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Just starting out. How about these headphones?

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  • March 5, 2012 at 9:55 pm #16170
    Hee Won Jung
    Participant

    IMO you will not be able to play out anywhere with a Splitter cable option. The sound quality on the majority of laptops is utter garbage and the latency on average is over 20ms.

    If you are really wanting to get into DJing save up a bit of scratch around 300 bucks and you can get a decent setup that you can go and gig at house parties and such with…If you end up not liking it you should be able to sell off on kijiji or craigslist for almost the same value that you bought it for.

    In this situtation any headphones will do…

    March 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm #16172
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    So you are saying that for just starting out, based on what I have listed here, these headphones would be sufficient for basic beatmatching and practice, and possibly playing a few gigs?

    If it gets to the point where I decide that this is for me, then I will invest the additional money for what you say would be a decent setup.

    For now, I just need to take the basic steps to get a feel for how this is going to work. And, as I say, I am on a limited budget at the moment.

    I’ll cross the decent gear bridge if I come to it and feel this is for me.

    March 5, 2012 at 10:16 pm #16174
    Hee Won Jung
    Participant

    What im trying to say is that…you should not be doing any kind of gigs without a controller, unless its like a house party or something. You will not be able to get the level of control you need just doing stuff off a laptop keyboard and mouse.

    You will NEEED to get a basic controller the Mixtrack is great for beginners and only costs 150 since you are gonig to be using a splitter you will not need to get the one with a soundcard in it.

    Using just the laptop you will be extremely frustrated trying to get beats to match while EQing and using faders with just your mouse and keyboard.

    Practicing on your laptop will not get you anywhere when you make the switch to a controller, because you will need to learn what all the knobs and buttons and stuff do and so pretty much you will be starting all over again.

    March 5, 2012 at 10:38 pm #16176
    DJspin
    Member

    A wise man once said: “You can’t have sex with a noodle as your penis, at least not properly.” That is what Hee Won Jung is trying to say. Get at least the Behringer BCD3000, the Mixtrack, the Hercules MK4 or the MP3 E2, all cheap controllers. Just don’t go headphones keyboard and splitter cable, cause you won’t get ANYWHERE like that. Search Amazon for cheap headphones, maybe SkullCandy, or Sennheiser, those are cheap.

    March 5, 2012 at 11:01 pm #16182
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    Thanks Hee Won Jung and DJspin for answering the question.

    If it sounded cheap or amateurish, it is. 🙂 Because I have literally zero experience at the actual nuts and bolts of the gear, I just wanted something to get a feel for it to make sure it was going to work out.

    I see your points entirely. And they are appreciated.

    I am by no means a gear head, but I do know that the main club that I frequent uses Pioneer CDJ 1000 models.

    However, from asking the non CDJ using DJS that play out there, they say they just plug in their laptops to the mixer via their sound card and have a go.

    From fiddling around with the mixing stuff on Virtual DJ, I can say that it would be nice to have an independent controller as well.

    I have to learn to crawl before I can walk.

    Thank you for the suggestions.

    March 5, 2012 at 11:40 pm #16184
    shr3dder
    Member

    Wait and save.

    Shortcuts just end up costing more money.

    March 6, 2012 at 3:47 pm #16221
    Hee Won Jung
    Participant

    B.B. Koning, post: 16261, member: 1638 wrote:
    I am by no means a gear head, but I do know that the main club that I frequent uses Pioneer CDJ 1000 models.
    However, from asking the non CDJ using DJS that play out there, they say they just plug in their laptops to the mixer via their sound card and have a go.

    I have to learn to crawl before I can walk.

    Yes they are plugging their laptops in using a proper DJing soundcard…then they are either using timecode with the existing CDJs and mixer or using a controller.

    As for the crawl before walk…think of it this way…learning on a laptop would be like learning to crawl on ur back blindfolded with 1 arm and 1 leg…if you are going to learn to crawl..learn to crawl the right way.

    as for the 300 bucks…that would be your barebones BASIC setup…My Gigging setup not including laptop costed me over 2000 bucks lol…and in the DJing world…thats retarded cheap for professional quality gear.

    March 7, 2012 at 2:56 am #16276
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    Well, Hee, I see your point. And in the end, since I know I am serious enough to put in the time to make a serious run at it, there are some things I can afford to splurge on for the moment.

    I went with the Numark DJ I/O, since I was able to get a helluva deal on it. The logic there, of course, being that I will then have the card for when the time comes.

    As to the mixer and your bare bones. I am trying to find a standard issue mixtrack for 120 or so new. 150 tops. And then a passable set of headphones.

