Members ManWithThePlan Posted April 27, 2003 Members Share Posted April 27, 2003 Hello, I play guitar, but I am interested in scratching and turntablism. I know nothing whatsoever about the gear requirements, skills needed, or how to do it, but I want to learn more. Tell me, what do I need in order to start scratching, what are some of the basic skills i need to know, and what is some good equipment to start off with? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6ftabovsealevel Posted April 29, 2003 Members Share Posted April 29, 2003 Okay, I'll bite... To do any sort of dj type stuff, there are a few basic things that you have to have: At least two sound sources. Traditionally this has been a pair of turntables, but with recent technological advances many dj's including the scratch crowd have been using cd players successfully. People will argue all day about what equipment is best for these applications. The turntable debate is especially hot lately as companies like Vestax & Numark are starting to produce models to compete with the industry standard Technics 1200... A mixer. If you want to scratch, be sure to choose one that was built for it. A scratch mixer will be designed so that things like the cross fader contour, specific control features, and general layout are suited to a turntablist as opposed to some contrasting needs of a mix dj. There is a huge variety of mixers available, and as a general rule the build quality and amount of features goes up as the price goes up. This is pretty much true for any other piece of dj equipment as well. Headphones. So you can monitor sources besides the one that is playing over the master out on your mixer. Probably not the most crucial thing you'll buy when you're first getting started. As long as you have something that sounds halfway decent and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time they'll get you by. Sony, Sennheiser, & Technics are some of the big names in this department. Amp & Monitors. Just about anything will do, just something to plug your mixer output into so you can actually hear what you're doing... Do some searching in past threads to see what specific models have been recommended before. And if at all possible, go to a place like Guitar Center and get your hands on a few pieces before you buy anything. Good luck & have fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ManWithThePlan Posted April 29, 2003 Author Members Share Posted April 29, 2003 Originally posted by 6ftabovsealevel Okay, I'll bite...To do any sort of dj type stuff, there are a few basic things that you have to have:At least two sound sources. Traditionally this has been a pair of turntables, but with recent technological advances many dj's including the scratch crowd have been using cd players successfully. People will argue all day about what equipment is best for these applications. The turntable debate is especially hot lately as companies like Vestax & Numark are starting to produce models to compete with the industry standard Technics 1200...A mixer. If you want to scratch, be sure to choose one that was built for it. A scratch mixer will be designed so that things like the cross fader contour, specific control features, and general layout are suited to a turntablist as opposed to some contrasting needs of a mix dj. There is a huge variety of mixers available, and as a general rule the build quality and amount of features goes up as the price goes up. This is pretty much true for any other piece of dj equipment as well.Headphones. So you can monitor sources besides the one that is playing over the master out on your mixer. Probably not the most crucial thing you'll buy when you're first getting started. As long as you have something that sounds halfway decent and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time they'll get you by. Sony, Sennheiser, & Technics are some of the big names in this department.Amp & Monitors. Just about anything will do, just something to plug your mixer output into so you can actually hear what you're doing...Do some searching in past threads to see what specific models have been recommended before. And if at all possible, go to a place like Guitar Center and get your hands on a few pieces before you buy anything.Good luck & have fun... Thanks, anyone else care to add anything? God, this forum is friggin' deserted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6ftabovsealevel Posted April 30, 2003 Members Share Posted April 30, 2003 Yeah, it gets a little slow around here sometimes... Check out the dj stuff boards at http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/and do some searching there. If something relates to dj equipment or methods, it has probably been discussed there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LameAim Posted May 1, 2003 Members Share Posted May 1, 2003 Also, stay away from the "DJ in a Box" setups. They all include substandard equipment that you'll outgrow in 6 months to a year. I would suggest www.turntablelab.com and www.djmart.com as shopping places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members - SG - Posted May 17, 2003 Members Share Posted May 17, 2003 Originally posted by 6ftabovsealevel Okay, I'll bite... To do any sort of dj type stuff, there are a few basic