Any turn tablist's here on ATOT?

[James3shin]

Any recommendations on what to start out with? I'm interested in just mixing, and messing around with some records. I've always wanted to try it but never knew where to start or who to ask.

 

[Doctor Nyse]

Yessir.. some might tell you to get a 'starter package' but that is simply garbage. Go for Technics 1200, Numark TTX1, or Vestax PDX turntables -- high quality standards, excellent performance and if you end up not really getting into it, they all have high resale values. For mixers, the Rane TTM56 is probably the best I've ever used, but mixers from Vestax and Pioneer are also really nice and, as such, have high resale values. Brands to stay away from include Stanton, Gemini, Ion Audio...

If you have any specific questions feel free to drop me a PM - I'm happy to help

 

[SoulAssassin]

I used to DJ in college and I have a lot of successful friends who still do it professionally and never have we ever referred to them as "turn tablists". I would suggest getting the vocabulary right first.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: Doctor Nyse
Yessir.. some might tell you to get a 'starter package' but that is simply garbage. Go for Technics 1200, Numark TTX1, or Vestax PDX turntables -- high quality standards, excellent performance and if you end up not really getting into it, they all have high resale values. For mixers, the Rane TTM56 is probably the best I've ever used, but mixers from Vestax and Pioneer are also really nice and, as such, have high resale values. Brands to stay away from include Stanton, Gemini, Ion Audio...

If you have any specific questions feel free to drop me a PM - I'm happy to help

Agreed on all of the above. After you have equipment, then find a good source for quality vinyl in the style(s) of music that you like. It kinda makes it easier to make smooth mixes if you're staying within a certain genre. I wouldn't want to try to mix disco house with happy hardcore, for an extreme example.

If you find certain tracks that are really off the hook, it's nice to buy a couple copies. Then you can do all sorts of creative things in a sort of "remix-on-the-fly" kinda way. Get beat matching and phrasing down first, though.

 

[akshatp]

Technics 1200's son. Indsutry standard

 

[QueBert]

Numark CDX is the way to go, I have seen dudes on them do just about anything they could do on a 1200. The 1200 is the standard but Vinyl is hard to find and warps with time. CD DJ systems have come a long way, to the point you can't tell the difference with your ears between the 2 when a good DJ is mixing. The Best Buy up the street from me has an audio room with a CDX setup, maybe yours does too? I love Vinyl but I also love the thought of a unit that reads DVD's so I could have 8 gigs of MP3's on a dual layer disc at my disposable. I plan to get a system as soon as i can afford it. Like others have suggested don't be too cheap and stay away from the starter packages they blow. And if you must go Vinyl the 1200 is the best

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: Doctor Nyse
Yessir.. some might tell you to get a 'starter package' but that is simply garbage. Go for Technics 1200, Numark TTX1, or Vestax PDX turntables -- high quality standards, excellent performance and if you end up not really getting into it, they all have high resale values. For mixers, the Rane TTM56 is probably the best I've ever used, but mixers from Vestax and Pioneer are also really nice and, as such, have high resale values. Brands to stay away from include Stanton, Gemini, Ion Audio...

If you have any specific questions feel free to drop me a PM - I'm happy to help

True this. Get the 1200's. I own a Rane TTM56 and it is a great mixer. Rane also makes seratto, and have it built into one of their mixers. If you invest in a seratto mixer, you wont have to spend hundreds on vinyl (although you still might.)

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I used to DJ in college and I have a lot of successful friends who still do it professionally and never have we ever referred to them as "turn tablists". I would suggest getting the vocabulary right first.

Read This: Turntablism

My Setup

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Doctor Nyse
Yessir.. some might tell you to get a 'starter package' but that is simply garbage. Go for Technics 1200, Numark TTX1, or Vestax PDX turntables -- high quality standards, excellent performance and if you end up not really getting into it, they all have high resale values. For mixers, the Rane TTM56 is probably the best I've ever used, but mixers from Vestax and Pioneer are also really nice and, as such, have high resale values. Brands to stay away from include Stanton, Gemini, Ion Audio...

