HELP ME PICK OUT DJ EQUIP!! ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!

"ableton is what the pros use" is not true at all, it all depends on personal preference and what you are trying to do - a "professional DJ/live producer" isn't considered a "pro" because of the gear they use, but how they use them.. whether it's CDJ's or tables, or Ableton with an APC, MPD, etc.. or an everything in one style controller like the S4.

the first thing you should do is a good deal of research before making any purchases, try and link up with a friend that has what you're thinking of getting and mess around with it a good deal. if you want to make the switch to Ableton, be prepared to do a lot of homework - as it requires a lotttt of use from when you first open it to when you are comfortable performing live. also, are you strictly trying to mix or get into production?

I personally use an APC40 with ableton running a customized DJ template (google search marshall law and also ill gates apc40 DJ template), if you are going to go with ableton.. there is no doubt that an APC40 is the way to go.

but if you're already comfortable with traktor - I'd say go with a Native Instruments S4 if you can afford it, or an Kontrol X1 if ya can't.

hope that helps.

Happy birthday

"pros" definitely do not use Ableton. Get yourself a pair of CDJ's get to work burning CD's

VCI-400

if you like Native Instruments stuff look at S4 or S2. Novation Twitch is pretty sick but that runs on Serato. Could go vinyl if you wanted but I wouldn't cheap out on platter or a mixer.

how about you do research yourself then come here to post what you think you will go with and ask NS whether they can give you reasons to get something else instead of trusting a bunch of trollish skiers with helping you on a decision to purchase something very expensive that most likely very few of us know jack dicks about.


or you could think about it when your falling asleep abd the answer to what you should get will come to you in a dream most likley riding on the back of a majestic 3 headed stallion.

perfect answer thanks man.

i currently produce somewhat in logic pro. i dont have the besttt skills but im taking classes in school so ive got some knowlege into production.

my boys got a apc40 and a ton of shit. he goes to the dubspot school in new york and has all the gear. ive been away at college but ill finally be able to collab with him when i get home tomorrow so ill be able to make up my mind from there.

but yeah the traktor S4 could be the easy way to go for me. i already know the program and the s4 could just do a solid job and ill just do awesome things. ive already got gigs lined up at clubs and shit and thats with the method im doing now. so i might just stay with it.

thanks a lot man!

im doing my own research, and this also is research. but i like to ask general questions hoping some people would be able to answer my questions. ive posted on multiple forums, ive asked some guys who do this for the living, and ive asked my friends. its a tough decision because it will influence my whole path of being a DJ.

i usually experiment with lucid dreaming, so maybe ill be able to find the answer somewhere out there

anyone have experience with the DENON MC3000? after looking at it, it looks to be about the same as the S4. both are traktor made

Man its not about what you have its about how you use it! I've seen people play dope sets with nothing but laptops, no controllers or anything. You just need some buttons to press and you need to know what you're doing (but I'm sure you know that if you're thinking of going the ableton route).

If you use traktor build on your DJing skills, ableton is a completely different program and isn't the same. Traktor pro is a huge incredibly powerful program, there is no way its limiting you, pros use it all the time. Start really learning the features and you'll be blown away at what it can do, there's a reason guys like laidback luke don't need anything more than turntables, and its because they make their gear work and perfect their art.

Depending on your budget, go with a pair of CDJs and a legit mixer. It would be taking your traktor setup to the next level... But you really don't need anything more than traktor and a nice specialized controller. You can have like 4 decks going, tons of FX, chop samples in realtime... It does crazy things. Ableton would also set you back SIGNIFICANTLY because you'd have to learn a completely different way of mixing, and you wouldn't be playing shows right away.

IMO the best way to do things is to make your own setup by programming different controllers to do stuff... Thats the way everyone is starting to go anyways, DJing will still be around but Ableton and APC40 is a basic version of the controllerism you see people like the Mau5 and PL doing. Way harder but seems like more fun in the end.

That denon controller reviewed well:
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/11/review-video-denon-mc3000-dj-controller/
Probably can't go wrong.