DJ Gear Guides for Beginners & Pros + DJ Equipment Reviews & Ratings

Video Teaser: Pioneer DJM-900 DJ Mixer AKA Nexus

What is the most popular club DJ mixer in the world (as of February 2011)? The Pioneer DJM-800 of course.

Well it seems like it’s getting a refresh that will be introduced to the world under the Pioneer DJM-900 DJ mixer “Nexus” moniker. (Former) Pioneer inside man Karl Detken has just posted a tweet announcing a DJM-900 sneak peak.

The tweet leads to a video featuring James Zabiela, Pioneer’s long-time brand ambassador (who should I say is a Pioneer CDJs masters… YouTube some of his technical videos and his prowess will blow you away!) talking about the Pioneer DJM-900 DJ mixer aka Nexus (For now I fail to understand the strategy behind the nicknaming). The video ends with an image stating that a full introduction is due for the 17 February 2011 so I cannot wait to see what’s it’s all about.

So far the part that caught my attention is that it will be possible to simply plug a Traktor Scratch Pro powered laptop straight into the Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus DJ mixer without fumbling around audio devices and cables, a typical DJ’s nightmare.

Update: The Pioneer DJM-900 DJ mixer is no longer a hidden secret. Check out the video below for a thorough demo

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Introducing Traktor 2 DJ Software & Laptop DJ Systems [Official Video]

in DJ Programs,DJ Software,Gear,Laptop DJ Systems,News,TRAKTOR

Native Instruments is on a roll today with the announcement of a complete overhaul of all their Traktor software and hardware product line. The current family lineup is probably three years old already so it was time for them to find news ways to make us DJ spend more money on their laptop DJ systems!

What exactly is new?

The question is what isn’t? Like I wrote, everything has been rehauled. Instead of wasting time writing about the new Traktor DJ systems (software and hardware), why don’t you check out their official video press release for more? The email announcing the good news said: “Six new products, including software, digital vinyl systems and audio interfaces, will be available from April 1st.”

Personally, I am most curious about Traktor Scratch Pro 2, the new laptop DJ system. It seems to have some little updates such as more colours and added effects but is really that different under the hood?

The new Traktor Audio 10 audio interface now offers 10 outputs! Now you can get your grandma to tag team with you!

Link to the new Traktor DJ software and hardware video

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5 Reasons Not to Buy SLAPPA DJ CD Cases

in Cases,Goodies,GUIDES,SLAPPA

I am a big fan of SLAPPA and their awesome DJ CD cases and DJ headphone case. In fact, I have owned three or four in my relatively short CD DJing career (five years).

I always recommend them to anyone who will listen to the extent that sometimes people ask me if I have ties with the company (no, I don’t. If I ever, I will disclose it).

Are SLAPPA DJ CD cases the next big thing since sliced bread? We are human hence we can never find anything perfect. There a few issues I have with the SLAPPA DJ CD books:

1) SLAPPA DJ CD cases are bulky if you compare them to others that can hold the same amount of CDs. That means that finding a bag that will be able to hold two CD books of 240 is next to impossible and even if you find one, people will think that you are going hiking not DJing.

2) SLAPPA DJ CD cases are not that durable. There, I said it. They are tough but they are not durable. The first thing to go haywire is the handle. I mean, they manufacture it to handle many CDs, which are obviously heavy, and they do not bother to make the handle tough?

3) SLAPPA DJ CD cases waste space. One slot has room for two CDs. That’s all fine but it only has space for one CD cover meaning that you better have a good memory if you want to know what’s on the back CDs! People have advised many ways around that such as printing the content of both CDs on one cover but the end result is that the fonts becomes to small to read!

4) SLAPPA DJ CD cases are expensive. Well, I find that they are worth the price if you are looking for something cool. But if you are on the frugal side, you are better off looking elsewhere!

5) SLAPPA DJ CD cases are heavy. Yes, even empty. If you are a travelling DJ, you will notice that it can make or break your carry-on weight. But it comes with the territory because these CD books are made to be sturdy and the products used make the end product heavy.

