WHICH CD DECKS SHOULD I GET?

[Movement]

OK, I’ve abandoned all hope of being cool and decided to be a CD DJ. Not interested in fancy technique, tricks or effects, just want to mix a great selection with as much old school hip hop, funk, electro etc as modern breaks. Obviously I don’t need CDJ1000s to do that but, if I’ve learned on something more basic, am I going to be fucked when I get a warm-up set and that’s all they’ve got at the venue?

[johnnynostars]

In my limited experience with CDJs, I've found that different brands all have very different interfaces (I think that's the right word). So it doesn't matter what you get, there's nothing standard and you'll have to adjust anyway. I hope that makes sense.

BTW I recomend the Denon DNS-5000. Lots of cool features and it has a moving platter for a vinyl-like feel. $$$ though, but less than a CDJ1000 (however, I've not compared the two).

[Scholtzy]

I'd recomend a pioneer, in clubs the cdj-1000s are standard, 100s/200's for the smaller venues.

If you want to do a bit of scratching and do turntablism you should check out the cdj800, which is a little cheaper than a 1000, without some unecissary bells and whistles. The denon dns-5000's are in the same price range ($1300ish), definatly worth a look as they have way more features and a motorized platter...great for scratching and turntablism stuff. The thing to keep in mind is that the denons use a different pitch bending algorithm than the pioneers, which takes a bit of getting used to.

But...if you want something cheaper then you cant go past the cdj200's, you should be able to get 2 of them for the price of a single cdj1000, and they have effects, play mp3s and everything...just they dont have an active platter.

Dont bother with the technics / vestax / stanton / gemini cdjs etc...if you want something cheap then the cdj 200 kills any of their offerings imo.

[johnnynostars]

different pitch bending algorithm

What's that mean? I thought stuff just sped up. Obviously things change when the key adjust is applied.

[Scholtzy]

different pitch bending algorithm

What's that mean? I thought stuff just sped up. Obviously things change when the key adjust is applied.

Gah..this is going to be tricky to explain. Kinda need a graph

Basically when you push the wheel around on a cdj1000 to nudge the tune forwards or backwards, the faster you nudge it the more it shifts the tune right.

So, just say the fastest you can nudge the tune on a pioneer is 100%, on a denon that speed might only be 80%,..and on a pioneer at 95%; the denon might be at 78% for example.

I *think* the pioneers have a bit more of a linear pattern than the denons. It just makes it a bit harder to get the pitch right for some people when switching between cdjs.

If you followed me.

[marcus]

Check out the Numark's TTX's as well. A few people I know swear by them and rate them over the Pioneers. Used them a few times and they are pretty easy to use. But as Schotlzy says, they aren't club standard. All depends on what you want to do ie dj in clubs etc.

[FoundationStepper]

the fundamental question if if you want a dual rackmount style unit, or the moving platter style "scratch" unit.

options become more simple once you make this decision.

plenty o places/venues still only have the rackmount style. which offers less malleability of the playback, but can still be useful once you get used to the way of working.

[a1studmuffin]

I went all out and got dual CDJ1000MKIIs + DJM600 mixer. I love the fact that, should I actually manage to get a gig somewhere, they're probably going to have that setup. (That said, you really can't be sure unless you scope it out beforehand.) It's a big outlay, but they're really (...right??) not gunna lose too much value too quickly. Right?? (nervous laughter) And you can always sell them if you want to give up or whatever.

[strategem]

if your concern is that you want to be familiar with what most places have then i would suggest buying some second hand cdjs. either 100's or 200's.

if you want it to be REALLY realistic drop them in a bucket of beer from about 5 foot in the air. Then dry em out and play on em.

[FoundationStepper]

Im not big on buying second hand cd players.

in my experince having to deal with repairs, by the time they get to a certain age, if one component doesnt go, another will. and with a lens, rail, etc there a quite a few things to go wrong.

if they are relatively new it shouldnt be such a drama, but still, its good to keep in mind. weighing up against the price too

esp if they have a shady history... ie smoky beer stained environments

[Direkt]

Check out the Numark's TTX's as well. A few people I know swear by them and rate them over the Pioneers. Used them a few times and they are pretty easy to use. But as Schotlzy says, they aren't club standard. All depends on what you want to do ie dj in clubs etc.

Yup I think you mean the CDX's though mate. Full 12" platter controlling a MP3 capable CD drive. But these are more in the higher end of CD players - financially speaking. The new HDX's are gonna be sick as!

[betson]

The DNS-5000 pitch bend is the same as their rack duals, if you've used a denon dual the pitch bend is the same.

Either get a pio or denon,
even see if some of the the dns-3000's are still around, they were goin for about 850 a while ago.

[marcus]

Yup I think you mean the CDX's though mate. Full 12" platter controlling a MP3 capable CD drive. But these are more in the higher end of CD players - financially speaking. The new HDX's are gonna be sick as!

Sorry, was thinking of the turntables.

Right on about the HDX - looks awesome! Even comes with a keyboard!

If I manage to save some pennies I'll definately be looking at getting one.

[Fents]

Those cdx's are rubbish IMO, they have one at Lounge and no one will use it, the platter isnt true like a real deck.

