Switching from midi controller to timecodes. Downsides?

Move_Ment

Basically iv been bedroom djing for a over a year now with a hercules steel midi controller and audio 2 dj soundcard running on traktor pro. Im looking to start playing in clubs this year and was initially looking at getting a better midi controller. Now lately iv seen a bit of talk on here about DVS timecode setups and thinking that might be a better option. Some great producers such as deadboy are throwing some great exclusively vinyl releases and I'd love to play them along side mp3's in a set..

So couple of questions.

Anyone have experience setting up traktor/serato in clubs in dublin? ie is it easy or prone to problems...especially for somebody with no previous experience in clubs. Are most clubs even kitted out with turntables?

Pretty tight for cash so probably going for traktor scratch duo (currently half price) and a behringer ddm 4000 for the mo. Doubt i can afford technics for a few months so any recommendations on cheap second hand turntables to get me started? Looking at numarks or stantons.

Sounds much more exciting than digital djing tbh...what are people's views?

VinylJunkie

You can pick up Technics fairly cheap second hand on adverts, also them DDM4000 are up there every week for dirt cheap.

You wont get gigs because of the equipment you use.

Move_Ment

Cheers yeah been keeping an eye on adverts alright, but really cant stretch much further than 200-250 for turntables at the moment.

VinylJunkie wrote: »

You wont get gigs because of the equipment you use.

Understand that, actually been offered gigs already so its not really a problem about getting them, more so that i fancy a better setup and wondering what my best option is, and also if timecodes will limit me at gigs.

brianc27

Anyone have experience setting up traktor/serato in clubs in dublin?

I used serato for a few years and never had any issues personally but i have seen people have a complete nightmare with it, now that was about 3/4 years ago when the whole DVS thing really took of, the software is probably a lot better and stable now, can be a pain setting up when another dj is playing, i used to try get into were ever i was playing early and set everything up, as i didnt like getting in the way of someone trying to play, you'll never have any issues with it in your house, no ever does really.

ive gone back to decks myself and cross graded from traktor pro to traktor stratch and will probably use it eventually, i could see myself playing with it in a club no problem.

Are most clubs even kitted out with turntables?

ive never been to a club and not seen turntables.

Pretty tight for cash so probably going for traktor scratch duo (currently half price) and a behringer ddm 4000 for the mo. Doubt i can afford technics for a few months so any recommendations on cheap second hand turntables to get me started? Looking at numarks or stantons.

seen an update on facebook from aquarius sound saying traktor is sold out all over europe and NI will not be selling it again until the new version comes out after christmas.

as for decks, ive heard people talk about the stanton STR8-150 as just as good as the technics, probbaly not as robust though, thats just what ive heard people say over the years, you cab proba get a decent set of 2nd hand technics for the price of a set of new stantons, go for the 2nd hand technics if you can.

Move_Ment

Thanks, pretty much everything i needed to know - think im gonna go for it now. Was looking on ebay and there are still a few traktor scratches available, just a little more pricey than it would of been last week with thomann etc.

tman

Move_Ment wrote: »

and also if timecodes will limit me at gigs.

I'd say yes, but I'm sure many will say no.
The major limiting factor as far as I'm concerned is that the majority of clubs I've been to haven't had vinyl decks at all. This might just be particular to the scene I'm into, so I'd advise on taking a long and hard look at the club nights you'll be playing at before going down this route!

Was at a night recently and one guy insisted on playing a vinyl set (they'd flown him over from Spain for a once off comeback type thing), so they had to wheel the decks in at 4am and had no end of problems after that - he just about managed to play a set, but the poor guy who came on after him and tried to use the CDJs had a nightmare of a time! 10 minutes of no sound kind of ruins the flow of a night!

electrogrimey

I've don't think I've ever seen a club without Technics. If they're not in the booth, which is rare, 99% of the time they're just put away somewhere and they'll get them if you ask.

BigDaddyCan

electrogrimey wrote: »

I've don't think I've ever seen a club without Technics. If they're not in the booth, which is rare, 99% of the time they're just put away somewhere and they'll get them if you ask.

this is certainly not the case in Cork...

electrogrimey

BigDaddyCan wrote: »

this is certainly not the case in Cork...

Fair enough, never DJ'd in Cork.

You guys should sort that shit out then mate

BigDaddyCan

electrogrimey wrote: »

Fair enough, never DJ'd in Cork.

You guys should sort that shit out then mate

ya its weird, 90% of clubs would have CDJ 1000s and a couple of clubs have the 2000s but i can only think of a handful that have turntables

a very common problem I have aswell is booths being designed around the preface of the DJ only using CDs, ive often had to put my midi controller atop a CDJ etc, it can be very annoying at times!