any DJ'S here?
Discussion
About me,
I used to DJ UK Garage music almost a decade ago when it was extremely popular and a money maker, and now i want to start back but of course not UK Garage. now i need to know where to start etc as those days it was about vynls etc.
im going to start light but buy the best straight away as i already know how to mix, i will just need the basics so i can get into practising at home any recomendations? in 1-2 years i will be looking to do weddings etc.
any help appreciated as to what im looking to buy etc. my most concern is the laptop i need, the software etc. and where the mixing is done.
I used to DJ UK Garage music almost a decade ago when it was extremely popular and a money maker, and now i want to start back but of course not UK Garage. now i need to know where to start etc as those days it was about vynls etc.
im going to start light but buy the best straight away as i already know how to mix, i will just need the basics so i can get into practising at home any recomendations? in 1-2 years i will be looking to do weddings etc.
any help appreciated as to what im looking to buy etc. my most concern is the laptop i need, the software etc. and where the mixing is done.
I used to DJ, and not really kept upto date with the latest developments. However, not sure if you kept your turntables from yesteryear? If so, have you ever seen Serato Scratch Live? (made by Rane).
I had a go on a Serato system a couple of years ago and thought it was amazing. You use your turntables to control the music on your laptop using two time-coded vinyls.
So you get all the digital information on your laptop, i.e. can search for artists, tracks etc. you also get a nice handy readout for bpm and a graphical display to help beat mix - yet you still get the physical interaction and tactility from your decks, with another advantage that you only ever have to carry two records rather than a heavy box of vinyl, as all your music will be on laptop.
When using it, you select the track you want to play from the laptop then assign it to the turn table you want to use... and magically the record on your turntable becomes whatever you assigned it. You can then manipulate it just like the old days, i.e. you can spin forward, backward, cue it up, stop it, scratch, spin-back etc. Plus with the right mixer you have great sampling facilities. The guy whose system I used was amazing at using it to it's full potential.
So the kit you would need would be: Serato scratch (interface box and two records), laptop and two turntables.
It's quite incredible, and to me it is the ultimate solution. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
I had a go on a Serato system a couple of years ago and thought it was amazing. You use your turntables to control the music on your laptop using two time-coded vinyls.
So you get all the digital information on your laptop, i.e. can search for artists, tracks etc. you also get a nice handy readout for bpm and a graphical display to help beat mix - yet you still get the physical interaction and tactility from your decks, with another advantage that you only ever have to carry two records rather than a heavy box of vinyl, as all your music will be on laptop.
When using it, you select the track you want to play from the laptop then assign it to the turn table you want to use... and magically the record on your turntable becomes whatever you assigned it. You can then manipulate it just like the old days, i.e. you can spin forward, backward, cue it up, stop it, scratch, spin-back etc. Plus with the right mixer you have great sampling facilities. The guy whose system I used was amazing at using it to it's full potential.
So the kit you would need would be: Serato scratch (interface box and two records), laptop and two turntables.
It's quite incredible, and to me it is the ultimate solution. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
Edited by Teetertank on Friday 11th May 14:26
Serato user here, had it for a number of years, so I have one of the older versions. It's paired with some SL1210's (of course!) and an Allen & Heath mixer.
In short, it is amazing. Not just good, or cool, but actually amazing.
I used to use real vinyl as well and, IMO anyway, there is no difference between the two. I used to mix real vinyl with serato, sometimes two real vinyl, sometimes just serato, changing all throughout a mix. Serato replicates using real vinyl so closely that in the heat of the moment I would sometimes find myself whipping the Serato control record off the deck to change track having mistaken it for a real record.
I no longer buy any records, just digital downloads, which I guess is a testament to how good it is.
As you're someone who used to DJ a while ago, I would guess that vinyl would still appeal to you as the method, so it might be right up your street. There are other similar solutions like Traktor but I'm not experienced with them.
It would be a pricey set up to go with Serato and decks, but I'm sure you'd love it. I don't really have experience of anything else though so hard to compare.
In short, it is amazing. Not just good, or cool, but actually amazing.
I used to use real vinyl as well and, IMO anyway, there is no difference between the two. I used to mix real vinyl with serato, sometimes two real vinyl, sometimes just serato, changing all throughout a mix. Serato replicates using real vinyl so closely that in the heat of the moment I would sometimes find myself whipping the Serato control record off the deck to change track having mistaken it for a real record.
I no longer buy any records, just digital downloads, which I guess is a testament to how good it is.
As you're someone who used to DJ a while ago, I would guess that vinyl would still appeal to you as the method, so it might be right up your street. There are other similar solutions like Traktor but I'm not experienced with them.
It would be a pricey set up to go with Serato and decks, but I'm sure you'd love it. I don't really have experience of anything else though so hard to compare.
Mtech25 said:
thanks for the replies chaps, i have unfortunately sold my decks and mixer a decade ago, would i need to get cd decks instead then? along with a mixer and serato?
I's say either/or.In my opinion your options are:
1. Go for CD decks and mixer (no requirement for serato) and play CDs.
2. Go for digital system with serato - need serato system, laptop and turntables
3. Go for digital system with software like Virtual DJ or equivalent.
The serato system is geared up to play digital music from your turntables, if you go CDs you don't need serato just standard CD mixing decks.
There is another serato system called Itch, which I haven't used, but think it's like CD decks but using digitally stored music from your laptop rather than actual CDs. This may be the way forward, but still doubt it will be as nice to use as Scratch Live.
You could play all your music from a computer/laptop - you can get adaptor boxes that let you use multiple outputs so you can queue up tracks on your headphones just like a normal mixer. I've used Virtual DJ a few times - interface is kind of similar to Serato but interaction is pale in comparison.
...this is all from someone who hasn't DJ'ed for about 15 years, you would be best off getting advice from someone who does so currently.
Edited by Teetertank on Monday 14th May 12:50
Used to DJ around the local clubs ages ago (late 80's early 90's) but have kept my hand in and do the odd gig still for friends birthdays, weddings etc. I'd look at Traktor as well, Serato seems to be, well how should I put it, the Marmite of the mixing world, you either hate it or love it. I'm the former.
I have a Serato controller (Numark NS6) but have ended up using it with Traktor 2 as I just get on with it better. Controllers is definitely the way things are going (or have already gone) some still use decks, each to their own I say.
I have a Serato controller (Numark NS6) but have ended up using it with Traktor 2 as I just get on with it better. Controllers is definitely the way things are going (or have already gone) some still use decks, each to their own I say.
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