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Digital DJing 101

If I were interested in learning to mix music on my laptop with MP3s and no prior experience in DJing or making music, what basic setup would you suggest to get me started ?
I wana learn to mix trance music in real time. And I dont want to spend on any hardware before I get some basic things working for me.
What softwares, websites would you recommend ?

Thanks

Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_M If I were interested in learning to mix music on my laptop with MP3s and no prior experience

please kill yourself...

Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_M If I were interested in learning to mix music on my laptop with MP3s and no prior experience in DJing or making music, what basic setup would you suggest to get me started ? I wana learn to mix trance music in real time. And I dont want to spend on any hardware before I get some basic things working for me. What softwares, websites would you recommend ? Thanks

Please ignore stupid comments.


I'd recommend starting off with something like Virtual DJ from Atomix. Just google it and you can dload a trial version to mess around with. I've heard Mixmeister is good too, as well as Traktor. Google all of those and try 'em out.

Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

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Originally posted by BOOsTER please kill yourself...

i disagree - its a good way to find out if you will like it, saving a little bit of cash

Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER please kill yourself...

In my opinion DJing is slowly but surely turning towards Digital music whether people like it or not!! And as digital music quality becomes better and better, it is only a matter of time before more and more DJs start making a switch from Vinyl.

Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by miamitranceman Please ignore stupid comments. I'd recommend starting off with something like Virtual DJ from Atomix. Just google it and you can dload a trial version to mess around with. I've heard Mixmeister is good too, as well as Traktor. Google all of those and try 'em out.

Yeah, in terms of easiness, Mixmeister is the best in my opinion. There's a ton of programs out there but I would say your best bet is 1 of these 3 programs that miami suggested.

Re: Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_M In my opinion DJing is slowly but surely turning towards Digital music whether people like it or not!! And as digital music quality becomes better and better, it is only a matter of time before more and more DJs start making a switch from Vinyl.

i thought djs now-a-days were already slowly moving away from vinyl

Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

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Originally posted by i got big pants i thought djs now-a-days were already slowly moving away from vinyl

No wai!!!!!!!

Watching a vinyl you've been waiting to get spin for the first time underneath a cart is sexy in a way digital can't touch. However, I can second the recommendation to try Virtual DJ. Before I got my decks I used it to make mix/comps of the singles that used to get posted here on TA. Good times.

Virtual DJ's a nice program to get started on - but don't get too used to the visual display. It'll do you more harm than good in the long run.

Traktor

Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER please kill yourself...

.... Keep rolling your eyes buddy... they aren't gonna stop the digital evolution of djing.

Re: Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

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Originally posted by J:\Digital .... Keep rolling your eyes buddy... they aren't gonna stop the digital evolution of djing.

I was trying to preserve the value of my vinyl.

I think trying out some cheap/free dj software is a great idea.
I couldnt afford decks when i was 12 so i just got some programs. It has given me alot more experience and iv spent lots of money on equipment and vinyl now because i know its want i want to do.

I have a question about timecoded vinyls which i think has been asnwered but i was searching on the forums and google and could not find the asnwer for it.

Can i use timecoded vinyls without a scratch amp? If i have the two stereo inputs and preamps can dj software like traktor (or any other) decode the timecoded vinyl?

whats up with yu all?

I am in no way helping someone who asks for magic software that can make them sound as good as

maybe my view on this topic and the poster is just wrong?

and btw Im a digital DJ myself...

Dude. the first thing i did was buy vertual DJ by Ejay or something like that. was really fun but too easy and the EQing was hard because you could only move one 'knob' at a time. then i got a demo of mixmeister and found a 'free copy' and mixed with that. got the basics of Beat matching and keying, then i bought some decks (vinyl). thought i'd do it all properly, they say if you can beat match on vinyl you can on anything

Well now im saving for a CDJ and a new mixer and loads of other stuff, too much really for a student.

Also CD's are cheap for songs that you want, but you cant beat a vinyl for those special songs that you fall in love with. They seem better? IMO

Re: Re: Digital DJing 101

quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER please kill yourself...

what an idiot...

quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER whats up with yu all? I am in no way helping someone who asks for magic software that can make them sound as good as maybe my view on this topic and the poster is just wrong? and btw Im a digital DJ myself...

Dude..I dont think you look at a DJ's skills of beat-matching if you know he's using a software. He does not require such skill anymore. The software automates such elements which are defined as "skills" for DJs who spins Vinyl. But it adds so much more functionality that you should define a Digital DJ's skills in a different way.

Nobody seems to suggest Ableton Live! Is it very difficult to learn ?

Ableton isn't difficult, but to use it to it's fullest takes a long time. There are many creative options that are possible with it.

If you are just using it to beatmatch automatically for you, that would be a shame.

It's also a totally different "way of thinking" about mixing (to some extent). If you want to learn the concepts of mixing with decks, another simpler package might be better.

Ableton is also around $300-400

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_M Nobody seems to suggest Ableton Live! Is it very difficult to learn ?

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_M Dude..I dont think you look at a DJ's skills of beat-matching if you know he's using a software. He does not require such skill anymore. The software automates such elements which are defined as "skills" for DJs who spins Vinyl. But it adds so much more functionality that you should define a Digital DJ's skills in a different way.

actually I didnt mean beatmatchi�ng, but no software can make your playlist great, or your performance great, there's many more things to DJing than beatmatch�ng on its own

I have been playing vinyl for quite some time. As I found myself liking PSY more and more I decided to get some CDJ's (or start saving up for some atleast). Now, I am NOT giving up vinyl as I have just collected to much over the years, and nothing beats digging for old and new gems in a record store. That being said, I was on the look out for something to emulate CDJ's as close as possible while I was saving.

I stumbled across traktor, and what a great piece of software. It looks like a CDJ setup and with a cheap SB LIVE card , I was able to have each deck plug into its own channel on my external mixer. All the functions of a CDJ and they actually work. I dont use the SYNC button as I dont think it makes the mixing exciting.

I "borrowed" the s/w , but found it very usefull and purchased it used from a friend.

I recommend checking it out.

Jay

P.S still saving for CDJ's

Thankyou guys for all your replies.

The easiest mixing software IMO is Mixmeister. Its graphical approach is more appealing to someone who's never mixed before. Tracktor is fine..but it appears that the controls are meant more for peope who've used Vinyls before and want to use the same familiar enviroment towards Digital DJing

One of the powerful, yet simple software to make music is Fruityloops. Very intuitive.

For mixing in real time, inspite of its complexity Ableton Live is the way to go! It's difficult to master, but it (or similar type of software) appears to be the future of Digital DJing. A very powerful integrated environment for making and mixing music!

Comments ?

yup yup...go for ableton...when you master it, its a beast and can do literally anything


good luck

Traktor and PCDJ FX are very good..

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