New to DJing or production? Need help or advice? Post here

ianuss · 04-01-2012 9:55pm

badboyz33 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Im reasonably new to the DJing world, and trying to get the hang of it all.

I have basic knowledge and understanding through the use of Virtual DJ through the use of a keyboard, HOWWWEEVVEERRRR, i want to get a lil controller that can allow me to scratch, mix, and get a genuine feel for what its like using decks etc.

Im on a tight budget, because incase it dont fall through, i wouldn't have wanted to waste big bucks.

I am considering the Mixtrack pro, read a few reviews and it seems cool.

Any ideas?

I want it to be able to play through my speakers @ home (3.5mm jack) and i want to be able to hear whats going to come next through one ear and the audience can hear through the other. can this do this? will i need other gadgets to plug in...does anyone have any ideas?

Please bear in mind the budget lol

All thoughts and feedback is Much appreciated.

Az.x

What's your budget?

badboyz33 · 04-01-2012 10:08pm

ianuss wrote: »

What's your budget?

around £170-£200 mark. tight i kno but i am also a student lol.

Its to connect to my laptop.

ianuss · 04-01-2012 10:19pm

badboyz33 wrote: »

around £170-£200 mark. tight i kno but i am also a student lol.

Its to connect to my laptop.

That's a decent budget for a controller if you'd consider 2nd hand. You'll never get an S4 or whatever that Pioneer thing is called. But the VCI is supposed to be a great little controller. I have an Xponent and it'd be fairly similar. The Xponent you can just plug in and play.....not too sure about the VCI but there are a few on here who have them and I'm sure they'd answer any questions you have.

Colm! · 04-01-2012 10:27pm

badboyz, the mixtrack pro at €200 will do all that and more but you may want to buy one or two cables alongside it.

If your speakers don't take RCA (red\white cable) you'll need a RCA -> 3.5 cable

.

Also, your headphones need to have a standard jack output, if it just does 3.5 you'll need a 3.5 -> jack adaptor

Thomann.de will do all that, it's where I bought mine, and it'll come with a version of Virtual DJ (the free one doesn't support controllers or some sound cards)

milltown · 04-01-2012 10:32pm

The VCI will need a seperate soundcard. You might pick up a VCI for 200 blips second hand but you'd be looking at another 50+ for a sound card. Keep an eye out for a Hercules RMX in the small ads. They're built rock solid and have the sound built in and tend to go a bit cheaper than the VCIs.
Realistically, you can forget about scratching using a midi controller. It's hard to understand without seeing and hearing it, just how much a relatively small amount of latency can affect your hand to ear co-ordination.

My advice would be to buy a better controller second hand. If or when you need to sell it, it's still worth close to what you bought it for. Not so if you buy new.

karl bracken · 05-01-2012 10:07am

Im in the same boat about controllers, DJ'n ten years with 1210s but have no clue about USB DJ controllers.

I just need them for pub gigs and to plug into the pub sound system, no major mixing required just keep it tidy.

From what i have seen the mixtrack and hercules RMX are fairly similar with people saying the hercules has beter build quality and the mixtrack is laid out better for effects & loops and has bigger jog wheels but lacks an internal soundcard.
The hercules uses buttons to select tracks in virtual DJ and the mixtrack uses a knob and a back button which seams a better system

It dosent bother me spending an extra 50 quid or whatever on a soundcard i just want the best controller.

Has anyone experience with both what do you think?

Im not familiar with external sound cards so is this what i need to plug into the pub PA and to mix through the headphones properly with one deck going to the speakers and the other to the headphones?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/numark_mixtrack_pro.htm 189 euro
http://www.thomann.de/gb/numark_dj_io_audio_interface.htm 87 euro

http://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_dj_console_rmx.htm 185 euro

On htfr.co.uk you can get the mixtrack with the Numark DJ IO interface, im assuming this interface is what will be needed to connect to the existing pub system?

http://www.htfr.com/p/378247/numark_mixtrack_numark_dj_io_audio_interface_free_vinyl_recording_software 195 sterling

Thanks in advance

badboyz33 · 05-01-2012 7:16pm

thanks for the feedback.

Im kind of swaying towards the Hercules RMX,

Does anyone know if it has a built in sound card? and if i will be able to plug headphones straight into the controller and hear the opposite deck? or will i need a sound card for that function?

