Hi all,
I'm going to be a first time DJ and have the opportunity to buy some equipment from a friend. What are your opinions of a lightly used PS-676 Gemini Mixer and a pair of Stanton Str8-50 turntables for $430?

Thanks

Couple questions first:

1) How long have these items been used for?
2) What is the retail price for all of these combined?

i have to warn you about those turntables.. they are belt drive's, so they have really bad pick up, and the pitch control is not that stable. You might be frustrated trying to DJ on those things, cause they're not that great. But non the less, its an alright price for all that equipment.. but personally I'd save up more money to go for alittle bit higher models. I have the STR8-60's, and they are fairly decent.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Dingel Hi all, I'm going to be a first time DJ and have the opportunity to buy some equipment from a friend. What are your opinions of a lightly used PS-676 Gemini Mixer and a pair of Stanton Str8-50 turntables for $430? Thanks

Don't do it!
belt drive decks are the spawn of satan!
that mixer isn't so hot either, but, that's OK it would do.

AT the VERY least, get direct drive stantons, but i would still not do that. save up for technics they are worth it.

if I have about $500 to blow on equipment, what kinda stuff should I be looking for? (since I've been told by a number of people that I must not be belt drives.....)

a quick search of the net indicates:

1) those tables are worth about $125/ea, new, not including shipping
2) the mixer is about $200, new, not including shipping

so basically, you could pick up the same equiptment new for about the same price, but your have to pay to have it shipped.

also.. str8-50's ARE belt drive, that's a bad thing - id avoid them.
gemini mixers are ok for beginners/bedroom DJs but you'll want something better... then again, its impossible to get a good mixer at that price range...

I'd look at STR8-60's (direct drive) and maybe a better mixer... but its all your choice.

-mer

I think that I will get a pair of Stanton STR8-80s for $400. Now I'm left to choose a mixer.... The guy at the shop said that for beginner DJs the mixer isn't that important and I should just take a $100 Gemini. Is there any reason for a first timer like me to buy something more in the $200 range?

sounds like a good plan. the 80's have a good bit of torque, too. 400 for a set is a good deal

as far as mixers... every inexpensive mixer i have touched i have not liked for one reason or another, mainly poor sound quality or pathetic faders. good mixers get expensive. the PCV275 is probably the cheapest mixer that is quite decent and that's amost $400... so if the gemini has the features you like, and the layout suits you, go for it. once you get your skills up, you can get a nice box so you can start making quality sets. it's always good to learn with something a little less featured, you'll only appreciate the upgrade later...

which gemini would you be buying?

cheers,
-mer

one thing i should add, is that you should start out with a mixer with a 3 band EQ... you need to learn how to work with the EQ to make the mix work out, and alot of (really) cheap boxes dont have an EQ or only have high/low.

a number of people have said the behringer mixers are not that bad.. and they are very affordable and full of features.

I havnt used a behringer mixer.. but i do have an EQ and compressor from behringer and I like them both...

you might want to start a 'inexpensive beginner mixer' thread, or preferably use the search function, as im sure the topic of beginner mixers has been covered many times here in the DJ Booth form...

-mer

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Dingel if I have about $500 to blow on equipment, what kinda stuff should I be looking for? (since I've been told by a number of people that I must not be belt drives.....)

buy 1 Technics turntable

then save up another $500 and get another

hmm.. VMX-300.. this box looks really nice, has alot of features, even a crossfader curve adjust!! and nice big level meters on the channels...

I looked around the net a bit and actually heard some real good things about the behringers... and they are cheap (yea, even with all that jazz its still a $170 mixer) - BPM counters are hella lame, but might be a cool little crutch as you learn.. then you can cover them with electrical tape

myself, i started out with a stanton RM3S.. not a bad beginner box, but i think the $200 they want for it is a bit overpriced - the fader wont last 6 months if you use it often and the EQs suck camelschlong.


-mer

yeh.. i thought about getting that one.

but i decided to get the Vestax PCV275 instead, for like triple the price.

maybe i am an idiot?

I don't know, i wanted the vestax, because it has a really good TESTED repuation as a DJ mixer.

the behringers have not been tested for long enough in my opinion, at least not as DJ mixers.

there studio stuff is top notch so i imagine the DJ mixer's would be too though. who knows.