I learned to mix on my Technics 1200s and have been doing it for about 4 years. I love the feel of vinyl & everything that goes with it. In this time I have played pridominently Trance, which is my main love, and forms the bulk of my record collection. However now I am at a crossroads. I am getting into Electro/Tech/House & Breaks (with a few gigs coming up!) yet still want to carry on with my Trance collection. Being a student I can no way afford to have all the tracks I want on Vinyl. I am finding myself downloading more and more tracks for genres other than Trance, for which I still buy Vinyl (I even download some Trance aswell). I am also looking at the future, which leads me onto my question:

I am either looking at buying CDJ800/1000s or getting Serato Scratch,

Which do you think I should go for?

Is Serato really that good? I dont really like the idea of a "Laptop DJ" and turning up at a gig with only my iBook & Serato Scratch. On the other hand it seems like the best solution (cost effective, portability, plus I am getting into Production) Also the switch function on Serato would mean I could still play tracks only available on Vinyl, switching freely between MP3 & Vinyl. Serato would also save me having to organise & burn everything onto CDs! In terms of club use would it be possible to hook up Serato to any mixer? (I am also intent on purchasing a DJM600 for my current setup). Do any top DJs use Serato? Another question, what is Serato like to use with FX & scratching?

Thanks for your replies!

I should add that I have never used CDJs or Serato, which is why I ask.

Well you asked abit of a mouthful, you could of done a search for all these and got alot of results, but I'll answer anyway.

I am pretty much in the same boat as you, I have had too much interest in too many genres and I just don't have enough money to satify my vinyl needs with each one, I am at a point now of either quitting DJing as I can't do what I want to do, or get into using Serato.

My advise to you is get Serato, CDJ800/1000 are awesome, but unless you want them for some of there features or just to use CDs, you would be better off with Serato, I have only had a limited time messing with it, but have played on Final Scratch V1 and V2, and they work extremely well, when using Serato you will not notice a difference between it and the real thing, the whole thing acts how it should, its very responsive aswell, but depends on your computer specs, I have seen some TOP DJs Scratch with it and there is no delay in how the vinyl and mp3 react to each other, as for FX, they will act the same way aswell, theres no difference as the FX are not effected by the medium that the music is playing off.

Only problem you will have with Serato is with clubs, unless the club is friendly and will allow you to set it up, some clubs can turn you away as they won't want to have the sound system messed with, but it just all depends on the club, Serato can be setup with any mixer or TT, and even CDJs so you won't have a problem there.

Oh and lots of big DJs and turntablists are using it now, from all genres of music.

im in the same boat aswell, but im deffo going for serato in the next month, theres no competiton at all for me, i did consider cdj's but thats something i can upgrade to when i graduate from uni and have some money under my belt.

vinyl is a pain in the arse big time money wise, lately ive just been topping up tunes on beatport ready for when i get serato, so dam good with the flexibility and cost of tunes from beatport. serato is the way forward imo.

judging by the amount of people who recommend the program aswell from here and other sites you cant go wrong!

dfop

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...in the discover studios of course!!

Yeah I have done my research now & I am going for Serato, I already downloaded the software

I picked up Serato last week, and it has changed my entire outlook on the future. I'm happy again.

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quote:

Originally posted by Zild I picked up Serato last week, and it has changed my entire outlook on the future. I'm happy again.

I am exactly the same.. except I picked up CDJ's instead of Serato.. But it has totally changed my outlook on DJing, and like you, I am happy and excited to be DJing again..

ppl with SSL! you got me anxious...only one thing bothers me....how much does the needle live? it ok to spend 1500 $ for TTs and SSL once, but having to change a 50$ neeble is a bust in the ass ( how long do they live (without scratching, just plain beatmatching trance)??

quote:

Originally posted by blacknoizybox ppl with SSL! you got me anxious...only one thing bothers me....how much does the needle live? it ok to spend 1500 $ for TTs and SSL once, but having to change a 50$ neeble is a bust in the ass ( how long do they live (without scratching, just plain beatmatching trance)??

If you keep your vinyl and your needle clean then it will live long. not sure about the actually "age"

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approx. how long?????

2 months 5 days 7 hours 46 minutes 33 seconds

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quote:

Originally posted by blacknoizybox approx. how long?????

Well one feature on serato is a kind of destortion meter.

Obviously that's not the exact term for it. But basically you can see a scope of how well your needles are tracking. So it'll actually let you know if you're on 85%, 95%, 98% etc, So regarding your needles and how long they'll last. I'd say they last longer then your average needles on normal vinyl.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong but i was close to buying new needles when i decided not to because i was getting 100% signal from the ones i have

Hope that makes sense!

nelly