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DJ set-up and Investment questions

Right Now my current set up is:
Vestax - VMC 004 Mixer
2x Denon DNS-1000's
1x Technics SL1200MK2
RCA receiver
2X Infinity 120 Studio Monitors

This was my beginner set up and it was an awesome set-up to learn and practice with. It has been almost 2 years and i am looking to upgrade some stuff.
My first question is that i am planning on sticking with the infinity Speakers. They are old but still have pretty good sound quality and pretty loud which is great, but I was wondering if i should invest in an amplifier? will it increase the sound quality at all and loudness? or is it even worth it and just stick with the RCA receiver until sometime in the future, i invest in some PA speakers (But that is still pretty far away).
My second question: Is an EFX machine a vital piece of equipment for a DJ set up? In the long run, is it a good investment?

What are your opinions on the Vestax - vmc 004 mixer? should i upgrade at all?

My last question is about the CD players. I am planning on upgrading my Denon DNS-1000'S. I think i want to switch to Pioneer but i deff dont have the money for a pair of CDJ-1000MK3's but i was thinking a pair of the cdj-400's would be awesome. I dont have alot of experience with Pioneer so i was wondering if i will see a big improvement in quality if i switch from my current cd players to a pair of the Pioneer CDJ - 400'S? And also what are the 400's like, compared the the 100-MK3's? Any big difference i would notice?

Sorry for all the questions but i am just scrambled with all of the options out there and what would be best.

Just want to hear what your opinions are on this topic and any advice would be great.
Cheers.

If I was considering upgrading the CD players, Pioneer is pretty much the standard choice. By taking a quick glance on Google Shop, I noticed that the 400s are similar in price as the 800 mk2s. I think I would go for that mainly because of the jog wheel.

I have never played on the 400s, but I have 200s and the jog wheel seems about the same size. Playing on the 800s and 1000s jog wheels feels so much easier compared to the 200s.

Are effects important to you?

quote:

Originally posted by JD8180 If I was considering upgrading the CD players, Pioneer is pretty much the standard choice. By taking a quick glance on Google Shop, I noticed that the 400s are similar in price as the 800 mk2s. I think I would go for that mainly because of the jog wheel. I have never played on the 400s, but I have 200s and the jog wheel seems about the same size. Playing on the 800s and 1000s jog wheels feels so much easier compared to the 200s. Are effects important to you?

kinda off topic but is there any difference between the 200 and the 800 pitch percentage? i know the 200 is +/- .02 and the 800 is +/- .05. the reason i am asking is that if i mix 2 tracks one at 127 bpm and one at 128 bpm i adjust about .80% on the 200s and about 1.% on the 800s. it just seems weird to me maybe i don,t have enough experience with the 800s.


o and in regard to the topic i love my 200s.

quote:

Originally posted by JD8180 If I was considering upgrading the CD players, Pioneer is pretty much the standard choice. By taking a quick glance on Google Shop, I noticed that the 400s are similar in price as the 800 mk2s. I think I would go for that mainly because of the jog wheel. I have never played on the 400s, but I have 200s and the jog wheel seems about the same size. Playing on the 800s and 1000s jog wheels feels so much easier compared to the 200s. Are effects important to you?

Thanks for the advice on the cd players. The cdj 400 is only $100 cheaper than the 800. Might as well spend the extra 100 for the next best model. I didnt know the 800mk2 was only that much more.
As for the Effects. I have never actually messed around or even ever used one. Do u have any experience with one? I dont realy know anything about it and if it is worth it. I think effects would be really cool for adding some uniqueness to your sets.

quote:

Originally posted by tortoise kinda off topic but is there any difference between the 200 and the 800 pitch percentage? i know the 200 is +/- .02 and the 800 is +/- .05. the reason i am asking is that if i mix 2 tracks one at 127 bpm and one at 128 bpm i adjust about .80% on the 200s and about 1.% on the 800s. it just seems weird to me maybe i don,t have enough experience with the 800s. o and in regard to the topic i love my 200s.

