DJ Turntables: Buying Guide by Vekked (2016)

Anecdotally, my local DJ equipment/repair store said the same - apparently the build quality of the mk7 isn’t as good as the older models. Unsure how true that is, but similar to many in this thread I have a pair of 1200mk2s which must be 30+ years old (I got them second hand for a steal) still going strong

Interested in DJing? Or vinyl? Starting with vinyl is expensive, even if you just get Serato or something.

I recommend a small DJ controller. It has everything included. You don't need all the fancy features to learn the basics. As long as he eventually learns to avoid the sync button, he'll be able to transfer the skills to most digital setups with ease.

Vinyl is different, and there's really no emulating it. If he can mix without syncing or visual cues (such as the transient indicator on most digital setup, where you can match the peaks of the track) and do it entirely by ear, that gets him most of the way to vinyl mixing.

The other half of vinyl mixing is actually the vinyl aspect. Drifting the tracks is different than you'd do it on CDJs, and it's different if you're on a belt driven turntable (which you shouldn't use for DJing anyway) or direct drive. That needs a bit of practice regardless of actual mixing skill.

But the core concepts are the same. As long as it has the faders, the low/mid/high knobs and gain, he can learn most of what he needs.

I started on a single Stanton CDJ, a cheap Behringer mixer, and Virtual DJ on the other "deck" that I pirated. I'd mix a track in, mix out the previous one, then transfer the track to the other deck and mix again. All of the actual adjustments were solely on the CDJ. It taught me enough to really warrant a real second deck later on.

I've gone on to play clubs in several countries, if that matters. Learning the basics can be done on even the most budget of setups (in fact, you might even be better off).

Hope that helps!

Oh I have one more tip. Most of the Ortofon OM moving magnet cartridges, including the Concorde models, are exactly the same with the only difference being the styli that you pair them with.

That means you can switch from a spherical DJ to an expensive elliptical stylus depending on what you're doing without rewiring the headshell or keeping a second set of cartridges/headshells.

e.g. if you want to sample, record or just listen then use the elliptical set for better sound quality and lower wear.

The spherical styli have a smaller contact patch with the groove but track better when scratching or cueing.

The Vestax's MIDI controlled pitch looks pretty sick. What's the closest one can get to it in software these days?

Basically. I'm holding onto my 1999 1200's forever.