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Years ago I was strictly vinyl, two 1210's and a Pioneer mixer. Over time this has morphed into a hybrid system of one 1210 allowing me to play my old vinyl which links up to Pioneer ddj800 controller via an ART phono preamp. So essentially one analogue deck and two digital ones. Rekordbox software.
This plays through a 200w Yamaha amp with Mission 700 bookshelf speakers and a KEF subwoofer. Great for parties.
What works for you ?
A&H Xone 23 with two Pioneer PLX 1000. Also have an RX3 but that's mainly used for gigging but does get hooked into the PLX's when I need to do radio show work
Disappointed. Came here expecting a thread on back yard trails.
Grantyboy, you're professional then ?
Digital DJ here. Long time electronic music fan but discovered controllers during lockdown.
Evolved from a DDJ-400 to an XDJ-RX. For practice at home I've got a little pair of Pre-Sonus 3.5. They are superb so much speaker for the money.
For house parties I've got an old pair of pair of Celestion Ditton speakers via a JVC amp. Great for small to medium size house party.
The gigs I do - the venue provide at least sound, if not decks.
Thinking of treating myself to a 3rd digital deck. Possibly an XDJ-1000 MK2...
I bought two Numark TTX1 turntables back in 2000 alongside a Citronic mixer and was strictly vinyl up until 2008 when I bought a Pioneer DJM800 and 2 X CDJ 1000mk3s. Flirted with Traktor Scratch for a while (mainly timecode vinyl as I prefer mixing vinyl over CD) but downsized in 2012, sold the lot apart from one turntable to rip my vinyl collection, and bought a controller (Native Instruments S4). Used that exclusively up to 2018, at house parties and even in clubs. Sold all my vinyl and DJ kit when my son was born as we needed the spare room.
For me, nothing will beat the feel of mixing vinyl on two turntables and a mixer but if I had the cash and space again I'd go straight to a Pioneer controller setup with the biggest jogwheels I could afford. The 'sync' button is also helpful when you've had a few.
Without wishing to hijack the thread, I was wondering the other day what the cheapest and easiest way would be to just have a go at mixing some songs together.
Just talking about using my laptop/iPad and iTunes or Spotify to create some mash ups for my own pleasure.
ps apologies to propose djs where this probably seems like a rubbish thing to do! Just think I’d have fun and would give me something to get me listening to music more.
A lot of people start off software only...
Virtual DJ, Mixx, Serato, Rekordbox can all be downloaded and trialled to various degrees. Most require a license to record your output but there are ways around it. There maybe other softwares... Some people would try and use a DAW rather than a DJ software (Ableton / FL Studio etc) these are more for producing music and a lot harder to learn...
@rockbus I quite like the iPad app Djay, it’s cheap and I find using my iPad more tactile than the laptop.
Back on topic but at the moment I’ve got an old Vestax VCI300 at the moment which has served me well but I’ve got a Pioneer DDJ FLX10 on preorder, should be here at the end of the month. Looking forward to having 4 channels to try and be more creative.
For me, nothing will beat the feel of mixing vinyl on two turntables and a mixer but if I had the cash and space again I’d go straight to a Pioneer controller setup with the biggest jogwheels I could afford. The ‘sync’ button is also helpful when you’ve had a few.
I am in no ways a great DJ but i did learn to beatmatch on vinyl many years ago. I found it weird when i first got a controller (mixtrack pro) when it's actually harder to beatmatch without sync. It just doesn't have the same feel. Recently a mate brought his decks to a weekend away with a load of mates. The feeling of mixing/beatmatching those first few tunes was great.
I was very much interested in the rane stuff. I remember seeing Dj's using vinyl to control digital tracks (in serato)
Saw this as well which looks cool
i think with dj controllers you have more things at your fingertips to bring in effects, change cue points, looping etc
Anyone know why rane no longer do the DVS stuff?
https://www.rane.com/products/legacy
EDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/ystc7u/rane_sl4_discontinued_and_software_obsolete_what/
its now built into mixers
I was wondering the other day what the cheapest and easiest way would be to just have a go at mixing some songs together.