See? I am not such a fan boy of SLAPPA DJ CD cases. But even with these gripes, I would still pick SLAPPA over another brand. I don’t spin CDs as much as I used to in the past so a simple 40-CD CD wallet for my backup CDs does the job perfectly for me.

>> Check out SLAPPA’s DJ CD cases product page

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How to DJ Properly and in Record Time

in GUIDES,Opinion

Folks, if you want to learn how to DJ properly and in record time you have to be serious about it!

Everyday I hear from would-be DJs who bombard me with questions related to learning about DJing but when I scratch the surface, I quickly realize that they are either misguided or not serious at all.

For instance, how can anyone learn how to DJ properly if they do not have access to or own the proper DJ gear? You want to buy really cheap DJ controllers that even seasoned pros will have a hard time using because they’re so terrible and expect to advance at all?

(I don’t mean to disrespect anyone wanting to learn how to DJ properly but if you tell me that the above setup is what you are using to master your craft, I will not take you seriously and give you the light of day unless you have a pretty valid reason.

How would you react if I came to you for driving lessons and I showed up with a car toy?)

How will you learn how to DJ properly if you don’t put in the hours? Once a week is not enough even if it’s the whole day. Yes, it is still better than anything but come on! DJing is a skill that is mastered by experience and not necessarily by knowledge. In other words, the more hours you put in the better your craft will become.

You can sit all day perusing videos on social media sharing websites but unless you get yourself in front of a pair of DJ turntables or CDJs and give it whirl, you will gain nothing!

How can anyone learn how to DJ properly if they do not ask for guidance? Yes, some things are easy to figure out but for the rest, someone who knows better than you will always be the best source of knowledge. Do you know that all the top DJs in the world regularly take tutoring classes privately to master new technologies?

For instance, the guy who gave me Traktor Scratch Pro DJ lessons (yes, I paid for that) is also known to coach big names in the DJ Mag Top 100 list.

(Yesterday, I acquired Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol X1, the DJ controller that I will use with my Traktor Scratch Pro that I have been using for many years. I have two options:

1) play around with it for months until I figure out how to DJ properly with it or 2) humbly approach my DJ peers who are experienced with the DJ controller and book a few training sessions so that within a week, I may be a proficient user.

No one knows it all, we all need to learn from others and there’s no shame in that! Case in point: have you ever met anyone who thought herself or himself how to read and write? Everyone learns. EVERYONE)

Do you want to learn how to DJ properly or are you just playing around? Be serious: get proper DJ equipment, practice and seek help from more experienced DJs and you will progress.

If you won’t, please do not harass me with other questions because unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do for you.

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Cheap DJ Gear: 3 Myths vs. Facts

in Gear,GUIDES

This DJing passion or profession, depending where you stand, of ours is not easy on the wallet, as I have observed many times (Read: DJ Stuff Can Be Expensive). That’s why it’s paramount to shop for and buy cheap DJ gear to be able to have a proper setup without going broke.

However, there are so many myths and misconceptions relating to buying super expensive vs. cheap DJ gear, I needed to dedicate a special article debunking three of the common myths and clearing out the similarly common misconceptions on buying the cheapest DJ equipment possible.

1) Cheap DJ gear means bad quality.

Not really. Some of the cheapest DJ equipment is actually better that the high-end so called professional grade equipment. I have written about the Sony MDR-700 DJ headphones in the past, which retail at just under US $100 and are highly rated. Well, would you believe that some of the +$ 200 DJ headphones cannot match their sound quality? I won’t mention names just because I do not want to be rude but next time you stop by at DJ store ask your friendly vendor (make sure that he does not earn commissions!) and his candid answers will shed some proper light.

2) Cheap DJ gear wears out faster.

I know of a rich kid who managed to wreck his brand new equipment in a matter of months and I also know a DJ who has had his so-called cheap DJ gear for years.

What happened?

DJ equipment no matter how expensive or cheap is fragile. Manufacturers will throw around terms like rugged and shock proof but the fact remains: if you drop a turntable, DJ mixer or CDJ on the floor or spill liquids in them, they will cease to function.

Take care of cheap DJ gear is obviously more important because sometimes it is not professional grade. A belt-drive turntable that’s meant for home use cannot be brought into a club and be expected to outlast a Technics SL 1200 turntable, for instance!

