Beginner DJ

I'm not really sure about mixing software. While I haven't tried it, i'm sure you could get a cheap mixer 'Numark dm1050' (just one example, one i have). Hook up your Laptop to channel 1 and a cd player to channel 2. Why? because you really need to separate the channels for beatmatching (the essence of dj'ing). I'm not sure if propellerheads make any djing software. But check out their free trials at http://www.propellerheads.se/

Myself though, I just picked up a couple of STR8-80X Stantons . Let me just say... beatmatching is not easy. Well... maybe on a set of SL-1200's. Personally I'm really into funky house at the momment. But I fell in love with the music first, not the scene.

Good luck

Do a search on the internet there are tons of free DJ software.

KP

One thing to think about is that you're gonna need some way of cueing up the next track in headphones in order to beatmatch them. In other words you need some kind of a seperate output for the headphones, via a second sound card or a high end professional sound card.

I've been djing for a couple years now (mostly as a hobby, played out a few times at small venues) and lemme tell you, your headphones are your BEST FRIEND. I assume since you said "mobile computer" you mean a laptop, so you options for gettin a hardware setup that will allow you to headphone cue are kinda limited. I know there are some PCMCIA sound cards made specifically with djs/producers in mind. I've seen links to them on the forums but i'm too lazy to look right now.

Anyways, just remember that it's gonna take more than software for you to learn to dj on a computer. You need some kind of an interface which allows you to listen to two sound sources at once and a nice pair of headphones.

Personally i prefer some kinda of a hardware interface to do mixing also. The hercules dj console >>http://us.hercules.com/products/show...p?p=87&b=0&f=1 looks pretty nice for a beginner setup, with a built-in sound card that will allow you to cue up with headphones and a pretty low price considering what it can do.

Also i think some of the bigger names in dj hardware(stanton, gemini, american dj) make MP3 controllers, but these don't include a sound card and are just about as pricey as the hercules.

So just something to think about. It's impossible to really get started learning to dj without some kind of initial investment.

Hope you find something that suits your tastes.

Bryan

If you are looking for software, the best I have used is PCDJ. The Red version is great, the new FX I haven't used yet, but shoud be even better. I have also used Magix and Traktor, but PCDJ is better.

I've been DJ'ing for over ten years and been using a laptop for the last 2 years i had a compaq presario 1Ghz but it was crapping out my Winamp occasinallly so i made the big jump to a DELL XPS...Haven't used it at a venue yet but will be in a few weeks...i've had Winamp running plus playing games at the same time on the DELL and no skips or anything...as far as special dj program i use Winamp and find it works fine....it fades the songs in and out and lets you create playlists and drag and drop the songs in the playlists so when someone makes a request you can move it to the next song....no waiting at all...i think its great people think its neat....I have tons of cd's and spent a long time converting them to mp3...but its worth it in the end....good luck....

Hey, check this out...

Click here: For STANTON's Final Scratch - if you are serious about incorporating Tables, CD's and MP3 - this is the answer

I use it with my MK1200's B. It’s awesome. Its expensive as hell - well, it just as expensive as it was three years ago - about $500.00 US Dollars. But, it is well worth it. Stanton came up with the CD version/Adapter as well. So, it might be what you are looking for, if you’re serious about the stuff.

As I said, I use it with the turntables, to spin Mp3's. But they have a CD version thing out as well.
Cheers,

P.S. They say it on the website as well, but here are just few names of the people who use this stuff - Paul van Dyk, Josh Wink and John Selway. [They spin trance, hard house and techno - respectively]

Check out PC-DJ red and the DAC-2:

http://www.pcdj.com/Products/RedBlueVRM.asp

What you want is the limo.

Ah, depending on how much you want to spend, and the quality, usability, and performance of the software (and generally mix you can do), I would suggest checking out the following:

Native Instruments Traktor (which I think now either comes with final scratch, or at least is able to use it). Latest version is 2.5. This feels more like using two different tables, even if the GUI doesn't look like two tables.

There is a program Mixmeister which a lot of people like, however it doesn't really simulate running two different tables at once (it is a lot more flexible!).

If you want to get more in the creation/remixing of tracks, and at the same time be able to beatmatch tracks in advance, adding samples and other stuff, while also being able to crossfade beautifully, I would check out LIVE (version 4 coming soon!). It is probably a little on the expensive side for you, but it is really a killer app.

finally, the Echo Indigo DJ is a superb PCMCIA soundcard (superb because it sounds great, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and has a headphone out for cueing, and a line out for the house mix). This is probably the best, easiest and most compact alternative for beginning.

HOpe this helps.

well my new dell works good but there is a sound issue when using the headphone jack as your line out the ground on the main plug in causes a very terrible noise thru the amp and speakers..i had to get a power bar and remove the ground plug then it was okay...thats for the XPS anyways...interesting and true....HJU