DJing Question: Traktor, CDJ-350 + Mixer

JonDavies

JonDavies

JonDavies

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70
Hi,

Im buying 2x CDJ-350s which are MIDI compatible. Now at the moment im going for the very budget Numark M1USB mixer, with the vision to upgrade and also buy the new traktor Audio8 controller later on this year.

Now what I want to know is, for the time being before i buy the audio8 controller, how much control I can get with the M1 mixer.

So, i'll have my mixer connected to my speakers & cdjs, whilst the cdjs also connected to my laptop.

Will it just be like mixing normally without software with regards to the M1 mixer and just using Traktor to control the music playback via the CDJs?

Thanks, JD
 
evanswolves82 said:
Are the CDJs a must? for the price of what youll be paying for the DJs and mixer you can get yourself a damn good DJController
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This. Don't waste your money on the CDJs & Mixer.

Laptop + DJ software (Serato and Ableton are also worth looking at) + decent controller is all you need.
 
Well I have read bad reviews on controllers as well as the fact you could be replacing the whole thing if something breaks.

Also, in the furture I'd like to upgrade the mixer. So, I've kinda made my mind up in that respect. I just think separate equipment is much more versatile??
 
Craig R said:
This. Don't waste your money on the CDJs & Mixer.

Laptop + DJ software (Serato and Ableton are also worth looking at) + decent controller is all you need.
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OK. So i admit you guys have got me thinking now. Can you guys recommend any?

I've been drawn to the Denon DNMC6000. I don't like the fact you can't play CDs though. Doing a gig and your laptop crashing = bad news with no backup.
 
If you are using ableton i would get the Akai apc 40 or 20 they can be used for other software but you will have to man assign knobs and faders if not using ableton.:)
 
Spook187 said:
If you are using ableton i would get the Akai apc 40 or 20 they can be used for other software but you will have to man assign knobs and faders if not using ableton.:)
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Looks like a good bit of kit but its for production/live remixing?

I'm looking for Dj equipment that allows mixing of tracks.
 
I think your best bet is sticking with DJ related products, the Akai APC40 with Ableton is great for DJing but not to everyone's taste, and doesn't use your conventional method of having 2 virtual decks.
 
JonDavies said:
OK. So i admit you guys have got me thinking now. Can you guys recommend any?

I've been drawn to the Denon DNMC6000. I don't like the fact you can't play CDs though. Doing a gig and your laptop crashing = bad news with no backup.
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Pioneer DDJ-T1 vs Native Inst. Kontrol S4 vs Denon DN-MC6000 vs Xone DX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2TO9nvCgw0

all 4 are in your budget (i think)
 
JonDavies said:
OK. So i admit you guys have got me thinking now. Can you guys recommend any?

I've been drawn to the Denon DNMC6000. I don't like the fact you can't play CDs though. Doing a gig and your laptop crashing = bad news with no backup.
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Vestax VCM600
AKAI APC40

Faderfox if you're after something cheaper

If you are playing out at a club or bar they will/should have CD decks and a mixer already. You shouldn't have to take your own. If your laptop does crash just take a CD with you that you can stick in the club/bar's cd deck and play while you reboot.
 
I think you'd be best of sticking with what you've decided with the CDJs and mixer. It will be good kit to learn on and then when your skills get better you can upgrade your mixer. If you've got CDJs Traktor isn't as much of a necessity in my opinion as its not much effort to burn tunes to discs. The only reason I got Traktor was because I still use 1210s.

Have you considered looking at second hand equipment? I've had some bargains on Ebay in the past. Got all my decks from there and got my DJM600 about half price on there over 4 years ago, even picked up another 1210 not long ago for £100!
 
Street said:
I think you'd be best of sticking with what you've decided with the CDJs and mixer. It will be good kit to learn on and then when your skills get better you can upgrade your mixer. If you've got CDJs Traktor isn't as much of a necessity in my opinion as its not much effort to burn tunes to discs. The only reason I got Traktor was because I still use 1210s.
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Well I would love to get separate CDJs and mixer but come to the conclusion if im going to DJ with software then taking these guys advise and getting a decent DJ Controller would also do the job for much less £££

If I'm going to DJ in a club then they will have CDJs in which case im thinking of taking timecode cds with me along with my lappy + iface?