things that you have to have: At least two sound sources. Traditionally this has been a pair of turntables, but with recent technological advances many dj's including the scratch crowd have been using cd players successfully. People will argue all day about what equipment is best for these applications. The turntable debate is especially hot lately as companies like Vestax & Numark are starting to produce models to compete with the industry standard Technics 1200... A mixer. If you want to scratch, be sure to choose one that was built for it. A scratch mixer will be designed so that things like the cross fader contour, specific control features, and general layout are suited to a turntablist as opposed to some contrasting needs of a mix dj. There is a huge variety of mixers available, and as a general rule the build quality and amount of features goes up as the price goes up. This is pretty much true for any other piece of dj equipment as well. Headphones. So you can monitor sources besides the one that is playing over the master out on your mixer. Probably not the most crucial thing you'll buy when you're first getting started. As long as you have something that sounds halfway decent and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time they'll get you by. Sony, Sennheiser, & Technics are some of the big names in this department. Amp & Monitors. Just about anything will do, just something to plug your mixer output into so you can actually hear what you're doing... Do some searching in past threads to see what specific models have been recommended before. And if at all possible, go to a place like Guitar Center and get your hands on a few pieces before you buy anything. Good luck & have fun... wow thats a lot if info sounds cool to try out one day though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members - SG - Posted May 17, 2003 Members Share Posted May 17, 2003 Originally posted by LameAim Also, stay away from the "DJ in a Box" setups. They all include substandard equipment that you'll outgrow in 6 months to a year. I would suggest www.turntablelab.com and www.djmart.com as shopping places. i got a laugh from that lol DJ in a box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members devinw Posted May 22, 2003 Members Share Posted May 22, 2003 Technics 1200s (They'll be MK3Ds most likely these days if you buy them new. I think the Shure M44-7 carts are the best for serious scratching (they are used by many scratch crews like the X-ecutioners. Also, Vestax mixers are pretty much the standard. You'll wante either a PMC-06, -05, or -07 cause they have the optical fader (with adjustable curve for the cuts ). However, there have been some other nice mixers arriving on the scene lately that are also damn good and have better fader cut-in then Vestax. Still, Vestax has the proven champ over the years. I have a PMC-06 and I love it! Check out www.turntablelab.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djsynrgy Posted May 24, 2003 Members Share Posted May 24, 2003 I've seen alot of the 'old and wise' big names swear by rane's scratch mixers, and I hear that the crafsmanship is alot more reliable, in a 25 year technics sort of way. I don't know from personal experience, however. Agreed on the shure cartridge. as for the turntables, if you watch the movie scratch, you'll notice that the guys like qbert and mixmaster mike are using vestax pdx-2000s at home and for recording, rather than the technics 1200s. I kinda think these guys are gods of the scratch world, and though I don't necessarily care what they SAY is better, I trust what I see them using when they're doing what they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noVaProductionZ Posted May 31, 2003 Members Share Posted May 31, 2003 you dont need two sound sources... you only need two sound sources if you want to beat juggle or cue up sounds on the other turntable if like in a battle or in a live situation.. at which point u have to be Ambidextrous which takes aloooooooooooong time especially if you have a biased hand. But as a beginner you will probably need two just two figure out which way your more comfortable with.. and its better to have two anyway. when you a beginner also you can get away with a cheaper direct drive turntable.. But i suggest dont go really cheap on the mixer. If you want a really smooth fader nice for cuttin check out the stanton sk battle range i have a stanton sk 6f .. the fader is superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djsynrgy Posted June 2, 2003 Members Share Posted June 2, 2003 nova as in northern virginia, or something else? (I live in alexandria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noVaProductionZ Posted June 2, 2003 Members Share Posted June 2, 2003 no im from the UK. noVa as in the Car Vauxhall nova... well GM nova to you. i was a deluded child and liked the car so i named ma self noVa ProductionZ not as is north va. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djsynrgy Posted June 2, 2003 Members Share Posted June 2, 2003 gotcha. yeah, the locals here often refer to northern virginia as nova, and we have a school here that's also called nova. Funny coincidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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