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Gemini?
Is it true about Gemini equipment, i've read that its a good budget and lasting make, its ideal for started and will do quite a lot until you upgrade.
What do you guys think of the XL300 TT?
Re: Gemini?
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| Originally posted by JKBlaze Is it true about Gemini equipment, i've read that its a good budget and lasting make, its ideal for started and will do quite a lot until you upgrade. What do you guys think of the XL300 TT? |
xl 300s are direct drives. but the torque on them is stupidly low. i would describe them as 'twitchy.'
they dont hold a beat anywhere near as good as some of the big name tables. but i assume if you can mix on these you can mix on anything.
not sure exactly where you heard that about stuff about gemini jkblaze, but the people i know who are into their DJing are not at all keen on their stuff.
I see their selling the TT-02 gemini decks for $100, that must be the cheapest direct drive tt there is(I think it could be a total piece of shit though, they say it's for scratching, and it weights 5kg). I haven't seen the tt 03 or 04 for sale yet.
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| Originally posted by Derivative xl 300s are direct drives. but the torque on them is stupidly low. i would describe them as 'twitchy.' |
Well at the moment im unemployed and pretty young, i want to start at an early age as you can grow up onto it. Im not wanting to do it to be the next big thign but for soemthign to do in this boring little town. after ive made sales of a few things i might have a budget of �400 for everythign to start up, yeah sure it may not be a lot but it can actually get me started. The XL300 i found i can get with a decent mixer for �340 ina package that allows me to get 10-12 vinyl to start with, hopefully i can get my name down for a job which will keep my vinyl growing and hopefully in a year or so upgrade my equipment. Someone with the XL300 tables told me that they were OK, they last with the soudn of it, if you guys can suggest any other decks i can get with a mixer, headphones, cartridges + slipmats, other stuff if needed for example cables for �340 the other �60 will be for soem vinyl. Pleas emake a suggestion as after christmas im hoping i'll have this budget.
one of my friend's setup was done on a budget. he had stanton str8-30s (�130 each) and those are the decks i learned on. torque isnt huge so the platter does accelerate up ever so slightly when you cue off. you cant do direct stops and starts (cuz of the acceleration) but you wont be able to do this with any budget deck anyway. but slowing a record down and speeding it up using the platter is logical and it felt comfortable when i was starting out. theres a dip on the pitch control right on the zero and this is annoying to mix around cuz the pitch control is very sensitive around the 0.
you can rest your finger on the platter and hold it there to bring a record right down to the speed you want it, or push the record along to speed it up. i found i couldnt do this with the geminis. i couldnt do it with techs either though so im probably not the best person to ask.
the xl300s i found a bit twitchy. i could rest my finger on the platter and it wouldnt seem to slow the record down but then it would suddenly dip, quite alarmingly cuz the motor isnt very powerful. i found i had to keep touching it. sort of patting/tapping my finger on the platter then twist the spindle if i slowed it down too much. you can definitely get used to doing this. but i didnt like it. both these decks also dont hold pitch as well as the higher torque decks although tbh if you get the pitch matched spot on (and it has to be spot on) you can leave it for the duration of a typical track and it wont really go out badly enough that it cant be saved with a tiny twist of the spindle. if you plan on leaving songs in the mix for a long time time though, several minutes, then you'll have to deal with the fact that the pitch will begin to wander.
resell value on both those decks is not so good though so make sure the ones you are gonna buy are ones you are gonna stick with for a while.
resting my index finger on the platter of technics 1200s didnt seem to do anything (cuz of the high torque motor). i found you had to slow down the platter so that the song audibly dipped before it would make any significant change in the speed of the record. techs hold pitch very well though and when you cue a record off it doesnt seem to accelerate up to speed. cueing records just feels a bit better. once a record is beatmatched, you cue it off. bang. its in. it stays in.
although numark TT-500s are quite a bit more expensive than the stantons and geminis, (�220 each) they seem to be quite popular if you cant afford some of the heavy weights like the techs and vestaxs. high torque. interchangeable tone arm and variable pitch settings. they look pretty nifty too. i cant really comment on them but some peeps around here should have them. maybe they can tell you what they are like. also, i just noticed on decks.co.uk that there is a cheaper TT-200 for �175. i dont know how they stack up against the stantons but its probably worth checking them out. as with anything you plan on using for years to come. TRY them out before you buy them. if you know someone with decks, get a couple hours of praccy in beforehand and march down to a retailer and demo all of them.
