Tuesday 28 September 2010

Dj software and hardware

One user politely asked to make a blog post about the equipment i used, so i shall do just that. thanks for the idea.


So This is my setup

1x Technics SL1200
1x Technics SL1210 turntables
Gemini PS 626 EXF mixer
Serato scratch live (SL3)
Macbook white Unibody
Sony MRDV900HD headphones


The serato software and hardware is a digital solution for DJs - it is the main component of my setup; without that i could not play anything. there are many DJs who will argue about digital vs real vinyl but in my opinion the difference in sound quality is negligible for any MP3 audio files of 320 kbps


this is a screenshot of serato in use

The red arrow points to the record button, this is all i have to do to record my mixes, other than ensure that the volume levels are adequate to allow a high quality playback, this record button records at 2304kbps which in theory is better than CD quality, but remember that the initial MP3s used to create the mix are only at 320 kbps. what i therefore do is save the recording and use itunes to convert to 320kbps MP3, which is what you will hear if you download any of my Soundcloud mixes.

that is all there is to recording my mixes.

There are many digital solutions out there like traktor, virtual DJ and serato, i chose serato because its classed as the industry standard. It did cost £520 but if you are serious about Djing then it is a good investment that never loses its value.


Equally important is the Macbook.
Serato does run on both Windows and OSX but after doing much research i found that OSX tended to be the most stable with the SL3 device. The previous version of Scratch Live was called SL1 and it ran brilliant in both platforms. there is also just something cool about seeing a glowing apple logo in a DJ booth.

Traktor is also good but is less widely used and doesnt have as nicely laid out a GUI as serato does. Virtual DJ is also used sometimes but this is more entry level than professional.


I will be making an upbeat mix for one commenter as he said that he likes to listen to this type of music while he jogs. keep this blog in your bookmarks and rss and you'll never miss a beat.



28 comments:

  1. I think I will check out Serato in the future, I've been meaning to get into this business for a while.

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  2. I have to say I completely disagree that higher than 250kbps is negligible if you have high quality playback equipment. And the higher the quality the more the flaws in the compression will show.

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  3. I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks that mp3 compression is similar to casette tape or vinyl in that it has it's own sound, a sound that isn't always bad. Of course, bitrates lower than 160 are the devil's work.

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  4. cjp but if you're playing it at a club at 105dB people aren't gonna give a damn :D

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  5. i have changed 250 to 320 kbps, it was a mistake at the time of writing (4.00 am)

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  6. I think I need to murder you and steal your equipment.

    Of course, I wouldn't know what to do with it all. But it sure would look cool.

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  7. I've been used traktor since today, but I'll give a chance to this..

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  8. Pretty awesome setup! Even though i know nothing of DJ'ing

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  9. nice, ive got a set of Technics myself. Trying to save up for more vinyl though, shits expensive.

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  10. Not really liking the MacBook, bro.

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  11. that's an awesome hardware you got there

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  12. Nice setup man, when are you goign to post more music? I was rocking out to your mix last night

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  13. I have a friend who DJs, I loves this kind of technical stuff it seems so mysterious. You use any instruments?

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  14. Nice setup man, when are you goign to post more music? I was rocking out to your mix last night.

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  15. i've always wanted to try to work on some type of digital music program, but it all seems difficult and scary.

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  16. I have a record player and listen/collect vinyl. Never got into DJing though but loving your setup!

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  17. awesome setup, jealous.

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  18. Nice set up but I'm listening only to 1100kbsp FLAC music.

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  19. great blog, love the posts! Thanks for the info and lookin' forward to the new mixes :) I have been trying to get back into my music lately, we will see how it goes.

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