Whats your opinion about DJing with CDs only? Advice?

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-- Whats your opinion about DJing with CDs only? Advice?

Posted by sp1nm0nkey on Sep-05-2003 01:11:

Whats your opinion about DJing with CDs only? Advice?

Well, I'd like to get started in DJing, but I'm on a budget. I have no vinyl, but I do have lots of CDs and a CD burner. Anyway, what kind of DJing can you do with CDs? What is your opinion about DJing with CDs? What is a good setup to get started with? Is there a device to simulate hand cueing and/or scratching with CDs? Thanks in advance!

Posted by DR86 on Sep-05-2003 01:15:

Well, plenty of people on the board will have you believe that CD dj'ing is the cheap and easy way out. I know your problem tho. As a matter of fact, I just got done ordering my first set-up, and this is what I went with.

2 Numark Axis 9's
Behringer DJX 700 Mixer
pioneer hdj-1000 headfones
2 community mvp35 2 way 15'' speakers
1 crown xls602 amp.

Im on a pretty tight budget, so i went between some wholesalers on Ebay and djmart.com, thru DJ Tranz. He's on the boards and can give you good advice on what to buy.
I don't think that CD dj'ing is the easy way out, but you should refer to the sticky at the top of the forum about Cd vs. vinyl.

You can DJ with CD's the same way you do with vinyl. of course there are some minor differences because of the type of media, but that's as far as that goes. About scratching...the big name decks (i.e. the Axis 9's, Denon S5000, pioneer cdj-1000/1000mk2, etc.) have a scratch feature on them where you can manipulate the cd the way you would a vinyl.

Hope that helps for now. if you have any other questions, come them coming!

Posted by Zack Roth on Sep-06-2003 18:16:

There's nothing wrogn with using CDs at all. Thats exactly what I started out with. When I decided to take up DJing, I knew it was something I wanted to take seriously. I figured I'd get TT's eventually, but my first goal was to get cd decks. I went with dual cd decks...Pioneer's CMX3000($750), which I absolutely loved. I had them before I even had a mixer, and all I did was practice beat-matching....not much else you can do without a mixer. Then a week or two later I got my mixer...Denon dx400($339), which I also love to death. Then a few days later I bought my headphones...Sony 600's($79), and got to work. I few weeks later I bought my first Technics($400), then a few weeks later another one($400). I actually ran into some problems with my cd decks, kind of a freak water accident actually. But I sent them back and paid the difference between the CDJ1000MK2($250). This whole time I had been buying records online. A few weeks ago I was in NYC, and I saw a Denon S5000 for $650, so I bought it. I absolutely hated it, so I sold it on Ebay and am considering what to buy next, another CDJ1000, or maybe the 800. Not sure. But, basically I bought it all piece by piece. I would siggest getting dual cd decks, as they are cheaper than two table tops, and they have the same functions. But go with something quality. Denon makes cheaper ones, as does Numark, they all have scratch capabilities. If you go the dual cd deck route, definitely get a 199 inch mixer so you can mount both pieces into a slant rack or something. It's really convenient.

Posted by Dzokayi on Sep-06-2003 19:07:

If you can rock the house....

You can rock the house.... makes no difference what medium you use.

Posted by RobertRollie on Sep-06-2003 19:13:

cd decks are for girls

Posted by Vert on Sep-06-2003 20:05:

This post, and the majority of your other posts I've noticed are TROLLING.

es

Posted by sp1nm0nkey on Sep-07-2003 05:38:

Thanks for the responses, and I don't mean to Troll at all. Is there any other way to ask this question, because if there is, I'd like to hear about it. Quite frankley, anyone who flames in the first place is an idiot...

Once again, thanks a bunch!

Posted by cryo on Sep-07-2003 06:16:

Re: If you can rock the house....

quote:
Originally posted by Dzokayi
You can rock the house.... makes no difference what medium you use.

yea

Posted by montie on Sep-07-2003 07:04:

quote:
Originally posted by sp1nm0nkey
Thanks for the responses, and I don't mean to Troll at all. Is there any other way to ask this question, because if there is, I'd like to hear about it. Quite frankley, anyone who flames in the first place is an idiot...

Once again, thanks a bunch!

i don't know what trolling is, but whatever dude.
you gotta question so ask it. peeps get uptight about stupid shit..

anyway, I've always been a fan of learning to DJ first on turntables then picking up a CD deck later on.
being able to spin is like the most fundamental skill of a DJ.
if you can spin on turntables you can spin on CD's no sweat.
i always think its better to spin a track on vinyl than CD. i like the feel of it alot more, and you tend to get better quality with a vinyl (altho vinyls wear over time and their sound quality degrades the more you play them, and CD decks really have the same feel of a turntable plus you can record loops to play to play and do effects to give you more diversity and room in your mixs).
but really it doesn't matter that much. most clubs you go to now will have pionteer cdj1000's or maybe now the new technic cd decks.

so go with whatever will make economic sense to you. if you choose CDs. don't sell yourself short. buy pioneer CDJ 1000's (at the very least the CDJ800's) or Denon S5000's (those would be my choice). they will set you back alot more than two turntables and two needles, but you will never have to buy records.

a little word of warning tho. i've spun at and been to many house parties and all i find at those parties are turntables. i've been too quite a few raves and all you will see is turntables. most clubs will have both CD tables and turntables tho, but you will have alot harder of a time finding a spot at a club, than at someone's (or a friend's) house party.

