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a DJ question for DJ's
Elimination
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Ok well i am just starting out DJing and am now picking up my own gear instead of using my friends (Who is one of the top DJ's in the city i live in.) and so i have a question just to tally it up a bit....i can't really decide which....Vinyl or CD tables? I know there are advantages and disadvantages to both of them. If i go CD it will be single top loading just for information purposes. I also know pitch bending is waaay easier on CD tables...but manipulation in general is easier with vinyl...hmm so i am calling out to those who have some knowledge, gimme some constructive insight?
PSN: PA_Elimination 3DS: 4399-2012-1711 Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/TheElimination/
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Why though...? what makes it so much better is what i am looking for.
The only thing i can think of that you can do on vinyl but not a CDJ is pick up the needle and drop it somewhere else, but you can jog a CDJ fast enough that its not a reasonable complaint, as it can be wildly innacurate and unreliable anyway.
There's no beating the Cue button for instant perfectly timed cues dropped live, which can be really messy with vinyls to a novice.
Most will argue sound quality, but as long as your MP3's are in 320, you wont notice a difference.
Oh and lets not forget cost. You're paying for every song you buy on vinyl, and that WILL add up incredibly fast, especially if you're starting with nothing. Assuming you're not spinning clubs, you can just use the music you already have, which is already a great plus as you're most likely quite familiar with it. Having MP3's also lets you mess around with the plethora of software available (Ableton, Mixmeister, VDJ, etc) There's also nothing more frustrating then getting an awesome new track as an MP3, and then not being able to find a Vinyl version anywhere.
Yeah the single top loading models usually have the vynil scratching functions you're talking about which was what i was looking at on that front. But sound quality is always nice...so far am i leaning toward CDJ...but i just dont know 100%, and seeing as this stuff is a big investment for me quality of the equipment is also a big factor. Links to some tables people here already use might help me as well and give me an idea of some good choices...i will also be asking around with the DJ's i promote for here at home too and see what they say since i havn't asked much from them yet.
But if you plan on doing it for money, you need to go with digital turn tables, gigs will be a lot easier to find.
Thats not too much of a problem seeing as i create a lot of original tracks beat for beat. :winky: But there are a few songs i wouldn't mind sneaking under the radar from time to time. And you are right many MP3's are not 320 unless i rip them myself.
Thats actually really good info. That would explain why a lot of my friends use these vinyl tables at the after parties in their homes but spin CD's when in the club. I never made that connection.
But CDs are cheap and plentiful, so if you start there, you're not really missing anything.
There's no such thing as vinyl only anymore. And what are you talking about with this?
The tricks are vinyl only. Like mentioned above, taping records to create loops, cue spots, and so on. Elements of turntablism, beyond just being a DJ.
As for the second thing, with vinyl there's no wait to cue up what's next, compared to waiting for the laser to read the disk. Slap it on, place the needle.
If you were to attempt to use a CD system to create songs, similar to how turntablists do, you'd have to cut & paste in an audio editor at home, and then prep CDs, at which point you're just making music at home and playing it back later on.
In other words, if the dude wants to be a DJ in terms of Qbert or Kid Koala or something, he should just focus on vinyl. I don't get that impression from him, which is why I think CDs would be fine.
Check out what Serato Scratch (Sasha, DJ Marky, Jazzy Jeff), Torq (DJ Heather), Abelton (Richie Hawtin) are.
I'm totally confused. To be fair I've never used vinyl myself, but loops/cues are vinyl only tricks? but how exactly would you go about doing either of these things with vinyl? and how are you unable to do them with CDJs? If you could maybe elaborate on what you mean, I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding.
As for the other part, the wait for the laser to read it is really minimal. If you're trying to shave of mere seconds you're trying to go way too fast IMO. And is it not much faster to have 10 or so songs ready to go at the press of a button rather then fumbling around a box of records?
There are certain subcultures wherein you will not be taken seriously playing CDs. At all.
There are certain subcultures wherein you will have a very hard time finding really good remixes, singles or rarities on CD.
These can be very good reasons to get turntables. Depending on what you're doing this may or may not be necessary. If nothing else, I'd recommend keeping an open mind towards eventually investing in turntables and starting out on CD decks.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Actually with the more modern CD tables you can create cue spots, loops, and tap because the single top loading CD tables are set up to look and feel like vynil which is what, so far, i am thinking of going for based on most peoples advice.
I will tell you that CDs are no longer treated with scorn and derision as they once were. If you're just getting started, at this point, as great as vinyl is (my home setup is two Technics M3Ds with Serato Scratch Live) it's cumbersome, expensive, and as someone previously mentioned, more and more frequently unsupported, especially at minor venues.
My strong recommendation would be for you to get Pioneer CDJ-1000's, as they are the industry standard.
Contrary to what others have said in the thread, there are things you can ONLY do with CDs, such as loops and cue points; it can be a major asset in mixing. Is it a different experience? Absolutely, but it's something everyone needs to learn to use at this point.
You CAN learn on lesser decks, but I would advise against it; if you're going to take this seriously, you're going to end up purchasing them in the end anyway, and if you decide it isn't for you, they're going to hold their value far better than Gemini or Numark decks will. It will end up costing you more in the long run.
Of course you can burn to CD which negates the need in most cases, but most software is compatible with CD turntables as well; Serato ships with both vinyl and CD control records. If you want to add vinyl to your setup later, you can always do so, find a pair of used Technics (always, always the industry standard, you'll regret it otherwise, I promise) for relatively cheap and put them alongside your CDJs. Then you too can enjoy the viciously expensive habit of vinyl and the joy it brings and sadness as your records and needles wear out as they need to be replaced.
But yes, start on CDs, and start on CDJs.
(if you're planning on being a turntablist, of course, get Technics first and forget everything else)