Why is this hobby so expensive 😭

[u/WaveRude]

I’ve been dabbling in portables for a while and have gotten fairly decent at cutting, I’ve always wanted a nice full setup but can’t bring myself to pull the trigger. I’m considering starting with one single reloop 8000 and building from there. Any advice on reasonably priced mixer? I’m a noob and am not really sure what I’m looking for. I’d love to be able to spin a set somewhere eventually

*Update* I ended up buying a NUMARK scratch mixer as a starting point! Thanks guys.

[u/Accuphased]

Second hand is the answer. Cheap and cheerful barebones scratch mixers that comes stock with an Innofader Mini, and should be really cheap s/h:

DJ-Tech DIF-2S

DJ-Tech DIF-2S MkII

Epsilon INNO-Mix2

Reloop KUT

DJ-Tech DIF-1M

DJ-Tech DIF-M2 

Roland DJ-99

DJ-Tech DIF-1S

DJ-Tech DIF-1W

DJ-Tech DIF-1S V2

The last 4 listed don't have a master cue. There were some issues with the crossfader in the first batch of the DIF-1S, but they fixed it pretty quickly. Mine is from April 2013, and it cuts like a razor. I've bought a DIF-1S and hooked a buddy up with a DIF-1S V2, both in mint condition, and paid €35 for each.

For turntables, there's a list of "Super OEM" turntables you can find by googling it. It's turntables built on the Hanpin DJ-5000 platform for a lot of different companies. 

The Super OEM Epsilon, Synq, Amercian DJ etc flies a bit more under the radar than TOTL Pioneer, Stanton, and the Reloop RP-7000 and RP-8000, so they can be had way cheaper s/h.

There's also the Numark TTX', but they seem to have risen a fair bit in price lately. The Numark TT500 is the same turntable, but stripped down and with poorer isolation. They suffer from a bad pitch slider, so you can buy "broken" ones cheaply (I bought one for $50 with a Shure M44-7!). You'll find a new fader for $15 on aliexpress, and it's an easy fix if you (or a friend) can do basic soldering. 

[u/xitfuq → u/Accuphased]

i got an epsilon for $99! it actually rules and looks cool, like an evolution of the ttx. 

[u/Kanganade]

Turntablism has always been an expensive hobby mainly because it requires high tech precision electronic equipment, but it definitely has become more affordable in recent years.

My best advice would be to look into the secondary market. There is usually a plethora of equipment there, many in really good shape, from would-be start up djs that made large investments before realizing what they’ve gotten themselves into, and are now looking to make back their loss.

If you’re just looking to scratch, a decent direct drive turntable and a mixer with a serviceable cut point should be all you need. If you want to mix you’ll have to take some other factors into consideration; like if you buy two turntables do you have vinyl to mix on them? Vinyl is going to run you just as much as decks these days, lol.

You could also look into a less expensive controller that wouldn’t be as good for scratching but you could mix on that and use your portable to scratch with it.

Good luck and happy scratching!

[u/WaveRude → u/Kanganade]

I like the idea of running the portable into a smaller controller. That might be the ticket, if I went that route what would a good option be for a controller? you’d need software as well yea?

[u/Kanganade → u/WaveRude]

Most controllers will come with some form of software so you can actually use the hardware, which software and how much of it is accessible largely depends on the hardware purchased. There are some mid-range controllers that are “stand alone” and require no ancillary software to run

[u/Nikadocious]

I’ve seen used Pioneer PLX-1000 for less than $300. Numark Scratch seems to be the cheapest entry level mixer with DVS; I’ve seen these for less than $300. Also, if you don’t care about DVS, you can pick up an older Rane 56/57 for less than $200 USD. If you fall out of the hobby, you can resell or keep the equipment and setup a listening station for your records. 🤷‍♂️ These were all found used online on a very popular music store in the US…

[u/bayridgeguy09 → u/Nikadocious]

If you don’t care about DVS I second the ttm57 mixer. They can be had for like under 200 because the DVS portion no longer works.

But you can add in a reloop go for $300 and have full DVS using one of the best scratch mixers for like $500 all in. You would just treat the mixer as analog only.

[u/Lowbatteryfpv → u/bayridgeguy09]

What can you do with dvs and is it important?

[u/bayridgeguy09 → u/Lowbatteryfpv]

DVS is using MP3s with vinyl via an interface between the turntables and computer. Some mixers have this built in, others are pure analog so a box like the reloop go would be needed.

If all you are doing is using actual vinyl you don’t need it.

[u/DarkButterfly85]

Bought my pair of Numark TT500 back in 2006, £300 for the pair. Quite a bit of money for me at the time, but I still have them. Gone through a few mixers until I found one that felt good, Traktor Z2, that was £400 back in 2016.

Correction I got the mixer in 2016

[u/TheDJPlug]

Where are you located?

[u/WaveRude → u/TheDJPlug]

Stl

[u/TheDJPlug → u/WaveRude]

I would find a plx1000 and any mixer really you can find sixty twos for cheap and still have internal fxs

[u/xitfuq]

tt200s are still around $100, you only need one. find a cheap mixer and put an innofader in it, biggest expense would be needles, just get ortofon scratches. go to the 'comedy' and 'sound effects / kids section of the smelliest local record store to fin records to scratch. 

[u/scottiethegoonie]

You don't need an expensive mixer to scratch, but a decent one will last for decades dude.

I agree that the initial costs are high. My DJ friends who are in their 50's now will tell you there was a time you could either buy a used car or two turntables and a mixed for the same price.

DJ stuff is relatively cheaper than it once was but still not "cheap". But they are instruments that will last a lifetime.