Advice on starting a vinyl collection?

[Ikoda]

Definitely stick at it! If the sync button or a BPM counter is there, you will be tempted to use it. You need to train your ears to beat match and although it's just a small part of DJ'ing, it's worth taking the time to learn properly! A pair of second-hand Technics (got mine for £230!) and a few records is pretty cheap and you can always change later.

I disagree with this. Get yourself a cheap and tacky pair of direct drives, then when you feel like your getting the hang of it all, upgrade to technics.
Not all clubs which have vinyl decks have technics, and unlike digital models (e.g. Pioneers), they all react differently to touch. Get to grips with the touch of something thats poorer quality, so that when you step in to a club without Technics, you'll be fine. I've got a pair of Gemini XL-500 IIs, and they do the job nicely. They also cost me £100 for the pair.

use the 'up' faders you much more control rather than the crossfader

That's how I tend to mix now. Stop using my cross fader after a gig I went to, where the crossfader had been used so much it didn't work (move it a few MMs from B to A, and you could hear the full sound of A, even with the crossfade set to low curve up), but the up faders worked fine.

Should see my Mixer, it looks like a Christmas Tree (Behringer DDM 4000)

 

[MiniMarc]

When you notice the difference is when you push the record fast or slow down the platter. cheaper ones with less torque will react much more than strong torque decks. The trick is to be able to not really hahave to touch the record or platter. Perhaps initially to get it in ball park range but you can just use the pitch by over and under compensating untill you have it perfectly in time without touching the record. This is the safest way as most train wrecks happen when you push/pull the record too much as the deck has reacted unexpectedly. Same theory goes for cdj's

My mate had those Gemini's I think and its true, if you can mix well on a loose pair of decks when you get to a club with a newish pair of technics etc its a doddle

 

[OllieNotts]

Well thanks to a mate, I will have an amp tonight for free that he found when clearing his stuff to move house and as he got rid of his decks he doesnt need it so I am after a table.
Any advice on making it as cheap as possible? I only have 139cm width to get it where I want it because of the fireplace and most of the ones I have seen are just over The expedit ikea bookshelf looks perfect on its side but its just too big ffs. Want to get it up this weekend and I have one record to play

 

[matt collins]

A coffin case on a trestle?

Ended up knocking my own up... (still haven't hung the pictures up though)

 

[OllieNotts]

They're quite expensive though, trying to keep it cheap as possible in case I give up in a few months Just want something similar to your to whack the stuff on for now and spend my money on vinyl. Love the mixer box though! can see me on the living room floor come the weekend

 

[MiniMarc]

Matt that mixer is ridiculously wide for a 2 channel setup!!!

 

[Boon]

Bog standard IKEA desk / table top with 4 screw-in legs is cheap. £20-30. The smallest one fits 2 decks in battle mode and a 2 channel mixer. Nowt for records though!

 

[OllieNotts]

Cheers I'll have a look, just cant wait to get playing on em now got a big list of records to buy and christmas presents to buy and i'm now thinking which is more needy this week

 

[matt collins]

Matt that mixer is ridiculously wide for a 2 channel setup!!!

Sounds ****ing awesome now I'm used to it though...

Wanted the rotary really,

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/allen_heath/xone_s2_rotary

but got this at a knock down price so just went with it (can always switch later)

Box was a necessity, forgot that as an installation mixer, all the wires go underneath not at the back...

 

[DrChidd]

CDJ's and digital files are the future, accept no other advice. Traktor and Serato and now beaten by USB sticks and SD cards. The fewer interfaces between your hands and the files make for more accurate mixing. Save yourself some cash and go digital now my friend, otherwise you will be throwing your money away. I learnt and played on vinyl more than 20 years ago, i would not go back to that for anything.
But we can only advise, you make your own choice.


Enjoy playing and get your mixes posted on here when you do them.

 

[spacemonkey]

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50103086/#/10103088

we have this, on its side, with castors

the shelves fit vinyl perfectly and the top is wide enough for 2 1210s and a pioneer/allen & heath mixer plus one CDJ at least.

Very sturdy can be wheeled about when full for parties etc, lives under the stairs when not being used

 

[OllieNotts]

CDJ's and digital files are the future, accept no other advice. Traktor and Serato and now beaten by USB sticks and SD cards. The fewer interfaces between your hands and the files make for more accurate mixing. Save yourself some cash and go digital now my friend, otherwise you will be throwing your money away. I learnt and played on vinyl more than 20 years ago, i would not go back to that for anything.
But we can only advise, you make your own choice.