If you have any specific questions feel free to drop me a PM - I'm happy to help

Agreed.

I moved away from tables and into Live PA, after a couple short years, though. Now I've only got two active platter CD "turn tables" left over for minor remixing (they collect dust now). Mostly, I use a TB-303, Korg EA-1, Korg EMX, MC-909 and TR-909 on a Pioneer DJM 1000 and a few effect systems including a KP2 KAOSS pad.

I haven't done a show in about a year+, though. Listen to Doctor Nyse, he's got it figured out, for sure.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Well a turntablist is a type of DJ that mixes, scratches and beat juggles. If you're trying to get into that, you'll need vinyl and some 1200's. Scratching on a CDJ is just lame.

But if all you want to do is play music and mix, I'd recommend a pair of Pioneer CDJ's, they're the industry standard for CD based players.

But if you just want to mess around and try before you buy, there's a lot of software out there that mimics CDJs.

 

[James3shin]

I definitely want to juggle beats and scratch! I'll start looking for the 1200s and everything else recommended - THANKS TO EVERYONE!

I'll most likely be messing around with hip hop, but I'm pretty open to anything that sounds appealing to me.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Well a turntablist is a type of DJ that mixes, scratches and beat juggles. If you're trying to get into that, you'll need vinyl and some 1200's. Scratching on a CDJ is just lame.

But if all you want to do is play music and mix, I'd recommend a pair of Pioneer CDJ's, they're the industry standard for CD based players.

But if you just want to mess around and try before you buy, there's a lot of software out there that mimics CDJs.

lame how? I've heard mixing done on CD tables you couldn't tell the difference of. The Numark and Technics both have full platters. the Numark feels just like a real vinyl table. You can even put a record on it to get the exact feel.

demo of Technics Digital 1200

listen to J-Rocc's segment, he sounds exactly like he does on Vinyl. Even a lot of die hard old school DJ's are moving up to Digital. The Technics is good and the Numark is fanastic

linky - Numark CDX in action on youtube.

the CDJ software you speak is at best good for a bit of beat mixing, none of it can scratch at all. If you can listen to either link and tell me the Technics Digital 1200 or Numark CDX are lame, I dunno what to tell you There's not even a scratch type you can do on Vinyl you can't do on Digital.

 

[NokiaDude]

1200's + Serato.

 

[indamixx99]

Originally posted by: Doctor Nyse
Yessir.. some might tell you to get a 'starter package' but that is simply garbage. Go for Technics 1200, Numark TTX1, or Vestax PDX turntables -- high quality standards, excellent performance and if you end up not really getting into it, they all have high resale values. For mixers, the Rane TTM56 is probably the best I've ever used, but mixers from Vestax and Pioneer are also really nice and, as such, have high resale values. Brands to stay away from include Stanton, Gemini, Ion Audio...

If you have any specific questions feel free to drop me a PM - I'm happy to help

I agree with this as well. I'm using 2 Numark TTX1 turntables, and a shitty Numark mixer. I'm looking at upgrading to a Pioneer mixer soon. Also, If you really do plan on sticking to Vinyl, I highly recommend getting Serato Scratch Live so you can spin your mp3s from your laptop using vinyl. It's actually the industry standard digital dj interface and many big name dj's, and amateur ones use it. Plus, it's cheaper to buy a $1-2 mp3 vs a $5-15 vinyl single. The software seems to be geared more towards the hip hop turntablist, but i use it for Trance and House music and it works great.

Also, I've used the Numark CDX's and CDJ1000 and those are both excellent alternatives if you plan on going the CD route. The CDX is better if you prefer the vinyl feel since it's got a spinning 12" platter. I highly discourage going for the Technics SL-DZ1200 as I've read it's been plauged with nothing but software issues. Technics seems to have dropped the ball on this one considering it's reputation on the 1200 turntable.

Also if you plan to scratch, like others have recommended - Rane TTM56 hands down. Magnetic faders that aren't subject to bleeding like other mixers. Go with the TTM57-SL if you plan on getting Serato.