Cheap beginner home DJ setup
Discussion
I'm in my 40's, but I've git an interest in learning how to make my own mixes at home (mainly 80's 90\'s etc).
I've got a Macbook Pro.
Can anyone recommend the cheapest possible controller for getting started? When I say cheap, I mean cheap. Chances are, in 3 weeks time it'll be stored somewhere and never to be seen again.
I've got a Macbook Pro.
Can anyone recommend the cheapest possible controller for getting started? When I say cheap, I mean cheap. Chances are, in 3 weeks time it'll be stored somewhere and never to be seen again.
I think a lot depends on what you're interested in doing. If you want to scratch go for Serato. Anything else you can't go wrong with Rekordbox.
I've recently picked it up again after having 1210's in the 90s. A Pioneer FLX4 is a great controller to start with: https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/controller/dd...
There is cheaper stuff out there but you'll get bored quicker with them because they don't have the features you need to progress and get better.
Like I said a lot of it depends on the music you want to mix. I mix House/Tech House/Trance mostly
I've recently picked it up again after having 1210's in the 90s. A Pioneer FLX4 is a great controller to start with: https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/controller/dd...
There is cheaper stuff out there but you'll get bored quicker with them because they don't have the features you need to progress and get better.
Like I said a lot of it depends on the music you want to mix. I mix House/Tech House/Trance mostly
Pugster said:
I think a lot depends on what you're interested in doing. If you want to scratch go for Serato. Anything else you can't go wrong with Rekordbox.
I've recently picked it up again after having 1210's in the 90s. A Pioneer FLX4 is a great controller to start with: https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/controller/dd...
There is cheaper stuff out there but you'll get bored quicker with them because they don't have the features you need to progress and get better.
Like I said a lot of it depends on the music you want to mix. I mix House/Tech House/Trance mostly
Thanks, very helpful.I've recently picked it up again after having 1210's in the 90s. A Pioneer FLX4 is a great controller to start with: https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/controller/dd...
There is cheaper stuff out there but you'll get bored quicker with them because they don't have the features you need to progress and get better.
Like I said a lot of it depends on the music you want to mix. I mix House/Tech House/Trance mostly
It's mainly going to be 80's, 90's, and dance music. I'm one of those people that gets bored quickly listening to a full song. I'd rather listen to a mix that has all the best bits from individual songs.
I saw a Numark Party Mix 2 on Amazon, it's looks reasonable for the very cheap price, but I have absolutely no idea whether it would be suitable.
I'm more than happy to buy something cheap like this, and if in two months time I'm still using it, buy something better.
The Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 is more than I wanted to spend, but it's it going to be a far better then I'll go for that. I'd prefer brand new, but there's a few on ebay for Ebay as well.
From what I can see you can't control the Mid EQ on that Numark controller. That could make your mixes sound too "noisy" especially if you want to mix more mainstream dance music with vocals and short intros/outros
This is a discontinued controller that might be better for you:
https://www.pioneerdj.com/en-gb/product/controller...
You may well be able to pick that up secondhand on Ebay just to have a play with. It will allow you to mix better but there's no dedicated looping on it. I think you might be able to do that with the performance pads though.
Might be an option?
Could well be overthinking this though. If all you want to do is create mixes and aren't really interested in the performance aspect then there's loads of free software out there that will enable you to create a "mix tape"
This is a discontinued controller that might be better for you:
https://www.pioneerdj.com/en-gb/product/controller...
You may well be able to pick that up secondhand on Ebay just to have a play with. It will allow you to mix better but there's no dedicated looping on it. I think you might be able to do that with the performance pads though.
Might be an option?
Could well be overthinking this though. If all you want to do is create mixes and aren't really interested in the performance aspect then there's loads of free software out there that will enable you to create a "mix tape"
TheBinarySheep said:
I'm in my 40's, but I've git an interest in learning how to make my own mixes at home (mainly 80's 90\'s etc).
I've got a Macbook Pro.
Can anyone recommend the cheapest possible controller for getting started? When I say cheap, I mean cheap. Chances are, in 3 weeks time it'll be stored somewhere and never to be seen again.
You want to remix or beat mix?I've got a Macbook Pro.
Can anyone recommend the cheapest possible controller for getting started? When I say cheap, I mean cheap. Chances are, in 3 weeks time it'll be stored somewhere and never to be seen again.
