DJ Mixing Desk - Getting Started

[bucks]

Hoping PH can help me a bit with this as I'm completely out of my comfort zone. The more I look, the more I get a little frightened

Elder Bucks is 11 and looking to start DJ'ing and the likes. I've done some looking and the mixing desk below looks perfect except it needs a laptop to run the software and store the music. I don't want to have to buy yet another laptop at the moment especially when he has a 12 month old Android tablet.

https://www.gear4music.ie/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Numar...

Anyone know of a similar desk to the above that he can connect to the tablet?

Or is the link above too much for a beginner? Basically he wants to go to say a family party, take a desk, speakers and the tablet and play some music and fade in and out like a radio DJ.The added sound effects would be a huge bonus so I like that idea.

Another question I have, for now, is speakers. I have an old set that he can have but they don't have the RCA (is that the right terminology?) connectors, just bare wire. Can I crimp the correct connectors to my current speakers or am I looking at new speakers too?

Thanks in advance!

[curlyks2]

If your old speakers are bare wire input, then it's strongly likely that they're intended to be connected to an amplifier. The Numark PartyMix outputs are at the level to go into an amplifier, or for connecting to powered speakers - which have the amplifier(s) built in. I reckon therefore that you'll be looking at additional spend on an amplifier to sit between the PartyMix and the speakers, or (new) powered speakers, or a powered DJ desk (i.e. one that has power amplifier(s) as part of).

Turning to the DJ desk itself, what you've linked to there is a controller: it doesn't do that much itself - it's the software running on the computer that does the hard work - the PartyMix provides DJ-like physical controls to that software. This makes the desk itself cheaper, but also means that without a supporting computer it doesn't do much at all. It is possible to get standalone desks that don't need a computer/tablet, but the price point is higher.

The good news is that there are tablet compatible DJ mixers out there, for example https://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_universal_dj.ht... (be careful though - not all of that Hercules DJ range is tablet compatible) or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DJ-DDJ-200-Smart-... (which connects differently, in that the tablet/computer connects to the speakers rather than the DJ controller). I don't know what software/music-library/etc. that your Elder Bucks already has, so you'll need to read the compatibility bits.

In your position I'd pair a DJ controller with a cheap set of powered speakers e.g. https://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_dj_monitor_32.h... or https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Pioneer-DJ-DM-40/a... rather than buying an amplifier to use with your old speakers, as it gives less to carry around and connect together. It also means that you can replace the desk independantly of the speakers (and vice-versa) if/when Elder Bucks wants something more sophisticated.

There's more info in various places, try https://www.reloop.com/djing-with-smartphones-and-... and https://djtechzone.com/what-is-the-best-ios-androi... maybe to start.

Have tried to link to a variety of outlets and manufacturers so that you've got plenty to browse round as well, and there are others too.

Hope that helps.

[surveyor]

I'd do an ebay trawl...

Several years ago the wife was chair of the local pta, and the bloke who always did the disco said he was too busy.

I picked up for £150 a full set of equipment from a guy who was retiring, including amps, speakers, lighting, stands, laptop and controller.

Worth a check.

[HantsRat]

As above, check on eBay. Many DJ's have packed up due to CV-19 and are selling all their gear.

[deggles]

Why not start with a software mixer, something like DJay (https://www.algoriddim.com/apps) with a set of powered speakers and see how you get on? You can always buy additional hardware later if he gets more interested.

[joshleb]

HantsRat said:

As above, check on eBay. Many DJ's have packed up due to CV-19 and are selling all their gear.

Now you've got me looking at ebay at all of these... I really don't want to join the frivolous purchases thread...!

[bucks]

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

I'm not going to buy used as I should have added that I'm going to suggest he asks yer man in the red suit to bring him the kit at Christmas.

Or I was as now he doesn't seem all that interested anymore after I sat down with him and had a look on line and a chat. Ho-hum

[jakesmith]

HantsRat said:

As above, check on eBay. Many DJ's have packed up due to CV-19 and are selling all their gear.

Try buying a 1200 at the moment then! I just bought one... £500

[Harfi88]

I used to sell a lot of Reloop Beatmix 2’s, they are better quality than the stuff from Numark these days and not too expensive they come bundled with Serato iirc. You will need a laptop for a Beatmix though. Some of the tablet stuff used to be a bit hit and miss even on more expensive controllers.


Jake was it a Mk2 you bought ?

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 21:56

[jakesmith]

Harfi88 said:

I used to sell a lot of Reloop Beatmix 2’s, they are better quality than the stuff from Numark these days and not too expensive they come bundled with Serato iirc. You will need a laptop for a Beatmix though. Some of the tablet stuff used to be a bit hit and miss even on more expensive controllers.


Jake was it a Mk2 you bought ?

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 21:56

Of course! Tried one of those Audio Technica decks Off Amazon that looks like a 1200 and it is made of the most vile plastic. It looks and sounds ok but to touch it is just nasty.

