Advice wanted on digital DJ setup

February 4th, 2009

For a long time I’ve wanted to get my DJing setup somewhere in line with the 20th century. I still have my Technics 1210 turntables that I have had for almost 20 years, a simple Numark mixer and a small amp/speakers. Nothing fancy.

A couple of years ago I bought a copy of Traktor DJ and a little later on still I got a Hercules Console for controlling Traktor. It’s fair to say that I’ve touched neither for any length of time because of other commitments. The hercules has a soundcard built in, but I also have a MidiMan Quattro USB sound card, too.

Now I want to get setup with something that really does the job and have seen systems like Final Scratch, heard of Serato Scratch but am not really sure what is the best way to go. So, the first thing to know is the stuff I already have (see above); as far as computer, it’s Mac all the way. I have an old Powerbook that is collecting dust which I could dedicate for this or use a newer MacBook or MacBook Pro.

What I want is to do the following:

  • Have vinyl that can trigger/manipulate MP3s (or rather AAC encoded files in iTunes)
  • Use Traktor DJ, as it’s already paid for and is really good!
  • Be able to monitor the sound from the left and right Technics 1210s *and* also monitor the sound of the virtual decks - in Traktor DJ or other - from one point. In other words, a mixer that can handle separate audio feeds from the laptop/soundcard, as if it were a physical deck.
  • If the Hercules DJ Console can be put to use, then that’s all good …

I guess I want to get Final Scratch or Serato Scratch, but which one will play nicely with the setup above?

Any recommendations for a small-ish mixer that has enough channels for the above but is still a DJ mixer rather than a small mixing desk, ie it has cross faders and can take you giving it a bit of agro!)

With all of the above going on - real audio from vinyl, audio from virtual records, all going through one hardware mixer and back out - I’d also like to be able to record the output from that somehow, but would this require a second laptop/desktop machine, or could I have one machine handling the audio out from the DJ stuff and also be able to record an audio input?

So there’s quite a lot here, but I really want to get this sorted and get it completely right this time.

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