Newbie trying to get started

[BetaMax]

Hi everyone.

This is my 1st post on this great forum. Ive been reading through all the posts and trying to pick up as much as i can. but theres so much to learn..Basically atm i dont have any equipment and wondering what people would recomend to start off with.Iam just wanting to start mixing my own tunes, chopping them up, playing around with them etc. Thanks

[CBG]

gday mate! welcome. thanks for coming

Well firstly, what is your price range??

secondly, what are you looking towards, CD players? Turntables or... hopefully not... software based??

[CBG]

k read that post again lol.

It all depends on music ur into, if ur into hip hop and breaks etc. Go the turntables, Technics 1200s are a must and like a Vestax 2 channel mixer. I've got a Xone:22, which was about $790 or something. 2 Channel, world renowned fader and circuitry, most likely good for scratching lol. But thats just me, Allen & Heath are amazing .

If you like 4x4 dance etc, go the CD players IMO, and the mixer is prbly the same. Once again the Xone:22 is awesome, but if u have some cashola, go the Pioneer DJM 400, awesome mixer.

In terms of headphones, i believe they are just as important. I've got Allen & Heath xd 53's. AWESOME. but a bit pricey. Look for anything with an input volume of about 3,500mW or more. Try the Audio technica pro 700s i think they're called. http://www.headphonesolutions.com

[BetaMax]

Hey bud.Thanks for the welcome..

I was looking at spending around 1k to 1.5k was hoping that would be enough to get me something to at least make a start you know. As for whether i will go cd players or turntables iam not really sure? not really intrested in software based stuff.

As for the type of music iam into... Iam really into dubstep,dnb,Progressive,house etc so yeah more dance stuff over hip hop.. I have been reading up on the Pioneer DJM 400 and only heard good things.As you mentioned for the type of music iam into i will probably be better off going cd players over turntables.

What would recomend along the lines of cd players? As you can tell iam really new to all this,unfortunatley i dont know anyone whos into it that i can talk to. Thanks for the info on headphones too, i will look into the ones you suggested and see if the budget will allow

[CBG]

no worries.

Well if you grab the DJM 400, which i definetily recommend, that will set back around $800 (they're slightly cheaper @ storedj.com atm). So with the money remaining, your options are shortened a bit.

Honestly though, I think most of your money should go towards your mixer, CD players aren't as important IMO. As long as they perform reasonably well, have an 4% or 8% tempo range, seamless looping, key lock etc. Your laughing.

I've got two American Audio CDI 300's and i got them for $300 each. I've never had a problem with them apart from a few skips, maybe 3-4 in 6months.

But try the Pioneer CDJ200s.

OR you can try a dual rack mount set up. much cheaper for their performance, but they're gay, the cd platter is tiny on them and they take away all the fun of beatmatching and what have you.

Hope this helps.

[Tomy]

yeh i'd say go the CD players buying a track digital is up to $4 if that VS buying a vinyl track up to $20

i suggest checking out the stanton cd players (c324) there about $800 each though then just a cheap as mixer. also check out second hand stuff no point blowing all this money to decide your not interested in dj-ing.

[BetaMax]

hi all ..been ages since i posted on here i know.anyway ive just recently got some equipment together ,got myself a djm400 and some denon rack mount cd players off a mate really cheap,all the stuff has been used once.so i was pretty lucky there..

Ive just been playing around with them the last few days trying to figure out what everything does..What should i be learning how to do 1st? So far ive just been concentrating on trying to beat match some tunes..

[JonnyB]

yep beat matching is essential

the best way about going about this is to get 2 records/cd's that are of the same song.

try get something that dosent have to much going and has a realy dominant kick.

like satisfaction - benny benassi.

and just set them at diffrent tempo's and press play, then try beat match the other one.

another thing you also need to know is the theory.

a song is made up of Beats. There are 4 beats per bar.

in songs sections of the track ussualy go for 16/32/48 bars.

so when you want to drop a new track in. its best to do it at the start of a section (e.g the first drop/the second drop, the outro. etc etc.)

and if you have chosen your tracks right, the intro to the song your brining in will be the same length as the section of the track that youll be fading out.

and remember PRACTICE!

