Turntable for non-serious aspiring DJ

[amathew]

Allright, so I have shit load of vinyl, though most aren't dubstep or electronic. Over the past few years, I've
gotten into dnb and house and while I wan't originally interested in learning to dj, I have started considering it.
The one issue I have is that everyone recomends technics turntables that cost like $1,500. I'm just looking
for a dj turntable where can learn on my free time. In three or four years, maybe do a few house parties, but
nothing serious. Heck, I doubt I'll even have time to practice for more than 5-6 hours a week as I'm climbing the
corporate ladder and am also busy learning some new programming languages. DJing is something I want to
learn but not something I plan to take all that seriously as I have a job and am happy with what i'm doing.

All in all, I just need a basic turntable and don't want to spend $500+ because I'm just doing it to learn the
basics for fun. Any suggestions? Would be find a package with the mixer included.

I was looking at some of the ones listed at turntable lab:

http://www.turntablelab.com/dj_equipmen ... op_sellers
http://www.turntablelab.com/dj_equipmen ... 83454.html
http://www.turntablelab.com/dj_equipmen ... 82624.html
http://www.turntablelab.com/dj_equipmen ... 82624.html

[Huts]

Find some used Technics, I got 1210 mk3's with flight cases and needles for 700$ used and I've had them for about 4 years with zero problems. As much as you want to cut a few hundred bucks off the price here or there, it'll benefit you to have Technics simply because they will last you forever (Dad still has his from 90's in great condition), they're easily serviceable on your own, and most important they have great resale value if you ever need to give up DJing or need some extra cash. These things haven't been the industry standard for the past 20+ years for no reason, hit up eBay or Craigslist and you can definitely find something in your price range (especially if you barter with people on Craigslist). You won't regret it

[amathew]

Find some used Technics, I got 1210 mk3's with flight cases and needles for 700$ used and I've had them for about 4 years with zero problems. As much as you want to cut a few hundred bucks off the price here or there, it'll benefit you to have Technics simply because they will last you forever (Dad still has his from 90's in great condition), they're easily serviceable on your own, and most important they have great resale value if you ever need to give up DJing or need some extra cash. These things haven't been the industry standard for the past 20+ years for no reason, hit up eBay or Craigslist and you can definitely find something in your price range (especially if you barter with people on Craigslist). You won't regret it

Thanks, but that's a lot for a turntable, especially when I'm planning to learn how to dj for recreational purposes.

[Teknicyde]

Okay, so the first link is a category...
The second link is numarks bottom end model, the iBattle, which are horrible, horrible when it comes to platter tremble...
the 3rd and 4th are the same basic deck? I tihnk those are 'usb turntables' like the kind you use to record your vinyl to computer for archiving... not even really meant for dj'ing.

Vinyl is very expensive man, IDK what to tell you, if you dont want to spend that much money, look into CDJ's, youll be able to find things that perform alot better for cheaper, but with analog gear, cheapness makes alot bigger a difference, and anything Id suggest as being worth learning on turntable wise is going to be out of your price range.

the thing is though, if you go out and buy cheap decks, your gonna realize what a big factor consistency of speed is in a turntables motor the first time you try to beatmatch and realize its impossible from drift.

That, or your gonna have preamps so cheap it sounds like you poured flour on your wax before you put it on.

[legend4ry]

Even for recreational purposes you'll get pissed off with anything else.


Eventually you'll wanna get a radio show or get offered a gig through a mate; turn up a club and play on 1210s or have some stupid technical with skipping or pitches moving easily from calibration with anything else unless you're buying another brand which is around the same price as technics.

Sorry this is just the reality; I had played on and have had my fair share of "budget" turn tables - they was all sheit.



p.s; I just wanted to DJ as a hobby too but once I found my feet I wanted to experience things outside of the bedroom. Even if you don't like DJing technics rarely go down in value (its usually regional prices which go up and down but you can sell for more or the same 90% of the time.

[AxeD]

I use Reloops at home, decent but it takes quite long to get the pitch right. Technics do a way better job.

Although I turned up at a night last week and their high priced shit didn't even work.

[krimson]

Shitty turntables will drive you insane. There's a reason people always jump on these threads and suggest to not buy anything other then tech 12's.

I'm among the many who ignored that advice when I first started and got some Numark tables. Not even the bottom end models, but some mid-priced, direct drive tables I expected to at least get the job done. Wrong. There was drift issues and every once in a while the platter would skip forward for a brief moment. it was enough to make mixing impossible, you couldn't keep 2 tracks in sync. I ended up taking them back to the store after 1-2 month's and had to eat some that cost and ended up forking out the money for Tech 12 mk5's in the end.

