Begginer DJ - advice on mp3 mixer please

[punchfaster]

Hi, I'm new here so cut me some slack if this has been done to death already (i used search and couldn't find anything specific though)

Basically i want to get into DJ'ing as my brother and some mates do (Dubstep) i have virtual DJ on my laptop and just wondering what the best mp3 mixer/external mixer for virtual DJ to get for starting off? no more than £150 ideally

It's all confusing to me as a complete nubie and I've moved away to uni so can't really go see mates for help

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[hassanova]

behringer bcd 3000 is pretty solid

http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Behringer-BC ... -3000.html

[punchfaster]

behringer bcd 3000 is pretty solid

http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Behringer-BC ... -3000.html

Thanks, yh that looks pretty sweet, shame it out of stock at the moment

I'm liking the look of that website as well

Are mixers like this difficult to set up to a laptop? like so i can use the mixer to control virtual dj?

Do i need to buy separate leads to connect to laptop? also on another forum somewhere somebody said some mixers you have to buy a seperate sound card or something for it to work? does that apply with this mixer?

Sorry for amount of questions but i'm completely new

[yooamatwa]

Keep your eyes on ebay for a Behringer DDM4000. its basically a standard mixer but every slider button etc is midi assignable so you can use it to control vDJ, then eventually if you need or want to buy some turntables you have a solid mixer too. Mate managed to get one for £160 a couple of months ago but the second hand market for them seems to be fluctuating alot....

[edit] Actually igonore me, the 4000 doesn't have jog shuttles so it would be a bit shit for the job, why not save up some money at get a torq exponent? http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR218677 [/edit]

[Pada]

Just get turntables mate. Seriously.

I wouldn't book anyone who's just rocking a pirated version of VDJ.

Vinyl, Serato, CDJs or at the very least Ableton Live rather than virtual DJ - if you go digital you have to have something to make you stand out IMO other than just beat matching and selection

[0rtg]

Just get turntables mate. Seriously.

I wouldn't book anyone who's just rocking a pirated version of VDJ.

Definitely, It's alright for learning the basic concept of how to phasematch / beatmatch, but laptop dj's FTL

[zillion]

Just get turntables mate. Seriously.

I wouldn't book anyone who's just rocking a pirated version of VDJ.

Definitely, It's alright for learning the basic concept of how to phasematch / beatmatch, but laptop dj's FTL

100% agree i dont mind listening to a rubbish dj if i can see there working hard to make it work on vinyl or cd's...

But the majority of the time there just a rubbish wana be dj who wont even use headphones, press the please sync for me button
as i call myself a dj but have no skill at all and download all there tracks from torrents...Nuff said.

[punchfaster]

Thanks for replies

I was also thinking about getting CDJ's but thought maybe just get an external mixer for VDJ to get a feel for it for now, then get CDJ's later. could i get a mixer that can be used for mp3/laptop and also for CDJ's?

What CDJ's would you recommend that are relatively cheap but good?

Also looked up that Ableton Live and i like the look of that, can it be used for mixing though like VDJ or Serato? or just for producing?

Thanks in advance

[gwa]

At your budget range? non.

Save some cash, you can get some technics 2nd hand for about 250-300. mixer and some speakers and serato and your laughing.

[punchfaster]

Ok, thanks everyone for helpful replies

I know what's going on my christmas list now lol

When i get going (wont be for a while) i'll update

[punchfaster]

Sorry guys another question lol

Gemini CDJ's

How do ya rate them?

More specifically - http://www.westenddj.co.uk/Product/GEMI ... /CDMP6000/

Pioneer's seem a little out of my price range TBH and these ^ seem alright to me

[Littlefoot]

behringer bcd 3000 is pretty solid

http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Behringer-BC ... -3000.html

Crashed about 600000000000000000000000000 times

got rid of it in like 2 weeks

glitchy, feels like a kids toy, piece of crap.

Avoid.

[gwa]

If you do decide to become a Midi DJ. Try the Numark Stealth (Or Omni for inbuilt soundcard), Vestax VCI-300 / VCI-100

[TRNSPLNT]

DONT but gemini. they are basically produced as a cheap as shit knock off as pioneers. they produce them to look aesthetically pleasing over function.

dont waste your money

[punchfaster]

DONT but gemini. they are basically produced as a cheap as shit knock off as pioneers. they produce them to look aesthetically pleasing over function.

dont waste your money

Thanks for heads up

How about these -

http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Numark-ARC-3 ... -ARC3.html

&

http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Numark-DM305 ... Mixer.html

These look OK to me (but i don't really know much)

Trying to keep the cost as low as possible, but don't want something shit

Thanks for help so far

[darkmatter]

Being an MP3 DJ makes a lot of sense at university, I don't agree with the 'buy decks' comments.

You have limited space in halls, then you move house once a year for three years. Why lug decks and records around everywhere?

I've just spent £500 on moving all my decks, vinyl and speakers in and out of storage cos I didn't have a house sorted for a couple of months. Gave me a chance to start learning Traktor and Torq and I know I'll never look back.

Just get really good on VDJ/Torq/Traktor and you'll be able to do things with loops and samples and effects that other DJs can't do with vinyl.

The Vestax VCM100 looks good. M-audo Xponent looks good but a bit more expensive.

Alternatively you can use something like the EKS XP5 along with a normal mixer, as the XP5s have soundcards built in.

To get these things working with your computer you'll just need a soundcard with MIDI input and ASIO drivers.

[deamonds]

my advice is dont buy one, carry on saving & buy some 1210's.

[tminus]

my advice is dont buy one, carry on saving & buy some 1210's.

as was said above...if your looking to become a dj in clubs or at parties...laptop dj's are a bore. Bedroom dj's have at it. But tbh it's all about decks...IMO

[darkmatter]

My mates saw Daedalus the other day, a few said it restored their faith in dance music. He was playing off a midi controller that lets you sequence samples with a visually interesting interface:



People like seeing something different and everyone uses decks these days, nowt wrong with going down a different avenue imo.

If you started with computer DJing on Torq or Traktor and progressed to using the mad looping and effects possible on an Eks Otus (which has far more visual appeal than a technics 1210 i reckon, as well as being able to wave your hands about to control effects) I'd bet the crowd would love it.

If you simply do what every vinyl DJ does but using a computer, obviously that's boring cos the skill and visual appeal is gone.

Dubstep and DNB seem far more loyal to vinyl than other scenes, bet you'd get a very different response if you asked this question on a techno forum.

Just make sure you're buying all your tunes legally!

[tminus]

a pic of said midi device.

good advice btw (above me)