3) Cheap DJ gear is not professional.

This misconception makes me laugh out loud at times. Basically, the going goes that having the cheapest DJ equipment will cause people not to take the DJ seriously.

Believe it or not but only DJs really do care about what gear and software that other DJs are using. Yes, you can include some die hard fans aka DJ groupies in there but at the end of the day what people care about is the music that comes out of the speakers.

You should check out some of the Top 100 DJs and pay attention to what cheap DJ gear they do sometimes pack yet they are one billion times more successful, popular and better-paid than most people who have all the shinny new toys who only get to showcase it to their 10 podcast listeners.

(A MacBook Pro DJ laptop is probably one most expensive piece of DJ equipment you will ever hear me relentlessy champion. You can read why in: What Is The Best DJ Laptop?)

Investing in cheap DJ gear does not mean settling for worn out, fragile and unprofessional DJ equipment. It means saving your money and focusing on what really matters: your DJing aka your technical skills, your programming skills and making a name for yourself.

But of course, there are always those who vie for the cheapest DJ equipment ever and they end up with nothing but nightmares. But that’s because they mistake low-price and low quality, which are two synonyms of cheap. But that’s a topic for another article…

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[Video Demo] Traktor DDJ-T1 & Pioneer Serato ITCH DDJ-S1 Pioneer DJ Controllers

in DJ Controllers,DJ Mixers,DJ Programs,DJ Software,Gear,PIONEER,SERATO,TRAKTOR,Video

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Why Top Rated DJ Mixers Are a Total Waste of Money

in DJ Mixers,Gear,GUIDES

If you’re shopping for the best DJ mixer on the market for your personal studio and you expect to pay a fortune for a pro DJ mixer because after all they’re expensive, here is a piece of advice that will save you your hard-earned money.

Allen & Heath Xone V6 pro DJ mixer (At this time of writing, the Allen & Heath Xone:V6 is the most expensive pro DJ mixer in the world and of course one of the top-rated)

Top rated DJ mixers are a waste of money. Let me rephrase this just in case it has not come out loud and clear: it’s useless to spend a lot of money on pro DJ mixers.

I have not lost my mind. The following little story about top rated DJ mixers will make you reconsider again the idea of purchasing a pro DJ mixer for your home studio (note! I mean your personal studio and not for a venue such as a nightclub or for mobile DJs).

I have two dear friends who own two of the top rated DJ mixers in the world: the UREI 1620LE, which can be bought for US $1,500 and the DJR-400, the custom-made rotary portable pro DJ mixer that costs $3000 at least. Audiophiles around the world as being the best of the best when it comes to crisp clear sound and that’s why they cost a fortune respect these two pro DJ mixers.

Now here is where things get really interesting with these top rated DJ mixers: my two friends only use them at their private studios to record mixes for Internet distribution or during occasional Internet radio shows.

They will spend all day telling anyone who will give them the light of day that their rotary toys are the best pro DJ mixers in the world and that DJs who use lesser or cheap DJ mixers are not true to the art and that they should invest in serious gear if they want to be taken seriously as DJs or if they want to be serious about their sound.

What these two owners of top rated DJ mixers fail to realize is that by the time their crisp clear DJ mix is uploaded on the Internet as an MP3 file or when their radio goes on air, the music needs to be compressed otherwise there’s no way a RAW WAV file that would weight 2GB at least would ever make it to the end-user aka the music listener.

These two DJs tend to distribute their mixes at 192 kbps or broadcast at 128 kbps, which in a way is very high quality. But if anyone with a brain and some common sense thinks about it, the crisp-clear sound of the top-rated DJ mixers will have lost its luster and will sound as terrible as a DJ mix recorded from a Gemini DJ mixer, the lowest quality of mixers you will ever come across.

Sure they will be quick to tell you that at least compressed sound from top rated DJ mixers is far better than compressed sound from average pro DJ mixers but they’re not fooling me, that’s a way for themselves to justify their high prices.

Is there a moral to this story?

Don’t waste your money on shopping for top rated DJ mixers if your goal is to make DJ mixes to be distributed online (if you’re recording on CD, then a pro DJ mixer is more than strongly recommended!) or broadcast live sets on your Internet radio show.

