The DJ Booth - For all DJs on Facepunch (lets press sync n play) - General

[QUOTE=Flarey;36235985]guys i want to dj really dj not pushing buttons to play music what should i buy[/QUOTE] if you want to get a TRUE experience, do this. Get yourself a pair of Vestax PDX-2000's. Cheaper than 1200's, and MUCH better turntables. Technics is the Apple (correct grammar, "Technics" is the company name) of the DJ'ing world. Always been overpriced, features are shit, etc. Then, get a Vestax 007. Fuck buying an expensive ass Rane mixer, that really isn't that much better, regardless of what you want to spin. Get a can of tuner control spray from Radioshack, and you're set. Get yourself a BATTLE ORIENTED COFFIN. I want to murder DJ's who spin that cheesy ass "club" orientation. Setting up battle style is a MILLION times more efficient, and easier to use. Lastly, BUY GEAR USED!!!!!!! You can get a pair of PDX's, a mixer, and a coffin for around $600-$700.

[QUOTE=Flarey;36235985]guys i want to dj really dj not pushing buttons to play music what should i buy[/QUOTE] The biggest part of djing is picking the right music and mixing them together properly; technical skill is second to it. you don't have to use sync to dj with a computer either but ok. it's like saying it's cheating to use a calculator to do math okeefe has the right idea though if you really want to go analog

Running a shitty setup I got for £30 off ebay Numark mixer and a pair of 1520 tables with a pair of AWFUL Numark monitors which I'm trying my best to kill by driving the bass too hard :P [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/9xn8k.jpg?1[/IMG] Haven't played out yet I'm waiting until I can beatmatch consistently rather than making a fool of myself I mix vinyl which I love but unfortunately I'm ditching it and getting some 200's or some 400's with a DJM hopefully the latter as soon as possible so I can spin more tuneage and get used to cdjs so I can use them in clubs. Here's a dnb mix, updated from yesterday with better track selection and my beatmatching is better than before [url]http://soundcloud.com/br0n1/mix[/url] All vinyl :D

[QUOTE=okeefe415;36236445]if you want to get a TRUE experience, do this. Get yourself a pair of Vestax PDX-2000's. Cheaper than 1200's, and MUCH better turntables. Technics is the Apple (correct grammar, "Technics" is the company name) of the DJ'ing world. Always been overpriced, features are shit, etc. Then, get a Vestax 007. Fuck buying an expensive ass Rane mixer, that really isn't that much better, regardless of what you want to spin. Get a can of tuner control spray from Radioshack, and you're set. Get yourself a BATTLE ORIENTED COFFIN. I want to murder DJ's who spin that cheesy ass "club" orientation. Setting up battle style is a MILLION times more efficient, and easier to use. Lastly, BUY GEAR USED!!!!!!! You can get a pair of PDX's, a mixer, and a coffin for around $600-$700.[/QUOTE] Vestax is pretty overpriced too, especially their digital controllers. The VCI-300 has an incredibly weak feature set (My Mixtrack Pro can do more) for an insane price. Granted, it's built very well and has a good audio interface, but still. Their analog gear might be better but I don't really know since I've never used any. [editline]7th June 2012[/editline] Also, I just bought a case for the Trigger Finger. Eventually I'm going to upgrade to a Kontrol S2 or possibly a pair of Denon SC2000s and some mixer.

[QUOTE=CreativeName;36241850]Vestax is pretty overpriced too, especially their digital controllers. The VCI-300 has an incredibly weak feature set (My Mixtrack Pro can do more) for an insane price. Granted, it's built very well and has a good audio interface, but still. Their analog gear might be better but I don't really know since I've never used any. [editline]7th June 2012[/editline] Also, I just bought a case for the Trigger Finger. Eventually I'm going to upgrade to a Kontrol S2 or possibly a pair of Denon SC2000s and some mixer.[/QUOTE] S2 is the best controller I've ever used, personally - highly recommend it.