I've had a browse on Ebay but if I was going to get CDJ's it would be the 350's and there are no bargains at all on these. =/

What's your experience with DJ Controllers over CDJ & Mixer?
 
I bought a reloop Digital jockey 2 interface, was quite prices at £300, but it's awesome to use, the only gripe I've got with it is it came with an EU power adapter which is crap so I need to buy a new one, but the touch sensetive jogs which can be mapped to controlling effects, finding starting points, skipping etc.

Really well made controller.

I think DDJ is going to bethe next best thing considering all the effects and mods you can do which will drive it forward, especially with the new traktor.
 
Sinny said:
I bought a reloop Digital jockey 2 interface, was quite prices at £300, but it's awesome to use, the only gripe I've got with it is it came with an EU power adapter which is crap so I need to buy a new one, but the touch sensetive jogs which can be mapped to controlling effects, finding starting points, skipping etc.

Really well made controller.

I think DDJ is going to bethe next best thing considering all the effects and mods you can do which will drive it forward, especially with the new traktor.
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Is yours not USB powered aswell? I have a Digital Jockey 2 alongside Traktor and whilst it took some getting used to I really enjoy it now. I started on Vinyl, then CDJ's and now onto MP3 Controllers, overall I'd say I enjoy Vinyl the most in terms of learning.

But for practicability MP3 Mixers are so easy to carry your record collection around rather than a massive box of vinyl and you can do some cool tricks with Traktor once you get the hang of it. But be sure you can beat match before and not just let a program do it for you ;)

Sorry if this is offtopic but just a rant :p
 
right...

send the left deck in tracktor to output 1 of your computer then cable it to input 1 on whatever non usb or midi mixer you choose

send the right deck in tracktor to output 2 of your computer then cable it input 2 on whatever non midi or usb mixer you choose

connect the CDJs via midi so they control the decks in traktor, the mixer will mix the audio and send it to amps/heapdhones etc

then when you want to just dj with CDJs you just need to plug the cdjs into the inputs on the mixer instead



i really wouldnt bother with traktor AND cdjs though ,using a £xxx cdj just to control a deck in traktor is complete overkill. one or the other imo and for me it would be the CDJs

if you really want to use your laptop and software (why?)then for the price of a cdj you could buy 2 'proper' turntables and the price of the 2nd CDJ buy serato or similar , then you can use timecoded vinyls or cds however and wherever you please

anyway dont the 350s have a usb slot so you can just put your music on a stick ?

laptop is totally pointless in the CDJ situation
 
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CDJs vs midi contoller and laptop

JonDavies said:
Well I have read bad reviews on controllers as well as the fact you could be replacing the whole thing if something breaks.

Also, in the furture I'd like to upgrade the mixer. So, I've kinda made my mind up in that respect. I just think separate equipment is much more versatile??
Click to expand...

Hello Jon, I actually found this thread while looking for places to post an advert but i'll come to that in a bit!

I've been djing since 1998, first on technics (well actually Gemini DLP3s first), then CDJ's (up to the 1000 Mk2) and more recently using midi controllers and laptop. Personally I would say that the approach that will give you the most functionality, the most flexibility and the widest range of situations you can use it in is the compact laptop and controller set up. Decent laptop, small footprint soundcard and a good controller is easier to transport, easier to put away at home if you don't have a lot of room to use it in and means you can download tracks from online stores direct to your machine, put them through mixed in key if you want to use that software and then have them set up and playing within minutes.

As for durability, I have had my VCI-100 since 2006 and nothing has ever broken, ever. It has a solid case I bought for it and if it ever gets taken anywhere it travels in a safety bag, although I have only used my VCI-100 once at a party/gig.