Colm! · 05-01-2012 7:55pm

Avoid the standard Mixtrack; The mixtrack pro has the IO card built in and it's cheaper than buying it separately. It also has practically the same layout. I prefer the Mixtrack Pro to the RMX for track selection etc. but it the RMX definitely smaller and more portable.

The RMX also has a sound card built in, sp the RMX and the Mixtrack Pro are pretty much on the same level on that front. Both of them output through RCA (red\white cables) which would probably suit pubs.

You could also get this budget option http://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_dj_control_mp3_e2.htm and a separate sound card for something similar to the RMX at a lower price

karl bracken · 05-01-2012 11:59pm

Cheers Colm,

So the RCA out on the back of the Pro can be used as say the Master on a normal mixer, i dont need to connect each RCA on the Mixtrack Pro to a seperate channel on a mixer?
Im assuming that i connect one RCA on the Mixtrack Pro to the pub system and then the mixer (if thats what you call the crossfader and the 2 volumes lol) on the Mixtrack Pro will take over.

What is the point in the link in my post above to Hard To Find Records that have it bumdled with the Numark IO DJ interface is this just a better soundcard or is it even a sound card!?

Colm! · 06-01-2012 12:12am

That depends on the mixer and if it has an RCA input. The mixtrack pro doesn't come with cables (other than USB) so I'd invest in RCA-RCA and RCA-jack cables. Some mixers let you use two jacks for stereo, some mixers have direct stereo RCA inputs and some mixers you're going to have to use two channels panned left and right.

I don't know what's common in pubs.

I don't understand the point of that bundle, because the built-in soundcard with the MTP is exactly the same as the Numark IO.

karl bracken · 06-01-2012 12:38am

from that bundle i assumed it had no soundcard, it does seam a bit pointless unless there's jack connections instead of RCA on the IO, sure a few cables like u suggested or some connectors would be a much cheaper option.

milltown · 06-01-2012 6:05pm

http://www.adverts.ie/dj-mixers/hercules-rmx-dj-console/1224901

RMX on Adverts for €150

karl bracken · 07-01-2012 7:34am

Thanks for that but im looking for it new

tony smit · 11-01-2012 7:51pm

hey, i m wondering what player a DJ would use to mix his songs and adjust audio settings!
just got myself a nice set up setup lately, juut looking for a good Audio Player for my computer that would alloy me to do a bit of djying and would also allow me to change audio settings.
all i got so far is the good all windows media player, havent been able to find anything better

dyer · 12-01-2012 2:22am

i use foobar for my aural porn

but if you want to do a bit of software dj'ing .. have a go at Mixxx .. its free.

@badboyz33

as long as you have a soundcard that supports 4 channels (or even 5.1) you should be fine. i used to own a vestax vci-100 and swear by it, built rock solid, aluminium casing and solid knobs etc, the platters are pretty sweet too.. even if you need to fork out a few extra quid for an external soundcard if your onboard doesnt provide. there are plenty of mappings on djtechtools as well just make sure you get one with the newest firmware. you can pick up a traktor audio dj 2 for about 90 quid or less these days. ive heard good things about the Xponent too, except that its a bit plasticy (but does include a soundcard) .. the difference between the vestax and other controllers is that it doesnt feel like a toy.

tony smit · 12-01-2012 2:59am

thanks man! that seems like a great software for hrs of fun :P
ye i be ok for the soundcard it s a 7.1 soundblaster, fairly basic but ll do! got the computer connected into an amplifier as well, all i needed was a decent software to start from somewhere!
i say i ll give the two of those a go!
thanks for the link!

Colm! · 12-01-2012 6:55pm

tony smit wrote: »

hey, i m wondering what player a DJ would use to mix his songs and adjust audio settings!
just got myself a nice set up setup lately, juut looking for a good Audio Player for my computer that would alloy me to do a bit of djying and would also allow me to change audio settings.
all i got so far is the good all windows media player, havent been able to find anything better

Well, if you're looking to DJ, you'd want software designed for mixing, like Mixxx, VirtualDJ (they have a free edition), Traktor or Serato DJ Intro. I like winamp for just playing playlists though

Lumbo · 14-01-2012 11:33am

Lads, I've a question on harmonic mixing. I'm going into Beatport and finding out the key of the mix. How do I know when it's Sharp or flat and what does # mean (I'm assuming it's sharp or flat)?

