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The art of mixing cheaply (too many options; not enough money)
Hello everone! I'm the FNG and this is my first thread/post/thingy (I suppose there is a place elsewhere I should have said "hi" to everyone, I'll do that next). This is probably a bit of a broad question, but one I've really been struggling with so I'll try to narrow it down. I'm currently a bedroom DJ(like everyone else in this world)and I'm wanting to make mixes and burn them to cd's. I learned how to spin on technics 1200 MK2's turntables and my beloved vestax mixer, but I up and left colorado and all my equipment is still there. For reasons I dont need to bore you with, that equipment isnt redily available to me, so I wish to buy some "starting anew" equipment to get back into mixing. Problem is, I'm also a "starving" DJ, so my budget is very (VERY) limited. Government work, you know.
So, heres my current plan that I hope will be picked apart by the great minds of the masses on this forum:
1. Buy a dual CD/mixer combo (probably a gemini CDM500, since it's so freakin' cheap),
2. Get some overly expensive headphones (I can't ever go too cheap on headpones), and
3. A CD recorder.
Does this sound like a good setup to do bedroom dj'ing "lite"? Does anyone have any other recommendations for economy CDJ'ing? I realize most will probably groan at the Gemini cd/mixer combo, but even if it's a peice, it's still 199 bucks.
Also, I've found that CD recorders are annoying, stupidly, and in all other ways overpriced. Drives me crazy that they add 180 dollars to a product because it has a "record" and "stop" button. Would it be a better idea to just spend money on a decent soundcard (to attach to my ancient computer) and record music that way, instead of a CD recorder?
I appreciate anyone/everyone for helping some newb they never met on this dilemma.
most people in the forum are going to reply with the statement "you get what you pay for"
as for the cd recording issue, i bought a soundcard for around the same price that has rca inputs. to me it's a lot more economical in the sense that not only can i record from that, but it has so many other inputs for different sources so it ends up giving you a lot more bang for your buck, rather than just having a device that you can just hit record and stop and that's it.
JD8180 - Yeah, I figured that would be a response. And I realize that. But I also have to think that I could setup a fairly cheap DJ mixing/recording station. I'm not even looking at production or anything. Just beatmatching with MP3's and or CD's, and the ability to record it.
T-Soma - I checked that out, but wouldn't I need Traktor studio for that to work? My computer is literally a peice of crap, and I'm hesitiant to buy something that may or may not work in conjunction with it. I guess I'm more oldschool, I've been trying to avoid actually using programs like Traktor (although I have); I guess what I prefer is to use my hands and ears, not my eyes to make the music.
So basically what I've been told here is save up money until I'm old, fat and bald, and buy some fancy DJ equipment, or force myself to jump on the new-wave wagon and use the @#$^ computer??
| quote: |
| Originally posted by KERAM So basically what I've been told here is save up money until I'm old, fat and bald, and buy some fancy DJ equipment, or force myself to jump on the new-wave wagon and use the @#$^ computer?? |
you don't exactly have to go all out and buy top of the line equip.. and maybe you can try looking into buying stuff second hand? (i don't know if that's safe to do with dj equip or not).
that would be the cheapest thing to do
Okay, sorry for the negativity. Yeah, I've thought about the whole second-hand thing too, but if the equipment was treated in any way like I treated mine at clubs/bars/parties, then no, it probably wouldn't be a wise investment. I'm surprised any of my stuff still worked after getting rained on, ashed on, beer spilled on, dropped, kicked, bumped, twirled (okay, well maybe not twirled).
And actually I plan on going to get my stuff in CO, I guess I could have explained that better. But, and I doubt anyone can deny it, it is a million times easier and cheaper to get music online than it is on vinyl. So I guess the truth is, I want to start spinning MP3's/CD wave files but I dont want to spend a bazillion to do it.
Anyway, you've been helpful. Thanks a bunch mate(s)!
I have the Numark CDN25, which is a dual unit for cds and absolutely love it. The way I see it, your equipment is going to last as long as you take care of it. Higher end equipment is obviously going to sound better and be built better as well but it is also going to take a lot more abuse since that is what you will usually find in a club. For a home system, stick with your budget. Not to mention, when you are playing out on better equipment it will help you appreciate it more, in my opinion.
