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Advice required: DJ Equipment


Davieboy

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Hey folks,

This is my first post. I've started buying vinyl and I'm particularly tickled with soul/funk/reggae/dub/post-punk/punk/garage 7" singles. There's a whole world of reasonably priced stuff out there, so I want to start putting the bits together with decks...which will set me free to buy shedloads of vinyl....

I've never dj'd before, but I've been a frustrated one for a while, making mixes for folk and the like. Just looking for a bit of advice before I buy. I've looked on e-Bay, but you seem to pay a lot for something that is of decent quality...so I'm thinking of buying a package from an online specialist, as you get a 3-year guarantee:

DJ Deck Packages - Technics - SL1200mk2 & DM950USB Package - decks.co.uk

Technics SL1200mk2 & DM950USB Package:

2 x Technics SL1200 Mk2 Turntables

1 x Numark DM950USB Mixer

2 x Ortofon OM Cartridge and Stylus

Numark HF125 Headphones and All Cables

Slipmats

729.00 inc VAT

I know as a beginer, I could get something cheaper....but I can't be @rsed having to upgrade again later. I want good quality direct drive turntables and an easy to use mixer. This one has a usb port, so I could record my mixes.

Anybody got any advice as to whether this is a good deal / package for an enthusiastic beginner?

Also, any good nights on in town with killer grooves? Been in Bar 69 a few times, which is good if a little swanky. Oh for the days of the Wild Boar with its candles and green cushions....

Davieboy

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Guest Tam o' Shantie
Hey folks,

This is my first post. I've started buying vinyl and I'm particularly tickled with soul/funk/reggae/dub/post-punk/punk/garage 7" singles. There's a whole world of reasonably priced stuff out there, so I want to start putting the bits together with decks...which will set me free to buy shedloads of vinyl....

I've never dj'd before, but I've been a frustrated one for a while, making mixes for folk and the like. Just looking for a bit of advice before I buy. I've looked on e-Bay, but you seem to pay a lot for something that is of decent quality...so I'm thinking of buying a package from an online specialist, as you get a 3-year guarantee:

DJ Deck Packages - Technics - SL1200mk2 & DM950USB Package - decks.co.uk

Technics SL1200mk2 & DM950USB Package:

2 x Technics SL1200 Mk2 Turntables

1 x Numark DM950USB Mixer

2 x Ortofon OM Cartridge and Stylus

Numark HF125 Headphones and All Cables

Slipmats

729.00 inc VAT

I know as a beginer, I could get something cheaper....but I can't be @rsed having to upgrade again later. I want good quality direct drive turntables and an easy to use mixer. This one has a usb port, so I could record my mixes.

Anybody got any advice as to whether this is a good deal / package for an enthusiastic beginner?

Also, any good nights on in town with killer grooves? Been in Bar 69 a few times, which is good if a little swanky. Oh for the days of the Wild Boar with its candles and green cushions....

Davieboy

I would honestly not spend that much until you have had a go for a while. Such a high percentage of beginner DJs spend shitloads of money on expensive equipment then lose interest. At the very least, get a 2nd hand pair of Technics. For about a year I used 2nd hand Numark TT200s until one of them broke and I replaced it with an SL1200mk2 - don't think they are prone to this or anything, I was just unlucky.

The difference is noticable, but it's really not that huge. The quality of the technics build is definitely better and it's less prone to rumble due to it weighing about 4 times as much! But considering I got a pair of TT200s for 120 quid I can live with it until I've got enough spare cash to justify getting another SL1200mk2 (for reference, my current one cost about 150 quid from ebay). Are you going to be doing any scratching at all, because if so that Numark mixer is pretty pointless - it's basically the cheapest model on the market and amongst other limitations, there is no crossfader curve (for scratching, you want a sharper 'fade').

DJing is one of those things that is more fun if you don't jump in at the deep end, in my opinion.

PS don't know anything about USB audio outputs but there are a million cheap laptop soundcards that will take your audio out of the mixer and record it for about 30 quid.

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I would honestly not spend that much until you have had a go for a while. Such a high percentage of beginner DJs spend shitloads of money on expensive equipment then lose interest. At the very least, get a 2nd hand pair of Technics. For about a year I used 2nd hand Numark TT200s until one of them broke and I replaced it with an SL1200mk2 - don't think they are prone to this or anything, I was just unlucky.

The difference is noticable, but it's really not that huge. The quality of the technics build is definitely better and it's less prone to rumble due to it weighing about 4 times as much! But considering I got a pair of TT200s for 120 quid I can live with it until I've got enough spare cash to justify getting another SL1200mk2 (for reference, my current one cost about 150 quid from ebay). Are you going to be doing any scratching at all, because if so that Numark mixer is pretty pointless - it's basically the cheapest model on the market and amongst other limitations, there is no crossfader curve (for scratching, you want a sharper 'fade').

PS don't know anything about USB audio outputs but there are a million cheap laptop soundcards that will take your audio out of the mixer and record it for about 30 quid.

ditto what he said, You can pick up a pair of 1210's second hand, but my advice is to know the person buying from or have a look atthem first to make sure they are in good condition (most dj's will looks after thier 'babies' so should be a problem). I got mine for 450 second hand and they were in perfect nick.

You can also pick up a mixer for cheap the numark you say there is only 33 pretty cheap ass mixer, but there is heaps out there, 2 channels is all you need initially, unless you plan on getting cdj's etc too

check out on line and also I use Thomann Cyberstore

just shop around and price the things seperatelyt to know if you are getting a good deal or not

good Luck

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