I've tried google and there's two much information but no specific answer and I'm not even sure if I want to utilise harmonic mixing.

Thanks in advance.

Colm! · 14-01-2012 1:34pm

# is sharp. Flat is usually something that looks like b

Nolanger · 15-01-2012 8:06pm

Why are some 12" dance vinyl record singles made to be played at 33⅓ instead of 45 rpm?

Omega28 · 16-01-2012 12:07pm

what is phrase mixing/matching?

thanks

ianuss · 16-01-2012 10:47pm

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Colm! · 16-01-2012 11:06pm

Dylanmc111 wrote: »

what is phrase mixing/matching?

thanks

A phrase is a sequence of bars. A bar is a sequence of beats.
Like, a phrase would be the intro\outro\verse\breakdown section(s)\chorus.

If you started mixing in the middle of a phrase, it'd sound bad. Phrase mixing means lining up the start of two phrases together to get a seamless track-to-track fade.

ianuss wrote: »

Why do bad things happen to good people?

they request Skrillex

Omega28 · 17-01-2012 12:55pm

so would most DJ's phrase mix?

Also, how would u know there's a change in phrase

what other forms of mixing is there?

dyer · 17-01-2012 1:06pm

a lot of tracks (techno, house anyway) are constructed in phrases.. eg, an intro could be 16 bars (4 phrases) a verse with 4 phrases, a chorus with 2 phrases and so forth (however this is open to artistic interpretation and just a guideline).. you can tell the start of a new phrase most of the time because a new instrument has been introduced.. like the hat or snare in the first verse. you can count phrases on a 4/4 beat by going 1234 2234 3234 4234..rinse and repeat.. youd drop your track on the first beat of the phrase obviously and start to mix out.

there are different ways to mix.. some people stick with the above, some people drop tracks, some people use effects and loops, some people use harmonic mixing, some use all of the above.. ive found that the more tracks and varied the genres you play, you kind of need a bit of everything.. its good to practice

milltown · 17-01-2012 1:17pm

Videos explaining tune structure pretty well here:

http://www.recess.co.uk/html/beats_bars.html

Omega28 · 17-01-2012 1:39pm

so 4 beats to a bar, a phrase is 4 bars, right or wrong?

a phrase is when a new instrument is brought in on the first beat of the new phrase? example, vocals?

I have another question, what is a down beat? what are build ups? and when is the correct time to use effects?

thanks for your help. there stupid questions I know, sorry.

dyer · 17-01-2012 2:26pm

so 4 beats to a bar, a phrase is 4 bars, right or wrong?

correct.

a phrase is when a new instrument is brought in on the first beat of the new phrase? example, vocals?

the link posted above should cover all of your questions here.

what is a down beat? what are build ups? and when is the correct time to use effects?

a down beat is typically the first beat in a bar. if you tap your foot along to the beat.. whenever your foot taps the floor is also a downbeat.

eg, v = kick, ^ = snare

v ^ v ^ v ^ v

you can see the snare would be playing on the upbeat.

build ups.. after a breakdown where the track slows down.. and then builds up again before kicking back in.

when is the correct time to use effects?

that's really up to you.. as long as youre listening to the track and applying your effects 'in time' with whats happening in the song you should be okay. the more you understand what each effect actually does, the more creative license you have to use them as a tool to enhance your mix as opposed to just pressing buttons.

Omega28 · 17-01-2012 11:09pm

thanks all for your help

question, you know how your suppose to start the incoming track on the first beat, but what if the song doesn't start with a kick? say it starts with a clap or a hat? what do I do there?

thanks

milltown · 18-01-2012 12:31pm

You could either figure out where the hat/snare/clap is in the 1.2.3.4 structure or, better bet, cue it up to the first downbeat of the next bar or phrase and start from there.
Once you get used to listening to the beats/bars/phrases structure of tunes you'll get an ear for it and you'll find you won't need to count from beat 1 to get your bearings. After that it's a case of practicing as much as possible to know where best to mix in and out of the tunes in your collection.

New to DJing or production? Need help or advice? Post here

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