Updated my post with a new mix I did today, way better tunes and my beatmatching was more on point. Love some feedback :) Also love you guys to post up some mixes I wanna hear some more! Also, I don't like sync... I could rant about it for hours I feel it takes the fun out of djing which is the risk vs reward that beatmatching properly provides. You get much more of a buzz properly beatmatching two tunes than hitting sync which if you're a "dj" thats what it's all about at least for me personally. What I will grudgingly agree with is the fact that to the audience it makes no difference if you're using sync or not, the doing math with a calculator comparison was very apt. The reason I bring this is up is to say to djs that use laptops/sync etc is that I haven't found a program yet which will accurately read all of the tunes, either the bpm is off by a mile or the beats aren't properly synced to the beatgrid so you should always have something to fall back on which is good ol' trusty beatmatching, even if you don't use it regularly you should always have the groundwork there just incase it gets hairy when you pull a tune on that isn't working with your software.

I know people that can't beatmatch and do nothing but bitch about how sync in their software doesn't work, but then they say "Why beatmatch, you can just use sync." It really shows how lazy some people are. This kind of thing is what gives laptop DJs a bad name. Personally, I've started practicing with my waveforms hidden just so I can get a feel for what it's like on most CDJs and turntables.

[QUOTE=Broni;36249087]Also love you guys to post up some mixes I wanna hear some more![/QUOTE] [url]https://soundcloud.com/vecdir/drumstep-mix[/url] Here's one I did a couple months ago. I haven't really been recording much lately.

[QUOTE=Disseminate;36259260][URL]https://soundcloud.com/vecdir/drumstep-mix[/URL] Here's one I did a couple months ago. I haven't really been recording much lately.[/QUOTE] this is less of a drumstep mix and more of a noisia mix still cool tho, reminds me of when i used to double drop sunhammer with shellshock (try it, its a mad one)

Picked up some NDX200s reaaally cheap, but they didn't come with phono cables or power cables.. Does anyone know where I can get some spare molex? I used some 250v 16a ones and it's 230v 15a .. but it was distorted and really quiet I dont' know if thats the fact i'm using vinyl phono leads or if it's the power cables :/ Anyone shed some light? I would really like the leads that properly go with the NDX200 rather than bodging it with, I've done alot of googling but not really any luck at least for spares in the UK

That isn't the power cord. If it turns on and works, it should be fine usually. What are you connecting the audio leads to? If the port on your speakers or whatever says "Phono," try to find one that says "Line" or "CD" or something similar. The actual cables make little difference. It has something to do with the way the speakers or amplifier increases the voltage or something, I'm not positive. [editline]9th June 2012[/editline] The NDX200 doesn't use "phono" cables. Phono means phonographs, aka record players, which I think send out a higher voltage or something, like I said, I'm not sure. Don't use ones that say "tape" either, those will probably be even worse.

Fiiixed it was dodgy RCAs! I love CDJS! :D Even if they're really really shit but I figure if I learn to rinse out on these then when I get some Pioneers I'm laughing!

[QUOTE=okeefe415;36236445] Cheaper than 1200's, and MUCH better turntables. Technics is the Apple (correct grammar, "Technics" is the company name) of the DJ'ing world. Always been overpriced, features are shit, etc. .[/QUOTE] No, pioneer is the apple of DJ'ing. One feature of a technics is that it can last decades, it can be battered and beaten and it'll still play your records. Wouldn't call that a shit feature.

[QUOTE=Broni;36270734]Fiiixed it was dodgy RCAs! I love CDJS! :D Even if they're really really shit but I figure if I learn to rinse out on these then when I get some Pioneers I'm laughing![/QUOTE] Yeah, just don't go around getting Monster cables or whatever now. As long as they're connected to a phono input you're good.

[QUOTE=despo;36270933]No, pioneer is the apple of DJ'ing. One feature of a technics is that it can last decades, it can be battered and beaten and it'll still play your records. Wouldn't call that a shit feature.[/QUOTE] You know Technics was a Pioneer brand? MOST Technics have a long lifespan, provided they used the Japanese motors, no the Korean models. Additionally, all higher end tabes (PDX's, STR8-150's, etc.) have a long shelf life too. It's a nice "feature" but it doesn't make them special.

i have a pair of technics 1210's and a behringer mixer. i have had these for 10 years now so they're a bit beat up. i also use traktor. [editline]10th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=CreativeName;36252647]I know people that can't beatmatch and do nothing but bitch about how sync in their software doesn't work, but then they say "Why beatmatch, you can just use sync." It really shows how lazy some people are. This kind of thing is what gives laptop DJs a bad name. Personally, I've started practicing with my waveforms hidden just so I can get a feel for what it's like on most CDJs and turntables.[/QUOTE] this, beatmatching is the fundamental backbone of djing. it's the simplest thing, essential and doesn't really take very long to learn by ear. why fucking bother keeping the records in time when you can concentrate on other things like track selection and your levels.

