Numark NPM100, I find there is (too) little added value setting up two speakers as most of my practice is for mixing, where I have one ear in my cans anyway. Having to buy only one instead of two obviously means you have twice the budget or save half of your money (to buy that better controller perhaps?).

Only at home/bedroom?
I set my single monitor up on a mic stand, the same way I use it when playing live. The monitor I picked, see above, is made for the road. ABS plastic housing, firm metal grill protecting the speakers, compact, with attachement points for speaker stands. I you buy speakers that, at some point, you want to use as monitor on the road or even as small PA, do NOT buy studio monitor type speakers, they are totally not road ready. A far better choice would be to get some PA speakers (active) then.

Power or precision
Studio monitor speakers or made for just that STUDIO monitoring. In a studio you want brutally honest sound, because you need to hear exactly what was recorded. They are far less about stumpin’ bass and/or high power. Also, studio monitors can be rather tiring to listen to for prolonged periods of time. PA speakers on the other hand are tuned differently, because they are supposed to sound good at relatively high sound levels and area also constructed to withstand longer periods of (near) maximum power handling.

Just my look on things, hope it helps you come to a balanced decision.

Greetinx,
C.

DJ Mark Moore, post: 37496, member: 2306 wrote: The one question I would ask you is how much DJing do you plan on doing in front of people?

Not to be a Debbie downer, but unfortunatly, this isn’t always the cheapest game to break into…

If you’re looking to just mess around in your basement a mixtrack and some studio monitors will be just fine, but if you eventually plan to play out in front of people, you’re most likely going to have to upgrade your gear. I spent about $1000 getting myself set up (enough to play at bars and clubs and make money), but have been upgrading my gear gradually since then. Added another two turntables a new mixer and a pair of bigger speakers.

I’m not sure where you’re from, but you need to find out what the industry standard in your city is. Most DJs in my area use turntables and serato. My mixer was $900 used… A Mixtrack just won’t cut it for the type of work I do.

If your planning on doing a mobile DJ set up, which basically means you can travel with your gear and hook up your speakers, you’re going to need speakers bigger than studio monitors. I have a pair of powered Macke speakers that let me play to a room of 200 people. But again, I DJ mostly at bars and night clubs and not in my bedroom.

I’d recommend you figure out what you’re looking to do and then go talk to someone at a music store who can point you in the right direction. Bedroom DJing is just fine, but to be able to make money, you often need more than an entry level controller and a pair of small studio monitors.

I disagree on this about the Mixtrack with you Mark.I’ve done about 15 parties and 6 live performances with just a Numark Mixtrack and a Numark DJ|iO,ofcourse with a decent set of speakers and my headphones,the thing can cut it in most places and for most things if you use it right with the right mapping.Playing out live doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money.If you project enough confidence people will ignore the fact that you’re not using the most expensive gear or ”lesser” gear,which i honestly do not think the mixtrack is.I adore my Mixtrack[MK I] and would rather spin my tunes with it then a pro pioneer setup.And i’ve done gigs at a local club including a live mix night in front of 200+ people all on my Mixtrack.Standards aare standards but they don’t mean you have to comply to them constantly.The standard in my town is CDJ 900s,i don’t use then,infact i don’t even like pioneer gear,too flashy for my taste.I do however agree with Mark here that you do have to figure out what you’re planning on doing with your self.

DJ Mark Moore, post: 37560, member: 2306 wrote: I’m not gonna rip on the mixtrack or controllers in general b/c this is definitely a controllerism based forum, but the standard where I’m from is Technic 1200s and a Rane 57 mixer. Guys that bring controllers into the club tend to not get invited back. Anyone that wants to break into the game on the local level here needs to be able to use turntables. Not necessarily be able to scratch like a pro, but it definitely is a skill set folks look for around here..

Just a quick reply onto this,not gonna side track too much,but…From what you’re saying it seems that people around your parts are way too stuck into the old routine,what might be good is if a great controler DJ came in and blew their pants off so bad he put them to shame for being so stuborn.Just my opinion. 😛

DJ Mark Moore, post: 37564, member: 2306 wrote: On the contrary… Serato Scratch live is the tool of choice for DJs around here, and for good reason. Mind you I’m using decks older than most of my crowd, but these things are solid and with the ability to control my MP3s just like vinyl I still get the look and feel of the DJs of old. When people think of DJs don’t they think of scratching and turntables? Clearly, in this digital age we both know it isn’t the tools used, but rather the end results that really matter, but I know I can scratch better on real turntables than I can with a controller.