So went on eBay and hunted out a 1200 or 1210 mk2 in very good condition. Tatty ones from £350 and mint from £550-£600 each, the one I got looks good but is local pickup Glasgow (I’m in Surrey but a mate is helping)

[Andy 308GTB]

jakesmith said:

Harfi88 said:

I used to sell a lot of Reloop Beatmix 2’s, they are better quality than the stuff from Numark these days and not too expensive they come bundled with Serato iirc. You will need a laptop for a Beatmix though. Some of the tablet stuff used to be a bit hit and miss even on more expensive controllers.


Jake was it a Mk2 you bought ?

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 21:56

Of course! Tried one of those Audio Technica decks Off Amazon that looks like a 1200 and it is made of the most vile plastic. It looks and sounds ok but to touch it is just nasty.

So went on eBay and hunted out a 1200 or 1210 mk2 in very good condition. Tatty ones from £350 and mint from £550-£600 each, the one I got looks good but is local pickup Glasgow (I’m in Surrey but a mate is helping)

Ouch.
I was using a pair of MKII's as a mobile set up in the mid 80's in a console that was about 5' long!
I basically gave them away a few years ago.
Fabulous decks.

[poppopbangbang]

Is this something he just wants to have a go at or is he really keen to learn and progress? It's a bit like wanting to learn the guitar - if you buy a 50 quid rough as badgers guitar from the Argos catalogue then it's horrific to play and puts a beginner off the idea of learning.

Conversely you don't need spend thousands for a beginner..... you don't even need to spend thousands for a pro given how capable of lot of DJ Controllers are now. However trying to do it via a tablet just won't do the trick. It'll be painful and he won't be able to easily get music into or out of it.

If he really wants to learn then a second hand Pioneer DDJ-SB3 coupled with an old A1278 Macbook Pro would be an amazing starter setup. The DDJ-SB3 is a current but old model but shares a lot of capability with the larger controllers and can be had for £100 - £150 second hand, it has the baby version of Serato included which means he's starting down a path of a known, pukka bit of software. You could cost that down further by finding a DDJ-SB2 with a pot missing or something, that's sub £100 and whilst it lacks some of the modern stuff an SB3 can do it's still a decent bit of kit.

A half decent A1278 with an i5 and 8GB of RAM can be had for £150 in rough cosmetic condition. To make it even cheaper you could use an old Thinkpad or similar at sub £100. Mechanical drive doesn't matter (unless you REALLY have the bass up) just make sure it's an i5 with 8GB of RAM and it'll run Serato just fine.

Speaker wise a 10 quid set of powered PC speakers with a 3.5mm to RCA adaptor will get him going just fine. Or a set of the cheapy 5" M audio monitors if you want to spend a bit more.

The spec creep from £90 to knocking on £300 might sound pretty painful but it really is worth it if genuinely wants to learn. Failing that if it turns out he doesn't you'll have some kit that'll sell really easily for almost what you paid for it vs something that'll go in the bin

[Harfi88]

jakesmith said:

Of course! Tried one of those Audio Technica decks Off Amazon that looks like a 1200 and it is made of the most vile plastic. It looks and sounds ok but to touch it is just nasty.

So went on eBay and hunted out a 1200 or 1210 mk2 in very good condition. Tatty ones from £350 and mint from £550-£600 each, the one I got looks good but is local pickup Glasgow (I’m in Surrey but a mate is helping)

I sold those Audio Technica’s and other similar decks they always look ok but feel awful. I bought the last new 1200 mk5 from the uk distributors years ago sold it for £650, I’ve got a pair of 1210 mk2’s under the bed for my rainy day fund. They are in good but not mint condition I’ve never but a vinyl on them I quite fancy a SH-EX1200 to complete the set but I’m not in the same part of the industry any more so cheap PX mixers don’t come to me these days

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 22:37

[jakesmith]

Harfi88 said:

I sold those Audio Technica’s and other similar decks they always look ok but feel awful. I bought the last new 1200 mk5 from the uk distributors years ago sold it for £650, I’ve got a pair of 1210 mk2’s under the bed for my rainy day fund. They are in good but not mint condition I’ve never but a vinyl on them I quite fancy a SH-EX1200 to complete the set but I’m not in the same part of the industry any more so cheap PX mixers don’t come to me these days

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 22:37

Those Technics mixers never set the world alight. There was so much competition at the time. Made2Fade, Gemeni, Vestax, Citronic, Numark, Pioneer... the one’s that appeal the most if I was going back to mixing are the Pioneer / the Allen & Heath Xones.

[Harfi88]

jakesmith said:

Those Technics mixers never set the world alight. There was so much competition at the time. Made2Fade, Gemeni, Vestax, Citronic, Numark, Pioneer... the one’s that appeal the most if I was going back to mixing are the Pioneer / the Allen & Heath Xones.

I know they are rubbish I’d just like to have the set I used to have a Xone 32 when they were still made in England. I think I’ve got a Denon DNS5000 somewhere from when I had a pair of them with a DNX1500. Ive never really liked Pioneer it all felt flimsy imo but I couldn’t keep enough of it in stock.