[QUOTE=okeefe415;36274621]You know Technics was a Pioneer brand? MOST Technics have a long lifespan, provided they used the Japanese motors, no the Korean models. Additionally, all higher end tabes (PDX's, STR8-150's, etc.) have a long shelf life too. It's a nice "feature" but it doesn't make them special.[/QUOTE] Uh wasn't Technics under Panasonic?

[img]http://puu.sh/A9nt[/img]

Where I got pioneer, I'll never know. Companies should stop sharing the same letters in their brands. :P

Well mate you might have a point tho. Technics weren't made for Djing in the first place, they were meant for HiFi. The PDX was designed for djing, it obviously has straight tonearm for more skipless scratching (altho I kinda dislike straight tonearms, they eat your records up faster) and more kg/cm and much wider pitch range. but it does look kinda crappy :V also the numark ttx is supposed to be another great turntable perhaps imma post a pic of my setup later

TTX's are nice, BUT, *some* Numarks with the interchangeable tonearms suffer from major grounding issues. I had a pair of TT-200's a while back that were sometimes unusable in Serato because of the shitty signal. I think if you got your hands on a pair of PDX's, you'd fall in love with them. Spinning on them feels great.

Should try to record some more of my gigs.. I played one friday, and I have to planned friday and saturday. ( Mobile disco ) What equipment do you guys use? I've got my Pioneer 350 with some HDJ 500's, saving up for a 2000 / 900 Nexus. :D

Yeah, I'd really love to try the pdx once. Btw my current setup consists of a Kontrol S4 and two technics mk2. Now I'm kinda into turntablism and the S4 isn't really ideal for that. All I need is a decent battlemixer that's cheap and has good faders. It can be really basic, because all the effects I need are already in traktor. The numark X5 (about 200) is pretty cheap, I've used it before and the faders feel great to me imo. Do you have any reccomendations?

[QUOTE=despo;36290839]Yeah, I'd really love to try the pdx once. Btw my current setup consists of a Kontrol S4 and two technics mk2. Now I'm kinda into turntablism and the S4 isn't really ideal for that. All I need is a decent battlemixer that's cheap and has good faders. It can be really basic, because all the effects I need are already in traktor. The numark X5 (about 200) is pretty cheap, I've used it before and the faders feel great to me imo. Do you have any reccomendations?[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHNOX404[/url] Sexy times all around. It's Behringer - I know - but this is a great mixer for scratching nonetheless.

behringer :S Imma take a look at it what about the numark X5 I suggested? or perhaps I might go for something more expensive

anyone used dvs ultimate and can you use it with traktor

I've heard good things about it (plus, I like the overall feel of the NS7's faders), but you might be better off with a used Vestax 05/06/07, since you don't need much. Edit: This was a response to Despo.

Okay so at this point I've narrowed down my options to either the Denon MC3000, the Kontrol S2, or the Numark Mixdeck (all around $500). Right now it seems like the Denon has far better build quality than either of them, but the S2 has better sound quality and a nicer layout. The Mixdeck has the least software controls out of all of them and is big (the size of 2 CDJs and a small mixer), but it's far more versatile since it has integrated CDJs and full analog inputs, plus always-nice XLR outs and mic inputs. However since I do have a Trigger Finger for cue points, FX, and basically anything else that I need, the Mixdeck is looking like the best option since it gives me the ability to mix anything. It's also the only one I've actually been able to try out in person. Also, mapping is absolutely not an issue, I don't care if I have to re-map anything. Any help here? [editline]11th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=despo;36292506]behringer :S Imma take a look at it what about the numark X5 I suggested? or perhaps I might go for something more expensive[/QUOTE] I've tried out my buddy's V7/X5 setup and it feels great. If you're doing all your FX and crap in Traktor Scratch it's fine. I don't think you'd need an audio interface either since it's USB, but I may be wrong since I don't know a lot about timecode systems.

I can just use my S4 as an audio interface with the X5 with timecode and everything. The S4 has bscly a Traktor audio 6 built in. Thanks for the info on the X5

But wouldn't you not want to have to use the X5, the S4 and the turntables? I think you could just use the X5 as an audio interface and mixer, but like I said i might be wrong.