Help wanted re, My First Decks. . . .

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:54 am

Slim wrote:Mate of mine wants to get into djing and is looking at one of those "dj in a box" deals a la this: http://www.decks.co.uk/products/dj_deck ... er2package

She can probably get them at about half price though.

Would you advise that i suggest something else or do you think they are good enough for now at least?

DONT DO IT

dutty yuppie · Post by **dutty yuppie** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:18 am

This mixer is remarkably simple but I've had it 7 years and it's endured all kinds of antics.....

slim · Post by **slim** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:40 am

unklefesta wrote: DONT DO IT

See i was thinking the same, but you got any specifics as to why and what she should look for? I'm not a DJ myself so i'm not too well versed in what to look for. I thought the mixer sounds a bit wank only having a treble and bass EQ for each channel, but the reviewers on that site seemed to think it was a pretty decent setup for a beginner.

Common sense tells me if you have two decks, a mixer and a pair of headphones for around 200 quid, you can't expect any of it to be that good.

__________ · Post by **__________** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:19 pm

contrary to popular belief, you dont need a set of 1210s to learn to mix or record a mixtape that is in time throughout. if you aint got the dollar, buy some cheap decks.
cheapo decks still play records, and if they've got pitch control you can still mix on them. i 2nd dutty yuppie's verdict on the dmc mixer, its solid, i got one in my room.

i got a set of these (vestax pdt 5000's) for £300 off ebay with a vestax pmc 17a mixer thrown in. they are solid decks, better than 1200s on paper, and i even dropped a speaker on the tone arm of one and it still works fine! the pitch control is also very very precise. i'd definately reccomend them if you are too skint for technics

thomas · Post by **thomas** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:38 pm

Yes of course you can buy cheap decks, but i dont see the point.

double that price and you can get a more than double the quality set of decks which will last longer.

If you are going to Dj for over a year, its worth saving up or getting somthing on finance. you will only want to upgrade after a few months anyway.

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:18 pm

don't do it, seconded.

when you come to play in a club it will be technics so you will be all of a flurry

look at the man there he just got tech's for £220

how much is the DJ pack?

headphones you can get for free, and mixers available £30 and up are fine for me all day. When it goes just replace.

Numark haven't made anything really good since the late 80's

Now manufactured under licence arrangement

P.S Duttie Yuppie: I have different views on this mixer.

It's great when new, but crossfader is vulnerable, and preamp deteriorates through time especially if driven. replacement fader is dear, more than my whole mixer.

For definitive mixer look no further than:

UREI, FORMULA SOUND, RANE professional. In that order.

all Class A preamps inside. Fader lasts forever. well almost.

dutty yuppie · Post by **dutty yuppie** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:28 pm

THA ILLSTA wrote: P.S Duttie Yuppie: I have different views on this mixer.

It's great when new, but crossfader is vulnerable, and preamp deteriorates through time especially if driven. replacement fader is dear, more than my whole mixer.

(Doffs cap to THA ILLSTA....)

I've not really driven mine but there's two spare x-faders built in the back and I only moved onto the first of those after 5 years.

That said, I reckon he'd get a more suitable mixer and at a better price, I have just formed an emotional attachment to mine!

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:33 pm

Dutty Yuppie wrote:
THA ILLSTA wrote: P.S Duttie Yuppie: I have different views on this mixer.

It's great when new, but crossfader is vulnerable, and preamp deteriorates through time especially if driven. replacement fader is dear, more than my whole mixer.
(Doffs cap to THA ILLSTA....)

I've not really driven mine but there's two spare x-faders built in the back and I only moved onto the first of those after 5 years.

That said, I reckon he'd get a more suitable mixer and at a better price, I have just formed an emotional attachment to mine!

Yep, they are good, to a point.

I know several peeps who have them, remember the spares in tha back.

these have long since disappeared, sadly.

when tha preamp goes there is no solution.

NICE when new though, keep at home though, parties kill them QUICK TIME.

love the polished front, a luxury touch.

thomas · Post by **thomas** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:36 pm

while this thread is up, ive got a Vestax VMC 002, but the cross fader isnt smooth at all. its impossible to make a long smooth blend. It comes in almost like its on / - \ if you can understand that, rather than the more ^ shape i want.

Anyone know a way around this, I dont think i can change the fader. i dont have my mixer here, but if i change the upfade on the incoming side will it make the curve smoother?

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:50 pm

Thomas wrote:while this thread is up, ive got a Vestax VMC 002, but the cross fader isnt smooth at all. its impossible to make a long smooth blend. It comes in almost like its on / - \ if you can understand that, rather than the more ^ shape i want.

