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Re: Basic newb questions:
| quote: | Originally posted by rapfiend03
1. Which is better to start off with? (Vynil or cdj's)(sp?)
2. If i got TT's could i use my laptop as the mixer? and would it be better in the long run to actually buy a mixer?
3. How much do you generally spend on viynal...say in a month? (sp?)
4. Ever since you started home dj-ing or club dj-ing have/do you regret it at all?
5. Finally how hard was it to figure out how to mix two songs to gether?
uhh i think thats it...just basic newb-trying-to-figure-out-if-should-spin questions.....lates! |
1. Vinyls are sexy, fun to collect, and there is definitely something rewarding about spinning them cos of the whole 'hands-on' thing. However, there are obvious advantages to CDs because you can practice with freely available music (if you so desire), and downloading high quality digital recordings to burn to CDR is quite cheap (and faster than snail mail). CDJs are generally more expensive than turntables. I have a pair of Technics MK5 vinyl turntables which are the industry standard, yet I paid slightly more for my entry-level Pioneer CDJ-800. Also, practice spelling vinyl before you buy turntables.
2. You wouldn't want to use your laptop as a mixer for a few reasons. Firstly, you would need a signal processor of some kind to convert the phono signal from the turntables (assuming you buy vinyl decks) into a line level signal that your (probably ordinary) sound card accepts. More importantly however, is that your computer is going to have a certain amount of lag between what you do on the screen and how it affects the music, which will get in the way of mixing. Also, controlling a mixer on the computer is awful. If you have ever used traktor DJ studio to mix mp3s, you'll know that controlling sensitive knobs with nothing but a mouse cursor (and some hot keys which you can program to a certain extent) royally SUCKS. Last of all, you can at least get an entry level mixer for cheap, and it'll be much more usable than a software one, trust me. That is why software mixers aren't really used by DJs. In short, buy a hardware mixer.
3. Money spent on vinyl in a month? Depends entirely on how many tracks you buy of course! If you buy new vinyls from overseas they'll usually set you back (including shipping) about $12-$14 a piece, or new vinyls bought in the USA around $10-$11 a piece. Second hand vinyls can be bought on ebay for less sometimes. Seeing as you live in San Antonio, shopping for vinyls in brick-and-mortar record stores (as opposed to online) is generally a shithouse experience. If you're going to be buying trance, the selection leaves a lot to be desired, though there are a couple of stores here in town that occasionally carry a couple of good tracks. You'll end up buying them online though, I promise you. It's the way to go anyway.
4. My first gig was about 18 months ago, and it was a shitload of fun, even if it was a disorganised, empty club in Austin. Since then it has been even more of a blast. Getting gigs is about knowing the right people for the mostpart, but expect to deal with selfish promotors and people that are in it for reasons different from your own. Don't expect to get paid, at least initially, and even later don't expect much money for what you do, in this part of the world at least. It's very enjoyable though. I still love just spinning records in my bedroom, and wouldn't sell my turntables unless I got into serious financial trouble or somethin.
5. Unless you're a pendejo, you've already been thinking about the technical aspects of how one might mix two tracks together. Basicly blending a couple of tracks, as one finishes and another begins, is not difficult. There is a learning curve, as you have to practice beatmatching (matching the tempo of both tracks, and aligning their beats so that they mesh as you blend them), but that isn't hard either. The concept is simple, it just takes a little time. DJing is only as complex as you make it. For someone that mixes trance, I would say that much of the skill is in the selection of tracks. You may choose to become more technical in your mixing skills, but you'll be mixing sets long before that happens. Besides, with a genre like trance, being technical with your mixing is much more limited than it is with techno, tech-trance, tech-house, drum & bass... with those, a DJ can usually be more creative in his/her mixing.
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"I played 12.30 til close at 3am at the club (Antro), following on from an Australian dj,
which seemed unusual in deepest Texas." - Judge Jules
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