Needing A Little Equipment Help And Advice

[Kritical]

So I have a little bit of money saved up and I want to buy a friend a new setup so he can finally start playing in clubs, ect.

I have no idea about any of the latest equipment however I have done a little research.

I would like to go digital and use a Mac-Book to store all the tracks on but then wire it up to some serious hardware. My friend is a big fan of large turntables and I wanted to run the tracks off the laptop and into the turntables, which I think is possible. Oh and finally into the mixer.

Either way ideally I would like all the tracks on the Mac Book and then connect it up to Turntables and a mixer without ever having to touch vinyl again.

Can anyone advise me on the best course of action. I have over $2500 to spend.

Thanks

[Windows 95]

A DVS, two record players, a mixer & headphones.
The two most popular DVS are Serato & Traktor.

Serato
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Rane-Serato-Scratch-SL3-105322135-i1445479.gc

or

Traktor
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Native-Instruments-Traktor-Scratch-Pro-2-106539281-i1823794.gc

[Windows 95]

Just a rough idea.

$600 - Traktor Scratch Pro 2
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Native-Instruments-Traktor-Scratch-Pro-2-106539281-i1823794.gc

$1,200 - two Stanton ST-150 record players
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Stanton-ST-150-Digital-Turntable-with-S-Tone-Arm-102646601-i1155533.gc

$160 - Denon DN-HP1000 headphones
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Denon-DN-HP1000-Professional-DJ-Headphones-103383543-i1126288.gc

$1000 - Rane Empath DJ mixer
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Rane-Empath-Touring-Club-Mixer-107765711-i1153441.gc

total = $2960

If your friend doesn't have anything to listen to the music with (Boom-box, home stereo, 2x1 computer speakers, etc.) you'll need something to play the music with.
$300 - two KRK Rokit Powered 5 Generation 2 studio monitors
http://www.guitarcenter.com/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2-Powered-Studio-Monitor--Each--104908710-i1403132.gc

If you don't have any cables you might want to figure in another $50 - $200 for your cables.

[ampnation]

I know Win95 is just giving a sample setup. Just wanted to point out some other respected selections for each.
-----------
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Native-Instruments-Traktor-Scratch-Duo-2-106542095-i1823797.gc

This Package linked above includes the Audio 6 instead of the Audio 10 and costs a little less. I think most DJ's can get by with the Audio 6 and AFAIK, the audio quality is the same. Here's an article about the differences between the 6 and 10 and their their predecessors.
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/06/audio-6-audio-10-review-native-instruments/
This I think would save money without sacrificing anything unless he is expanding quickly beyond two turntables.
-----------
Some other turntable options I've seen talked up here recently are the Audio Technica AT-LP120 and AT-LP240 as well as Numark TTX. Get some opinions on how these compare. The "standard" is the Technics SL-1200 but if you're buying new only as often gifts are, that might be out of the question. Keep in mind because 1200's are so revered, excellent quality used or refurbished 1200's might be appreciated as much or more than brand new turntables from another manufacturer.
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Check the headphones (sticky?) thread of lots of reviews. If the thread is not sticky, it should be on the first page under accessories.
-----------
As far as the mixer goes, there are quite a few mixers that are quality. If you see your friend having CDJ's and turntables, and hence needing 4 channels, get a 4 channel mixer -- and someone else correct me if I'm wrong but Serato doesn't support 4 channels right now? If the vision is scratch artist/turntablist then I'm thinking a 2 channel mixer is actually better. Rane mixers are all good from what I've heard and if he is shooting for club DJ'ing, that or Pioneer mixers are probably the way to to. Check out this video...

http://youtu.be/mJ-kp7X58bI

I'm not sure what you know about DVS systems. Here's an article.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_vinyl_system
Just as time code vinyls are used for traditional turntables, time code CD's are used in CD "turntables." usually referred to as CDJ's. Some CDJ's use HID and don't need time codes but this is a minor concern.

[Lost Connection]

DN-X1600 works as the soundcard for TSP2 and it is a wonderful MIDI mixer. I've got one example setup of what you're looking for actually: Denon DN-X 1600, TSP2(without soundcard), Technics SL1200 mk2's and Sennheiser headphones. Of course the speakers are also needed to take into account, but also basic pc speakers work... Though sound crappy :D

[Dantron]

I'd go with this:

Serato SL3: $699 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-RNE-SL3-LIST

Stanton Str8-150 x2: $599 each - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-STA-STR8150HP-LIST

Sennheiser HD25-1 II: $199 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-SEN-HD251II-LIST

Allen & Heath Xone 42: $799 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALL-XONE42-LIST

Total: $2895

[ampnation]

I'd go with this:

Serato SL3: $699 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-RNE-SL3-LIST

Stanton Str8-150 x2: $599 each - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-STA-STR8150HP-LIST

Sennheiser HD25-1 II: $199 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-SEN-HD251II-LIST

Allen & Heath Xone 42: $799 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALL-XONE42-LIST

Total: $2895

What advantage does the SL3 have over an SL2 for this setup?

There have been reports that the Allen & Heath Xone 42 (and Xone 22) have significant quality problems. If one isn't going with Rane or Pioneer for the reasons stated in Wiplash's vid above, I think Denon represents a great value and other Allen & Heath mixers are great. Ecler has some excellent products too -- Nuo line mixers for analog, Evo line for digital.

[Dantron]

What advantage does the SL3 have over an SL2 for this setup?

There have been reports that the Allen & Heath Xone 42 (and Xone 22) have significant quality problems. If one isn't going with Rane or Pioneer for the reasons stated in Wiplash's vid above, I think Denon represents a great value and other Allen & Heath mixers are great. Ecler has some excellent products too -- Nuo line mixers for analog, Evo line for digital.

SL3 can have 3 decks set up to it, SL2 cannot. Also I've heard the quality is better on the SL3 as opposed to the SL2(in terms of reading from the control vinyl to the laptop etc).

I think A&H Xone 42's are amazing, and I've never had any issue with them,

[DJ Highline]

I'd go with this:

Serato SL3: $699 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-RNE-SL3-LIST

Stanton Str8-150 x2: $599 each - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-STA-STR8150HP-LIST

Sennheiser HD25-1 II: $199 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-SEN-HD251II-LIST

Allen & Heath Xone 42: $799 - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALL-XONE42-LIST

Total: $2895


^^^This is a great Serato Scratch live set up if you decide to go that route...you can probably save a few dollars by going with an SL2 and cheaper headphones...

If you decide you want to go with a Traktor Set-Up, then this will be a great system

Stanton Str8-150 x2: $599 each - http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-STA-STR8150HP-LIST

Denon DN-X1600 - $999 http://www.pssl.com/Denon-DN-X1600-Multi-Channel-Digital-DJ-Mixer

Traktor Certified Mixer Upgrade Kit - $119 http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/dj/traktor-kontrol-s4/?page=3945

Total: $2316

Add to that a pair of decent headphones of your choosing and you are ready to go.

[Dantron]

I'm just a Serato fanboy all around. Used it until I switched to 100% vinyl. I would disagree with one thing from the post here ^^^^, those Sennheiser HD 25-1 II's are the most beautiful things you will ever put on your ears, I say don't skimp out on them, pay the extra $50 for an INCREDIBLE pair of headphones. Other than that it's definitely a winning combo as well.