Decks, Mixers and Turntables

Folley

Folley

Bluelighter
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You'd think there'd be a thread for DJ equipment but the only one I could find was from 2002 and that was already closed. So, here we are.



I'm hoping to get a pair of CDJ 2000 Nexus, it's a bit ridiculous I know but it's not my money lol. I'm looking into mixers and can't wrap my head around all the jargon, I mainly use Traktor and want to continue using it so something with MIDI capability would be nice.

I'm interested in what you all are using, though. I've had a Numark Mixtrack Pro for a year or so now and... it kind of sucks. It was alright to start but I can't wait to upgrade
 
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vinyl master race here

numark TTX's. now that i'm used to them, i actually prefer them to my old technics

v61r.jpg


with a vestax pmc-05proII mixer

3zbu.jpg


crates and crates of records
 
2 x Technics 1210 MKII
cheap and old vestax two channel mixer (but I need a new soon. maybe next year I'll get an Allen & Heath or an Ecler)

if I would buy new Turntables right now, I'd probably get me a pair of SYNQs:
synq_xtrm_1_1_webshop_900367.jpg

As good as a Technics and more features (20% pitch, etc).

I'll probably start using a DVS too, Xwax for Linux looks appealing to (the nerd in) me. ^^

As an advise for you (Folley): If you don't understand the technical specs of gear, you should start with simpler stuff, at least in my opinion.

Roger: what kind of music do you spin?
 
Bagseed said:
Roger: what kind of music do you spin?
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90's rap/ hip hop mostly
shpongle
some more commercial electronic stuff like atb
i listen to lots of rock n roll records too, but i just let those play through, don't really mix or manipulate them\

you?
 
Folley said:
You'd think there'd be a thread for DJ equipment but the only one I could find was from 2002 and that was already closed. So, here we are.



I'm hoping to get a pair of CDJ 2000 Nexus, it's a bit ridiculous I know but it's not my money lol. I'm looking into mixers and can't wrap my head around all the jargon, I mainly use Traktor and want to continue using it so something with MIDI capability would be nice.

I'm interested in what you all are using, though. I've had a Numark Mixtrack Pro for a year or so now and... it kind of sucks. It was alright to start but I can't wait to upgrade
Click to expand...

I've got cdj 1000 mk3's, stanton str8 150's, and a DJM 600 mixer. I've always mixed on cdj's, but bought the Stanton's for vinyl only releases on Thursday, still getting used to them tbh but I'm pleased to bits with them.

Wow, 2000 Nexus' Folley, thats some major £'s to be throwing down. Are you planning on playing out anytime soon? I'd go with a Pioneer mixer if so, it's what's in 95% of the clubs here in the UK. And if I had 2000's I wouldn't want anything less than an 800. 800, 850, 900, 900 Nexus, 2000 Nexus. All fantastic mixers. Other than that maybe look at an Allen & Heath. Never used them, but they always get fantastic reviews. Sure would be some upgrade on the mixtrack pro haha!

I'm not the biggest Traktor fan, especially with cdj's. It just seems a little pointless to throw down all that cash on the decks, just to use them as a midi controller
 
I'd rather get 1200s than CDJs.

My mixer is a really old Hi-Level PM4000. Hi-Level is a boutique brand for hi-quality analog mixers, the PM4000 is comparable in functionality and quality to a Rodec MX180 if that rings a bell.

If I needed a new mixer aorn, I'd look into a Xone DB2 or DB4. Or maybe I'd get something totally different, like an old used rotary mixer.

In any case, the Xone DBs are nice, but you mention Traktor. Notice the soundcards built into the Xones don't support Traktor Scratch.
 
Yeah.. but I have no nostalgia for how people mixed "back in the day", so I really have no need for vinyl. Most clubs use CDJs as well so it's probably best to go with those these days, although my friend is basically buying these instead of a new car lmao.



Traktor isn't a necessity, but I really like all the extra effects it has as well as the organization of the music. Being able to search for a song instead of scrolling through a USB or digging into a crate of CDs is a big plus. Although with it's Wi-Fi ability I may not even need it when I'm playing at home
 
Folley said:
Yeah.. but I have no nostalgia for how people mixed "back in the day"
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It's got nothing to do with that. Vinyl is still the best haptically imo. CDJs have no significant advantages over controllers. And Pio makes you pay a lot for legacy features like CD decks (as well as for its brand name).

Most clubs use CDJs as well so it's probably best to go with those these days, although my friend is basically buying these instead of a new car lmao.
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Argumentum ad populum.
 
Most vinyl heads I know refuse to mix on vinyl when out, due to the poor quality of the technics in most clubs. If your gonna go vinyl, I'd say scrap the Traktor and do it properly, vinyl dj's have no problem mixing on cdjs, but throw a Traktor dj on them and most are fucked without the bpm readout and waveforms.

IMO the only place for controllers is for the controllerist routines. If your gonna do 2 track mixing there really is no point in a controller, it sucks all the fun out of mixing.
 
The CDJ-1000, or hell even the 2000 doesn't have many advantages over a regular controller... although I'd disagree that the Nexus doesn't. I understand you're basically paying for the 12 cents of paint it takes to write Pioneer on the side, but like I said it's not my money lol.... we might still end up getting something not quite as ridiculous, but we'll see.


