First, I’m going to make a warning to the purists out there. I am not a purist, nor do I intend to be. Being a purist requires money, which I don’t have at the moment. No, I am a heretic – a software DJ!
The computer
Apple Macbook 2 GHz, 2 GB RAM – It’s about one and a half years old now and it’s still fast, portable, and everything I could have asked for in a computer. It’s my first Mac, and I don’t think I’ll be looking back. I run Traktor DJ Studio 3, and Propellerhead Software’s Reason and ReCycle.
“Mixer”
Hercules DJ Console MK2 - If Playskool made a “My First DJ Mixer” for toddlers, this would be it. It’s a plastic-fantastic, all-in-one box to get you introduced to software DJ’ing. It’s major drawback is it’s shoddy construction – buttons get jammed and in general aren’t very responsive. If you have $150-200 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to mix some MP3’s around, this is the mixer for you. I, on the other hand, am starting to outgrow this thing, so I’m looking around for something that can do just a little more. My eventual goal is to move to something that will allowed time-coded vinyls, but I’ll get into that later.
MIDI Controller
M-Audio Axiom 25 - It’s very sturdy, easy to program, and works great with Reason. It’s also much cheaper than it’s Korg counterpart at around $175. The keys are velocity sensitive and have a realistic action to them. The programmable knobs and beat pads work great for all sorts of uses. If 25 keys aren’t enough, they make models with 49, 61, and the full 88.
I upgraded from this to the hercules rmx.
the build quality of the rmx is very robust. i have had one button jam since buying it 3 months ago and i use it twice a week in a pub for 4 hours at a time.
The software i use is virtual dj.
i would recomend the rmx and virtual dj. virtual dj can also use timecoded vinyls.
Cool, I saw the RMX about a month ago and it certainly looks and feels like a proper mixer, and not a janky plastic box, like the original. In my other post, I went with the BCD3000. http://djrocket.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/epic-battle-behringer-bcd3000-vs-hercules-dj-console-mk2/
Hi!
I´m working on a new website, with reviews of music stuff, mu own music and much more, take a look at it at http://www.angeldust.se if you like.
Peace!
Dusty Vince alias Vincent Angeldust.