I got booked for a teen night a couple of weeks ago, and the venue has some opening DJs they let play for an hour or so who are teens themselves. It gets their friends in and gets them in early, so it’s a good move. But this kid has a controller. Not only did we have to unplug him from the left/right mains in order to plug in my mixer, but my decks and mixer got all moved around so he could set up this stuff. If he used what everyone else in our city uses, all he’s doing is switching out needles, headphones, control vinyls, and computers. Much easier and better sounding transistion than having to unplug live mains and plug them into another mixer. That’s why I think controllers are a pain in the butt.

Well true,i have to say though i like my Mixtrack,granted i use a DJ|iO interface so there’s no need to take the things out it just lets the music play and rent the interface out to the next DJ.It’s wierd i guess it depends on the area plus the music and venue.Though i am a mobile guy so i usualy run my own setup everywhere.

If you project enough confidence people will ignore the fact that you’re not using the most expensive gear or ”lesser” gear,which i honestly do not think the mixtrack is

only other dj’s are gonna know that is is entry level and if they don’t like it well it says something abt there character – a lot of dj’s get too mixed up in what gear is being used on not the show that is being produced

Guys that bring controllers into the club tend to not get invited back

kind of like this where i live too, its a barrier to dj’ing as in only if you have enough money for the gear and a large vinyl collection will we even consider acknowledging your skills never mind your tune selection for that matter – its so lame and closed minded, its like that with a lot of activities tho – you gotta have the right gear to be in with the IN crowd. However this mindset “usually” falls away after the teenage years – sadly tho only usually and not always :p

1) I’m 15, have been mixing for only 2 months lol so im not that experienced. I used my brothers mixtrack pro + virtual DJ for a month or so and when christmas came around I got my Traktor S2, i would have gotten the s4 but im just starting out and figured i dont need to spend 1000$ on a controller when im not very experienced. Ive learned a decent amount and I think the S2 + Traktor Pro is a really good setup to start off on. So far it has been a self taught thing for me but I have realized I need to start looking for help and what not to improve my mixes and make them a bit more professional. I recommend the S2, but again im not as experienced as most of the people on here.

2) No response because I havent gotten the videos yet

3)My first external speakers i ever bought were my M-AUIO av40’s. Not bad speakers considering theyre 140$. I also have some decent bose, but im about to buy some Rokit 8’s, a bit more expensive than the av40’s but theyre good. M-audios work fine for first speakers. The only problem with av40’s is they do not supply much bass. If you have the money, Rokits are great.

-DeejayTeekayKandiDJ

I’ll agree with that. Being a mobile DJ, I don’t want to carry around SL1200s, to heavy, big and cumbersome (pretty shock sensitive for 1). I have a controller (MC6000) and used it with two backup CD Players (old low end American DJ thingies with no features apart from digital fx). Apart from the backup aspect (if the laptop dies on me I can continue on the night without a hitch on CDs) it is also a visual thing. I charge my customers for rent of the gear and I have noticed they like to be a little bit in awe of the stuff you set up. So just having a single controller with a laptop there, well … not TOO impressive to the laymans eye.

When I figured that it would be nice if my CD Players would be controllers too, if they could handle USB sticks and drives and my old ones really needed replacement AND I was getting a bit tired of the size of the jog wheels on my controller, it boiled down to wanting CDJ (like) players that could do midi/usb as well as good ole CDs and use them as my primary deck controllers for Traktor.

So, I changed out my old CD Players for Denon SC2900s, with as much functionality as I could want and nice, big jog wheels. I wanted to connect them together with my controller and make that my setup. Instead I decided to swap my controller out too for a Denon X1600 mixer that also has midi functionality.

In a sense I have offered up some portability by going to a full size mixer with two full size CDJs in one DJ Coffin (the old CD Players and the MC6000 were all in seperate flightcases), but in return I got a versatile setup that let’s me play any way I want. Laptop/Traktor, USB/iPad (Engine) or just plain old CD (with an 8 channel Traktor Scratch certified sound card on board I could even do DVS). All cabling is hooked up permanently inside the coffin. So when I get to a party, put the coffin on its pedestal, hook up power, PA speakers, monitor speaker and mic and off to the races.

And it looks impressive and awesome and has got the wow factor.

It wouldn’t be the setup I’d want running out to the clubs. The times I had to play on club gear I’d use just a laptop (connecting older style CDJs with USB cables I bring along or stuff USB sticks in the players and just use the setup as is.

Very interested to see how DJ-ing in general, in digital in particular and club setups will change in the coming years.

Greetinx,
C.