It's math. Technically you shouldn't be having to change the pitch by different amounts between the different models. For around the 128 range, .80% is a good estimate:

128 * .008 = 1.024 change in BPM, which is pretty close to perfect for moving up or down 1 BPM.

Now don't go taking a calculator everywhere you dj, but I'm just showing you the logic of it so you can get an idea. Most people on this board will agree to learn to beatmatch using your ears, and not by BPM readers and % changes.

The difference with the .02% and the .05% increments between the 200s and the 800s is just that the .02% is more precise. In the case you had a CDJ 800, changing the pitch by 1.60% might leave your track a tad too fast, yet changing it to 1.55% might be too slow. With the 200s, you can move the 1.60% down to 1.58% which might be closer to the correct speed.

quote:

Originally posted by Lucas-K Thanks for the advice on the cd players. The cdj 400 is only $100 cheaper than the 800. Might as well spend the extra 100 for the next best model. I didnt know the 800mk2 was only that much more. As for the Effects. I have never actually messed around or even ever used one. Do u have any experience with one? I dont realy know anything about it and if it is worth it. I think effects would be really cool for adding some uniqueness to your sets.

You have to consider what is best for YOU. I personally would enjoy the 800s more, I don't enjoy using any effects. Also I believe that the 400s have a lot more MIDI capabilities compared to the 800s. If you plan on using Serato and the such, the 400s might be more useful for you because of that.

Another thing to look at is the fact that the 400s have pitch increments of .02% where as the 800s have it by .05%. To some people it is a big deal, but I think they are both doable.

Again don't quote me on everything... I have never even seen a CDJ 400 personally, just a couple of youtube videos here and there.

Is there a big difference between the 800 mk1 and the mk2?

never used mk1. I know for starters mk1s do NOT have mp3 capabilities.

quote:

Originally posted by JD8180 never used mk1. I know for starters mk1s do NOT have mp3 capabilities.

Oh damn thats no good. I saw on craiglist, some guy selling an 800mk1, an Odyssey flight case and Sony MDR-V700 headphones for $400.
Good deal?

quote:

Originally posted by Lucas-K Is there a big difference between the 800 mk1 and the mk2?

From my experience thus far:

800 MK1 jogwheel does not feel like the cdj 1000, The 800MK1's I play with every once in a while have super light jogwheels (I don't like that).
800 MK2 jogwheel is way closer in terms of feel.

No mp3 support on the 800mk1 (audio purists don't care about that )
No Text mode for the display on 800mk1 which 800mk2 does have.

That's about it I think.

All in all the difference is marginal. Personally I would just take the best deal I could find if I would be looking for cdj800's.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Storyteller
From my experience thus far:

No mp3 support on the 800mk1 (audio purists don't care about that )
/QUOTE]

This may seem stupid but, does that just mean it cant play mp3 formatted cd's?

It means it can't play data cd's (cd's with mp3 files and or other pc files burnt directly on them), however it can play common audio cd's (with mp3s burnt as audio) as that's the same as a regular audio cd .

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller It means it can't play data cd's (cd's with mp3 files and or other pc files burnt directly on them), however it can play common audio cd's (with mp3s burnt as audio) as that's the same as a regular audio cd .

Aw. Thanks for the clarification.
Do u think that is very essential for a cdj? or do u think i can get by.
Some guy on craiglist is selling a 800mk1 cdj, an Odyssey flight case and Sony MDR-V700 headphones for $400 and i dont know if that is a good deal or not.

mp3 playing means shit. To me that is

I don't know what the common prices are, but in europe 400Euro would be a good deal for a pair of cdj800mk1's alone.

Or is it a single cdj on craigslist? In that case it's fair at the most I guess.

Its just a single
So idk if its worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Lucas-K Its just a single So idk if its worth it.

Well just look up wat a cdj800mk2 costs. I'd say half that price would be fair, wouldn't it?
Just have a look around and see what second hand price it goes by here and there, ebay for instance... This should give you some insight on what a cdj800mk1 should cost these days .

ya i think i should just do some more research.
Thanks for all your help storyteller.
Greatly appreciated
Cheers

Good luck

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