DJ turning digital

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jason2422

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i've been djing for about a year now, and have like what i have seen from some of the computer programs. i would like to do some research on equipment but am not all that sure what it is i exactly need. the equipment i have now is 2 numark 1250 turntables and a djm300 mixer. basically what i want to do to start is record live mixes to start so i can burn them onto a cd. eventually what i am planning on doing is recording my records onto my hard drive then remix them on my computer using effects, sampling, ect ect. then saving the remixed track and using a mixer program to mix those tracks together. which do i need 2 soundcards to do headphone mixes? and is there a way i can just hook my mixer up to my computer so i can use it the do the crossfading ect? i do not play any other instraments, but would like to have a mic input (per a sound card if i need more than 1) and will need a monitor and headphone output as well. this is what i am looking to do can you please tell me what additional equipment, or software i will need to purchase, and maybe drop a link if you know of any good pieces. i mean tell me everything even preamps and other little stuff. i'm not to familiar with music and audio stuff in general pretty much all i do is play with my records. any advise will be appriciated if there is anyone out there who is doing what i am talking about here from the DJ side rather than the full out musician side please help

thanks
jason
 
Get Native Instruments Traktor. Best DJ program I've seen. Add a cheap second sound card for the headphone mix. (the program supports multiple sound cards).

You should be able to get a hold of an external controller to use for crossfades if you prefer (instead of using the mouse or keyboard) - maybe just a trackball.

If I'm not mistaken, you could run your mixer into the line-in of the main soundcard and use everything at once - mic, turntables, or music on your PC. Traktor has some killer features, so you'll probably want to record everything into your computer to take full advantage of it. Download the demo and check it out.
 
by chance could you drop that link so i can download the demo please

jason
 
sean thanks for the link the program looks pretty damn nice. spin those cd players kick ass and are what i probably will get when the time comes. but i am a little confused as to how to use traktor. do i use cd's or do i record the tracks i want to mix onto my hard drive with another program such as soundforge? also if i record to my hard drive what programs would you suggest for remixing, sampling and stuff?

thanks

jason
 
Well, to answer your question, you can use both CD's and/or tracks on your hard drive. It'd be best to record all your stuff into high-bps MP3's - then it's all there, easily accessible and you don't have to mess with CD's. I can't remember if Traktor can do it internally or if you need another program. Even if you do, there are a zillion programs (many of them free) that'll work. I think Sound Forge does it (version 5, at least), but you don't even need all that horsepower to record mp3's.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by remixing, though. You can use Traktor to record your session (all of the songs, crossfades, eq stuff, track punches, etc..) and burn it to CD if you like. Or you could get Acid, Fruityloops, or even Magix Music Maker to allow you to cut, modify and loop with.

As far as sampling goes, there are a bunch on the market, and I haven't used samplers much, so I'd be the wrong guy to give advice. I've heard Nemesys Gigastudio is the shiznit, but I couldn't tell you first hand.

:p
 
wow this traktor program rocks! and it's only the demo!!!!!!! not sure if a loop program is what i am looking for or not. i want to take the original track and be able to edit it by adding samples, fx, basically do the stuff that can be done on a piece of equipment as say like a chaos pad but on the computer if that makes sense? i guess from here the next step is to figure out what kind of sound card i should be looking for. i think i want at least 4 inputs and outputs to be safe. need 24/96 quality. those are the only 2 thinngs that i think are requirements. not looking to break the bank but i am looking to spend a few extra $$ to get something better quality anything under $1000 is reasonable let me know what you guys think :)


thanks
jason
 
Yeah. Definately checkout Spin's link. There's a ton of goodies to check out there.

1.) I know you want to make sure you've got a good quality sound card, which is VERY important. However, I'm not sure if you need a 24/96 card. Keep in mind that CD's are 16 bit - the ones you buy at the store. 24 bit quality is best used for recording external sources, then applying high-end digital effects, (like reverbs).

When all is said and done, everything gets dithered back down to 16 bit anyway, so if you're not going this route, I'd get a good quality 16 bit sound card for your mains, use the one you already have for your headphones, and spend your money on more equipment or software. (gear lust is such a beautiful thing).

2.) As far as adding samples (my old-ass doesn't even know what a chaos pad is), you could

a) use the other turntable to load in samples, cue them up with the headphones, and use Traktor's momentary buttons ...or

b) get a hold of something like hip-hop e-jay (I think that's the name of it). I'm sure there are other ones on the market, but it's a DJ-type sampler. You load samples (.wav's) into like 12 preset buttons, and you can set each button (sample) to be a momentary, or an on/off, or an bpm-linked on/off. It's very cool.
 
sean thanks for the advise. spin thanks for the link i have checked hitsquad out a few times there is just so many programs it's kinda frustrating trying to find what i am looking for cause i am not familiar with any of them. so far this is what i have think i have decided on

sound forge for recording
traktor for mixing

and what i THINK am still needing

sampling program
mastering program???
monitors (less than $500 a pair)
sound card (less than $1000)
microphone (mainly vocals)

thats all i can think of off the top of my head. Also would recording from my mixer be recording from an external source? the reason i thought i need a 24/96 is because i read on this board somewhere that sampling stuff lowers the quality and if you lower it from 24 to 16 on the cd it will all be 16 instead of having the mix at 16 and the samples a bit lower. is this right?

anyways you guys have been a huge help ;) keep up the great work and keep the links coming !!!!
 
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