[betson]

yeah, you can stop the whole platter with the spindle.

[Direkt]

Those cdx's are rubbish IMO, they have one at Lounge and no one will use it, the platter isnt true like a real deck.

Probably coz it's fucked mate. The platters are exactly like a real deck IMO. That's the whole point of the unit. What did you find you couldn't do?

We've endorsed all the Shook Daily Crew, Flagrant etc etc just locally - haven't had any drama's with their play-ability.

Each to his own though....

HDX's definately looking sick bro. You can record your set on them whilst you're also using the unit to play - simultaneously. Fully categorise your hard-drives for easy access, run searches etc etc.

[betson]

The spindle is connected to the record somehow and not the platter, when you grab the spindle, the record will stop.

Other than that they feel exectly like a tt.

[Direkt]

Why do you need to grab the spindle?

Not being a smart-ass, just generally interested

[betson]

Thats how I slow down to pitch bend sometimes, tried it with the CDX, had to be very gentle, not like a 12, where a bit of pinch will slow it down a bit.

Thats all.

[Direkt]

Oh, right. Cheers.

[deviant]

don't they have one now with a tone arm and all too.? one that you can play records and CDs on... now that sounds sick

but CDJs are standard. 1000s seriously kick arse would def get some if I had the $$$

[cuznmatt]

the cheap numark's and stantons are shit, there's a brief delay from the time you PUSH THE BUTTON to the time it takes off, and that's just shit.

highly recommend the pioneer range, the rackmounts are good and so are the 800/1000s, in fact the 800/1000s are mad, very accurate and the looping function is excellent. the looping on the stantons and the numarks are shit arse, dunno about their high end range but the other models are shit arse to put it mildly.

[gnat]

cdj financial fa1L

800's ftw

sooner get cjd than cdj at this point

[deviant]

800s are OK but I just can't dig them after using 1000s all time....

must have wave display imo... also the jog-wheel is looser on the 800, which will fuck you up.

[gnat]

i don't need 1000's- i'm not james zabiela

i play for fun at home and with mates

[gnat]

in fact i don't even need 800's i reckon

maybe 200's would be fine

[JAMESSSS]

imo fuck the cdjs and focus on smashing the rave gnat.

[*catalyst]

CDJ-800 ftw.

Its like a 1000, but not as much in the bells+whistles dept. Sure, if you have the cash drop for 1000MK3's but I think the 800 is similar enough to the 1000 for home use.

my 2c.

-Lachie

[mrj]

in fact i don't even need 800's i reckon

maybe 200's would be fine

yah thats what i telling you teh firsting time.

[SoulWhiteMan]

even look at the pioneer cdx1000s if you still can.

Rackmount cd unit.

but the jogwheel feels the same as the 1/200s, which imho feel the same as the 800/1000s.....

one thing has to be said about the pioneers - the pitch bending feels the same across all the models.

[JAMESSSS]

tbh you need to ask yourself the question "how much rave am I currently smashing"?

How much?

How much rave?

[flippo]

bare rave, or just the occasional phat rave?

[JAMESSSS]

Protip: This is where www.ratemyrave.com comes in handy.

[nic]

more like ratemygurningfratparty tbh

get a mac gnat

[gnat]

you lot

so now i'm buddy holly

and mrj, yah i know...

[a1studmuffin]

CDJ-800 ftw.

Its like a 1000, but not as much in the bells+whistles dept. Sure, if you have the cash drop for 1000MK3's but I think the 800 is similar enough to the 1000 for home use.

Have to agree with this. Half the joints you'll play in have busted up CDJ-800s anyway, so there's not much point getting too familiar with the 1000's precise speed adjustment and waveform display. I've got 1000MK3s + a DJM-800 at home and TBH the only time I ever use them is to practice before a gig. Considering how much they cost, I probably should have gone with second-hand CDJ-800s (MKIs will do fine if you can find them - no MP3 CD capability is not a huge loss, especially because you can't count on CDJs at clubs supporting MP3 CDs anyway) and a DJM-600, would have saved myself $1000-2000 prolly. Oh well.

[JAMESSSS]

macbook a good option.

It will give you at least +2 when smashing raves.

[mrj]

james ur killing me man

[SoulWhiteMan]

macbook a good option.

It will give you at least +2 when smashing raves.

I'm assuming you already have a laptop? If so, just use this gnat

http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=889

two-fiddy

[menace]

what program are you using for your Mac ?

[JAMESSSS]

iTunes

[menace]

iTunes

does it have effects ?

[same o]

1000's or bust.. needs to be able to view wave.

[mrj]

iTunes

does it have effects ?

its fucking frustruating to use, thats an effect kinda.

[JAMESSSS]

It has some awesome effects.

• Volume
• Stop /start
• Equalizer with predefined professional quality presets and the power of configurable sliders

[deviant]

macbook a good option.

It will give you at least +2 when smashing raves.

I'm assuming you already have a laptop? If so, just use this gnat

http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=889

two-fiddy

used this at a mates house....

piece of shit

[JAMESSSS]

Did it have THE POWER OF CONFIGURABLE SLIDERS?

[nic]

ok - bedtime james.

[JAMESSSS]

[SoulWhiteMan]

Just get Traktor