Anyone know of good DJing Equipment under 1200

[datdamkid]

Heres the deal, I'm startign a DJing business up w/my buddy Zac. I'm doing this to get other things off of my mind as you may have saw my other post about the whole life thign. But what im wondering is What kind of equipment can I get for under 1200 bucks this includes Dual CD Players, Turn Tables and Speakers w/Stands. If anyone knows. That would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure someone on anandtech has done DJing and or is a DJ. Well for now, im giong to buy cheap equipment after making up that cost and makign a few bucks i'll go ahead and buy the more expensivethigns. I alerady ahve connections for DJing school dances at a few schools because my friend zacs mom and dad are principles at one of the schools and can help us out with that. I also know alot of indians that will want cheap DJing so I know i can make up my money within no time. Couple things I'd like to know is how much to charge and what kind of Equipment shuold I purchase right now thats under 1200, considering thats my budget at the moment.



Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

AVSforum?

 

[KeyserSoze]

I've been researching this a lot lately. I don't know how much help I'd be, because the sets that I were looking at were all under a $1000. And no Record turntables, just two CD Decks, a mixer, and other accessories depending on the packages. Feel free to ask away, but like I said I was going to the cheap route, and it was only for fun. Not even for parties/gigs, etc.





KeyserSoze

 

[datdamkid]

Originally posted by: KeyserSoze
I've been researching this a lot lately. I don't know how much help I'd be, because the sets that I were looking at were all under a $1000. And no Record turntables, just two CD Decks, a mixer, and other accessories depending on the packages. Feel free to ask away, but like I said I was going to the cheap route, and it was only for fun. Not even for parties/gigs, etc.





KeyserSoze

Well I'd love to do it for under 1000 too, but i'd like to have turntables, could you list what you were looking at? And what sites or anything like that

 

[Deeko]

I DJ'ed for a few years.

Looking to save money? I can't emphasize more...pick either CD's, or turntables, and stick with it for awhile. Two reasons: 1) It will allow you to have more money to spend, and thus get better equipment 2) It will allow you to get more practice with a specific medium.

DJ'ing is like playing an instrument, and you wouldn't suddenly decide you wanted to start playing both guitar and trumpet, would you? Start with one, then maybe down the road add the other.

Assuming you're in high school and you'll be doing high school dances/parties, I'd recommend CD's to start out. Cheaper music, more music available, and frankly for those parties beatmixing is more than you need.

 

[datdamkid]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I DJ'ed for a few years.

Looking to save money? I can't emphasize more...pick either CD's, or turntables, and stick with it for awhile. Two reasons: 1) It will allow you to have more money to spend, and thus get better equipment 2) It will allow you to get more practice with a specific medium.

DJ'ing is like playing an instrument, and you wouldn't suddenly decide you wanted to start playing both guitar and trumpet, would you? Start with one, then maybe down the road add the other.

Assuming you're in high school and you'll be doing high school dances/parties, I'd recommend CD's to start out. Cheaper music, more music available, and frankly for those parties beatmixing is more than you need.

What do yuo mean do the CD players have something where you can scratch w/them? I'm very new to this stuff and want to know more about it? Is the CD player able to scratch?

 

[Deeko]

No that's why i said beatmixing.

They do make 'digital turntables' that allow you to scratch with CD's but they cost way more than you want to spend right now.

High school kids at their dances don't want some guy who is new at DJ'ing up there trying to scratch(no offense but you won't be good at it). They want to hear their music.

 

[datdamkid]

Well, I understand what you mean. I plan to be in my basement messing with this equipment til school starts up next year not planing on doing nething this year considering schools almost over. I'm planing on messing with this stuff for atleast month or 2 just recording my own stuff onto my laptop or computer to figure out how it sounds and to get it all right before i go out and start doing things. I don't want to just put music on for them I'd like to mess with the music....I'm not sure what you mean by beatmixing could you please explain?

 

[Deeko]

You gotta realize the venue....its a high school dance not a club. They don't want to hear things you've made. They don't want to hear you try to scratch and not be good at it(it takes years to get good), they want to hear Britney Spears.

Beatmixing, or beatmatching, is the process of matching the beats of two different songs and mixing between them so it sounds like one continuous song. If you go to a club that plays trance/house/etc, thats pretty much what they do. Some of the clubs here don't even have turntables as their house equipment(in the smaller rooms anyway).