I don't do normal DJ sets though most times unless I'm just messing around, I usually try and do a lot of live mash-ups in my mixes. I've been mixing for about a year and have access to CDJ-800s to learn on, so getting something in the same lane just seems like the natural option. I'm still open on the idea though, all that money could go to quite a few other toys.
 
dan88 said:
Most vinyl heads I know refuse to mix on vinyl when out, due to the poor quality of the technics in most clubs. If your gonna go vinyl, I'd say scrap the Traktor and do it properly, vinyl dj's have no problem mixing on cdjs, but throw a Traktor dj on them and most are fucked without the bpm readout and waveforms.
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Just to be clear: I posted under the premise that OP will run Traktor. Cause that's what he says he wants to do.

The condition of the Technics doesn't matter all that much when using Timecode (as the Technics won't output any sound to the house, they're simply used for control purposes). Also, the OP seems to be getting this for the bedroom, not for the club. And when spinning in a club, you'll be all right with Technics as long as you bring along a few replacement parts such as carts.
 
alasdairm said:
your friend is buying you a pair of cdj 200 nexus? that's a pretty good friend.

alasdair
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Yeah, he is :) it's more for the both of us when we move out, but he comes over everyday so he decided just to keep it here.


Like I said I'm not dead set on traktor, but I do really like how easy it is to organize playlists and search for music. The Nexus has a built in waveform screen though, so it's probably not necessary. I'll be sure to mess around and find what works the best for myself



I don't really see any benefit for vinyl over digital for myself, though. I'm just not old school at all lmao, I'd much rather head into the future of mixing than turn around and go back to the 90's... I do understand that there is a huge following behind turntables, but I just don't see it personally.
 
Folley said:
I don't really see any benefit for vinyl over digital for myself, though. I'm just not old school at all lmao, I'd much rather head into the future of mixing than turn around and go back to the 90's... I do understand that there is a huge following behind turntables, but I just don't see it personally.
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LOLOLOL

The CD has been commercially available since 1982. The first CD player with a jog dial was the Technics SL-P1200, released in 1986. Pioneer released the CDJ-500 in 1995. Talk about old school =D

DJs are sloooow to adapt to new technologies. CDJs have no principal advantage over controllers. CDJs are primarily 1980s/90s technology, not "the future of mixing." Sure, they've been improved to include more recent technologies, but those improvements are not unique features of CDJs.
 
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I think you're confused, I don't even plan to use CDs at all. I simply don't see the point of going through all the trouble of burning tracks, hell even USB isn't good enough IMO. That's pretty much the main reason I prefer Traktor, although with the Nexus' rekordbox feature I may not even need it.


I do agree with you all that it's probably not worth the extra money, although I can't possibly see any negatives with it beyond that. It is a bit over the top to go with something so high-end but I do think it will get some serious use, hell I could even rent it out to clubs if I wanted but I'm not sure I'd trust $6000 worth of gear in a room full of pilled up E-Tards :p

If money was not an issue, what would you buy?
 
Folley said:
I don't even plan to use CDs at all.
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I think you are confused. I know you don't plan to use CDs. I didn't say you would. You stated in the OP you plan on using Traktor. I'm capable of reading.

You claimed that vinyl DJing is "90's". I responded that CDs are technology from the 80s and 90s as well. You plan on using Traktor. So, buying CDJs is kind of a waste. Not just the CD drives are superfluous. E.g., a lot of control logic in the CDJs is going to be superfluous as well, considering Traktor will run on your laptops or ipads CPU and manage a lot of tasks the CDJs won't have to do anymore.

I mean, get the CDJs if you want. I think a lot of it has to do with them being a status symbol, though. This is not to say CDJs have no advantages. They do. For instance, built quality is pretty good. Only a few controllers can match that.
 
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alasdairm said:
folley, this is starting to sound a lot like your speaker/amp quest. i'm detecting a pattern :)

alasdair
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Haha =D

Ultimately, the argument of which setup is best has been done to death. The best advice anybody can give you Folley is to try out on vinyl, cdj, and controller, and suss out which you prefer, if that's possible.

p.s. just ordered this on vinyl :D can't wait to pump it out

 
alasdairm said:
folley, this is starting to sound a lot like your speaker/amp quest. i'm detecting a pattern :)

alasdair
Click to expand...

I should be getting a pair of 15 inch Mackie monitors and an 18 inch Mackie sub to complement the set-up, I had my heart set on KRK for the longest time but it doesn't seem like their build quality is very high.

I get that CDJs aren't necessary... I do. I even told him that lol, but if you can get the best.. why not get the best? I might try vinyl, I'm sure it's not as bad as I make it out to be.. but I'm not going to dedicate myself to that, I pretty much already know that. I have a controller now as well, obviously a mixtrack pro is pretty awful but I won't be throwing it in the trash lol. So since I know I'm not dedicating to vinyl and I already have a controller, decks seem really to be the only option.

Then it's just basically just a choice between CDJs and other decks based on them, and I'd really rather go with something I can already practice on
 
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