[jakesmith]

Harfi88 said:

I know they are rubbish I’d just like to have the set I used to have a Xone 32 when they were still made in England. I think I’ve got a Denon DNS5000 somewhere from when I had a pair of them with a DNX1500. Ive never really liked Pioneer it all felt flimsy imo but I couldn’t keep enough of it in stock.

Pioneer just cleaned up when it all went to CDs didn’t they.
You had to have their mixer to perfectly match the CDJs.

[Harfi88]

jakesmith said:

Pioneer just cleaned up when it all went to CDs didn’t they.
You had to have their mixer to perfectly match the CDJs.

Yeah they did, the Denons were better made and had the rotating platter which I loved but they were complicated to use compared to the Pioneers, the DJM600 was a great mixer though. I never had one myself but used to enjoy playing with them in the shop.

[Radec]

jakesmith said:

Harfi88 said:

I sold those Audio Technica’s and other similar decks they always look ok but feel awful. I bought the last new 1200 mk5 from the uk distributors years ago sold it for £650, I’ve got a pair of 1210 mk2’s under the bed for my rainy day fund. They are in good but not mint condition I’ve never but a vinyl on them I quite fancy a SH-EX1200 to complete the set but I’m not in the same part of the industry any more so cheap PX mixers don’t come to me these days

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 20th October 22:37

Those Technics mixers never set the world alight. There was so much competition at the time. Made2Fade, Gemeni, Vestax, Citronic, Numark, Pioneer... the one’s that appeal the most if I was going back to mixing are the Pioneer / the Allen & Heath Xones.

If they are good enough for the DMC championships I'm sure they wouldn't have been too bad, seen them hover around the £100 mark on eBay lately.

I mainly stuck with Vestax back in the day but think A&H and Raine are the mixers of choice these days.
1210s are probably one of the best investments you could make since mint ones hardly ever drop in price, wish I'd kept hold of mine

[ben5575]

Great advice from @curlyks2 and @poppopbangbang.

The controller is, for want of a simpler explanation, the equivalent of a computer mouse. It simply provides a hardware interface to control your preferred software.

Software wise it's really down to Serato (that I use with Roland kit) or Rekordbox (tends to be more Pioneer). Everyone has a favourite, but they are much of muchness. I went Roland as the more expensive decks have a built in drum machine and I like to dabble at producing, however Pioneer is the standard issue gear. No issues with Numark either for beginners.

But the hardware is only part of it. He needs to learn how to do it and in particular very basic music theory and phrasing.

I can highly recommend Jamie at https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/. It is well worth paying for the beginner lessons. The have 30% off sales every few months and I would expect a black friday one shortly. Follow their Insta for the heads up: https://www.instagram.com/wearecrossfader/

This is a better link for your son to explore: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM4u0gp8gm99w9MXQ...

He will also require the music to work with and there are several subscription services out there. I have heard that if you sign up for a free Deezer account you might be able to download any track for free with Deezloader

It's a great hobby and can be as simple as mixing songs in and out like on the radio as you suggest, but in reality that's quite boring. The fun comes with the creative stuff where you take a favourite track and can completely change it on the fly.

Here's somebody who knows what they are doing on basic equipment proving that you don't need to spend thousands on expensive gear to sound great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tVh3esZYG8

ETA Jamie on the same gear, also showing why he's so good a teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RYpZxDwWKs

Edited by ben5575 on Wednesday 21st October 00:05

[Harfi88]

ben5575 said:

Great advice from @curlyks2 and @poppopbangbang.

The deck is, for want of a simpler explanation, the equivalent of a computer mouse. It simply provides a hardware interface to control your preferred software.

Software wise it's really down to Serato (that I use with Roland kit) or Rekordbox (tends to be more Pioneer). Everyone has a favourite, but they are much of muchness. I went Roland as the more expensive decks have a built in drum machine and I like to dabble at producing, however Pioneer is the standard issue gear. No issues with Numark either for beginners.

But the hardware is only part of it. He needs to learn how to do it and in particular very basic music theory and phrasing.

I can highly recommend Jamie at https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/. It is well worth paying for the beginner lessons. The have 30% off sales every few months and I would expect a black friday one shortly. Follow their Insta for the heads up: https://www.instagram.com/wearecrossfader/

This is a better link for your son to explore: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM4u0gp8gm99w9MXQ...

He will also require the music to work with and there are several subscription services out there. I have heard that if you sign up for a free Deezer account you might be able to download any track for free with Deezloader

It's a great hobby and can be as simple as mixing songs in and out like on the radio as you suggest, but in reality that's quite boring. The fun comes with the creative stuff where you take a favourite track and can completely change it on the fly.

Here's somebody who knows what they are doing on basic equipment proving that you don't need to spend thousands on expensive gear to sound great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tVh3esZYG8

The Roland Digital DJ gear is awesome we did a few bits and pieces of it. Serato is better software than recordbox imo as they were the first company to do digital DJ software that worked with analogue hardware properly iirc It’s also very intuitive and easy to learn to beat match with I used to find record box a pain to work with , anyone remember time coded vinyl and a Rane interface ? It used to be PCDJ for pub type DJ’s and Serato for the pro’s in my experience.

Edited by Harfi88 on Wednesday 21st October 00:08