If you use CDJ's with a laptop, you are adding the expense/requirement of one controller per deck you wish to control and an external mixer if you ever want to play off of CDs (it is worth noting here that most good DJing software now provides 4 decks, which kinda demands a controller rather than 4 cdjs!). A couple of years ago I would have said that if you want to play in clubs as a dj you should get cdj's as every club has them, but this is no longer the case, nearly every dj has a different set up they use so most clubs I have visited recently are able to make space for a dj with a controller and laptop, that is becoming the industry standard now, no standard at all!

Please do not sign up to the forums simply to advertise auctions/spam.
 
darryljames said:
Hello Jon, I actually found this thread while looking for places to post an advert but i'll come to that in a bit!

I've been djing since 1998, first on technics (well actually Gemini DLP3s first), then CDJ's (up to the 1000 Mk2) and more recently using midi controllers and laptop. Personally I would say that the approach that will give you the most functionality, the most flexibility and the widest range of situations you can use it in is the compact laptop and controller set up. Decent laptop, small footprint soundcard and a good controller is easier to transport, easier to put away at home if you don't have a lot of room to use it in and means you can download tracks from online stores direct to your machine, put them through mixed in key if you want to use that software and then have them set up and playing within minutes.

As for durability, I have had my VCI-100 since 2006 and nothing has ever broken, ever. It has a solid case I bought for it and if it ever gets taken anywhere it travels in a safety bag, although I have only used my VCI-100 once at a party/gig.

If you use CDJ's with a laptop, you are adding the expense/requirement of one controller per deck you wish to control and an external mixer if you ever want to play off of CDs (it is worth noting here that most good DJing software now provides 4 decks, which kinda demands a controller rather than 4 cdjs!). A couple of years ago I would have said that if you want to play in clubs as a dj you should get cdj's as every club has them, but this is no longer the case, nearly every dj has a different set up they use so most clubs I have visited recently are able to make space for a dj with a controller and laptop, that is becoming the industry standard now, no standard at all!

Please do not sign up to the forums simply to advertise auctions/spam.
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Well, I kinda thought that a bit of give and take was on the cards here, tried to give the op some useful information based on 10 years of experience and then introduced him to a sale of product that fits exactly what he is looking for. I wouldn't call that spam would you?

I made no secret that I am looking to sell product but thought I had gone about it in a nice way, by deleting my link to eBay you have essentially denied the op access to something that could completely fulfil his wishes, which is probably more of a slight against the op as a forum member than me as the seller, simply due to a forum rule which is usually set up to allow deletion of posts from people selling ripped off phones and iPads (well it is on the forum I moderate anyway).

That aside, I understand your stance and being unwilling to see the difference between quid pro quo and spam so hope you have a lovely day.
 
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Granted, I understand your take on it, however can't you see it from our point of view? A new member pops up and whilst there's plenty of useful information given, their first post is advertising and linking to an ebay listing. Not to mention that we have a Members Market for users to buy/sell computer related items too. I suggest you have a read of the FAQ.
 
Maccy said:
Granted, I understand your take on it, however can't you see it from our point of view? A new member pops up and whilst there's plenty of useful information given, their first post is advertising and linking to an ebay listing. Not to mention that we have a Members Market for users to buy/sell computer related items too. I suggest you have a read of the FAQ.
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Hey Maccy, maybe an apology first then, I didn't know there is a Members Market, my first pick up on this forum was from a google hit on this very thread, so sorry about that and I'll go check out the sales forum in a minute. I certainly do understand your take on it though, I mod a forum for surfers called MagicSeaweed, we did not have a regular moderator or sign up rules for a while and the place got spammed almost out of existence, now every new user has to have 5 posts approved before they can free-post, it keeps the spam off cause the spammers look for sites where there is already spam posted. It does keep the place tidy but it is a lot of effort!

Anyway, hopefully if the OP comes back with questions on this topic I can make myself more useful on a subject I do have lots of experience in! And then if he/she is interested I will share the link to my auction.

I see you are an ableton fan, do you like 80's pop? Got a mix over on Soundcloud i did using Ableton and Traktor if you would like the link? Bit OT for me as I usually play breaks and house but was fun to mix :)

Laters
dj
 
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