[NathanJames]

i would go for a different mixer than the DJM400.. i have one and for the money i paid.. i could of got alot better mixer.. try the xone 22.. Store DJ has them for 550 which is a great deal cheaper than the 400 and its a very very solid mixer, A&H make nice mixers..

that will give you a little more cash to drop on decks

try the Korg KM402.. it has a kaoss pad built in! and if your gonna pay 700 for a DJM400 from store DJ.. i would strongly suggest you go for the korg

if you wanted to go the CDJ route, try a pair of Denon DNS700 with a xone 22

have you maybe thought about midi controller route? you can get some excellent midi controllers for 1 - 1.5k

torq exponent is awesome, Vestax VCI-300 is an excellent controller too

all of these setups i have mentioned are within your budget.. there is ALOT more than pioneer equipment out there that is just as good for alot lower price, people are afraid to think outside the box sometimes

[CBG]

I have the Xone:22 and yes it is good. But the 400 is by far the best 2 channel mixer in that price range. It has several effects, and a sampler. Which the Xone doesnt have.

[NathanJames]

i have to disagree, in that price range, i would say the korg is alot better option.. how can pioneers generic and limited effects in the 400 compare to a built in Kaoss pad in the korg KM402!

with that kaoss pad your talking over 100 different effects!

(if your into that sort of thing)

also you get 2 extra channels in the korg

for the money, the pioneer mixer is very limited

[CBG]

yes but korg dont at all specialise in mixers. Pioneer do. Pioneer is industry standard, therefore you can walk straight into a club.

The korg effects are irelevant for beginners anyway. A beginners focus shouldnt be on what sick effects they can produce. It's quality sound through EQing and beatmatching.

Pioneer have superior build quality, not to Xones, but to other brands also some effects and they are commonly recognised. Not not just about features like how many channels or effects.

It's about their build quality and their sound. Look at the DDM4000, its got heaps of features. But its made out of plastic, probably the same as the korg

[NathanJames]

walking into clubs has nothing to do with which mixer you use at home..

we are talking about getting the most bang for buck here and at the end of the day, the korg offers the most for the money.. and as far as build quality, korg mixers arent exactly slapped together like numark and behringer.. they still hold steady extremely well..

dropping that much money on a DJM400 when there are other options that will allow for more money to be spend on his decks.. isnt a great idea.. he still has to buy CD decks aswell

which is why i mentioned the xone mixer

its no good blowing your load on a mixer then having to buy cheap decks..

the aim here is to average out the money available to aquire the best possible setup in all areas.. and dropping 700 on a mixer when budget only allows for 1000 to 1500 max is the wrong way to go about it.. because you will have a good mixer but sub-par decks.

my advice is to go with an xponent or the vestax controller

save yourself some money and go for one those 2 units, they are well above average in terms of quality

[djbagz]

play with VDJ..

then if you get the cash go for the rmx or even better

vci-300...

Both are pro tools....keep away from cddj cds are of the past......

[JonnyB]

the further you get fromt he past the further you get from actually djing, if anything you should be looking on travelling backwards to vinyl's...thats my plan anyway!

[eggssell]

hmmmm

i dont know if i agree w/ you there fully (of course im a brand noobian and your a dj, so i could be way offf).

learning how to beat match, phrase match, and finding parts in the song that is best to mix in and out of the songs, yes should be learnt but that can be learnt on whatever platform you use. and of course track selection!!

but does that mean you intend on going right backwards and start needle dropping like kool herc? i.e not "cheating" by cueing??

now that would be just crazy (and hard)

using the tools of the future in my opinion does no way take away from what djiing is. if you can party rock a floor or mixtape, then you djiing. whether your using turntabels, cdjs, software only, an answering machine (ive seen this), an mpc with a few toy story toys (okay this was more production then djiing but it rocked!! we kept it on loop for about an hour.. if only you tube existed those days), you know whatever tickles your fancy.

[CBG]

who the fuck is audion... and why did i get negative rep from him?

[ChevChelios]

Where did this thread come from, old as shit!

As for audion, he made a fred a few down from this one

[alexmtin114]

If you are beginner you have to start with DJ equipment and some more advanced information on dj turntables and beat mixing.

You just take care about this things.Being a DJ means using DJ equipment to maximize the smooth transition between tracks.you need to stay focused , move people to the dance floor and keep them there with your rhythms,play a list that is not all familiar pop or radio, vary your mix to suit both the guys and the girls and try to avoid blowing up the sound system.

[BeatLeSS]

and try to avoid blowing up the sound system.

Uhoh, i've got this all wrong!