Beginner looking for good set up.

[Dj-cotties]

Im just starting out and need something decent to learn on, the hardest part is sorting the quality from the crap.

At the moment the shooping list consists of a dns5000, efx500 or 1000 (will probably add a cdj800mk2 at a later stage)

The sticking point is the mixer, im trying to get most bang for buck, also since im only new to this a beat counter is a must to help me learn, i have been considering a behringer djx700 but apparently quality of these comes down to a flip of a coin as to whether you get a reliable one or not and the bpm counter is about as accurate as a drunk man pissing, the next option is a cdm600, cant really find any bad feedback from most of the pioneer gear but for a mixer that will most likely only be used for fun at home its a little pricey.

So in essence what else would be recomended?

As i mentioned earlier this is my first set up and im doing it just for fun with no aspirations to be a globe trotting, world class dj, but at the same time i dont want to buy crap, that way if i get sick of it and want to sell everything i will get most of my money back.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Spectrum]

since im only new to this a beat counter is a must to help me learn,

You may discover you're mistaken there.

Beat Counters:
- Can tell you that Hardcore is faster than House, but can't tell you that Jungle is faster than Trip Hop.
- Can tell you the tracks are out of time when they're not, and not tell you which track is nudging ahead of the other.

The solution:
http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/237172_front200.jpg

http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/factsheets/families/F010074/images/ear.gif

http://acsweb.fmarion.edu/bridges/images/Hat.png

A bit of practice with listening and manipulating the beats yourself and you'll get the hang of it. :thumb:

[Funkedub]

get a basic 2 channel mixer ... 2nd hand


fuk the BPMs

screw the FX


learn how to DJ ...

[FH_Jimbob]

As has been said - BPM counters will be your enemy ATM.

Alot can also be said for using the search function on this forum. Wealth of information right at your fingertips...

And you definitely dont need an effects unit yet. One step at a time. Get beatmixing right first. No need for diddle-daddling until you got that down pat.

[DJ D one]

Just like you, I have seen a lot of negative comments on Behringer mixers...but really don't know much about them...so will have to trust the majority there.
I suggest a Numark DXm06 as it is really good value/feature ratio if you want to spare.
This model does not have BPM counters, but in any case the CD players will have them.
There is no bpm counter in the world that will always be right, because of the nature of music and rhythm. Most of the time they will give you a decent value, but don't be surprised if you find the perfect mix is happening while one is player is telling 127 and the other is saying 128. That is a mistake I have done while trying to learn beat matching. Then people like Spectrum and Bracko suggested not to bother with them, the second I did that, I was beat matching way better. Think about the old days when people only relied on turn tables with no bpm counters. People have lost their life relying on instrumentation…so I would trust my ears instead, you know the saying “something does not sound right” well, ears never let you down when it comes to music…isn’t it normal though…
As far as efx goes, there is no point in having all the mumbo jumbo, if you don’t know how to beat match, plus the dmx06 provides enough effect to keep you busy.

Good luck
DJD1

[Dj-cotties]

Thanks for everyones advice, as a result i have enquired about buying a second hand numark mixer, i have already made an offer on a efx500 so if it is accepted i will be true to my word and buy it, if not i will by pass an efx for now and just get the dns5000 and the numark.

I also promise to get some electrical tape and put it over the bpm counter on the dns5000 :P

Thanks again for your help.

[DSILVR]

Spend the EFX money on the CDJs and futher down the road get a EFX unit

[Dj-cotties]

At the moment it seems that everything is hard to get, i have pm'd a few ppl with the gear for sale but no one has replied in the last week or so, and untill i rack up 50 posts and 100 days i cant put up a WTD thread.

They say patience is a virtue but i dont believe them :)

[ekwipt]

i'd agree ^

Save your money on EFX, spend it on better cd players or better mixer

Or nice set of headphones or speakers

[dj oldfart]

Have you considered the serato option? If you already have a laptop it can be a quite effective option..:thumb: 2nd hand pair of technics 800-1000 2nd hand mixer 150-250 and serato 800. pretty similar to the dns 5000 +cdj800 +mixer option on pricing....;)

[Dj-cotties]

Nah dont have a lap top, could come and borrow yours tho, im from frankston too.

[saad]

should I buy serato, or a CDJ1000? I have a thread about it...

[dj oldfart]

Serato :thumb: it farkin rocks...one cdj will just make u wanna go out and buy another one :lol: On another note why would you buy a setup? When you can just suck up 2 a dj and use his gear?

[Dj-cotties]

One of the reasons why im going with the denon is the alpha track feature.

I work nigh shift, i dont think many ppl would appreciate me coming round at 5am on wednesday to use there gear :)

[ChemicalJames]

dns 3000 or dns 3500 or cdj 800

dns 5000 is a rip compared to 3000 for what u get.

[saad]

Serato :thumb: it farkin rocks...one cdj will just make u wanna go out and buy another one :lol: On another note why would you buy a setup? When you can just suck up 2 a dj and use his gear?

Its funny, cos Im like why should i buy a cd player, cos I use CD's, but I can just use the ones in the club? Its hard, i dunno

[dj oldfart]

meh u cant beat havin all ur own stuff at home. Makes it much easier 2 tell what goes with what etc. I honestly think that serato is the future, I am already goin in2 clubs that have no turntables...tis getting real common :~(

[saad]

Yeah it would be nice having 2 turntables, 2 cd players, Serato, at home, but where do u stop? I want an DJM800 at home, but do I need one? Probably not. And can I afford one atm? No. Maybe if i was earngin a couple of hundred, cash, a week from DJing, then yes, but till then, nope. Its hard, hard to decide what to get, and to prioritise

[dj oldfart]

yeah ur right it does come down to priorities, is an efx unit gonna improve your mixing....NO! Is having a four channel mixer gonna come in handy when u cant even mix 2 songs together....hmm prolly not. I just think the serato option is a great one if you have a laptop already as a pair of 2nd hand technics costs around the same as one dns 5000 and far less than a single cdj 800. Sure you still then have to buy serato but it still ends up being far cheaper than the cdj option..if u have a laptop. Alsos serato is very portable which makes it easy 2 take on gigs. Yes i do have a new lappy and new decks, pair of cdj's and a new 3 channel vestax mixer......am I happy??? Fuck yeah :P

[saad]

Well I reckon I'm not gonna buy a CDJ. Its a lot of money, and every club has them, and seriously, once you start playing out, how often do you practice at home? I woudl get i, play with it for 2 days, then hardly ever touch it.

Serato would be cool, but it seems like a lot of screwing around, even it seems very cool. I had a play on the Serato mixer today, it was unreal. But yeah, maybe just use CD's and Vinyl for now, and no need to have CD player at home, I reckon i could spend $1800 better elswhere. Like some decent headphones maybe.