Top products from r/DJSetups

Okay, some of the suggestions here are woefully unhelpful or just bad ideas, so let's break this down.

1. The first thing you need to do is upgrade your speaker setup. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, just something with a stereo output that can be decently loud without distorting. This is my recommendation. Not exactly a negligible cost, but definitely on the lower end.
   
   
2. You need some headphones to help you hear what's coming up on the track you're mixing in. These look decent.
   
   
3. The software you're using now - VirtualDJ - is fine. You won't be any less good at DJing because of it. That being said, your controller is meant to be used with Serato. If you bought the controller new, it may have come with a license for the software. If not, you can get the lite version here. The lite version should be all you really need when you're learning.
   
   
4. The controller you're using is fine as well. Ignore everyone telling you to get turntables and DVS. If you want to go full-on into a scratch DJ then I would agree, but if you're just here to mix songs and share music, what you have is more than enough.
   
   
5. Finally, get a better stand for your controller. One way to go is to get a road case for the controller you're using and just set the controller on top. This will let you start bringing your controller out to play shows when you're ready, and in general just be a much more solid surface to play on. That being said, they're not cheap. If you have nothing else, maybe switch out the box for some textbooks or something weighty.
   
   Good luck to you!

I watched what DJs were doing a lot, I googled a lot, I read shit tons of forum posts and I wasn't afraid to ask questions. I know people who swear by this book.

Feel free to ask me about junk.

As for actually improving as a DJ rather than tech stuff, here's a few tips.

• Listen to mixes, preferably ones with video, and try and work out what the DJ is doing
  
  
• Try and experiment with different ideas, timings and techniques
  
  
• Record your mixes and listen to them the next day. Work out what sounded good and what didn't. Often you'll be surprised!
  
  
• Practice! Don't get bogged down, thinking about gear or promotion. Actually DJing is how you improve, not by making midi mappings or picking the next mixer to buy.
  
  
• Keep it fun. Mixing should be fun and you should be doing it for your pleasure first and foremost. :)

Nice setup! I can’t tell how tall that table is, but you should look into getting a riser/stand for your laptop. They are cheap and will help your back and neck during long sessions vs. craning over your laptop. This one on Amazon is solid and only $24: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HJ1ZB8/

VIVO Single Laptop Notebook Desk Mount Stand - Fully Adjustable Extension with C Clamp (STAND-V001L) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CM9NG1W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qY0TCbXQX6W6B


Super easy to assemble and install

They're on these wobbly stands I got from Guitar center. I'm not really all that impressed by them and I'm pretty sure the Mackie MR8's are a bit to heavy for them, but they work for now I might gin up something better a little later... but the next move is to cut down and re-finish the box holding the mixer to match the Expedit shelves and get a pair of THESE! :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026PTO1I/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

works pretty good, and the wireless is a plus

Hmm, They are just regular speaker stands. Pretty cheap and I like them. They came with rubber pads for a wood floor and spikes for carpet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JTV358/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It looks like this one. Actually several on Amazon that look like this.

Use digital cables for best signal

*home-assembled indeed haha.

The stand is a Pyle laptop stand I bought off amazon.
The AMX stand is much less fancy, consists of some AAA travel books.

Pyle PLPTS55 - Portable, Folding Tabletop DJ Gear Stand for Laptop Mixer or Other Gear - Adjustable Angle and Height https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJSBCLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_rTefwhrwIKE2B

Thank you! Here it is on Amazon.

Honestly for the price you can't go wrong, but if you're looking for something long term and sturdy this isn't it. This is fine for bedroom DJing but I don't like having to go out with this one, it's really not the most stable thing out there.

Sorry for the slow response on this, I got these on amazon - Ultimate Support JSMS70 Speaker... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B005JTV358?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

These are more than $50. But they seem good quality


IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R130 - Small, Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CODRTNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pFeLBbXHCHYWS

I've heard good things about these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1414251551&sr=8-1

Gotta raise the monitors bruh. A pair of similarly sized books under each speaker are the usual go to in a pinch, or you can look into something commercially available like http://www.amazon.com/Auralex-Monitor-Acoustic-Isolation-Charcoal/dp/B0002D0B4K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414943829&sr=8-2&keywords=speaker+riser

It works just like any other MIDI controller, so yeah, it'll work fine in Ableton. The jog wheels work great for video editing in Premiere. All this thing does is send commands; nothing's done internally. Therefore you can reprogram every button and knob as you see fit (unless of course you use the bundled software, an old-ass version of VDJ that was built specifically for this controller. I didn't even bother installing it).

The build quality isn't very solid on this thing, though (read my review here). I've had mine for three years now and it's doing ok mainly because I baby it (one of the knobs does have a bit of a wobble to it, though), but one drop landing on a knob and it's fucked. So if you get one, keep the lid on it anytime you're more than a meter away from it.

With that being said, unless you're as broke as me, I highly recommend you save up an extra $150ish and go with the DJControl Steel instead.

Odyssey ATT Dj Truss Table https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002JL2BU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Lm5OybYR3PX29

It's just a simple Pyle laptop stand . It only cost like $22. It's really sturdy but a bit of a pain to take a part and reassemble if you're a mobile DJ like me.

That's a nice setup.

Seems like the mic stand gets in the way, and would be a pain in the ass to adjust. What about installing a flange in the desk, then attaching a mic boom to it?

Edit: And maybe adding some decoupling risers to those monitors, and a vertical support block to that hutch so the center doesn't sag...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K23VMW1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQYAUY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shelf pieace came from the half off sale area of returns and crap at ikea, not sure what its actually from.