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Alrighty, so i've been producing for a year and a bit, but i think i wanna start djing as well, maybe not live in front of an audience just yet, but eventually. Anyways, i think i'm probably gonna CDJ because vinyls are expensive and a lot to carry around, and they're easier to damage, whereas even if you scratch a CD you'd still have it ripped onto your computer or whatever. So my question is can anyone recomend me some decent decks/mixer for starting off, i don't want anything too pricey, but equally i want something good enough to perform with if that makes sense. Cheers

Serato! Cheaper and much better than CDJs, keep the turntable alive!!!

Hmmm, i'll look at that, i don't like the idea of having a laptop on stage though, and correct me if i'm wrong but i thought serato was a software..

Serato + Vinyl = win

yea i would get some 1210's and serato if you want to save in the long run. you dont really want anything other than technics (or pioneers if you get cdj's) even tho you will be paying more than the beginner gear you will easily be able to get your money back (or most of it) if you decide you want to sell

phytone wrote:Serato! Cheaper and much better than CDJs, keep the turntable alive!!!

MikeE wrote:Serato + Vinyl = win

I play vinyl only atm but if I was to play digi, Serato would be my choice!

alrighty cheers guys, so serato does seem the way to go, i'll look into it

Same for me, I mix on decks with real vinyls or serato vinyls and that's it !

Montgomery Burns wrote:Same for me, I mix on decks with real vinyls or serato vinyls and that's it !

fuck Serato - go for Traktor Scratch 2 duo.
Its way cheaper and just as good as Serato.
you only get to play on 2 decks with duo2.. however you dont need more than two decks. unless youre yunx...

mate please listen to me. Im massively all for vinyl, please dont get me wrong but i too couldnt afford vinyl so i bought some cdj 400's. This is the way i think you should go, as it will teach you how to mix properly, as i believe serato basically does it all for ya? i think it beatmatches it somehow (correct me if im wrong serato heads) Never used serato, i know alot of people are going that way, so that seems a good way too but everywhere uses cdjs nowadays, thay are always pioneer and you dont need to use a laptop, just cd's. its easy. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING OTHER THAT PIONEER

55stevieboy2010 wrote:mate please listen to me. Im massively all for vinyl, please dont get me wrong but i too couldnt afford vinyl so i bought some cdj 400's. This is the way i think you should go, as it will teach you how to mix properly, as i believe serato basically does it all for ya? i think it beatmatches it somehow (correct me if im wrong serato heads) Never used serato, i know alot of people are going that way, so that seems a good way too but everywhere uses cdjs nowadays, thay are always pioneer and you dont need to use a laptop, just cd's. its easy. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING OTHER THAT PIONEER

No it doesn't, well not when I've used it.

bass_culture wrote:

55stevieboy2010 wrote:mate please listen to me. Im massively all for vinyl, please dont get me wrong but i too couldnt afford vinyl so i bought some cdj 400's. This is the way i think you should go, as it will teach you how to mix properly, as i believe serato basically does it all for ya? i think it beatmatches it somehow (correct me if im wrong serato heads) Never used serato, i know alot of people are going that way, so that seems a good way too but everywhere uses cdjs nowadays, thay are always pioneer and you dont need to use a laptop, just cd's. its easy. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING OTHER THAT PIONEER

No it doesn't, well not when I've used it.

Serato does not beat match at all!! It works out the BPM and wave forms of all the music files but other than that.. its all you! Just saves a shit load of time.

Serato basically makes all your mp3 collection spinnable on turntables, that is all!! Whoever said that Serato beatmatches for you clearly uses Virutal Dj or something like that

SERATO FTW!!!

KEEP VINYL AND TURNTABLES ALIVE!!!

^ What these guys said - Serato does not beatmatch at all... If I was you, the last thing I would do would be to get CDJ400s - You're gonna end up paying about £750 for a pair and then need to buy a mixer on top of that, so you're gonna be paying about a grand for what is essentially a low end setup these days...

What I'd suggest is that you go out and buy something like this:
1x Serato SL1 - £350 (new off ebay)
2x Technics 1210s - £300 off ebay (second hand, but they last forever!)
1 Mixer of your choice - £200 and if you have a laptop which im sure you do then total is only 850!

I managed to get 1210s for 200 and SL3 for 300 by waiting for bargains on ebay, so if you're strapped for cash, do the same!

This setup will be pretty damn future proof too, unlike with CDJs where as soon as the new model comes out you will be forced into upgrading to 'Blue Ray' version or whatever they plan to bring out next...

Hope this helps you mate, let us know what you get!

Don't get SL1, the sound quality is crap.

I heard the new traktor scratch duo/pro 2 is really good and ill probably try it out. as for dj gear, get some 1210s and serato/traktor, means you can get all the vinyl only releases as well as getting digital stuff

(Pada) wrote:Don't get SL1, the sound quality is crap.

Fair do's, I have only had experience with the SL3, so worth paying the extra 100 quid for i guess!

Used a Rane TTM57 mixer before that which was lovely, awesome for scratching, but only 2 channels.

Riddles - Very true about vinyl only releases, I can't afford a vinyl habit, but love buying the occasional record when I really love a tune, especially if it has some decent artwork.

I just really hope the DJ community as a whole starts to open their eyes to Serato a bit more as oppose to sticking with CDJs...It would kill me to see turntables disappear from clubs...I really hope serato/traktor & other packages that make use of the turntable as a controller win the battle against CDJs!

Im in the process of saving up for serato as i want to go digital,but can't ever say goodbye to vinyl.It's too sexy