Posted by Vert on Sep-07-2003 07:06:

Posted by djshan on Sep-07-2003 09:12:

quote:
Originally posted by RobertRollie
cd decks are for girls

stay in school buddy, and keep dreaming......... peace!

Posted by sp1nm0nkey on Sep-07-2003 19:36:

I wasen't calling one who calls someone a troller a flamer, oh just forget it... This is getting recursive...

The main thing here is money for me. I'm 13 and I'd like to get started DJing earley. If I could get started for 500 or less (Including music) I'd be happy. I've already got a bunch of good music on cds, so I'd rather use CDs. I could buy vinyl, but thats just more money to spend...

Posted by cryo on Sep-07-2003 20:50:

yeah since your young, on a tight budget, and you already have music on cds why not just start there. it makes more sense than buying TTs and not have any vinyl for awhile.
better start with something small and work up.
besides you can get TTs later.

Posted by DR86 on Sep-07-2003 22:03:

quote:
Originally posted by sp1nm0nkey
I wasen't calling one who calls someone a troller a flamer, oh just forget it... This is getting recursive...

The main thing here is money for me. I'm 13 and I'd like to get started DJing earley. If I could get started for 500 or less (Including music) I'd be happy. I've already got a bunch of good music on cds, so I'd rather use CDs. I could buy vinyl, but thats just more money to spend...

with only 500 bucks it would probably be best if you start off with a dual cd deck and hone your skills on that and then expand when you get more money.

Posted by sp1nm0nkey on Sep-07-2003 23:44:

Whats the difference between the CDJ1000s, the CDJ800s, and the CDJ100s? If I can cue and scratch with the CDJ100s, mabye thats all I need.

EDIT: Also, what are some good CHEEP duel CD decks?

Posted by DR86 on Sep-08-2003 00:59:

you cant scratch on the cdj 800's or 100's

Posted by ChavezHype on Sep-08-2003 01:12:

quote:
Originally posted by DrummeRaver86
you cant scratch on the cdj 800's or 100's

nah man... im sure you can scratch with the cdj 800s, its just everything below the 800s that you can't scratch on... just check any site. I'm not 100% sure obviously cause i've never tried them but im like 99% sure you can.

Posted by DR86 on Sep-08-2003 01:25:

nope, no scratching on cdj-800.

Posted by dknylady on Sep-08-2003 03:53:

quote:
Originally posted by RobertRollie
cd decks are for girls

ahahahah!

i'm a girl and i spin (and have always spun!) vinyl!

anway, my opinion, is that it's completely personal opinion vs. budget. you can spin vinyl w/ a tight budget. it's going to cost you more in the long run , with vinyl of course, but in the long run, it's actually more satisfying than being a cd dj. plus, you get more respect for being a vinyl dj. (no offense to cd djs). most djs spin both cds and vinyl. you will not learn vinyl by not having your own dex, trust me...so it might be beneficial for you to begin w/ vinyl, and learn cd later.

cd dj'ing is easier , also. but cds just dont' have that...feel or soul that records do... plus if you are so concerned w/ scratching ( i guess you are gonna spin hip hop or d&b, something like that?) then vinyl would be your thing.

Posted by ChavezHype on Sep-08-2003 03:59:

i totally agree and plus...
you CAN scratch with a cdj-800 i just checked it out. Its got the same jog-wheel as the cdj-1000, theres a button you push on it that says "VINYL" (for vinyl emulation) and you can put your hand on the platter and scratch, just like a cdj-1000.
Just check pioneerprodj.com and any site with any info regarding them.
These decks are one step below the cdj-1000s which the denons compete directly against.
If you want to scratch "at all" with a cdj you should go for any of the vinyl emulating cd decks out there.
But vinyl is still your go-to medium for turntablin'.

Posted by sp1nm0nkey on Sep-08-2003 05:53:

Hey, thanks a ton for the help. I guess vinyl is the way to go. Stanson makes their "scratch" kit for 500 something dollars, is that a good buy? Also, where is a good place to buy hi-nrg/hard club/hard trance records? Thanks again for the help!

Posted by montie on Sep-08-2003 06:08:

CDJ 100's are much different than the CDJ800's 1000's and denon s5000's

the CDJ800's 1000's and denon s5000's are digital turntables.
that means they have a platter that moves around like a turntable and you can use them just like a turntable.

the CDJ100's jsut have a jog well. which means you can't scan the track like a turntable (moving the platter around over each beat and such). it jsut helps you jog forward and backward to set a cue point to start the song.

i originaly thought i was gonna pick one of these up, but i tried them out and i found out the suck. you can get the job done on them, but i'd rather save up and get real CD TT

Posted by TwiloThunder on Sep-08-2003 11:46:

There's demonstration videos on the Pioneer website of a guy scratching with a CDJ800.

Regarding CDJ's I have no problem with people using 100% cdj's. As long as you and the crowd are getting into it why not.

Edit: Only the SN5000 has a moving platter at this stage, the cdj800 and cdj1000 do not. However you can control the platter on all three as if you were touching the vinyl on a regular turntable.