Best Set Up for DJing with Live

[Yeeeehaaaa7]

Hi All,

I've recently moved from a windows laptop to a mac and I'm also looking to change the equipment I use when DJing with Live.

Before the change I was using an X-Session Pro as a mixer/controller and a Numark DJio as an audio interface. This was a decent set up to begin with but as I've got more used to Live I've started using a lot more features and the X-Session is no longer covering everything I need.

With the Mac only having 2 USB inputs I'm restricted to what I can connect, although it does have a firewire port.

I've saw a few suggestions on here, and they were ones that I was already considering.

One was the Behringer DDM4000. I like the look of this mixer and it would act as an audio interface as well, am i right? the question i have with this is how does it connect to the laptop, as it doesn't have any USB ports on t.

The Vestax VCM-600 was another option I was considering as it would cover everything I need as well. the only problem with that is that the shop I buy all my DJ equipment from doesn't have the Vestax in stock and don't think they'll be getting it for a while.

The other thing is it has to be fairly portable as I'm playing out a lot more using Live than I used to and there's nothing worse than having to carry load of bags with you.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kenny

[manwell]

I was in a very similar position to you and I decided after a lot of thought to go for an MPD32 and to keep the X-session as well. I use the MPD for track control, clip triggering, tempo, eq etc. and the X-session for fx control. I find this works really well for me as I think the combination of big pads used as buttons, faders, endless knobs and fixed knobs is really versatile. I would say don't get rid of the X-session as I think fixed knobs are much better for controlling fx like filter sweeps or catching a snare with a delay send, also the crossfader is really useful. It's a shame it's built really badly but for what I do it's perfect, I wish there was something similar out at the moment but I can only find the Nocturn which I can't get used to. The MPD gives you plenty of options to use multiple channels and create a complex setup, I am on my 7th DJ template as I keep discovering new things I can do with both controllers. Currently I have 2 track channels, 1 loop/track channel, 1 sample channel playable with the pads and 1 breaks channel that allows me to cut up breaks in real time as well as add fx and trigger jungle style snare rushes with full control. The APC looks really nice but personally I think it looks better for proper P.A sets than DJ sets with a few extras like my performances. I think it really depends how you are using Live at the moment and what you want to achieve.

[Zygi]

One was the Behringer DDM4000. I like the look of this mixer and it would act as an audio interface as well, am i right? the question i have with this is how does it connect to the laptop, as it doesn't have any USB ports on t.

How would it work as an audio interface without having any interface to communicate with a computer?... think before asking...

I'd suggest uc33e for DJ sets. Or stick to X-session and buy a BCR as an addition.

[Yeeeehaaaa7]

I've looked at the MPD and it looks good but it would then mean I have no way of monitoring before mixing etc as my USB inputs would be taken.

When talking about the behringer I meant audio interface as in I could monitor one or more channels whilst playing another. It is MIDI compatible so I thought that it could be used like a MIDI DJ mixer, is this wrong I take it?

Can anyone suggest an 'all in one' solution? I'm more than happy to keep the X-Session as it is pretty handy but I need more control which means losing the DJio and all my monitoring capabilities...

[rufus89]

My flat mate has just got the behringer, it is good and will do all the things you seem to want but it is a bit complicated.
It is midi compatibile but its not got a usb interface so to hook it into your computer you need to get a usb to midi interface seperatley. You can then use your current soundcard to route the audio back into the mixer and monitor, this is the part where it begins to get a bit complex though. Within the mixers options you can set which buttons, faders and knobs send midi signals and which act as they do normally. Thus you end up with a kind of hybrid mixer. SO if your soundcard has two outputs you can have one going into channel one as the master and one into channel two which you can bring out the headphones, but you can use the faders on those channels to send midi into ableton to control the levels of the track within ableton. Hope this makes sense, as i say a bit complicated and I havent had a proper play with it as a midi controller myself so may have missed some subtleties but hope this helps.
also one thing going against it might be its size, it is quite big but not very heavy.

[Jekblad]

i've been very happy with my novation remote SL zero. def not an all in one as it has no crossfader for you, but flexible in other ways

[Alejandro]

How about the new Akai apc 40 ??
Im looking forward for it, I am currently add it to my Novation nocturn, which preetty does everything but I need to
get rid of the mouse, the new Akai apc 40 seems like the way to go, and it's only $399+tax in the US.

any crtics towards the apc 40

ale