I downloaded this app for muy phone https://www.algoriddim.com/apps
it works quite well (also use with my dj controller)
I used to work a fair bit as a DJ ,
Learned on vinyl, moved to CDJs for ease and economic reasons,
ended up with tracktor, fully pc (well Mac) dj.
no longer do any work, the odd friends party and just for fun at home.
home set up is, tracktor kontrol s4, with a pair of 1210s for all the options 🙂
plugged into the home stereo (musical fidelity amp, and floor stands & sub)
rarely gets bought out however as it’s all in flight cases and there isn’t the room really to leave it set up without some major house furniture/use layout changes, so on occasion gets broken out set up on the dining table
usually when the wife is away 😎
I'm a old skool dj from the late 80s to mid 90s....took a 25 year break now I've got a cheap set up ..strictly vinyl....got a pair of Stanton T80s for £140...gotta say even tho I had 1210s back in the day, these stantons are just as good although not as refined....now I've just got to find a way to pump up the bass without the wife complaining....honestly she is just like my dad in the old dayz..lol
I've drifted away from electronic music a lot but used to be right into it. Did vinyl originally but switched to digital ages ago. I'm actually selling my controller as it's just not getting any use. Works with Traktor which is available free from Native Instruments. Available for PC and ipad. You just need a music collection and some speakers and you're good to go!
https://singletrackmag.com/advert/native-instruments-kontrol-s2-mk3/
Currently on a set of XDJ700 MK2s with a DJM800 mixer. Started with a DDJ400 connected to a laptop but a mate had an RX2 and he upgraded to some CDJs so could never get on with using a laptop. Got a good deal on some RX(1)s but sold those for the 700s. Paired with a couple of KRK Rokit 6's and it's a great combination to annoy the neighbours.
@Freester - If the 1000s are anything like the 700s, I don't think you'll be dissapointed, love mine. Would almost go to say they're better than my mates CDJ Nexus 2s
oops
Never mind home setup. Tek it on di train!!!
I'm in a similar position to @freester
XDJ-ZX for home and gigs. I use the venue's PA. Have a DDJ-400 as backup and a little DDJ-200 When I'm playing down route in my day job.
I dislike using a laptop other than prepping for a set. Even at home, I'll use USB.
Basic Pioneer monitors give enough volume at home.
A couple of lasers, strobe and smoke machine hang off the wall at home in the dining room next to my decks.
It's not what kit you have that matters though. There are many creative ways to use even the most basic kit, and besides, it's the music you play that matters.
Enjoy!
A little setup in the car on a way to a gig not so long ago...
@alpineharry those 700s are nice I used some at a recent gig.
The decks in the car are similar to this video with Eats Everything and Fatboyslim. Eats Everything is one of my favourite DJs, has a great ability to play most things / genres
Someone may be able to make this link work
Have moved through a lot over the years (1210s, Traktor, Serato), but now a pair of XDJ1000mk2s, A+H 96 and a pair of Reloop Vinyl decks
It's quite a spendy setup, but in my/our defense, we do throw club nights and do a radio show - and it means we don't have to hire in kit as most guest Djs are more than happy with that set up - so it's paid for itself in hire fees
Toss in a strobe, lights and our rig - and we do throw some reasonable house parties 🙂
Anyone know why rane no longer do the DVS stuff?
Pretty sure also that Serato kind of cornered the market and became the go-to.
This thread's really made me want to get another controller again.
@alpineharry if you like Eats he did an essential mix on Friday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001prdg
It's a bit different I like it. What he said about it...
The Essential Mix has always been the pinnacle of mix series to me. I’m lucky to have done a fair few, but tonight is only my second studio one, and my very first History Of Rave Essential Mix!
I wanted to really go in & take a 2hr snapshot on a History of Rave. Now don’t expect 2hrs of rave bangers and nostalgia tracks, this is multi-genre, multi-tempo, multi-decade spanning. Stuff from old to new, crossing the entire “rave” spectrum. There are some exclusives, pretty much every track is an edit/Reebeef & not every tune is a classic, I hope that you don’t know a fair few of them!
Icing on the cake is some cameos from some very famous voices from the world of dance music. This is the best mix I have ever put together by a country mile. Sit back, drop your trousers, and listen with an open mind to 2hrs of belters tonight on Radio 1.
Pretty sure also that Serato kind of cornered the market and became the go-to.
Pioneer have now bought them https://www.digitaldjtips.com/pioneer-dj-buys-serato/
Just talking about using my laptop/iPad and iTunes or Spotify to create some mash ups for my own pleasure
As I understand it, Spotify have removed API access so you can't use it for virtual mixing any more.
As I understand it, Spotify have removed API access so you can’t use it for virtual mixing any more.
yup but with https://www.algoriddim.com/djay-pro-mac you can link to beatport, tidal and soundcloud
@freester Excellent, thank you! I'd seen him mention it and I think even with the description you'd quoted but I couldn't find it at the time. Will certainly give that a listen. I like how versatile he is. Thanks for that!