If you want something casual, consider a midi setup, or getting some cheap CDJ's.

[Refuzed]

with vinyl cheap ones will have drifitng problems. techs are the only way for vinyl.

as reccomnded before, try getting cdjs, theyre more in your price range

[lodestone]

with luck and time you can score techs for under $500. every few months i see a pair go for that price. this would be the best deal.

if you're looking for something as a just now go for stanton str-8-60s or 80s. they're direct drive and not super awful or expensive. the problem with buying cheap like this is if it turns out you really enjoy this you're going to be upgrading quickly. stanton decks at least hold some value as used items. yes, there will be some drift but on the plus you'll learn to ride the ptich, a light touch with vinyl, and switching to techs will feel like gold. avoid the numark battle pack, you'll just get pissed off.

[zillion]

I have to agree about the comments about technics they are the best but like you said they are a big investment especially for someone that only want to do it for a hobby....No point spending stupid amount of money on something that you aint going to use that often.....

Just get some cheap direct drives from your local second hand shop must be one close to you....Have a mess about and imo if you can mix on some bog standard decks you can mix on anything imo....I started on some crappy belt drive turntables that i picked up from my local charity shop after a long while i was quite confident on them got a few gigs out...jumped onto some technics and was like wow this is what ive been missing out on..sussed them out pretty quickly and was off..My mate on the other hand started off on some technics he came over had a little play on my bog standard decks and he couldnt mix on them at all..Got pissed of and left refusing to jump on anything but technics.....

Mixing is about having fun remember that!!!

[amathew]

I have to agree about the comments about technics they are the best but like you said they are a big investment especially for someone that only want to do it for a hobby....No point spending stupid amount of money on something that you aint going to use that often.....

Just get some cheap direct drives from your local second hand shop must be one close to you....Have a mess about and imo if you can mix on some bog standard decks you can mix on anything imo....I started on some crappy belt drive turntables that i picked up from my local charity shop after a long while i was quite confident on them got a few gigs out...jumped onto some technics and was like wow this is what ive been missing out on..sussed them out pretty quickly and was off..My mate on the other hand started off on some technics he came over had a little play on my bog standard decks and he couldnt mix on them at all..Got pissed of and left refusing to jump on anything but technics.....

Mixing is about having fun remember that!!!

Thanks for the input.
Yeah, it's something I'm doing just for fun because I like the music. I don't plan on playing clubs
or producing my own music. It's just something fun to learn because I like the music.

The reason I prefer turntables is because I have a large vinyl collection allready. I have a large
punk and hardcore vinyl collection, and started buying dnb and house 12"s over the past three
years. Overall, I prefer vinyl and I have quite a few records and would like to use them. And I'm buying more stuff
all the time, although I buy digital music also.

[Theo Void]

I have 2 Stanton STr8 30's are decent. I've been wanting to sell them

[B-Frank]

Don't let anyone here tell you that THE only turntables you can have are Technics. Bare in mind, Technics really are wicked pieces of kit.. But aslong as your not buying superbudget turntables. They will do a job. Honestly though, If your thinking of buying belt drive, don't buy anything. I'd rather spin vinyls on my fingers and hold a needle to them.

If your absolutely, 100 percent convinced Technics are not for you and you want something cheap. I have had a lot of experience with Numark TT200... Really solid (not Technics level solid, but solid nether-the-less). The pitch control is pretty accurate, infact, really accurate in fairness. Also the motor is the same torque as the Technics 1210 so if you do ever make the jump up to Technics (which I suggest) it won't take too long getting adjusted to the new "push off" when bringing in Vinyls. I've played out in pretty reasonable sized venues on a fairly substantial system with those decks a while back and they never let me down at all though I did buy some very expensive cartridges to help them through the experience.


...Though as an alternative... All the Vinyl purists (which I always considered myself) will disagree but you really are way better off getting CD decks now. I tried fighting the losing battle in keeping the Vinyl scene alive but it is just seriously not practical. First and foremost, your music collection is a damn site more portable, easier to amass and cheaper. Also I know you say your a non-serious DJ (what would probably change when you get the DJ'ing bug) every damn place I play out (excluding one bar that runs CDJ's/Turntables/Serato SL3) everywhere you turn up will have CDJ's only.

Sorry for the worlds longest post, didn't intend it to get this long... lol