there will be some people who recommend technics 1200mkIIs straight away. they are hugely expensive. �400 per deck as new. industry standard. the thing is, techs, like all decks have a particular weighting and feel to them. 99% of clubs will have these on the premises so if you plan on playing out, you will eventually have to learn on these anyway which is one reason why they get recommended so much. techs also have the added bonus of having a high resell value as long as you look after them. so if you do spend a grand on decks and realise its not your calling in life a year later, you can sell them on for not much less than you bought them for. i do feel however that DJing, as an performance art is being held back by this deck, cuz alot of DJs work to the limitations of this tool when they should be pushing their own limits. feature wise the vestax pdx2000 pisses all over techs and they are cheaper but you are still looking at �350.
if you are on a strict budget and particularly in light of your unemployed status (i know the feeling 
), dont even consider these unless you find a bargain on ebay (and i *stress*) from a reputable seller. and for the lvoe of god dont get bidding fever and bid more than you can afford (which is easier than you think :O). it may be worth checking on ebay periodically for some bargains though.
mixer wise. vestax pcv 180 is a keeper although you'll have to shell out �190 to start with. i also hear nothing but good things about ecler's s mac pro 20 and pro 30. i know the pro 20 is about �180. the pro 30 is the 3 channel varient of the pro 20 (which is 2 channel). my friends budget setup started with a gemini ps540i. costs about �80. its functional. you get punch buttons which are useful when you are starting out to quickly just check if a record is off and its a nice way of cutting a song in if you are club handed with a crossfader. 3 band EQ so you can learn the art that is equalisation. and kills to complete cut frequency ranges although i found those a bit gimmicky. later on, he moved up to a second hand pioneer djm500 which goes brand new for around �480. he got it for �300. i felt it was slightly overpriced although the build quality is MUCH better than the ps540i. the channel faders have this lovely resistance to them which makes them really fun to THWACK and they feel satisfying to play. has an effects unit which is...well fun if you havent heard dedicated rackmount effects. if you have, you will realise the effects on the pioneer are gimmicky and just...shit. its got a digital out though (the real deal - optical aes/ebu digital out, not the coaxial S/PDIF which alot of cheaper mixers have) so provided you have a recording system capable of taking advantage of high bitrate recordings you can make your own better than cd quality mixtapes. which is great fun although you can lose your life getting into all this stuff. good luck on finding a decent starter rig. im sure other people will help you cuz im not really well up on these things. if you ever decide to throw your life away in dance music production, send me a PM and ill gladly give you a list of stuff to buy which will turn you into a hermit for the next 10 years.
I have the Gemini PT2100's. And I think they are great for budget decks, I am actually upgrading within the week though. So mine will be going up for sale. 
They have worked perfectly for me and I haven't had any problems with them. I would stay away from any XL model. the PT-2100 and 2400 are excellent TTs, The PDT6000 I don't really took off like Gemini thought it would with is Tempo and Pitch control. The new series look like they will be sweet, but pricey
do they sell the pt 2400s anymore? i never see them. were they above or below xl 300 in the gemini range? i take it they were below the pdt6000s?
well offer him a good price and give em a good home!
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| Originally posted by Derivative do they sell the pt 2400s anymore? i never see them. were they above or below xl 300 in the gemini range? i take it they were below the pdt6000s? well offer him a good price and give em a good home! |
give em a good new home digital. it would be the right thing to do
you reckon they could fit into blaze's budget?
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| Originally posted by Derivative give em a good new home digital. it would be the right thing to do you reckon they could fit into blaze's budget? |
he said it was about �400. somewhere above that ridiculously long post by errr...me. i never used to post essays on forums before i did an english degree. now its just annoying.
