Ableton Forum

I am interested in starting to DJ, I have done lots of research but I am still quite lost, which my questions will evidently prove.

Point of this post is I'm looking for some help and guidance on the equipment and setup a beginner like myself will need. I'll note it has to be sufficient enough for gigs.

I want to be able to use Ableton Live 8 to mix my tracks, but I still want a live DJing component when I play. I've looked at Native Instruments Traktor*, which can be used as a MIDI controller to my understanding. But what else would it allow me to do and is it a waste of money if I'm using Ableton for my mixes? Would I have to use the software it comes with in conjunction with Ableton?

What i like about Traktor* is that it has an onboard mixer and there will be less hardware clutter. Besides a device like this, what else will I need? i.e. cables, etc?

If anyone could provide me with some of their expertise on the matter, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

*Kontrol S2

Try here:

http://www.abletonlivedj.com/forum/view ... 3f482269f3

A dead forum, most recent posts appear to be spam. Surely we can do better?

Lots of good tutorials there still.

I guess we need to know what your definition of "a live DJing component" is?

There is nothing in Live that is like traditional DJing. That being said, with a little know how on using Live and some imagination you can do things that are completely impossible with turntables or CDJs.


*****This next part is Highly debatable****

I think that controllerism with something like Live is going to be the new "normal" Djing for the future. Just like turntables fell to the waist side for CDJs, CDJs are now going to go away in lui of Controllers. That being said, If I were you, I would not worry about trying to mimic what you fill is traditional DJing components and embrace all that is possible with controllers and software like live.

This all being said, If you want to spend the least amount right now to get your feet wet, Stack ebay or craigslist and get an APC40 MK1 for like $130 bucks. Big name producers/DJs have been rocking an APC40 for years. its solid and reliable.

Or you can spend a bunch of money on new software like traktor and get a controller like the S2 or 4. I still believe with a creative mind that Live has much less limitations then Traktor for playing out. but again, thats my own opinion which is highly debatable.

If you were to get something like the S2, then I'd say just use the version of Traktor that it comes with for DJing. With the new remix decks, you get a lot of the same fucntionality of Live if that's your thing, plus all the normal DJ tools.

You can certainly do it in Live, I DJ'd with Live for probably 5-6 years quite regularly using various MIDI controllers. But you'll have to embrace setting up and tweaking your own way of doing it, since Live is so opened ended that way, there's no one way to DJ with it.

FWIW, I use Traktor and an S4 these days for DJing.

I subcribe to Tarekith. NI softtware works best for live dj rigging on stage. I use 2 decks of x1mk1 with a 4 channel mixer and i had only great results to crowds. So figure out what mixer is...)