    That’s about the general range of your area, and the absolute most I can go ATM.

    Yes, the DJing world is not cheap at all. I nearly faint when I look at the price of those CDJ 2000s.

    Until I can get the mixer worked out, I’ll just continue screwing around with Virtual DJ a bit. At least it’s knocking some time in getting a feel for the software.

    Your arguments, as well as DJspin and shr3dders, make perfect sense.

    I understand your perspective, and in the end, it is the superior argument. I hope you understand the original concept of where I was coming from in mine.

    March 7, 2012 at 3:07 am #16284
    shr3dder
    Member

    A Mixtrack is a good idea.

    Just remember not to spend to much on headphones, either spend a lot or get something cheap that will break and you will have to upgrade.
    Sennheiser make some cheaper models that are OK.. I used a cheaper set a few times for gigs when I forgot my Pioneers. I still carry some HD202s around as backups

    March 7, 2012 at 3:53 am #16290
    Edward Onaci
    Participant

    You can get away with using Sony-MDR-V150 headphones. They’ll get you through some serious practice at home and even a low volume house party if that’s all you can afford.

    Samson CH-70 headphones sound pretty good (more expensive than the Sony) for at home use. They’re studio reference headphones, so they sound a little better. I once had to use them at a club gig when my other headphones shorted out in one ear. Thankfully, the booth monitor had crystal clear sound, so i didn’t have to pump the volume too loud and make myself def trying to mix! LOL. They aren’t very comfortable though.

    Have fun!

    March 7, 2012 at 4:45 am #16293
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    Thanks shr3dder and Brotha for your headphone suggestions.

    Prior to this experiment, I was using ER4-P in ear, near studio reference earbuds just to listen to my music on the go. They are great for what they are, but obviously, there is no way in hell that is going to work in a booth.

    I always found cans to be uncomfortable for constant hours of listening to music at work, hiking, etc.

    DJing is, of course, an entirely different can of worms (no pun intended). The good thing is that they don’t have to be worn all the time. Maybe Senheiser or Sony would be a better option. But the Samson probably is closer to the Etymotic Research ER’s.

    I’m having a bitch of a time finding a store with the mixtrack for 120 anywhere. At that price, there has been a mass run on them at the sites advertising them at that price point.

    I have one on backorder right now, and am still looking. If anybody happens to stumble upon a shop that might have a new one in the 120-150 range (including shipping), and you’d like to keep me in the loop via reply/PM, I’d appreciate it.

    Thanks again!

    March 7, 2012 at 2:33 pm #16332
    Edward Onaci
    Participant

    B.B. Koning, post: 16375, member: 1638 wrote:

    If anybody happens to stumble upon a shop that might have a new one in the 120-150 range (including shipping), and you’d like to keep me in the loop via reply/PM, I’d appreciate it.

    If you can deal with a used one, you should be able to find a decent Mixtrack on Ebay for $100-$130. When i was on the market for one, i saw quite a few go for under $130, sometimes with the Numark DJ I/O (which you could just sell if you already have one). So it might be worth considering, if you’re aren’t already.

    For example:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Numark-Mixtrack-With-Djio-/230756952559?pt=DJ_Gear_Lighting&hash=item35ba2fa9ef#ht_500wt_990

    March 7, 2012 at 4:14 pm #16360
    RuthChampagne
    Member

    Hi,

    I am a newbie here. As I read your conversation here it gives me more information.

    March 7, 2012 at 10:10 pm #1003221
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    Brotha Onaci, post: 16414, member: 1564 wrote: If you can deal with a used one, you should be able to find a decent Mixtrack on Ebay for $100-$130. When i was on the market for one, i saw quite a few go for under $130, sometimes with the Numark DJ I/O (which you could just sell if you already have one). So it might be worth considering, if you’re aren’t already.

    For example:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Numark-Mixtrack-With-Djio-/230756952559?pt=DJ_Gear_Lighting&hash=item35ba2fa9ef#ht_500wt_990

    Thanks, Brotha. That is something to consider. If the price is right, I could always keep the spare Numark, because, as I hear, #@$! happens when you’re in the booth.

    Thanks for taking your time.

    March 7, 2012 at 10:11 pm #16404
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    RuthChampagne, post: 16442, member: 1657 wrote: Hi,

    I am a newbie here. As I read your conversation here it gives me more information.

    Hi Ruth. I am glad that the help I am receiving from these fine folks is also helping another fellow newbie.

    I must say that I am very impressed by the non-attitude around here.

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