House / Electro Mixing - Beginner Setup?

[Stuen]

Hai guys,

I'm lookin to start DJing.. to be honest I really don't know much about it at all.. but I eventually want to get into making my own tracks.
I spoke to a friend of mine who's a DJ and he suggested I learn to mix before trying to make my own tracks, and that I start on a GEMINI CDM-3600.
I was having a look at those and noticed alot of the comments say that after a couple of months the unit will be too limited and I'll want to move onto better things..
Seeing as how I'm not made of money I don't want to be upgrading after like 2 months...
So I'd like to ask you guys what setup I would need/would be good?

Sorry if there's been like 10000 of these threads or its on the wrong place...

Thanks,
stuennn

[Skerik]

i learnt how to write music before i became a dj... there goes that dudes theory!

and you can buy something better than a Gemini too

dude, if you want to write some choons, then write some damn choons! There is sooo much software out the these days (hell, on this mac i have Garageband and thats free!) and if you team that up with a bit of youtube and forum reading, you'll be writing songs in no time!

[jakeWilliams]

i have a torq xponent midi controller for $600 if you want, only a few months old
great to start on

[v904]

I got a top of the line BCF-2000, I'll sell it to ya for only $1,299 :D

[jamesparker]

mate if i were you i would at least learn up a bit about dj'ing. watch some mates, have a go on their equipment, read about it watch stuff on youtube etc. that way you can at least get a fair idea on whether you actually want to do it or not. that way your not investing $2000 - $3000 on equipment that you wont use. its a big investment man so its a good idea to really be sure especially if you dont have coin to throw around. my best advice for learning is to WATCH internationals etc and how they mix. you will be suprised at how much you can learn just by watching.

[Stuen]

i have a torq xponent midi controller for $600 if you want, only a few months old
great to start on

incl. postage to melb? :D

Thanks for the feedback.. Keep the suggestions coming? :D

I would start making tunes but I wanna use cubase really.. and I figure I should learn the ropes before I get into the complicated stuff. (had a look at cubase the other day and I have nfi what any of the buttons do)
So that's why im lookin into this..

Where/on what did you all start?

[jamesparker]

man all DAW's will seem really overwhelming to begin with. start with the basics like step sequencing. look at the basic format for constructing music e.g 4/4 etc. dont rush in and expect to be making class A tunes within a week cause it takes time. work on the basics like drum loops and stuff to start off then you can start looking at how to work with VST's and stuff. check out magazines like computer music and the likes, also check out youtube for your respective DAW and watch the tutorials on there, they can be really helpful for beginners. take it slowly mate good things come to those who wait.

[jakeWilliams]

nahhh not including postage mate, but i can only imagine its what like 20 or 30 dollars, it cant be too much, its a pretty lightweight unit
it will save you from making the same mistake i did, spending 300 dollars on a bcd3000, then shortly after realising this was limiting my sets, then spending 950 on the xponent.

[DJBT]

incl. postage to melb? :D

Thanks for the feedback.. Keep the suggestions coming? :D

I would start making tunes but I wanna use cubase really.. and I figure I should learn the ropes before I get into the complicated stuff. (had a look at cubase the other day and I have nfi what any of the buttons do)
So that's why im lookin into this..

Where/on what did you all start?

just use what is good and comfortable to use dont forget that the is an abundance of software out there including fruity loops studio, ableton etc etc, if i were you i wouldnt narrow my ideas onto cubase as the combinaations are endless

as for DJ'ing download the trial version of Virtual DJ and have a play around with that, will give you 20 days of playing round b4 it expires but that will give you an idea if you keep wanting to do it.(btw this is how i started out), after this i went and bought a cheap midi controller form Jaycar
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AM4250&keywords=DJ&form=KEYWORD

after about 2 months on that messing round i jumped into real decks and a mixer.

hope this helps

[Stuen]

Yeah i've been using virtual DJ recently thats what made me think maybe I should start out thru DJing (that, and my friend said thats how he started)

[jakeWilliams]

haha yeah thats exactly how i started

[DJBT]

Yeah i've been using virtual DJ recently thats what made me think maybe I should start out thru DJing (that, and my friend said thats how he started)

yeah thats basically it, just if your spending a heap of time on it each day then i would say do it go buy some decks, but if your struggeling to find the motivation then my suggestion is to drop it.

[Treason]

2 x Technics 1200's and a DJM400 will do you good mate.

Get Traktor Duo as well so you can use mp3's if you cbf buying wax.

[Stuen]

2 x Technics 1200's and a DJM400 will do you good mate.

Get Traktor Duo as well so you can use mp3's if you cbf buying wax.

Idk if you're serious, but those are out of my price range for now. :)

[Stuen]

I really would love to learn on vinyl though..

[Grandmaster Ash]

http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=7880&product_id=1320635

If you want to learn on vinyl you could get a package like this, cheap as chips and if you learn to mix on these you will find 1200's a peice of piss....

[richcur]

Personally, I'd send a pm to "funkedub"... he'll set you right first go

[Funkedub]

nice one mr curtis ... that landed me an honest PM enquiry from the lad :lol:

Stuen : take your time ... collect music ... listen to it ... buy more music ... keep on listening. Eventually get some kit that works for you and keep at it purely for the love of music.


richcur: clearly you're enamoured by me ... that's cool, you're only human ... look forward to your next offering

[Stuen]

:/ make me feel like a bit of a dick now... on the internet

[draz]

buy a numark dxm06 mixer to start off with, ill sell you mine, $150 :) 8 months old

[ayampanggang]

if you want to write music then get the tools for writing and producing music. learning to mix just adds to the burden especially if you don't like it. just do what you want to do.

[KRI50E]

writin choons and dj'ing are pretty much completely different i would however recommend to dj before you write choons as you will get a good understanding of percussional patterns and arrangement which inturn will aid your ability to write your own shit... hav a look at some electronic music production courses at JMC, SAE or tafe and you will get a way better understanding of what is actually involved in making proper tracks.....get some basic cdjs and put some time into it and you will be able to mix pretty well in a short while. also dw that you look at a daw and not know what the fuck to do...no one has just jumped on one and completely self taught themselves to produce music most are similar ableton reason cubase, logic..learn one of them and you will understand most of them the only thing different is the interface and some features.... though it is a good idea to choose one and follow it and know it back to front it will help with your workflow

[Funkedub]

^^^

I tend to think along the lines that studying and practising music leads you to being a better DJ rather than learning DJing making you a better muso/producer.

[kieren]

^^^ Yeah i'm with you Funkdub,
If you want to produce, don't become a DJ because somone told you too, it won't help you produce music at all, there is a hugely different mindset for producing your music and pl;aying music for other people!