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| Originally posted by Derivative he said it was about �400. somewhere above that ridiculously long post by errr...me. i never used to post essays on forums before i did an english degree. now its just annoying. |
Well ill have about a budget of �340 for my equipment, its actually pretty cheap. I would have �400 but iw ant to atleats get 10 Vinyl, been looking at the decks.co.uk package again. Would you recommend the Gemini PS540i as a good budget mixer that will last then, also what would you say about the Gemini TT02 Tables? http://www.decks.co.uk/products/pac...r/BIY_beginners guys have a look on there, tell me what you think would last and also be good to learn on, dont exceed the budget of �340 though.
i think those TT-02s look sexy but if they were anything like the xl-300s i, personally would be a little reluctant to part with �260 for the pair seeing as the stanton str8-30s were the same price. i would advise you demo them before you buy them if possible. if you are still convinced aftering sizing them against the competition then go for it! the important thing is you feel comfortable using them and that they are fun to use. the rest comes naturally and with practice. otherwise theres not really much point.
EDIT: that gemini mixer was fairly solid aside from the faders. the faders felt flimsy but should stand up to everyday wear. i only mention this because i seriously got used to mixing on my mate's djm500 which has silky smooth faders. since then i admit, any lesser mixer just hasnt felt right 
The 540i mixer is decent, I have (don't use) the PS676Pro2 mixer. and it was rather good for a gemini mixer. never had any problems with it.
I could sell you my whole set up. Gemini TT's (the 2100's, with out cartridges) and the mixer for $450Cdn plus shipping. so convert that to what it is in pounds. 
if you are interested. you should have enuf for records after.
about �300 that. shipping across the atlantic is expensive though. also the weight of 2 turntables will put the shipping up.
also. check with customs seisures. you have to declare all items with customs and they impose a 17% import duty on consumer electronics. this goes for buying first hand products in the states from the uk. i dont know about second hand stuff. you could quite easily declare it as something else to try to get around it. not sure if it would work.
i mention this because i bought my delta 1010 soundcard from the states. �250. absolute bargain i thought. �400 in the uk.
this is the extra i had to pay to get it over here and working:
delivery: �30
import duty: �65
step up transformer + adaptor so i could plug it into uk mains. cost: �35
total: �380. not far off the full uk price.
so you can really get burned by customs and international shipping + mains power differences between the states and the uk if you dont think it through 
You guys are offering soem deals, i would love to take them as i atleats plan to get a job to earn money to upgrade unles si blow it on vinyl, in about that time id have an upgraded set maybe SL1210s. I just hope i sell my ps2 and that, i wont atleast have a budget until after christmas though.
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| Originally posted by Derivative about �300 that. shipping across the atlantic is expensive though. also the weight of 2 turntables will put the shipping up. also. check with customs seisures. you have to declare all items with customs and they impose a 17% import duty on consumer electronics. this goes for buying first hand products in the states from the uk. i dont know about second hand stuff. you could quite easily declare it as something else to try to get around it. not sure if it would work. i mention this because i bought my delta 1010 soundcard from the states. �250. absolute bargain i thought. �400 in the uk. this is the extra i had to pay to get it over here and working: delivery: �30 import duty: �65 step up transformer + adaptor so i could plug it into uk mains. cost: �35 total: �380. not far off the full uk price. so you can really get burned by customs and international shipping + mains power differences between the states and the uk if you dont think it through |
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| I work for a Logistics company, and I handle shipments all over the place on a daily basis. So I should be able to come up with a cheap shipping rate, and get all the products cleared through customs fairly cheap. |
that �100 or so that i could have saved would have been useful to say the least :O
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| Originally posted by Derivative why couldnt that ebay seller i bought the delta off have worked for a logistics company?! that �100 or so that i could have saved would have been useful to say the least :O |
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| Originally posted by Derivative i think those TT-02s look sexy but if they were anything like the xl-300s i, personally would be a little reluctant to part with �260 for |
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| Originally posted by Gunyouken �260 ... Why do they cost so much?? Here they cost under �100, �85 to be more exact. Maybe they made a mistake here, cause they are the cheapest direct drive tables at the place I saw them. |
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| �260 ... Why do they cost so much?? Here they cost under �100, �85 to be more exact. Maybe they made a mistake here, cause they are the cheapest direct drive tables at the place I saw them. |
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