What got YOU in to laptop DJ'ing?

I pretty well didnt have a bloody clue what was going on in the world of djing when I started.

I was having alot of parties at my house and attending alot of parties.

There were a couple hands that used to put music on that very few people besides them wanted to hear so I started regulating the tunes being played.

I started off with a ADJ8, Traktor scratch pro, and a SCS 3 System from stanton.

I got a controller cause I thought it was the new way to do things and that I have purchased something that would have been popular for me to use. I was wrong. I also attempted to spend as little money as possible on a setup and I was also wrong about that.

I have since purchased several devices to use to DJ and if I had my time back I probably would have got a turntable setup or something, but oh well. Im on the S4 and X1 now so I’m pretty happy with that.

So it recap:

I was just researching on the internet and following my results. Which, like anything, was subject to the time I was searching!

After a few Years of Succesful Club DJ’ing with Pioneer CDDJ’s; 2 Cassette Decks and a 2 CD Drive’s my Husband said to me that it was ‘About Time You Had A Kid’; and it wasn’t long afterwards until that happened; and so I became a Mother; (and my Husband put All my DJ Equipment in the Attic – 12 Machines in Total); but after a Couple Of Horrific Incidents and a Number Of Years Recuperating; I found myself Alone with just a Laptop;
I had Ableton Live but had no way of figuring out How I could use it to DJ; so I investigated ‘other’ DJ Software such as VDJ; Traktor; and Deckadance; these were Cool; but having been DJ’ing with up to 6 Decks when I was 15; I needed ‘More’; and so after 12 Months of Remixing I decided it was Time for me to Learn How to DJ Live with Ableton;
It took me a good 4 months in all to Understand it; but now I do;
Of Course; ‘All I Wanted’ were my Pioneer Decks back; but due to my Physical Health I had to Accept that it wasn’t Possible for me to get up into the Attic to get them;
And so; Due to Circumstance; I found myself DJ’ing Digitally; and I ‘Enjoy’ it; but Greatly Miss the Tactile Feelings of ‘Hands On Manipulation Of Audio’; maybe a DJ Controller would ‘Bring Some Of Those Feelings Back’; but for the Foreseeable Future I Could Never Afford One;

I have a Cassette here in my Bedroom somewhere Rob that I sent out to Radio Stations and Clubs in 2001; but if I can’t find it; or find it and Feel I can ‘Do Better’ now I am Older; I will get one together and Upload it :);

Ive always lived in a very musical household, from a young age I was playing bass in bands and having a good laugh. But getting a band together is a pain in the arse. Trying to find people that are reliable and dedicated is too much hasstle. So I lost interest in playing in a group of people. This was also when I started losing interest in rock/indie music. It wasnt fresh anymore, I needed change. Along came drum & bass to save the day.

So one day my mate calls me into his room; “check this out man” with a copy of traktor open on his machine. I had no idea djing had come this far! Also, im a proper geek, so music and tech was right up my alley. I took a not so legitimate copy home and messed about for months with a mouse, keyboard and no headphones. lol.

I told myself; “If youre still into this in 3/4 months, then buy the software and a controller”. Theres no point investing a lot of cash in a fad afterall. So, 3 months later I got traktor, a controller, a nice big subwoofer and rocked my conservatory for a few months until I moved house and had a proper place for my gear.

Then I got TT’s for a DVS, which I absolutely love, and now im seriously considering vinyl. Theres something inherantly sexy about wax, I dunno what it is. Its like an uncontrollable urge to dig.

The wierd thing is I see myself becoming more like my dad everyday. He’s a bassist, and a DJ, and loves audio gear & tech. But my dads cool, so thats ok 😉

Got tired of having to burn CDs almost everyday. Also, buying vinyl is way too expensive nowadays.

For me, it’s more of the portability and ease of going through all your music during a gig minus the heavy crates.

Since I use a DVS system. All I bring nowadays is my laptop, soundcard, headphones and a pair of vinyl or cds (depends on what gear the club/venue has).