Tenacious said:
You want to remix or beat mix?
Mix.For example, in my Apple Music library I have playlist for each year, and they contain all of the songs I liked that year. I think I've got playlists for the last 7 year. For each playlist I'd like to put together a mix that combines the songs in a way that it only contains the best bits of each song.
My playlists range from 7 to 18 hours long, so if I can condense those down then it means I can enjoy the whole playlist and won't feel the need to skip straight to the better songs in the list.
I've bought a DJ course on Udemy for twelve quid, and so far I'm really enjoying it.
TheBinarySheep said:
Chances are, in 3 weeks time it'll be stored somewhere and never to be seen again.
Check out www.pirate.com find one near you and book a few hours slot for £20-30 and use there CDJs.Download rekordbox and get you selection of tunes imported and analysed then exported to a usb stick.
Plenty of guides on the site and also youtube.
ETA
Sorry, not allowed.
Edited by Big Al. on Sunday 7th July 12:53
I have a full legacy setup with vinyl decks and a midi controller with Traktor
However I also have a MacBook with Traktor and a simple 2 channel midi controller which I use more as you can sit on the sofa with it!
You don't need anything fancy or expensive this will do
https://www.tonecontrol.eu/native-instruments-trak...
You also get a legit copy of the software so just add a decent set of headphones (don't use Bluetooth it's too laggy) and you're away.
However I also have a MacBook with Traktor and a simple 2 channel midi controller which I use more as you can sit on the sofa with it!
You don't need anything fancy or expensive this will do
https://www.tonecontrol.eu/native-instruments-trak...
You also get a legit copy of the software so just add a decent set of headphones (don't use Bluetooth it's too laggy) and you're away.
TheBinarySheep said:
Mix.
For example, in my Apple Music library I have playlist for each year, and they contain all of the songs I liked that year. I think I've got playlists for the last 7 year. For each playlist I'd like to put together a mix that combines the songs in a way that it only contains the best bits of each song.
My playlists range from 7 to 18 hours long, so if I can condense those down then it means I can enjoy the whole playlist and won't feel the need to skip straight to the better songs in the list.
I've bought a DJ course on Udemy for twelve quid, and so far I'm really enjoying it.
Ah gotcha, cutting and pasting! Sounds like you're already there! For example, in my Apple Music library I have playlist for each year, and they contain all of the songs I liked that year. I think I've got playlists for the last 7 year. For each playlist I'd like to put together a mix that combines the songs in a way that it only contains the best bits of each song.
My playlists range from 7 to 18 hours long, so if I can condense those down then it means I can enjoy the whole playlist and won't feel the need to skip straight to the better songs in the list.
I've bought a DJ course on Udemy for twelve quid, and so far I'm really enjoying it.
Plenty of info on-line and thorough walk throughs of Rekordbox and your controller. I'd recommend courses from Digital DJ Tips or Crossfader, but they are far more than £12.
You may want to look at different (DJ) versions of the songs you want to mix also, as they will have extended breakdowns etc to make your mixing/transitions easier. But the first thing is to learn the absolute basics, beat matching, key matching, library, que points, looping etc.
You may want to look at different (DJ) versions of the songs you want to mix also, as they will have extended breakdowns etc to make your mixing/transitions easier. But the first thing is to learn the absolute basics, beat matching, key matching, library, que points, looping etc.
Freakuk said:
Plenty of info on-line and thorough walk throughs of Rekordbox and your controller. I'd recommend courses from Digital DJ Tips or Crossfader, but they are far more than £12.
You may want to look at different (DJ) versions of the songs you want to mix also, as they will have extended breakdowns etc to make your mixing/transitions easier. But the first thing is to learn the absolute basics, beat matching, key matching, library, que points, looping etc.
This is the course I'm doing https://www.udemy.com/course/online-dj-course/?cou...You may want to look at different (DJ) versions of the songs you want to mix also, as they will have extended breakdowns etc to make your mixing/transitions easier. But the first thing is to learn the absolute basics, beat matching, key matching, library, que points, looping etc.
It seems to cover the basics and some advances techniques as well. I think it's certainly a good starting point for the money.
I've subscribed to beatsource and it has a lot of extended version of songs which I'm finding helpful.
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