MP3 Decks

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Discussion

dave123456

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

154 months

Monday 26th August
quotequote all
Evening,

I’ve a pair of vestax decks and a pioneer djm 600 mixer.

Would like to add some MP3 decks to my set up, I’ve a fairly large vinyl collection and don’t want to lose the record players.

What would people recommend? Ideally not spending a fortune, say £1k ish.

TIA

dave123456

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

154 months

Monday 26th August
quotequote all
dudleybloke said:
I would try out the different software before buying a controller.
Serato, Traktor and Rekordbox are the main ones.
Can download a demo and see which one you get along with.
Thanks.

Assuming I’m totally ignorant, how does the basic concept work?

dave123456

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

154 months

Tuesday 27th August
quotequote all
It had occurred to me that the DJM is both old tech and now getting on for 30 years old. They are solid units but the XDJ series look like a viable option.

When you think the space a couple of decks take up and the records etc as well it does make you realise that being stubborn and nostalgic is questionable!

dave123456

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

154 months

Tuesday 27th August
quotequote all
Zero Fuchs said:
dave123456 said:
dudleybloke said:
I would try out the different software before buying a controller.
Serato, Traktor and Rekordbox are the main ones.
Can download a demo and see which one you get along with.
Thanks.

Assuming I’m totally ignorant, how does the basic concept work?
I've not used Traktor or Rekordbox but suspect the basics are similar to Serato. It's pretty good to be fair.

I'm an ex vinyl (bedroom) DJ and thought I'd dabble in MP3 mixing. I bought a Numark DJ2GO laugh to dip my toe in.

If you can mix ok with vinyl, you'll find it a cinch as all the info is laid out in front of you, like BPM and the waveform. Personally I found it took all the basic skills out of the equation, leaving you to focus on a greater breadth of creativity. But I appreciate you've done some digital DJing so probably know more than me about loops, cue points, effects etc etc.

I like techno, drum and bass, house, hip hop and all sorts. Sorting out folders and your music library is brilliant, as is setting cue points and other stuff. I can scratch ok but one thing I've always struggled with is juggling hip hop. I found it really straightforward on Serato. Plus all that spinning and scratching has no effect on vinyl wear! Traktor is, or was, supposed to be more for the scratch DJ and fancy a go but have got used to Serato, which I think is a good all rounder. Rekordbox is a Pioneer program so probably works best with their controllers (which seem to get good reviews).
Thanks. So in terms of acquiring an MP3 collection what’s the best option?

I’ve mainly dabbled in house, DnB and hip hop.

Agree with you re the basic skills, having watched a few pro DJs on YouTube attempt a vinyl mix (which a few did in lockdown) they clearly struggled with what I would see as the basics of beat matching and cueing the records up. And a few of the old hands like Andy C who can probably achieve perfect beat matching within 1 bar with vinyl. Slightly frustrating that radio 1 are now championing a new wave of (mainly female) DnB djs who are reminiscent of morrisey on top of the pops, dancing around in front of a mixer not fooling anyone.