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DJ/Mixing for kids (9-10 yr old)
Iruka
Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
So I probably am not doing this for 2022 Christmas, but my nephew is way into watching DJs on twitch with his mom. Being the fun aunt, I try to enable all of their creative endeavors, so I wanted to get him a really simple set up to get him started with that area of music and see if it sticks. I'm aiming to get something for his spring birthday next year, if the interest is still there. His Brother might also poke around at this, but he already plays guitar and is preoccupied with that.
I like lists, so here we go:
- We dont know if it will stick, so my upper limit for this is probably 200 bucks.
- I dont really know what entry level software is for this kind of thing, but if it were more game like than work like, that would be cool.
- They have windows laptops (think, school grade laptops) and tech savvy parents.
- They do not have individual iPads.
- They do have Nintendo switches, access to a PS5, and access to one iPad, though that would not be the preferred device.
When I was thinking about this originally, I was thinking of the BlipBlox:
Problem with this is, they are kind of getting to the age where they don't like things that look to much like they are for babies, and haven't swung around to not caring about that yet. I think this might trigger that reaction, which is too bad because it seems well reviewed and well made. I was hoping someone here may have gone through this with their kid and have some alternative suggestions for me.
I like lists, so here we go:
- We dont know if it will stick, so my upper limit for this is probably 200 bucks.
- I dont really know what entry level software is for this kind of thing, but if it were more game like than work like, that would be cool.
- They have windows laptops (think, school grade laptops) and tech savvy parents.
- They do not have individual iPads.
- They do have Nintendo switches, access to a PS5, and access to one iPad, though that would not be the preferred device.
When I was thinking about this originally, I was thinking of the BlipBlox:
Problem with this is, they are kind of getting to the age where they don't like things that look to much like they are for babies, and haven't swung around to not caring about that yet. I think this might trigger that reaction, which is too bad because it seems well reviewed and well made. I was hoping someone here may have gone through this with their kid and have some alternative suggestions for me.
+1
Posts
Are they watching scratch DJs or party DJs? If the former, then a lot of the techniques are going to rely on having two large bits of vinyl to move around, so you'll want something with the biggest "records" that you can find. This one says it comes with 'learn to DJ' stuff, but looking at the size of the physical disks you turn, they are very small, so anything involving chopping up bits of tracks accurately is going to be difficult -- but on the other hand it looks like it teaches you how to sequence tracks, which is the party DJ set of skills instead.
This is more notes by people that probably know a lot more about it than I do, the Numark one is listed there as a possible starting point. The blipbox you have looks more like an introductory sequencer than an introductory dj controller, which is fine but if they have an ipad then they have garageband which would possibly do the same.
(edit: re: kids age -- like you said, 10 is old enough to know what is/isn't legitimate -vs- a toy, so I'd lean towards something that's "real dj equipment" even if it's on the simpler end of the range)
I'm not sure exactly what they are watching, so I'll ask my sister to show me some of the channels they like over the holidays! Thanks for all this info though, it's more than I had to start with as this is way outside my wheelhouse. My nephew is quite a lego/math/programming wizard so theres a part of me that thinks the little visual blocks of a sequencer might have more appeal than the turn tables, but now that I know the language for both, I can look into it more.
The whole routine is incredible; skip to 3:10 for him just shredding LL Cool J to _pieces_. Old school, sure, but he gets a lot done with two turntables and the most basic mixer imaginable.
Party DJing -- that's more about building a whole set and managing the audience, than making a short routine to show off your skills, so it's hard to do it justice, but this is (highlights from) roughly the sort of thing I'm thinking of:
If it's sequencers, then something like a midi pad is another option, though those are definitely more about making music from scratch, and will need some sort of software to control, and getting music-making software to work can be pretty fiddly; there's a thread over in AC that probably contains a lot more knowledge about that sort of thing than I have.
you need at least two sets of controls with pitch and a jog wheel.
Unless your definition of "dj-ing" is something else than most peoples of course.
edit: looking at the thing a bit closer, apparently it has but just..no.