What do I actually NEED to get started?

Right

I've been a DJ for 9 years now, used vinyl exclusively for first 7, progressed from vinyl only to vinyl + CD for a while, now use CDs just about exclusively, having recorded a lot of my vinyl to computers HD and burning them to CDs as required (that and I only buy CDs now anyway)...

Now, having a lot of music on a computer HD now, owning a Core 2 Duo MacBookPro, a Tascam US-122 external Sound Card, and quite frankly getting fed up of browsing through tonnes of CDs when DJing is making me think about Traktor... That and I was initially worried about lack of control compared to using a pair of CDJ1000's, but I see that's probably not the case after my mate showed me Traktor 3 on his Laptop at the weekend...

Anyway...

WHAT DO I NEED to get started? I want to spend a bare minimum really to get going (will Traktor 3 LE suffice to get going with, or is it very limiting?) bearing in mind the kit I already own... I've looked at the Numark Total Control and the Behringer BCD3000 units online (both packaged with Traktor 3 LE), I see there are others too though... Will I need anything else though?

This setup would be used for playing gigs out most weekends (as I do already using CDJs) so NEEDS to be 100% reliable otherwise it's not even worth considering basically...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me the benefits of your experience!

 

You can readily and successfully mix with EXACTLY the kit you have. To tkae your mixing to another level you'll want to consider a midi controller or midi capable mixer but my thought is that you should learn the basics with just what you have now. LE can do it but full Traktor 3 really allows you to push it. Start with LE if you aren't sure but expect to upgrade to full Traktor sooner rather than later, With seven solid years unde your belt that is likely to occur much sooner rather than later. Try out Traktor in Demo mode too it may show you what you need to know.

The initial curve for you is neither too long nor too steep. Look for opportunites to experiment with styles and methods and do whatever works for you.

Ask questions, there are loads of people with plenty of experience to offer , some of it will work for some may not. I'd say go for it mate, you have what you need now, all you need do is get Traktor and mix.

Phil

 

Because you're already using a MackBookPro, I recommend using iTunes to organize your tracks. You can arrange playlists, save cover pictures .... In Traktor, you import the playlists of iTunes - in my oppinion that's the easyest way of organizing.

 

Cheers Guys

Phil, I should have explained that however I go about it, I really want to use a reliable midi controller because I really couldn't be dealing with not having the tactility of a pair of conventional turntables and mixer that I am used to... I appreciate it's fully well possible to mix purely on the software, but I want a fair bit of external control... Most weekends I play a 4 hour set of funky and electro house in a local club, I will need the ability to use several controls at once, as I would on a conventional mixer, to make really smooth mixes...

So what'sthebest bet then? Behringer BCD3000 with Traktor LE bundled in, and then just upgrade to Traktor 3?

Mr. Performer, cheers for the heads up on using iTunes to arrange playlists for all my tunes to import them into Traktor, sounds like it could really help out when organising my music (something I have traditionally been a nightmare at, only organised all my old vinyl by label and genre recently after years and years!).

 

i know waht you mean!

That's been the reason why I carried tons of CDs over years - and not switching to "software music". My left hand knew where to find a song - a stranger would've been lost in my bags. But iTunes saved my life - very little time to organize, (nearly) perfect library.

Are you a pro, earning money with your music, or just playing in little bar for a couple of beers? If you can afford it, don't buy Behringer. It's ok for little money, but not for weekly pro-sets.

 

Regards BCD 3000 (A total Toy IMO and many others), Hercules controller is in much the same league, Numark Total control (Better but still needs some work. Given your professional needs my pick would be Vestax VCI-100, Feena FM9303 (At least two users here have them; Nem0nic and Sean have the Feena - others who have them will surely speak up about them too) Other options are the Kontrol DJ or the XP10, All these except the Feena have Jog wheels. To be honest if you are not a scratch DJ you may well find the jog wheels to be superfluous for Trakor 3. Another option is the Torq Xponent controller from M-Audio, it has not been out too long and I don't know how well it works with Traktor. Others who do can advise you.

Its worth pointing out that you want to setup your keyboard Hotkeys anyway and learn to do them well without thinking, that time Will save you enormously in the long run. That is especially true for track and tempo setup, beatgridding and cue setting.

Phil

 

Unfortunately, the Feena is not available anymore, and those who have it most likely don't want to part with them... :-/

 

Yes True, I forgot to add that most important point.

Phil

 

Cheers again

Downloaded the free demo of Traktor 3 this evening and been having a messabout... One thing that got me confused for a good while was how some tracks don't seem to pick automatically detect the bpm very well, but then discovered the beatgridding option etc...

Having messed about just using my finger on the trackpad of my MacBookPro, I am of the conclusion there is no way I'd be buying this without a top notch midi controller, but also I'd still want to be using a conventional Mixer to be doing all the mixing with (too many years on Pioneers I think, don't think it's a habit that'll break, besides I don't think I could live without using the line level meters to help for accurate level settings to get smooth mixes)...

Which means it's all gonna cost!

So for the time being, I think it's a case of sticking to the CDJ's... Had thought it would be nice to get going with Traktor if I could get away with one of those Behringer things, but seemingly I'd need to splash out on a vestax unit (or even better, 2 of those XP10 things as they look the nuts!) and an Audio 8 amp to give me the multi ins and outs I'd need to connect to a conventional mixer... Which all ups the cost (if I could get going for around £200, I'd probably start tomorrow, but seems it'd be more like £650 or more for the setup I'd want!)...

Oh, and yeah, whilst it's hard to think of myself as being a "pro" DJ, I am in terms of that I get paid to play... Not as much as I'd like just yet, certainly not enough to be able to give up the day job yet, but I've got experience and skills on my side at least... So I'll stick with what's reliable (ie. CDJ's) until I can afford the Traktor setup i'd want...

Why is nothing cheap?

 

Do you own a good mixer, or are you thinking about a new one? Then have a look at Allen&Heath's XONE:3D - there's soundcard, controller and mixer (where you can connect analog machines, too) all in one.

About "cheap": Well, it's Allen&Heath.....

 

I'd say you might want to take advantage of the up/crossgrade offer and get a reduced price Traktor 3 using your LE.

Traktor Scrtach will be supported by T3 in the upcoming 3.3 patch too so you will be able to buy that if you want to emulate vinyl control.

Once you get used to the power of native T3 snap MIDI control you might decide to ditch timecode because it is an expensive addition for not much benefit beyond vinyl emulation stunts if you ask me.

 

Not quite. You still need to buy Scratch to use control vinyl with 3.3. Simply using 3.3 will *not* get you there.

 

That's why I said TS will be 'supported by' T3 not come with it... :S

 

well, it was the 2nd part of that sentence that triggered my response... it's going to be confusing enough once 3.3 has actually arrived.

 

Mixer wise, I own a Pioneer, and the clubs I play at generally have Pioneers too... One thing I don't want to be doing is carting my own mixer into a club when I play, and nice as that Xone 3D is, it's about £1600... Which makes it a complete no go unless I win the lottery!

I only have the demo at the mo, I don't have LE even, so would cost say £130 to get going even with just Traktor 3 without a Midi controller, so is likely to be say £250 or so to get started... And that would be without the Audio 8 amp which I'd want as well...

It's tempting, though not until it makes financial sense to me I'm afraid! (and that's without the thought of carting a laptop worth about £1500 and any other gubbins around with me!)