Thinking of switching to Live for DJ'ing.. Gear suggestions?

DJ Agent Orange · Post by **DJ Agent Orange** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:48 pm

I currently use Serato Scratch Live for DJ'ing, and it was a logical move from vinyl a few years back. But lately, I've seen some artists doing amazing things with live, and I'd like to step my game up to that next level.

So, right now, I'm looking at picking up some gear to allow me to use live while playing out. For now, the 2 things I'll need is an interface and a controller. I have an oxygen 8, but it's not really suited for what I need.

I've been considering an M-audio Trigger Finger, as it seems to be the standard for this type of DJ'ing and there are lots of templates based around it. For the interface, the Mackie Onyx Satellite caught my eye, as it seems to have a good balance of price/features, and is the only interface that would be easy to manage, as far as dismantling my setup every couple of days to gig...

I'm open to suggestions, though. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

condra · Post by **condra** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:36 pm

Hi, most affordable interfaces will do the job fine. Just make sure you have enough i/o so you can cue tracks on headphones. Pretty much any usb/firewire interface in the 200-400 dollar price range should do the trick.

Popular soundcards with Live DJs are Presonus Firebox, Echo Audiofire, MOTU Ultralite, Focusrite Saffire, Novation Nio, M-Audio Fastrack, mbox2, etc..
I use an M-Audio Firewire Audiophile, which is pretty old but still working great and does the job.

If you get a chance, check out www.abletonlivedj.com where you will find lots of info about soundcards and interfaces in the hardware section of the forum.

As far as controllers go, its partly down to personal preference. The Behringer BCR 2000 is hugely popular, as is the Evolution UC33e. Also check out expensive Novation Remote SL Zero, and midi only Faderfox stuff.

in2sky · Post by **in2sky** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:47 pm

why don't you check this babe: the Vestax VCM-100. http://www.vestax.com/v/products/players/vcm-100.html
it's really dj oriented, tons of buttons to assign lots of good stuff.
(and if you find a good way to EQ like on a regular dj mixer with ableton live, let me know

three · Post by **three** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:18 pm

Check out the FaderFox products. I gig with a DJ2 which I swear by.

Daim · Post by **Daim** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:35 pm

i hate faderfox faders.. they are very hard to move compared to faders of any dj mixer in this world

three · Post by **three** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:39 pm

Daim wrote:i hate faderfox faders.. they are very hard to move compared to faders of any dj mixer in this world

Maybe you had a bum unit? I really like them, but mine are very loose with just a touch of resistance.

Daim · Post by **Daim** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:41 pm

i tried them at musikmesse.. maybe the units he had there had been used to hard

DJ Agent Orange · Post by **DJ Agent Orange** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:34 am

Thanks for the input, guys.

I found a used MPD24 for a good price locally, so I'm picking that up tomorrow. There seems to be a lot of debate between it and the Korg Padkontrol online, but in my case, I like the extra knobs and sliders the AKAI offers, although the Korg does look impressive.

I also just realized that Serato has been shipping windows ASIO drivers for the SL1 interface for a while now... which means I already have an interface... but I need to use windows. I'm going to try it through VMware and see how it pans out... If it works well, I'll probably set it up as boot camp for actually playing live. Does anyone have experience with this sort of setup?

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:48 am

DJ Agent Orange wrote:Thanks for the input, guys.

I found a used MPD24 for a good price locally, so I'm picking that up tomorrow. There seems to be a lot of debate between it and the Korg Padkontrol online, but in my case, I like the extra knobs and sliders the AKAI offers, although the Korg does look impressive.

I also just realized that Serato has been shipping windows ASIO drivers for the SL1 interface for a while now... which means I already have an interface... but I need to use windows. I'm going to try it through VMware and see how it pans out... If it works well, I'll probably set it up as boot camp for actually playing live. Does anyone have experience with this sort of setup?

If the interface doesn't work out somehow, DO NOT be tempted to get a Satellite.
Theey ahve been discontinued for very good reason.
I sonvinced myself they were ok coz I could get a handful of +ive reports but when it arrived, mine was a bum unit just like most of the rest.

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:20 am

When you're switching from Vinyl/Serato to Live, you need to be aware of the differences between controlling live by Midi, and controlling the audio that comes out of Live. Lots of guys use a midi controller AND a DJ mixer for this (me included). I use midi for controlling fx settings/navigation/clip firing/samples, etc, etc, and use the Dj mixer for volume/EQ and (some) built in fx.
Basically, anything that introduces latency (as Midi does) is kept AWAY from the audio side of things.