Pioneer DJM 2000 pro DJ mixer (But please, please, please! If a rich uncle, significant other or any other generous soul kindly offers to buy you any top rated DJ mixer of your choice such as the Pioneer DJM-2000 above, please don’t be silly and ask for a cheap DJ mixer citing this article! Grab it and run, run, run!)

I know that this sounds counter-intuitive but take it from me. I paid top dollar for a Pioneer DJM-500 (the grand-daddy of the Pioneer DJ-800 pro DJ effects mixer) back in the days when they were hot and since I am not mobile DJ, will never lend out my DJ gear or God forbid take it to my gig, I just had an expensive pro DJ mixer that impressed my fellow DJ friends when they visited (not that I even let people in my house) but did not fulfill its true mandate.

Now if you have money to spend on premium DJ gear (See: Beginner DJ Equipment Guide for the Rich), this article does not apply to you and by all means spend money on anything that your heart desires but if you’ve made it this far in reading this article. Save your money and stick with a standard pro DJ mixers and leave the top rated DJ mixers for the top nightclubs, mobile DJs and rich kids.

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Why Exactly the Pioneer DJM-800 Is the Most Popular DJ Effects Mixer [Videos]

in DJ Mixers,Gear,IDEAS,Opinion,PIONEER,Video

When it comes to picking the best professional DJ effects mixer for your home studio, you will without any shadow of doubt be overwhelmed by the gazillions of choices available to you.

The most popular DJ effects mixer on the market right now is most probably the Pioneer DJM-800 DJ mixer. [Update Feb. 2011: well after 3 years or so, the Pioneer DJM-900 DJ mixer aka Nexus will be taking over as the DJM-800 goes on a very well-deserved retirement] I would bet that the second is probably the Pioneer DJM-600 or 500 and the competing brand would be any pro Allen & Heath DJ mixers. It is the industry standard without any argument.

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer - Front

What’s makes the Pioneer DJM-800 the most popular DJ effects mixer in the world? For starters, it’s a big brother of the seminal 500 and 600 so DJs and clubs around the world simply upgraded to a model and brand they were accustomed to.

There may be some marketing muscle behind the popularity of this professional DJ effects mixer but there’s no denying that the FX on that DJ mixer are amazing both in variety and functions.

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer - Side

What I like on the Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer is the addition of four buttons that are dedicated to killer Sound Color FX on top of the usual FX selector found on Pioneer 600 and 500.

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer - Back

I could go on and on about the Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer but seeing and hearing are believing. Below are a couple of videos that showcase what is possibly the best DJ effects mixer in action!

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ Effects Mixer – Demo 1

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ Effects Mixer – Demo 2

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ Effects Mixer – Demo 3

Pioneer DJM-800 DJ Effects Mixer – Demo 4

>> Check out the Pioneer DJM-800 DJ effects mixer official product page

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5 Ways to Pick and Buy the Best DJ Headphones

in DJ Headphones,Gear,GUIDES

Trying to figure out what the best DJ headphones are? There are a few considerations that you should keep in mind when shopping for good DJ headphones (no, what pair your favourite International wears is no way to make your pick).

Pioneer HDJ 2000 DJ Headphones

(DJ headphones are highly fashionable pieces of DJ gear. Right now (2010-11) the best DJ headphones to have to look cool and with the program are the Pioneer HDJ-2000. Don’t become the next fashion victim though, there are smarter ways to figure out what good DJ headphones are.)

Instead here are five ways to pick up the best DJ headphones:

1) Comfort

The best DJ headphones for me will not be the best DJ headphones for you or any other DJ. It depends on the feel and comfort. Some DJs like headphones that cover their whole ear, some prefer those that only covers the ear duct.

That would mean that for the former group for instance the Sony MDR-700 or the Pioneer HDJ-2000 would be fine for them while for the latter, the Sennheiser HD 25 would be good DJ headphones for them.

2) Care & Durability

Are you a clumsy DJ? Well in that case, let me advise you now that the best DJ headphones for you are those that can take lots of physical abuse without bursting into pieces.