Turntables are more fun to play with on your own, but at your level/venue, go with what brings in the money.

 

[datdamkid]

Ahh alright, is there any equipment that you could recommend, I'd like one turntable just for the huose so i could mess around on that I'd like to get good at that. Maybe not for parties and what not but good just to have fun, i was at a gutair center today and was messing around with the digital turntables for cds that you were talking abuot and that was cool, but I don't have the 700 bucks they were asking for the dual cd and digital turntable.

If you could recommend me anything that woudl be great.

 

[effowe]

I really wouldn't suggest buying inferior equipment when getting into Dj'ing. I've been doing it for 5-6 years now, and I waited until I could afford the top of the line equipment that I needed. If you start getting serious about doing this, the low end equipment just isn't going to cut it, and you will most likely end up upgrading. This is a waste of money, and a waste of time as the less expensive equipment is harder to use, and you'll have to end up selling it when you get good enough. If you want to go the vinyl turntable route (which I definitely suggest,) go for the Technics 1200 series. They range from 4-5 hundred new a piece, but will last you many years.

As far as a mixer is concerned, you have to think about what you want to do. If you want to do basic club mixing, you dont need a really loose crossfader, but you would probably like to adjust more levels. Something by Pioneer (with built in effects processor, or not) will be expensive, but it will be much more diverse and allow you to control almost any aspect of the record. If you are interested in scratching, I reccommend a Rane mixer. I own the TTM56, and it has the best crossfader that I've used.

Remember, this is a large investment. With the two Technics tables, you're already at about 900 dollars. A good mixer can start at about 400, but can get very expensive depending on what you want. Buying a lower grade product will just end up being more in the long run, so save your money, and get the good stuff.

Good Luck,
effowe

 

[Deeko]

I had an American DJ dual CD player, DCD400 I believe, it had instant start, jog wheel, 10 cue points, etc, as well as a Gemini BPM-200 mixer, with a built in beat counter/offset. I had JBL TR120(i think thats the model) speakers, and a QSC rmx series amp. I got all my stuff from http://www.pssl.com but they aren't the cheapest place.

 

[gigapet]

you cant get anything good with that budget. My recommendation is by a mixer and some speakers and use your computer as the music source(mp3s) until you get enough money for real equipment.

 

[datdamkid]

Originally posted by: effowe
I really wouldn't suggest buying inferior equipment when getting into Dj'ing. I've been doing it for 5-6 years now, and I waited until I could afford the top of the line equipment that I needed. If you start getting serious about doing this, the low end equipment just isn't going to cut it, and you will most likely end up upgrading. This is a waste of money, and a waste of time as the less expensive equipment is harder to use, and you'll have to end up selling it when you get good enough. If you want to go the vinyl turntable route (which I definitely suggest,) go for the Technics 1200 series. They range from 4-5 hundred new a piece, but will last you many years.

As far as a mixer is concerned, you have to think about what you want to do. If you want to do basic club mixing, you dont need a really loose crossfader, but you would probably like to adjust more levels. Something by Pioneer (with built in effects processor, or not) will be expensive, but it will be much more diverse and allow you to control almost any aspect of the record. If you are interested in scratching, I reccommend a Rane mixer. I own the TTM56, and it has the best crossfader that I've used.

Remember, this is a large investment. With the two Technics tables, you're already at about 900 dollars. A good mixer can start at about 400, but can get very expensive depending on what you want. Buying a lower grade product will just end up being more in the long run, so save your money, and get the good stuff.

Good Luck,
effowe

Well, I'm doing it for schools and a few anniversary parties and things like that I'm only 16 so I don't think I would need the really expensive stuff. Coudl you reccomend some cheaper stuff for me. I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Audiotherapy]

see if you can rent some equipement from guitar center or the like...

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: datdamkid

Well, I'm doing it for schools and a few anniversary parties and things like that I'm only 16 so I don't think I would need the really expensive stuff. Coudl you reccomend some cheaper stuff for me. I would greatly appreciate it.

Well like I said, if you think this is going to be something that you will be doing for a few years, it's just not worth it getting the less expensive stuff. This is a very expensive hobby, and you cant just buy the equipment and think you're done spending money. I've spent easily over a thousand, if not two, on vinyl alone. Then you have to buy new needles when yours either degrade or break. Needles are also expensive (50-100 dollars.)

