Luke Butzen

Serato’s official statement on AMD processors: “Some users have reported problems with Serato software running on machines with AMD processors. Our in-house testing has also shown that AMD equipped PCs can, in some cases cause serious performance problems. (You)

We do support use of Serato DJ with computers running AMD processors however if you are having constant performance issues please consider checking if your computer is meeting the minimum system requirements.”

So yeah, it sounds like it’s time to upgrade. That way you can get a new OS, (Almost anything brand new is running Win 10 unless it’s Mac or Refurbed.) and if you’re a smart shopper, can probably end up with something that will last you for years to come if you can use it exclusively for Dj’ing.

Let us know how you turn out!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Luke Butzen.

Word. And as I said before, make sure to keep a copy elsewhere. You never know when a gremlin will come by and screw you over. Ideally, you’d be able to do a full HD backup and have spare room for music and important program flies on the same external.

Did you ever figure out your main issue which was how you wanted to organize your library? I feel like we got sidetracked.

To Answer your first question, not to the best of my knowledge. If you do, please Share!

You might try reading the Serato manual as you may decide to let Serato handle everything in terms of management. They encourage that but then you’d want to look into Beatunes to help keep it all straight if you add or play a lot of different tunes.

If you’re already using itunes, then it’s best to just stick with that as it’s a program you’re familiar with and it works with everything in some fashion in case you decide to switch software.

There’s also a learning curve with it, but I’ve become impressed with Media Monkey after spending some time learning the program. I haven’t touched on adding the library to Serato in any fashion, but I think it’ll help keep my library organized as it’s showing me duplicates I didn’t know I had & it’ll force me to clean up my phone since I can use MM to sync with my phone.

As for the second part, I don’t think that’ll be possible since Phil will bring guest speakers and do special things with the mastercourse. Otherwise, people would Cherry pick and not get the full benefit of the course.

And you’re already going to be disappointed by the time we get to the first box. Also, I’m going to assume you’re using USD, as you don’t specify your currency.

If you do find a 4 channel controller, then for the most part with your budget, that’s going to be all you’re getting is the controller with no other features that you’re looking for. Some still do timecode or have a stand-alone mixer built in but a lot of them are getting long in the tooth or are past your budget unless you find a GREAT deal. It sounds like you’d want to plug into another mixer & do a hybrid set up.* For example, my NS6 is old, but has a 4 channel mixer built in. Unfortunately, I’d have to give up two channels to add stuff on & I’d have to unplug it and use timecode to control my software if I wanted to do 4 hardware surfaces. Not a bad compromise, but one I’d have to do. It probably wouldn’t ever leave the bedroom/home as carrying the NS6 around is a chore unto itself.

*Master out from controller to line in mixer (Probably 3 or 4 unless those are phono, in which case it’d 1 or 2), with the mixer being used for CDJs or TTs feeding to your monitors/speakers.

It should be pretty obvious that you’re not going be getting your dream set up right now. As 500 barely buys the your first step and you’ve still got more expensive gear to buy unless you already have all the other hardware already laying around not being used.

I do know that Behringer does a 7 channel mixer, but what few reviews I’ve seen state that you might get a year or two out of it before it goes to shit. But considering it’s only 300$, you’d just replace it when it does and recycle/toss the old one. Wasteful and not a very cost effective option but you could do it and it’d fully support everything.

As for streaming, you probably know more than I do. But as far as I understand, your laptop/computer is going to handle that, so it shouldn’t affect your controller in any way.

First: Love the enthusiasm but you posted in the wrong forum section.

Secondly: DJ Vintage (Who is a forum mod on here) has basically answered so many of these that he’s boiled it down to a list that should help you quite a bit.

Here it is: “1) Determine workflow
2) Determine software choice
3) Determine budget
4) Pick 2 (max. 3) controllers that fit workflow, software and budget
5) Get some hands on time if possible
6) Make your choice”

Hopefully this helps as it sounds like you need a good starting point before just spending money on a controller. Otherwise, you’ll end up frustrated & end up giving up without making any sort of progress.

To answer your post, 1.) Almost all intro controllers now use the same sound-card now-a-days, so basically you’re just paying for the features & name. The MTP3 is a great start no matter what as it is a great all arounder to dip your toes in the water and see if you want to really do it. (I own the OG MTP and will keep that baby forever)

The SB2 would be good as well and teach you things the MTP3 can’t, like gain staging your tunes.

The universal, I don’t know. It strikes me as the kind of thing you would buy if you want to DJ using your phone/tablet first. I’m not a fan of them taking away a physical headphone volume knob and going with a button system, as that can be hit or miss. One click up, it’s too loud. One click down and it’s not loud enough unless it’s in super small increments.

2.) All the ones you listed are power & midi over USB. Which basically means they need to be connected to something like a computer (unless the universal does mains power) in order to work. If you’re asking if you can plug in a USB stick and go, then no. I do know a a few things that do that, but they might be out of your budget.

Best of luck!

Yep, Jones is right.

As for controlling audacity, nothing can do that except your mouse. You can record with it, but that’s all it really is, a recording tool that has production tools with it. It’s not dj software by any stretch of the imagination.

Basically, it’d go: Mixer hooked into your soundcard to your PC, with a timecode box (there’s quite a few out there for Serato & Traktor), with the CDJs going into the timecode box.

I know you can record mixes & such with Audacity, but due to every single proper software having a record function now a days, using audacity to record your mixes is outdated unless you’re using a hybrid set up. As for recording to your CDj, that’s also not possible. The CDJ is just a reader & control surface, not a recording device.

Best of luck!

In my eyes, Serato DJ wins hands down. But I’m also the kind of DJ who just wants to play tunes, not do performances and LOVE the GUI in Serato. So it’s really up you which software is better as software is a personal thing. I am friends with someone who likes traktor and it’s GUI, but he shares my sentiments in just wanting to put tunes together.

To answer number 2, yes VDJ 8 supports the Mixtrack pro 3. But it’s definitely going to be more responsive in Serato as it’s a native serato controller. That’s something they’ve managed to do really well is make Serato controllers that little bit more responsive in their software vs other software, and make it so you can’t fully map SDJ to any controller like you can with VDJ.

Best of luck!

He’s trying to see if Serato has screen options like Traktor does I think.