HorizonForumsone horizon
Log inSign up

[ms] · Est. May 2002

Music madethis place,we just kept itgoing...

One durable person. One social graph. Many communities—and every way people speak, share, listen, write, gather and remember.

Forums / General Yakkity Yak

Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

30 durable postsStarted 2007-05-10Latest 2007-12-08
#41693Post 1 of 30

So, after getting tired of using my mouse and VirtualdJ on my desktop, I am opting for a portable solution to dJing. I know I want to be able to use some kind of software and some kind of external controller to hook up to the laptop.

My question is what kind of software is out there that you can do house parties and gigs at clubs? What kind of performance and specs do you look for in a laptop to be able to successfully dJ.

I'm gonna by my gear hopefully by the end of the summer and I want to be informed when I make my purchase in the end.

So, what do you guys know about laptop dJing? Throw it out there!

#860938Post 2 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

i just got a indigo dj pcmcia sound card today but havnt tried it with a good dj program yet but they aint so bad sounding tbh, i,m going to be trying a range of different programs over the next couple of weeks to see how they perform in a live dj situation type thing, i,ve been using ableton recently but up untill now i havnt had a sound card with more then one out so i,m looking forward to seing how if any this helps

#860985Post 3 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

DOM why in the hell did you buy a PCMCIA card? Those things are dinosaurs. USB 2.0 or Firewire are the only ways to go nowadays.

#861036Post 4 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

the only advantage I can think of is that its space saving, instead of carrying something external around...

#861076Post 5 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

are you wanting to dj strictly off the laptop?

as far as programs i think abelton will suit you nicely.

and as far as specs for your comp.. put it this way you dont want your shit to skip in the middle of your set.. so a badass sound card with as much ram as you can fit in there plus a really high end processor would prob do the trick

#861125Post 6 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=jeffrey collins;486302]DOM why in the hell did you buy a PCMCIA card? Those things are dinosaurs. USB 2.0 or Firewire are the only ways to go nowadays.[/quote]

1: usb cards are unreliable and there performance aint so good especially if they are bus powered

2: this laptop doesnt have firewire so i would have to buy a pcmcia firewire card anyway lol

3: i,m not using the card for anything serious its just for having a half decent output for audio on the laptop which this card is more than suitable for

my laptops my online computer only

#861380Post 7 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[IMG]http://www.wasso.co.jp/blog/image/mac%20book.jpg[/IMG] and this...

[IMG]http://www.beathutonline.com/news/_files/newsimages/Serato1.jpeg[/IMG]

#861387Post 8 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

yeah my laptop is my only computer too. but i've got a tascam 144USB 2.0 and it's really nice. Got MIDI and two XLR ins. I had to figure a few things out when I first got it. But now I am loving it. Its even made my production work at late night times better, as my headphones sound better coming out of this thing than that computer soundcard...EEEK.

#861442Post 9 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=lilsensa;486734][IMG]http://www.wasso.co.jp/blog/image/mac%20book.jpg[/IMG] and this...

[IMG]http://www.beathutonline.com/news/_files/newsimages/Serato1.jpeg[/IMG][/quote]

Trade Serato for the new Traktor Scratch and you're in business.

#861450Post 10 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

a serial bus aint really good for audio ur better off with firewire its more reliable and it doesnt get clogged up with data as much

#861454Post 11 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=Jayson;486803]Trade Serato for the new Traktor Scratch and you're in business.[/quote]

What are the reviews like on that thing?? I don't think I would ever sway from Serato, cause I love it so much, but whats the deal with Traktor Scratch?? Pros/Cons vs. Serato, if you happen to know off hand. :p If not, it's cool...

#861485Post 12 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

i don't think i'd ever be into serato. I'd rather not carry a 1-2k computer into a local gig just to play a one hour set with all the stuff I have to hook up...cause it'll be a while until i'm a globe trotting dj who MIGHT want something like Serato. Rather just go for using cd's.

#861574Post 13 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

I am debating between Serato and Traktor myself... it's a tough fucking choice to make. Everything I hear about Traktor is that it is next generation shit, better time code algorithms etc... but Serato has time and stability behind, not to mention much LOWER system requirements to run decently...

#861603Post 14 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

Get Traktor Scratch. You won't be disappointed.