You could try mixing 100% digitally ie: Virtual DJ, or route Abelton to a cheap mixer.
The cheapest setup that you would probably want will cost $600 at least. I doubt that a CD deck/mixer combo is a wise purchase. If one of the components breaks - the whole thing becomes useless. Just save up a little dough and buy 2 denon s1000 decks and a second hand mixer of some sort. I bought my mixer brand new for $180 (numark DXM06)
If you go digital you can....
Get Live LE. $199 http://www.ableton.com/live-le
Get a BCR2000 for $129 or an M-Audio X-sessio pro.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHBCR2000
cheap soundcard, like echo indigo dj
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ECHINDIGODJ
You're all set, and you're not buying crap
My votes are for Traktor and Ableton Live LE. They will enable you to mix perfectly on your existing computer (preferrably laptop). You may need to buy a separate USB or FireWire sound card, but they don't cost much either.
An amazing sound card + software combo can be had for $300-350.
Why not get Torq Conectiv, and a MIDI controller for now... then when you get your decks back you'll have something you can still use with them (DVS).
Don't buy a CD recorder... It's pointless. Either get a HD recorder or an audio interface with good preamps
I agree, a CD recorder is not useful enough to buy it. Unless you're taping radio shows every week there is no need to get it.
pirated version of traktor, a $20 soundcard with multiple outs, and a mixer?
Thanks for all the posts guys. You rock. This is what I think I've arrived at:
Behringing BCD3000 + Traktor (pirated which I already have..er..um just kidding) + new soundcard. That sounds like the cheapest (but not crappiest) way to go.
Plus, going completely digital is just too huge a step for me...I have to be able to actually physically touch nobs/faders/controls/switches...pointing a clicking too much drives me crazy and takes the feel out of it all (for me, at least).
Ableton looks like it's delving too much into music production -- I'm not sure if that's a step I'm ready to take. Plus I dont know crap about music production (I doubt playing the guitar counts).
Get yourself onto Ableton, it's cheaper than any other methods. It's the future, too.
Isn't ableton a complex program for music production? Can it act as a simple little song mixer? I.e. could you use Ableton on a laptop at a club and play song after song beatmatched that is not your own?
Exactly that, you can produce and play out - that is partly why it's so good.
If you've not tried it I'd definately encourage a try at least 
DONT get a BCD, it sucks, I have not seen anything positive.
And i dont think you know what ableton is until you use it but oh well your choice.
If I were you, I'd forget the BCD3000 and get a decent 2-channel mixer hardware mixer instead. You don't need a MIDI controller for traktor if you have an external mixer and set up hotkeys since you'll be doing most your mixing on the hardware mixer...
Myself, I use traktor with a DJM3000 and a USB numeric keypad mounted on the mixer to control pitchbending, cueing, etc etc... You might consider the DJM300, the "little brother" of the DJM500, a solid and affordable 2-channel mixer you can find used for 100-150$.
As far as a soundboard for your PC, you'll need one with two stereo outputs, regardless if you use an external mixer or not.
mixer: 2 stereo channels into the mixer
traktor's software mixer: 1 stereo channel for main out, 1 stereo channel for cue.
Using a hardware mixer you use the mixer's cueing functionality.
I'd recommend the M-Audio Delta 410. Nice simple Envy24-based board with 8 analog outputs (4 stereo channels), 2 analog ins, S/PDIF connectivity... Has a solid ASIO driver and doesn't cost much, can be found used for less than $100.
I've mixed with the DJM3000 before at a club. I actually really liked that mixer. But you must know something (or someone) that I don't, because last I checked those were going for 800 bucks or so. Even used, I'd be surprised if it dropped to 150.
Anyway, that's not the point. It sounds like no matter what, I'm going to need to get a new soundcard. One question, though -- does it matter then what type of mixer I use with Traktor? Or will it sync up with practically any mixer out there? Like my dumpy-old vestax tried & true vestax?
DJM300 and DJM3000 are quite different boxes... DJM300 is a simple 2 channel mixer...
He might also be getting it mixed up with the aforementioned BCD3000.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by KERAM It sounds like no matter what, I'm going to need to get a new soundcard. One question, though -- does it matter then what type of mixer I use with Traktor? Or will it sync up with practically any mixer out there? Like my dumpy-old vestax tried & true vestax? |
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