Enjoy playing and get your mixes posted on here when you do them.

I totally know what you mean, however I have been taught on vinyl and its only a hobby. I have thrown thousands of pounds away on football following forest and england over the years. Beer and gambling is another complete waste of money, but with this I may enjoy it and have no intention of playing out(at least for now) so depends on how you look at a hobby being a waste of money. If you dont want to use vinyl then fine, but I dont like the perfectness of some computer mixing and cringe when I hear it, doesnt mean its not good for some though. I love the feel of the leg work you have to do to get a good mix and maybe I will move onto serato in the future but for now while its something to play with in what little spare time I have I'll just enjoy it



I actually want that bookshelf from Ikea but it doesnt fit in my space Was thinking of buying it and then chopping about 10cm off and sticking the bottom back on but not sure if my carpentry skills are up to the task

 

[kimajy]

Was thinking of buying it and then chopping about 10cm off and sticking the bottom back on but not sure if my carpentry skills are up to the task

Come on - I think even I might manage something like that

 

[OllieNotts]

Come on - I think even I might manage something like that

I have visions of it leaning over to one side and falling apart
Will need to take a look at one instore and see if I can just screw the base in further up the side.

On a side note actually tested my decks are working tonight! Only have one vinyl amame by intruder 8) my speakers are crackling/buzzing with the amp though any ideas how to fix welcome. I have never had a proper music set up before only stereos where you plug and play. Desperate for some more vinyl now

 

[matt collins]

On a side note actually tested my decks are working tonight! Only have one vinyl amame by intruder 8) my speakers are crackling/buzzing with the amp though any ideas how to fix welcome.

I'm assuming that firstly the decks are earthed, also try turning mixer down/amp up and other way round, it could also be the cables.

 

[OllieNotts]

I'm assuming that firstly the decks are earthed, also try turning mixer down/amp up and other way round, it could also be the cables.

Earthed?......No
I have the earth cables and wondering wtf for. I only connected the amp and decks singly to the speakers no mixer yet just wanted to make sure they work.
Can you give me a "do to list" for when I get my table? Or point me in the direction of a website with an idiots guide. What do I earth them to? Is it just decks or mixer to?
Sorry for the thick questions I just never done it before

 

[Boon]

On the back of your amp there should be a ground post / little screw that you connect the ground wire from the turntable into. Usually both turntables earth to the back of your mixer.

Saying that I'm sure I've tried to connect up an old Numark turntable directly to a hifi stereo before and it would only work without buzzing if it went via a DJ mixer. But that stereo had no ground post.

PS get mixer pronto, even if it's just a cheap 2 channel one. I've actually got a spare one but it's not at my house at the mo. Was gonna stick it on eBay in a couple of weeks.

 

[OllieNotts]

On the back of your amp there should be a ground post / little screw that you connect the ground wire from the turntable into. Usually both turntables earth to the back of your mixer.

Saying that I'm sure I've tried to connect up an old Numark turntable directly to a hifi stereo before and it would only work without buzzing if it went via a DJ mixer. But that stereo had no ground post.

PS get mixer pronto, even if it's just a cheap 2 channel one. I've actually got a spare one but it's not at my house at the mo. Was gonna stick it on eBay in a couple of weeks.

Thanks, I have a mixer. Numark FX5000 its huge, just not got a table yet so got them out to test. Will be getting my table soon and then can set it up properly and hopefully you're right

 

[Ikoda]

Could also be connections on the decks, connections on the stereo, connections on the RCA cable, the cable wire itself... I've had a problem with the RCA cables before.

Also have trouble with my Amps (Yes, I have two), as one of them is out of phase with the other.

 

[DrChidd]

I totally know what you mean, however I have been taught on vinyl and its only a hobby. I have thrown thousands of pounds away on football following forest and england over the years. Beer and gambling is another complete waste of money, but with this I may enjoy it and have no intention of playing out(at least for now) so depends on how you look at a hobby being a waste of money. If you dont want to use vinyl then fine, but I dont like the perfectness of some computer mixing and cringe when I hear it, doesnt mean its not good for some though. I love the feel of the leg work you have to do to get a good mix and maybe I will move onto serato in the future but for now while its something to play with in what little spare time I have I'll just enjoy it


I wasnt suggesting you let the computer do the mixing, I share your feelings on Auto Sych DJ's, buy yourself some vinyl control discs ( for Traktor ) and you can DJ old school but use digital files for your music, that way you only carry round 2 discs to gigs.