#862131Post 15 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

yeah? any thoughts as to why, I am curious...

#862159Post 16 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=Jayson;486982]Get Traktor Scratch. You won't be disappointed.[/quote]

Yeah dude you gotta see your reasons why we should buy it.

#863451Post 17 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

I already sent him my reasons in a PM so no worries

#863551Post 18 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

And I will share with you all. If you dont mind, Jayson.

Quoting Jayson -> "First off, the interface is by far the best on the market. It uses Cirrus converters and that's just unheard of in DJ equipment! it samples at 96k/24bit.

Another good thing is that it's all being built by NI, not third party involved anywhere. So they have been able to implement a number of features. The best one in my opinion is that you can run it through Ableton and use Ableton as you master clock, PLUS you can also run VSTs in Traktor Scratch itself. Custom effects anyone? Not only can you customize your effects, but you can use automation to record your movments to make effects even more dynamic and alive.

I've had mine for a bit now (friend works for NI so I got a 'demo' copy = p) and I really can't see anything wrong with it at the moment. Haven't played out with it yet but once I get the feel and trust myself with it more than I'll be taking it out.

But it's still new, and I'm not sure how often they are going to be putting out updates for it like Rane has for Serato. That's one of the reasons I went with Serato because they actually listen to what their users suggest and try to implement them.

Traktor Scratch is by far the superior product at the moment in terms of quality.

If you just use Serato as a record box than by all means no need to get Traktor, but if you have thought about using Ableton to SUPPORT your DJ set than by all means Traktor is the way to go."

#863595Post 19 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

nice. I like the software version for checking out new tracks. Doubtful i'll ever use a computer for my Dj'ing out.

#871256Post 20 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

Anyone used 1 of these [URL]http://www.rane.com/ttm57sl.html[/URL] ? It has serato built into the rane mixer so everything is controlled from the mixer. I'm giving serious thought to buying one of these once some credit card debt is cleared. Any opinions?

#877062Post 21 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

first you have to decide if you are going to be a PROFFESSIONAL DJ...then you have to really spend good money on tha best things yu can find out...

If you are looking for high fidelity and low crash chance... MAC If you are looking for performance and rare software and vst... PC

Anyways about software.. .Ableton mix, or Traktor... actually I use traktor in just 4 fun gigs, working with 2 soundcards (USB and INTERNAL) on my notebook.... Anyways...buy the strongest notebook you can...That's the best tip I can give you...they get old fast!

#888012Post 22 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

I use traktor DJ Studio on my laptop, works very nicely.

#897810Post 23 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

Hi, this is my first post in the Dj-ing forum... i have just started Djing

I guess for home/bedroom djing, Traktor works well... and for serious Dj-ing you need some more versatile, like Ableton...

#898025Post 24 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

Traktor Scratch is better

#918749Post 25 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=psylucas911;497940]Anyways about software.. .Ableton mix, or Traktor... actually I use traktor in just 4 fun gigs, working with 2 soundcards (USB and INTERNAL) on my notebook.... [/quote]

What kind of USB soundcard are you running and how do your notebook work with two soundcards - do the use of two soundcards cause any problems using dj software etc.?

Cheers

#918945Post 26 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[QUOTE=Caley Martin;515063]Traktor Scratch is better[/QUOTE]

+1

Serato does one thing, and it does it nicely, but traktor scratch takes it to another level. Never was very pleased when Stanton was involved, but now that it's all NI, i'm on board.

#918955Post 27 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

I was on the fence between Serato and Traktor Scratch for the longest time, but like Jenks said, the feature set and next generation timecode is what sold me in the end. And there have already been 3 updates within the first three months to address user concerns and performance and new features.

#946059Post 28 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

mac if you can doule boot for pc. serato all the way. exteral drive with external drive backup for all the tracks

#946092Post 29 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

of the simulators, traktor is the better of the two. Has a higher bit rate and therefore better sound quality. But still not better than the real thing.

#946216Post 30 of 30

Re: Buying a laptop for dJing, need advice

[quote=jeffrey collins;489168]nice. I like the software version for checking out new tracks. Doubtful i'll ever use a computer for my Dj'ing out.[/quote]

Agree on that ,,,

Log in to reply