Anyone know a way around this, I dont think i can change the fader. i dont have my mixer here, but if i change the upfade on the incoming side will it make the curve smoother?

Is it the VMC 002 XL?

If so, the C.F. curve switch on the front panel should be to the left.

If not, see if this switch is there anyway.

If not, I believe VESTAX make faders with different curve choices.

Failing that, have to use the up and down faders: adjust master output / gains to suit full extent of movement of faders.

Note: this is a poular method for a lot of D-Step DJ's (too many to list)

P.S. I like the Crossfader or rotary faders where possible.

P.P.S. The short curve you have is designed for Scratching e.t.c./ i.e. as little fade as possible

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:53 pm

Thomas wrote:but if i change the upfade on the incoming side will it make the curve smoother?

Forgot this bit..

No.

dutty yuppie · Post by **dutty yuppie** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:57 pm

Thomas wrote:while this thread is up, ive got a Vestax VMC 002, but the cross fader isnt smooth at all. its impossible to make a long smooth blend. It comes in almost like its on / - \ if you can understand that, rather than the more ^ shape i want.

Anyone know a way around this, I dont think i can change the fader. i dont have my mixer here, but if i change the upfade on the incoming side will it make the curve smoother?

Surely it's not impossible to make a long smooth blend with some deft volume tweaking?

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:04 pm

Dutty Yuppie wrote:
Thomas wrote:while this thread is up, ive got a Vestax VMC 002, but the cross fader isnt smooth at all. its impossible to make a long smooth blend. It comes in almost like its on / - \ if you can understand that, rather than the more ^ shape i want.

Anyone know a way around this, I dont think i can change the fader. i dont have my mixer here, but if i change the upfade on the incoming side will it make the curve smoother?
Surely it's not impossible to make a long smooth blend with some deft volume tweaking?

Yep, the up and down technique I previously mentioned on page two.

thomas · Post by **thomas** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:50 pm

Thats what i have been doing, i have it set to smooth and its still a joke. (its the Xl i have with the switch)

Just thought there might be another way around it, never mind its good practice.

guerillaeye · Post by **guerillaeye** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:35 pm

Thomas wrote: Just thought there might be another way around it, never mind its good practice.

I can add to this bit.. i have a pair of gemini's.. horrid little shits.. but its like swiming with weights.. its made me a stronger dj when im warm on a good kit.

tha_illsta · Post by **tha_illsta** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:29 pm

guerillaeye wrote:
Thomas wrote: Just thought there might be another way around it, never mind its good practice.
I can add to this bit.. i have a pair of gemini's.. horrid little shits.. but its like swiming with weights.. its made me a stronger dj when im warm on a good kit.

Yes this is a positive side effect of having such decks.

I had different sets of phonic decks YEARS ago when they really were shite.

I remember the luxury of the technics touch as a wild difference, felt like a king on tha beauties. And them old phonics make the gemini like gold plated or something..

Still better to get the tech's though in my opinion because it means you get used to the intricacies of the pitch fader, platter adjustment e.t.c.

However, it's not ALL bad with the cheapies. Preferably if you get them free off of someone who has become so frustrated they want to GIVE them away!!!!!!!

guerillaeye · Post by **guerillaeye** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:21 pm

THA ILLSTA wrote:Preferably if you get them free off of someone who has become so frustrated they want to GIVE them away!!!!!!!

tempest · Post by **tempest** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:51 pm

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan i want decks, this thread has just made me even more determined to save up for some 1200's... downloading the demo of virtual dj and playin is much cheaper but damn i need turntables, the craving for mixing vinyl is getting too much

:baby:

thomas · Post by **thomas** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:29 pm

tempest wrote:maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan i want decks, this thread has just made me even more determined to save up for some 1200's... downloading the demo of virtual dj and playin is much cheaper but damn i need turntables, the craving for mixing vinyl is getting too much

nothing beats it mate, Somthing i miss everyday when away from home.

badger · Post by **badger** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:54 pm

got a pair of 1210s in pretty good nick for £400 a while back but the twisty thing on the base of the tone arm that raises it up and down on one of them seems to have seized up. any idea how to sort it out? if i just spray a bit of WD40 or something like that into it it wont do any damage to the electrics or anything will it?

THA ILLSTA wrote:definitive mixer look no further than:

UREI, FORMULA SOUND, RANE professional. In that order.

all Class A preamps inside. Fader lasts forever. well almost.

was thinking of getting a urei 1601 to replace my mixer. looks like a really solid mixer but could do with 3 channels so am thinking of getting a ecler nuo3 now, anyone had any experience with one of these? looks pretty solid from what ive read and i wont ever have to replace it unless it breaks which i hope it wont

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