Should I DJ with Turntables, CDJs Or Midi Controllers?
Should you buy CDJs or a Midi controller such as the Traktor S4? This is a huge question and a worry for most inspiring DJs. It is an extremely difficult question to answer as it really depends on your DJing needs and demands. In the following article we will take a look at the things that you need to consider before purchasing your new equipment.
Turntables
Let us begin by looking at the turntable which will ever be my favourite tool for DJing as it is what I first started using some ten years ago in 1999. If you own or have owned turntables such as the Technics 1200 series then you will know exactly what I mean by the 'feel' of the turntable as there is nothing like it. I really don't care what the manufacturers of the latest DJ equipment say when they refer to a new CD deck as having a 'vinyl feel' it is totally not the case. The size of a record compared to a jog wheel has no comparison especially if you are a turntablist (scratch DJ).
There are however some downsides to this type of DJ tool which is the fact that Panasonic who originally created the Technics 1200 turntable, stopped production in 2011 due to a decline in sales over the past couple of years. This seems to be a trend as we see more CD decks and other controllers being released and many less turntables.
So why are people not buying these decks anymore? Most turntables were built to last and go on forever which would of course mean that many DJs would not need another turntable for years and years after the first purchase. Technology is really what has almost killed the turntable and for the following reasons:
Mobility
The turntable is not the lightest thing to carry and transport. You can get flight cases which make it easier to carry but does not help with the weight but only adds on.
Stylus
These have developed amazingly well and compared to the 'old' days they increasingly became more reliable. Replacing the needle however is expensive and you always needed spares just in case it was damaged in transport or whilst playing.
Vinyl
There is nothing like it, any DJ will tell you the same thing but it is not cheap to produce takes a long time to press and of course cost's you a lot to buy it. Compare it to the CD or for that matter the Mp3. Depending on how popular the track on Vinyl was e.g. if it was a white label or in the charts, then it would cost you anything between to per track! Now we can buy the same track for 99c online.
CD Decks
CD decks first started coming onto the scene in the late 90's but they were anything but perfect with bad pitch controls and with barely (if any) touch. The CDJ-800 was released in November 2002 and were being used by more and more DJs in clubs as they had platters (jog wheels) that could control the track similar to a turntable. This was a revolution in the industry and completely changed the way DJs could play for the following reasons:
Jog Wheels
The jog wheel gives you control over the track as you can move the record back and forward to help find cue points and scratch the CD.
Loop Function
Having a loop function enables you to loop part of the track so that it is repeated and increases the creativity of the mix being preformed and helps create build ups in the mix.
Cue
With a turntable you would need to physically pick up the needle arm and place it back to the start of the part of the track you were playing. With the cue function on a CD deck you can press a button to take you back allowing the DJ to mix tracks faster.
Many DJs have chosen to use this form of equipment as it is so much easier to transport some CD's compared to a box of Vinyl. This all sounds perfect yet as you will know a CD scratches easily and hard to see (very much like Vinyl).
DJ Controllers
The Digital age is here and whether you like it or not there is no hiding from it. Midi DJ controllers have entered the competition and are destroying most of its competition. Music is evolving and there for so is the equipment being used to play it. Mp3's are the latest, lightest and easiest way of playing music, just look around and count how many iPod's and digital players are being used.
The most popular DJ controller on the market at the moment is the Traktor S4 and soon the S2 which are designed by Native Instruments. Teamed up with the most used and recommended DJing software Traktor Pro 2 it is a very difficult competitor to knock of the top spot in the industry.
The Traktor software enables you to create playlists of Mp3's on the fly using a laptop and store thousands of tracks. With the S4 onboard with its own soundcard you really not need anything else apart from somewhere to play and a set of headphones. The software creates complete synchronisation with the controller and holds no boundaries between you and your inspiration. What are the pro's to using this controller?
4 Channels
The S4 has 4 dedicated channels for you to use and drive your creativity. The channels can also be used for 8 sample decks.
Sync Button
This allows you to ensure that you can beat match the tracks your mixing instantly without spending time playing with the pitch control so there for allowing you to mix several tracks quickly and fluently.
Effects Units
There are 3 effects knobs on either side of the controller which can all be used at the same time (if you really want to). They are great to spice up your mix and give it more edge.
Jog Wheels
These are used for not only finding your cue points in the track but also are great for scratching. They also double up as effects controllers and browsing through your record box.
Mp3/Wav
There is now only the requirement to carry a laptop and the controller as you are able to play and mix Mp3's with this device.
Price
By far these are the cheapest option for any new to the scene or on a budget DJ. Tracks are cheap to buy as they are on MP3.
So we have looked at the three options you have to DJ with in the 21st Century. What should you get? Well that I cannot advise but I hope this short guide on the tools of the trade will help you enormously in your decision. I would certainly ask yourself these questions:
Where will I be using this? What will I be playing? What is my Budget?
I really hope this has helped you into your future as a DJ and which ever one you choose brings you great joy and pleasure.
Happy DJing!
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