I once thought that I owned good DJ headphones when I owned the Pioneer HDJ-1000. Let me assure you that I take good care of my DJ gear and other possessions (I bought myself a pair of Caterpillar boots on my 18^th birthday and I wear them often enough and a while ago someone asked me when I had bought the pair. I am now 31…).

The Pioneer HDJ-1000 were obviously not the best DJ headphones for me because they fell apart within 3 months of everyday use. To put things into context, I have had my Sony MDR-700 DJ headphones for five years and it’s only this past Christmas that I decided to get a new identical pair because they were worn out (I DJ an average of three gigs a week and then you may also add radio shows, studio sessions and travels…)

3) Sound Quality

The best DJ headphones have the best sound. That sounds (pun very much intended) obvious but apparently not because a bunch of DJs seem to have missed the memo. Good DJ headphones will allow you to hear your music without cranking up the volume to the loudest level thus speeding up your hear loss process.

That’s why trying to figure out what the best DJ headphones in a quiet environment such as a store is a futile exercise because the setting is nothing compared to real life. My way of determining good DJ headphones by sound is simple.

When I am out and I see a familiar DJ adorning a pair that I have not seen or tried before I will politely ask whether I can put them on for a quick evaluation. I crank up the monitor, cue a track in the headphones and rate the sound right there. I then ask them a few questions related to durability, price and other considerations discussed in this article.

4) Price

Theoretically speaking the best DJ headphones should be the costliest, right? My answer to that is a resounding “No!”. Pricing in the DJ gear business is most of the time a marketing consideration over a quality statement.

What do I mean? Good DJ headphones should not always be the most expensive. Some highly priced headphones such as the Pioneer HDJ-2000 and the Sennheiser HD-25 are well worth their price. Monster Pro headphones by Dre are super expensive but are they good DJ headphones? Try them out and make your up own mind.

On the other hand you have the Sony MDR 700 that are now pretty inexpensive but of very good quality. When they came out almost ten years ago, they were the most expensive and the best DJ headphones on the market period. Today, they have come down in prices due to many factors such as economies of scale, getting out-fashioned and other DJ headphone brands pricing higher.

5) Looks

The best DJ headphones look good. But the only problem with this statement is that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. That’s why as DJs from various styles, backgrounds and tastes we should stick with what we find pleasing to the eye. I won’t mention names but I find some DJ headphones pretty hideous and would not be caught dead with them on.

But of course because fate is fate, one day I forgot my pair and the only replacement was a certain pair that I find the ugliest and that’s the day a photographer for a major newspaper was out working on a showcase of the nightclub…

So there you go. Those are my tips on getting the best DJ headphones. You will be overwhelmed by the variety so be forewarned and my last piece of advice on getting good DJ headphones is not to buy them online unless you have tried them out first and you absolutely are in love with them.

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Richie Hawtin on the Future of Laptop DJing [Video]

in DJ Controllers,DJ Programs,DJ Software,Gear,MISC,Video

Ten years ago, I first saw Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva introducing Final Scratch, the first DJ computer laptop system that is today known as Traktor Scratch Duo or Pro and I was very intrigued because this seemed like a revolution and the end of vinyl.

Richie Hawtin on the Future of Laptop DJing

Every industry observer pays attention to what Richie Hawtin (image courtesy: neomusicstore) is using because he is the pioneer who got the rest of the world onto laptop DJing and so you can imagine how ahead of the game and the times he is…

I had never been keen on CDJ mixing and was excited that laptop DJing was a great to keep the 2 x Technics SL-1200 turntables + 1 DJ Mixer set-up alive for the next years to come. Today, the situation is different and turntables are no longer a must for DJs because of the crazy amount of DJ controllers invading the marketplace at bewildering speed!

The video below features Richie Hawtin at NAMM, the DJ industry yearly trade show, where he discusses the past and the future of laptop DJing. I am especially glad to see that he agrees with us that there are too many DJ controllers on the marketplace and that it’s not cool for software and hardware makers to want to use proprietary specs that force DJs to buy multi-software and many DJ controllers so that everything can play nice (Read: The Number One Annoyance with DJ controllers).

Watch and enjoy! This video is courtesy of the must-read DJ Tech Tools