brian quigley

From my pedestrian point of view, it sounds you will be able to provide the perfect point of view where you are able to make Traktor and VDJ work together, somehow, to you advantage. Why not figure how to use both, if they both work so well for you?

I once used old fashioned dish soap and slightly warm water to wash some vinyl. I didn’t have a problem with dust on the record, but someone spilled beer on it and you could hear the stylus jump every time it hit one of the beer spots.

So warm water, a very mild soap and a microfiber lint-free cloth to blot it dry when you are satisfied. Here is a link I found with a few methods to clean vinyl:

http://www.discomusic.com/101-more/6193_0_7_0_C/

I like using Virtual DJ if I do not have access to my mixer, like on a plane. I use Serato with a recommended Serato-centric mixer. I liked going that route because it was my first mixer and the idea of working with mappings seemed a little daunting to me out of the gate. I’m usually not a plug and play kind of person, but in this case it worked out well.

All you can do is try them out and see what works for you. Everyone will have their opinions on what is best, because that is what works best for them. Talking to other DJs I know, they say they do not see tremendous differences between Traktor and Serato. Also, see what other DJs play and what works for them. Find the software that works best with your style of playing.

This is strange, because you said you are using a different power source – do you mean a different wall outlet, or is it a completely different circuit?

Also, what are you using to distribute your power? You might think of looking at a PDU instead, or replacing your power strips to see if that solves any issue.

Last thing that I would check since you said that you ran your laptop off a different power source, monitor your laptop levels while spinning. Make sure it is not running out of CPU or memory. Although, it does not sound like this is the case if the problem is happening when you switch your smoke machine on.

I use a MacBook Air with Serato.

Digital Mixers:
Denon MC6000MK2 with four simultaneous digital tracks
or
Novation Twitch with two tracks

Specs on the MacBook Air:
OSX Version: 10.9.4
Processor: 1.86 Intel Core Duo
Memory: 2GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Disk: 128G SSD

I originally wanted to see if the MacBook Air could handle the Novation Twitch since it is a more compact mixer, easier to put in a bag and go. I can fit a laptop, the Twitch, laptop stand and all cables in one small laptop bag. Then I just have speakers to carry – using KRKs – and I’m ready to go for a small impromptu gig.

The MacBook Air works well with both mixers, even the Denon with four tracks running. I think with the specs you listed you would be right where you want to be with the Twitch, especially if screen size does not matter. That was the one thing I missed from my 15″ MacBook Pro, so when I am at home in the lab I use the larger screen on the laptop.

Hope this helps.

All better now, thanks. For my birthday this year I picked up a Dennon MC6000MK2 and there is no pain involved.

Funny about the wisdom tooth thing. At my dentist they say you can bring music to listen to while they do their work. I would rather not associate the dentist with any tracks I want to hear, especially later if I have some Pavlovian after effect.

You could also try twisting the RCA connectors to make sure they are getting solid connection. Sometimes they get a small amount of corrosion from just the moisture in the air, twisting them might fix it. Maybe try cleaning the RCA connectors with some rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. I had a problem a few years ago with a new setup – one channel would always cut out. Turns out the fix was taking the stylus off the tonearm and cleaning the tonearm connectors with a swab and rubbing alcohol. Problem went away.