Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 has anyone dabbled with digital djing? i'm considering investing in some software/hardware but having not played out for about 5 years and having only ever mixed vinyl, i'm coming at it blind. i've been asked to play at a few weddings and house parties recently and want to mix up newer stuff on mp3 with my old record collection so i'm not banging out the same set as last time anyone heard me play. .... so it seems serato, virtual dj, traktor and ableton live are the leading contenders. has anyone used any of these? i'm considering giving virtual dj a punt, given it has a home version that's free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7308 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Seems a lot of effort to avoid a 1/2 second gap between songs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7094 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Have you got an ipad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Mixing between vinyl and mp3 wont really work unless all your mp3s are FLAC. You dont need ableton for weddings, anything basic will do but if you want to invest then get some hardware, not just the software. Numark etc do stuff which comes with software for pc, tablets etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA953Z/A/vestax-spin2-djvj-usb-and-ios-controller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 Have you got an ipad? yeah. any good apps out there that could fill the gap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 http://www.algoriddim.com/hardware/idj-pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7094 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 yeah. any good apps out there that could fill the gap? As you already have one an ipad with a decent app may well be your cheapest solution. I've not looked into it much tbh, but it's probably how I will run my next Industrial Dubstep Gangband. This one seems canny -https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/edjing-dj-mixer-console-studio/id493226494?mt=8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) http://store.apple.c...-ios-controller Mixing between vinyl and mp3 wont really work unless all your mp3s are FLAC. You dont need ableton for weddings, anything basic will do but if you want to invest then get some hardware, not just the software. Numark etc do stuff which comes with software for pc, tablets etc. that's where i'm coming at it a bit blind really, havign never played around with any of this stuff. last time i played out in a bar or club 1210s were industry standard and digital djing was still in its infancy. i like the feel of being in control of the mix, being able to scratch and cut etc. i don't want a bit of software that basically does all the work beat matching for me at the push of a button. with that in mind, is something hardware driven is probably the best bet? i take it you're a part time dj too? Edited May 28, 2013 by Dr Gloom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 As you already have one an ipad with a decent app may well be your cheapest solution. I've not looked into it much tbh, but it's probably how I will run my next Industrial Dubstep Gangband. This one seems canny -https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/edjing-dj-mixer-console-studio/id493226494?mt=8 links to your latest demo please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7094 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) http://www.algoriddi...ardware/idj-pro Or you coud do this if you want to spunk the moolah, looks great! Edited May 28, 2013 by trophyshy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 that's where i'm coming at it a bit blind really, havign never played around with any of this stuff. last time i played out in a bar or club 1210s were industry standard and digital djing was still in its infancy. i like the feel of being in control of the mix, being able to scratch and cut etc. i don't want a bit of software that basically does all the work beat matching for me at the push of a button. with that in mind, is something hardware driven is probably the best bet? i take it you're a part time dj too? You need FLAC mp3s to play at the same quality as vinyl, file compression means they are not comparable sounds. If you stick to mp3s, then people wont notice but its inferior to CD or vinyl if compressed. Hardware is better because you can actually physically manipulate the tracks like with vinyl or CD decks (doing this with a mouse or your fingers is basically rubbish). Definitely more fun but its the difference between an app and a piece of expensive hardware. I've done a bit of dj'ing over the years, started around 1989. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Virtual DJ Home is alright for a free app - http://www.virtualdj.com/products/homefree.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 Virtual DJ Home is alright for a free app - http://www.virtualdj.com/products/homefree.html yeah, was thinking i might test the water with that one before exploring whether i need to invest more money as i'm unlikely to play at anything bigger than the odd house party or wedding these days. is virtual dj home the best of the free/cheap aps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 You need FLAC mp3s to play at the same quality as vinyl, file compression means they are not comparable sounds. If you stick to mp3s, then people wont notice but its inferior to CD or vinyl if compressed. Hardware is better because you can actually physically manipulate the tracks like with vinyl or CD decks (doing this with a mouse or your fingers is basically rubbish). Definitely more fun but its the difference between an app and a piece of expensive hardware. I've done a bit of dj'ing over the years, started around 1989. 89? You must be older than I thought. Always assumed you were mid 30s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADP 0 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Ableton live is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Overkill for a wedding I am older than you thought G. My mate had 2 decks back then, both belt drives and only 1 had a pitch control. Great way to learn as you had to control the speed with pinching and use drops to mix which were tricky because of the belt. First direct drives a couple of years later and we all could beatmatch with ease. 3 of my friends from Newcastle from that time have become famous in the electronic music scene, one was voted in the top 100 DJs in DJ Magazine, another is head of A&R for one of the longest running club/labels in the country and another was headlining a gig in Minsk last weekend (amongst loads of other things). Newcastle has a strong position in global dance music culture through Global Underground records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22503 Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 (edited) Overkill for a wedding I am older than you thought G. My mate had 2 decks back then, both belt drives and only 1 had a pitch control. Great way to learn as you had to control the speed with pinching and use drops to mix which were tricky because of the belt. First direct drives a couple of years later and we all could beatmatch with ease. 3 of my friends from Newcastle from that time have become famous in the electronic music scene, one was voted in the top 100 DJs in DJ Magazine, another is head of A&R for one of the longest running club/labels in the country and another was headlining a gig in Minsk last weekend (amongst loads of other things). Newcastle has a strong position in global dance music culture through Global Underground records. respect. belt drives are a fucking nightmare to mix on in my experience. if you learn on 1210s like i did, anything else seemed way to much like hard work. one of my old dj partners learned how to mix on belt drives and was the best dj in our crew by far. you can't name drop like that without revealing who the famous dj you know is. spill the beans man! my djing past is probably less impressive. when i first moved down to london, i worked nights as a sub editor, which was great as it allowed me to focus on djing - something at the time i misguidedly thought i could make a successful career out of. i put on small dnb and hip hop nights on with a group of mates in brixton and camberwell for a few years up until i hit late 20s and realised i better start taking my career that i was more likely to make a decent living out of more seriously. my biggest claim to fame is that we had jungle legends like andy c, doc scott and fierce play at our nights.... and pendulum, who turned out to be massive but i always thought were a bit shit, played their first UK gig at our night. it was just one aussie guy djing back then - now they have a whole dnb/rock live act. plus i played a warm up set and the grave yard shift at 5am (whoohooo) at a night we put on at the fridge in brixton where 4 hero (massive heroes of mine) were also on the bill. Edited May 29, 2013 by Dr Gloom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Pendulum are back to just being a DJ act now, they're done being a band for the foreseeable future. Thankfully. Andy C is still doing it. Thankfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 yeah, was thinking i might test the water with that one before exploring whether i need to invest more money as i'm unlikely to play at anything bigger than the odd house party or wedding these days. is virtual dj home the best of the free/cheap aps? Certainly the most popular afaik. Not sure that says a lot but I like it, even just for messing around with tempo/pitch/looping as opposed to actually mixing beats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Looking forward to this DJ Yoda caper on Friday night 'on the red button' http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/posts/Whats-On-BBC-Red-Button-9-15-June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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