I'm more and more enamored with the art when at clubs/bars and would like to try it out. does anyone have any recommendations on somewhere to start out? I would be doing it only for my own enjoyment/house parties.

CD based vs software based? (not looking at spending a fortune on vinyl)

I will probably be looking used to start out and keep costs down in case I find out 2 weeks in I have no natural talent.

Cheers for any help on pointing me in the right direction

 

I guess I'll chime in as the resident expert of sorts.

Just about everyone Im close to DJs. From the very awesome Dj Xander, KGBeats, Maugli etc to bedroom house party guys. Remember, there is DJing...and there is playing music for people. Being around it all I am pretty snobby I guess... but one is a performer while the other is a kid with a boombox.

If you actually want to learn and not pretend, you have to learn to beat match by ear. Other skills come slowly but surely (depending on music you play).

Vinyl way
A great way to learn is to get 2 tables and a mixer (don't get a shitty one, it will sound like shit when hooked up to a monitor). The same record twice....and a few other records. Be able to match the same record w/o looking at the other pitch slider. Then graduate to different records.

Yeah records are a fortune. Next step up is to pick up Serato or Traktor. This way you will have the feel and control of vinyl but the availability of an entire HD of songs.

CD way
Buy a nice set of Denons (good value for money) or Pioneer CDJ (industry standard at the top end) and a mixer. (Rane makes awesome mixers). Learn to match without looking at the readout. It will let you understand your music much better.

Learn how to use more advanced looping features etc of the cd decks.


( Your ability to pick/find songs )X (skills) = how good you are

You do not need much to start. Just remember, do it on hardware first no matter what. This way you will know what is supposed to do what in the software and will never feel lost if you actually have to do it on hardware. Software only is like learning to click a piano on a screen but not being able to play the instrument.



If you need hookup for equipment I can put you in touch with someone.

I hope this wasnt too ranty and at least a little helpful

 

Luis did.

 

I have a lot of respect for the peeps who can mix up their sets and do really well reading the vibes of the crowd. These days theres lots of technology involved, almost too much which is really making it hard for avg clubber to see true talent vs. the machine. Over the years I've had several roommates and friends with tables (all about the 1200s) and lots of fun mixing & synth gear and consider myself barely amateur at best, although its still a lot of fun to play. Just another hobby for another day I suppose. Some of my friends pioneered final scratch, mixmeister and some other pc based systems, but nothing beats skill with the real thing live IMO (vinyl < CD).

That said, bet you guys never saw this coming...just wait till someone breaks out their iphone at the next house party :rofl:

 

Thanks for the rant, I really appreciate your insight. right off the bat I can say I will probably end up a kid with a boombox. (for now at least)

the only reason I would like to get into it (for now) is for fun, and because I really hate bad music played at house parties - especially my own.

do you have anything I should read up on before I venture out into looking at the market in terms of hardware? I really don't want to be another guy in 3 months selling my shiz because I didn't match up my equipment properly and get turned off the whole thing all together.

again, thanks for your advice.

 

techniques 1200s
rane mixer

output to decent monitors via xlr


on top of that you will be buying the serato (or competitor) system (external usb sound card) to go with your laptop.


you can always go the CD route as well.


What is your budget and what do you want to be able to do?

 

student budget so if possible keep it under 1K to start?

be able to mix and put some good music out for a house party.

baby steps.

 

will you be needing an actual sound system on that 1k as well?

(this is helping I got a decent idea of what you might like)

 

No, I have a pair of half decent speakers/cables around here from my dad's crazy vinyl days, as well as some rotel amps if those will be needed.

I'm picking up a MBP in summer when the next batch of updates are released so I have a bit of time to look around.

 

ok ok

so assuming you do not want to use your mbp with time coded vinyl, id go for a rack cd player and a mixer that will fit a casing... my buddy has a nice setup, Ill find out exactly what he uses.

btw... what type of music?