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-- Your cd mixing experience
Your cd mixing experience
Oh boy, here come the flames. n00b and asking about CDs/CDJs in a new thread. Flame if you must, but here's the deal: I've read all the CDJ threads here that I can find. I've Googled until I can't read any more. I've read review after review and thread after thread. What I've read simply hasn't contained the material I seek. If you will humor me, what I'd like is your personal experience mixing using CDs on any kind of CD player, especially if you first learned on vinyl.
I've personally been mixing just as a hobby for about 4 months. I'm cutting my teeth on a pair of Numark TT1625s. When you are married with kids, you buy what your budget allows. I want to add a CD player by the end of the year, but I first want to have an idea of what the actual mixing experience is like from a tactile perspective.
For example, if I choose a Pioneer CDJ-200 (which seems to be a solid, entry-level work horse), how is the jog dial feel relative to controlling a vinyl record. Does a small push on the dial only skip a beat or so ahead? Or will I be in the next bar? Would something with a "vinyl" mode be more intuitive to someone who can already mix vinyl? What differences do I need to expect when making the transition to the digital age? Keep in mind that I only mix as a hobby and that I prefer epic/melodic trance (just got Robert Nickson - Spiral and Airbase - Escape on vinyl today). Thanks and flame away!
the cdj200 is awsome! using the jog dial on a pioneer model cd player is sooooooo nice
the dial is very accurate, as in, if you move it very slowly and a small ammount it is like using the spindle to correct the beat match. a quick 2cm movement is like pushing the label forward or back moderately..
unless its a scratching cdj then you cannot backspin or really speed the track up loads with the dial.. but its as east, if not easier than playing on vinyl..
i have no experience with others other than the numark buget ones and they are really awful compaired. the dials just didnt seam user friendly.
I've never touched vinyl, but I got a pair of CDJ200s a few weeks ago and I must say the 'feel' of it is pretty intuitive. Even if you're already used to something else, it shouldn't take you too long to get used to the platter.
CDJ200s are probably a bit easier to use than what you're used to right now.
i was in the same boat as u are.... i had been using stanton str8-100 turntables and they were pretty bad so i began using my buddys technics.... then for my bday i decided to buy the Denon DN-S3500.. yes i am aware that the go for $700 opposed to $400 for the CDJ-200s but i love my denons... the platter spins like vinyl, and u can go into pitch bending mode... where a slight push on the platter corrects the beats just like pitch bending on technics... so i love the dns3500... yes they are a bit pricey, so its up to you what u can afford in the end...
I've DJ'd using Tech's for close to 3 years now. I sold all my gear about 9 months ago as I had assumed I was going to quit DJing. However, just this past week I picked up a set of the CDJ200's, and from my limited time on them, They are very easy to get use to, if not easier than I thought. I'm finding that I am actually able to beatmatch quicker for some odd reason. As mentioned, with the CDJ200 there is not any scratching capabilities. However, if you are mixing melodic trance that really shouldn't be an issue. You can scroll thru a track pretty quick (not quite as fast a say, an 800/1000) with the 200's when you pause the track and spin the jog dial.
IMO it won't be a problem getting use to using the CDJ200's if that is what you end up purchasing. I love my pair
Thanks for the replies so far, guys. They make me feel more confident about eventually adding a CD player of some type. Tonight was one of those nights where the beat matching took a little more work than normal. But that's okay. That usually means my next two practice sessions will go more smoothly. I wish I had a local shop where I could try a CDJ, but the closest store would be at least a 2 hour drive.
is it possible to turn off the auto bpm counter on the cdj 200?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by generic is it possible to turn off the auto bpm counter on the cdj 200? |
I started with vinyl and used it for 3 years. When I started I had 2x1200 MK5's and maybe a year later I added my first CDJ 1000 MK2. Then about 6 months ago I decided that it was time to switch to almost all CD's because of the ability to purchase WAV's and that it was much more economical. So at this point I now have 2x1200 MK5's and 2xCDJ1000 MK2's. Now I may be flamed for what I'm about to say but here goes nothing... A few weeks ago I realized that I like spinning CD's way more than using vinyl and I was having way more fun using the CDJ's. Not to mention my spending on music dropped dramatically while still aquiring the same amount of music if not more.
I've used the CDJ 200's a few times at gigs and I didn't like them very much compared to the 1000's because of the jog wheel. But that's because I'm used to vinyl mode on the 1000's and I like to cue up my tracks as if they were vinyl.
the platter feels nothing like a vinyl. it looks like how it feels, if that helps you out. like plastic. if you're competent on mixing with vinyl, mixing with cdj's should be even easier.
That's good to hear. My main concern isjust how intuitive it is to switch to CDJs. My fear is that I spent all this time learning to beat match using vinyl, and then I switch to CDJs and I trainwreck all the time, thus having wasted a few hundred on a piece of technology I can't effectively use. Of course I took an equal chance when I purchased my decks, because other than listening to tons of mix CDs, I never had any experience mixing. Now, six months later, I'm doing better than I ever imagined. I guess I should just save the money, buy a CDJ, try it, and STFU.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Zoso That's good to hear. My main concern isjust how intuitive it is to switch to CDJs. My fear is that I spent all this time learning to beat match using vinyl, and then I switch to CDJs and I trainwreck all the time, thus having wasted a few hundred on a piece of technology I can't effectively use. Of course I took an equal chance when I purchased my decks, because other than listening to tons of mix CDs, I never had any experience mixing. Now, six months later, I'm doing better than I ever imagined. I guess I should just save the money, buy a CDJ, try it, and STFU. |
if you've learned on vinyl and still want that "feel," the newer pioneer decks are the way to go
obviously, the 1000's and 800's have a more realistic feel, but i like the feel of the dial on the 200 as a substitute
now, when i talk about feel, i'm saying it's like dragging your fingers lightly on the platter to slow it or pushing lightly to speed it up, the amount of force you'd use is similar
i'd first look to upgrade your TTs to tech 12's
learn to walk before you run
master your technique on vinyl then transfer your skills to cd, it'll make the switch easier and smoother
or you can disregard what i just said and buy a cdj-1000, add it to your exsisting setup, maybe sell your 2 TTs and buy one tech 12, it'll force you to learn on both, maybe make you better in the long run
thoughts?
i've only recently come to embrace the CD turntable concept in the past 4 months or so after 5 years on vinyl. I used to only spin a couple tracks on CD per night (4.5 solo at the club where I reside) but since about New Years Eve, I've been dropping quite a few tracks per week (8-10) due to having downloaded a number of tracks that I've ordered on vinyl that I just can't wait to arrive in order the play them.
I used to be real shaky on CD's at first (Denon 5000's and 3000's are really all I've ever used), but the past few months I've gotten used to the feel of matching on the Denon 3000 we have at the club, and I can almost match a CD as fast as vinyl now.
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