Chuck Van Eekelen

Hi fellow Dutchie, first off welcome to the forums.

If you are buying a controller, the whole idea is that you don’t actually use/touch the laptop all that much. It’s there as a nice big screen and and easier way (keyboard) to find tracks sometimes. That said, everything is mapped to buttons on your controller and those you will use for all major transport, EQ, FX and pads and such.

While I get the money burning a hole in your pocket, my serious advice on spending (part of) your money would be this:
1) Read up on the many, many posts on these forums about picking your first controller. In essence it looks something like this:
* Decide on your (intended) workflow
* Pick software that most closely matches that workflow
* Set a budget (really important or you might still end up spending more than you intended)
* Make a shortlist of 2, max. 3 controllers that match your workflow, software and budget
* Get some hands-on time with those controllers
* Take your pick
2) Get a used unit, Marktplaats is a great place in The Netherlands and you can find almost any controller you like on there. The good news is that people that bought starter controllers usually used them primarily in the privacy of their home and if they decided to continue DJ-ing they would upgrade after a year or so. If the decided they DIDN’T like DJ-ing after all, the thing might sit in a corner for 2 years and then get sold or get sold right away. In all cases you can get a used controller at a real discount. Just be sure you get any software license that it came with. Even if it’s only an LE/Intro version, it’s worth to have.
3) Spend some of your budget on dustcover (Decksaver for example), a good set of headphones (plenty of posts here and reviews on the site), some good furniture to set things up ergonomically (so you do the best you can for shoulders/back) and perhaps a decent set of DJ monitor speakers or small PA speakers. And of course you will be spending some of your budget on buying … tatattaataaa … MUSIC!
4) Get enrolled in the How To Digital DJ Fast course. In about 6 weeks you will be comfortable with whatever software/gear you got and you will be practicing the right things the right way. It’s not a very expensive course and it comes with full money back guarantee. It’s a great way to get to the fun part quickly without too much stress/frustration and without having to spend a lot of time browsing and watching Youtube films, maybe learning things the wrong way only to unlearn it and replace with the right way.

Good luck and enjoy your time here.

P.s. If you want to have loads of gear at hand, visit Utrecht for the DanceFair.

I carry sets of THREE. If they are not linked (and that is only valid for models that actually HAVE link option) you’ll need two. But … technology what it is … USB sticks DO sometimes fail. Having at least one spare might just save the day.

And of course the How To Digital DJ Fast course is a great 6-week primer to get acquainted with digital DJ-ing and it will show you how and what to practice to quickly get comfortable with doing all these things on your new gear.

With a money-back guarantee it is really no risk.

<Note from Moderator>

Hi Todd, please make our moderator lives easier.

1) Post in the correct forum. This is clearly not a question regarding the actual workings of the forum itself, which is where you originally posted it before I moved it here.
2) Do not use all caps in header or messages. It’s considered shouting and thus impolite and against posting guidelines.

The correct way to go about buying a new (first) controller is by following these steps:

1) Determine your (desired/intended) workflow. What kind of music, what kind of DJ-ing do you intend to do
2) What software matches that workflow closest (nothing will fit 100%)
3) Set a budget to avoid being dragged in by the shiny lights and flashy knobs. Also incorporate the other stuff you need to start, laptop or tablet, headphones, speakers, music, case or decksaver, etx.
4) Make a shortlist of two or three controllers that fit your workflow, accept/work with your chosen software and within your budget
5) Try to get some hands/ears on time with those controllers
6) Make your pick and get to practice!

Turning it around by buying a controller just becomes it comes with full software and thus accepting software that might or might not be suitable to you is a gamble. So what might seem like a cheap solution might come at a price in the end.

It’s totally feasible to buy a used starter controller (see other posts for a list of our pick of the litter) with LE software. While eventually LE software will wear too thin for a full DJ career, it will service you well through learning/practicing your first steps on the DJ path, give you a chance to see if indeed the software you picked works for you (and before you invested so much time and effort in it that changing it becomes a hard job). Then, when you know what software you want for sure and you have a better idea of your workflow and by extension what you want to be looking for in an upgrade, you will be much better informed and able to make that decision.

Hope that helps some.

Just my 3 cents as usual.

As for mastering overall, since all music you use these days will be mastered and compressed to the hilt, there isn’t much left to master really. Getting the volume level even over the entire mixtape can help (but if you gain things correctly while mixing this should already be near the right levels). Some dedicated mastering suites (software) allow you to do an EQ analysis over the entire mix and suggest or even auto-EQ it to sound more even throughout the mix. Attempting this without proper knowledge is not advisable and the pricing of these tools is certainly prohibitive to all but the richest DJs LOL.

Finally, I would always build in a few track markers (depending on how much of each track you play you can set one at every mix point or arbitrary over the entire mix). Sometimes people will want to skip through your tape and spot-listen. If your tape has no markers you have to use fast-forward rather than next track which can be a bit of an issue.

Just my three cents as usual.

Yep, find our list of recommended starter controllers. You can usually get an “older” version of them used and save even more money, while you figure out if DJ-ing is for you, practice the basic and build your collection. Those controllers are suitable to play small house parties of small bars and venues with, so you can even get your feet wet with them with real people in front of you (where the real learning to DJ starts).