If you decide to go the cd route, then it will be alot cheaper as you can burn whatever disks or songs that you need. I have never used cd mixers (as I don't really consider it true DJing.) I couldn't reccomend any cd mixers to you, but if you really want to spend less money, then you can get some cheap vinyl turntables. Anything by Gemini or Numark will be less than the Technics. Get a direct drive turntable (not a belt driven) as the direct drives are much more responsive, and have a smaller start/stop time.

Feel free to ask any more questions,
effowe

 

[Deeko]

Yes, definitely go direct drive if you're getting turntables.

Honestly, there is no excuse for getting a table other than the SL1200. There is no competition. If you want to go the turntable route, wait a little to get started, save up money, and get the 1200's, you won't regret it.

 

[datdamkid]

Originally posted by: effowe

Originally posted by: datdamkid

Well, I'm doing it for schools and a few anniversary parties and things like that I'm only 16 so I don't think I would need the really expensive stuff. Coudl you reccomend some cheaper stuff for me. I would greatly appreciate it.

Well like I said, if you think this is going to be something that you will be doing for a few years, it's just not worth it getting the less expensive stuff. This is a very expensive hobby, and you cant just buy the equipment and think you're done spending money. I've spent easily over a thousand, if not two, on vinyl alone. Then you have to buy new needles when yours either degrade or break. Needles are also expensive (50-100 dollars.)

If you decide to go the cd route, then it will be alot cheaper as you can burn whatever disks or songs that you need. I have never used cd mixers (as I don't really consider it true DJing.) I couldn't reccomend any cd mixers to you, but if you really want to spend less money, then you can get some cheap vinyl turntables. Anything by Gemini or Numark will be less than the Technics. Get a direct drive turntable (not a belt driven) as the direct drives are much more responsive, and have a smaller start/stop time.

Feel free to ask any more questions,
effowe

Well I'm only looking to do this for maybe a year or two at the most then I'm just gonna be usign it to mess around at the house. OR just parties that i have and what not. It seems like I'd like to go the cd route w/Scratchign ability such as this But not particulary that. I just used that to show you what i meant by scratching. But if anyone knows anything about the CD route and could recomend things to me about that, if I think that I like it alot then I'd rather spend money as I go farther down the road right now I just want to do this to get alot of other things off of my mind. My mom and dad said they'll help pay for it as I only have a grand in my bank account right now. Plus my buddys gonna help w/money I'll be paying have and he'll be paying half. But right now i'm going to purchase all the equipment since he can't give me the cash at the moment..... but neways if anyone can reccomend some cd things to me that would be great...

Seems as the Turntables will be out of my budget..


Edit: like somone said before about using a laptop as the source, what would i need to mix the music together and fade them in like Deeko and what other equipment would i need then but I don't think I'd want to do that.... I rather stick w/the cd players just wondering what you would need if i were to do it this way

 

[datdamkid]

Anyone?

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: datdamkid

Well I'm only looking to do this for maybe a year or two at the most then I'm just gonna be usign it to mess around at the house. OR just parties that i have and what not. It seems like I'd like to go the cd route w/Scratchign ability such as this But not particulary that. I just used that to show you what i meant by scratching. But if anyone knows anything about the CD route and could recomend things to me about that, if I think that I like it alot then I'd rather spend money as I go farther down the road right now I just want to do this to get alot of other things off of my mind. My mom and dad said they'll help pay for it as I only have a grand in my bank account right now. Plus my buddys gonna help w/money I'll be paying have and he'll be paying half. But right now i'm going to purchase all the equipment since he can't give me the cash at the moment..... but neways if anyone can reccomend some cd things to me that would be great...

Seems as the Turntables will be out of my budget..


Edit: like somone said before about using a laptop as the source, what would i need to mix the music together and fade them in like Deeko and what other equipment would i need then but I don't think I'd want to do that.... I rather stick w/the cd players just wondering what you would need if i were to do it this way

Well, Like I said I don't really know much about the CD tables. I've seen them in use, and mixing is a snap. Many will have BPM counters on them, so you just tap in the beat, it lines up the cd's automatically, and you can mix in really easily. Some will also have a "scratch" feature, but this is digitally created, and doesn't sound good (to me at least.) There's nothing like the feel of some vinyl in your hand, and you may be able to go play around with a table at either the Guitar Center, or shops that specialize in music equipment.

effowe