DJ Vintage

And El Capitan is the one-but-last version of OSX. That is like saying not to upgrade to Windows 8 while 10 is already out.

I am guessing the problem is in the compatibility of USB over Thunderbolt. Somewhere some “translation” needs to be done. As far as I know the MBP still has two USB-ports, so what is stopping you from hooking up your controller using one of those (if needed with a powered USB hub)?

Clearly upgrading from a fully functional situation to a new OS should be done with plenty of reluctance. Waiting a few months til all your DJ-related gear and software reports compatibility with the new OS is good practice. However, El Capitan has been out for so long already (and, as said, succeeded by Sierra), that whatever issues there were in the early days of El Capitan should have been fixed by now.

Actually it is very well possible that some issues with the previous version of the OS in conjuction with certain gear (specifically those hardware-related like Thunderbolt/USB integration) CAN very well be solved in the next version of the OS, thus making it a logical choice to upgrade to the latest version.

You say you use your MBP for other purposes too. This is also something that you should avoid if you can. I own an MBP just for DJ-ing purposes. And when I was using a Windows laptop it was dual-boot with one install only rigged for DJ-ing. That way if I didn’t change anything it would keep working the way I wanted. I have made image copies of the hard disk partition, upgraded, tested the upgraded environment thoroughly and if I found any problems, I could just restore the partition and be back exactly where I was before upgrading. It has saved my skin on one or two occasions.

Again, the interface really doesn’t distinguish between the two kinds of signal. It just forwards them to the software. Where it becomes tricky is where you switch to thru for regular vinyl option. Some sound cards have a thru switch which internally sends the vinyl audio straight to the outputs (after gaining it to line level and running RIAA-correction if all works as it’s supposed to). Some sound cards have a software tool that let’s you switch to thru in the tool, otherwise the same effect. In both these cases regular vinyl audio gets sent directly to your mixer inputs, not to your software. If your software supports thru switching, ALL signals (so both TC and vinyl audio) get sent to your software. The thru/TC setting then determines if the software takes the TC signal to control the deck, or if it just sends the audio to/through the deck. In both cases audio comes out of the master and should be able to be recorded.

Our usual suspects for starter controllers are (in no particular order):

Our usual suspects for starter controllers are:

* Numark Mixtrack Pro (any of them)
* DDJ-SB2 (or RB if you want to use RekordBox DJ)
* Denon MC2000
* Reloop Beatmix 2 (any of them)

There is the Traktor S2 as well, but that only makes sense if you are gonna be using Traktor DJ software.

While there are some differences between them, they should all suit a starting DJ in the first period of learning and practicing.

Keep in mind that things like loops, cueing, beatgridding, fx and such are essentially properties of the DJ software, the controller just offers the knobs to control them (hence the term :-)).

I am guessing that, unless you switch thru on the sound card, the sound (be it TC tone or actual audio) goes through the software. Recording options in the software would normally record whatever is presented on the master output. This would mean both the TC-controlled electronic music file as well as the actual vinyl audio if the software deck is set to thru.

Again, that is what makes sense, but haven’t tried that particular action with that exact setup.

Using things like grouping and smart playlists you can usually set all this in either iTunes or your DJ software. That way you don’t have to worry about what folder they are in and you can create an impromptu smart playlist if the night calls for it. Also it will let you create more complex queries than a flat folder structure would allow.

I have no feelings on mixing any genre with any other. It depends on the venues you play, the kind of DJ your are (or want to be) and the success with which you can pull it off. I have played Hooked On Classics – Waltzes and Stars on 45 (an Andrew Sisters medley with a disco beat) at clubs back in the day, or old fashioned rock-n-roll. Again, you are the driver, all you have to do is keep an eye out if the passengers are still enjoying the trip.

I have moved your reply to the appropriate post that has my reply to it above.

There is also this post with more info: http://www.digitaldjtips.com/topic/getting-an-avatar/

I think 10 years in today’s economy is way too optimistic for electronic devices. Generally a laptop is considered outdated after 5 years. Any time after that is a bonus. I know very few people who get away with owning and operating a 10-year old laptop.

While I agree it would be nice, I doubt we will get ALL gear to support such life spans. At some point keeping stuff working after it’s “lifespan” becomes a labor of love, requiring more input, research, knowledge and effort than just plug-n-play. A bit like older cars. You can keep SOME of them rolling, but usually just dropping it at a garage for maintenance is no longer an option. You will have to do it yourself in your own garage.

As for people being able to buy old(er) used controllers to learn on for next to nothing investment, the bar is already near the bottom, compared to the entry cost for DJ’s only 15 years ago. And there still are plenty of controllers out there that will happily work with a software on a laptop with an OS. If you are so poor that buying even a used relatively current controller is out of your reach, I doubt you will be facing problems like your MacBook Pro not supporting it with Sierra, or your Windows 10 laptop not connecting. Most likely your laptop will also be old, shabby and running Windows XP.

THAT … I don’t know to be honest. But there is an active Traktor community and it’s a plain midi device, so I wouldn’t be surprised.