Hi, I used to DJ about 10 years ago in high school with the standard setup of (2)Technic 1200's, a mixer, and a very basic sampler. I did an occasional party for friends but mostly worked on remixing songs, making intro's with various samples and making mixed tapes. Time went by and I focused my attention on computers (my career).Recently my interest has been resparked and I am looking to get a dual CD setup. Doing some quick research I am currently looking at either the Velocity or the Pro Scratch 2. I still have some of my existing equipment such as amp, speakers, headphones, etc. I am only looking for the CD players and a new mixer. I have tried mixing stuff using MP3's on various software packages but it didn't feel the same, I guess I'm just used to the traditional setup. I am going to list some facts and questions below and was hoping if some more experienced DJ's could give me advice on how I should move forward.
1)I am not a big scratch DJ but would like to have the option.
2)I like the Velocity but it seems like the two players cannot be separated so there is no way to put a mixer in between them. I feel this may be a little awkward. In this configuration where would you position your mixer...? On top or on the bottom of the Velocity CD units..? I always thought it was logical to have the cross fader control in between the two devices.
3)I am assuming this equipment will stay at home 99% of the time since I doubt I will be doing many parties.
4)I noticed one unit is tabletop and the other unit is rack mounted. Does the rackmounted unit require more space such as a larger rack. This is a small concern because space will be somewhat limited. However having a rack may be an easy and neat way to self contain everything including the amp,and possibly tape deck or CD-RW units.
5)I mostly blend beats by ear but the BPM Counter on the Velocity strikes me as a good feature to have and can prove to be very useful.
6)If all of my comments suggest I should go with the ProScratch 2 instead of the Velocity, should I get the Q-MX2BPM mixer to make up for the BPM meter that is absent from the PS2..? Is the performance, accuracy, or functionality of the BPM Meter on the mixer any better or worse than the BPM meter on the Velocity..?
7)I also briefly looked at PRO MIX� MP3 unit. It seems like it allows you to physically interact with the MP3's with a combination of hardware/software as opposed to just software. This interests me a bit since I do have a lot of material in the MP3 format that I would have to convert to CD audio for the other units. Aside from that initial conversion process is there any advantage/disadvantage that the PRO MIX� has in relation to the Pro Scratch 2 and the Velocity units..?
8)Are the Velocity and/or Pro Scratch 2 compatible with both CD-R and CD-RW discs..? Are these units very sensitive towards less expensive media..?
9)Ultimately I am looking for something that will suit my interest and hobby aspect of using CD's to DJ and allow me to explore and experiment with music. While price is a concern I am more concerned with buying the right equipment. The last thing I want to do is invest in a unit that I will be unhappy with say 6 months later due to lack of features or functionality. I am estimating a budget of $1,000 for the CD units which should be sufficient for all units mentioned above. Also, a ball park figure of an additional $300 for a decent mixer.
Sorry for the lengthy post but I appreciate your time. I am looking forward to your insight.
Thanks in advance...!
AlexM98@aol.com
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