My Numark V7s run through Serato ITCH which is just a streamlined yet a bit buggy version of Scratch Live, they require at minimum a 2.4ghz dual core processor with 4GB of ram, and they've been known to run better and more stable with Intel processors.... I'm ordering a Macbook Pro right now because it fits what I need it for, it just works, it looks cool, and it will compliment my 27" iMac as that is my producing computer, whereas my 15" Macbook Pro will be my portable workstation and used at gigs when I'm spinning.
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To all the djs: Why a macbook pro?
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Well I have logic, but it's just too darn intimidating for me to spend all the time learning. I use Soundtrack Pro that came with Logic for recording sets from the decks.
I personally prefer Ableton. Very easy to navigate & get something happening quickly.
Also the VST's are FANTASTIC. I do dance music, so I swear by a cheap VST called Sylenth1 which is under $200 AUD. And also Omnisphere.
I've been DJ'ing for 10 years, and did a Network Engineering course on PC's. So you could say I was a PC fanatic. But I bit the bullet and bought a MAC, and let me tell you. The amount of sheer time I have spare, where I don't have to tweak & optimize & reformat etc etc is worth EVERY dollar.
I plug everything in & it just works every time without fail. Not to mention the sheer power of the command line when you get more advanced.
I can tell you that I have read many many threads on macrumors asking the macrumors forum community to justify why someone should buy a mac, and I can also tell you that I have read many many threads saying how happy they are they made the right decision buying a MAC. Unfortunately I can also say I have read many that are sad that they made the wrong decision buying a PC, and deeply regret it.
Anyway. Hope you make the right decision for you. Hope all that helps though.
from a PC perspective..
Ok, I AM a dj and ive been using a pc from scratch.. so i guess i will be the voice of the PC in the MAC forum lol..
IMO a well tuned pc will run just as good as ANY apple product.. I'm using a 5 yr old hp laptop with a amd 64 mmx processor with 2 gigs of ram (just upgraded to windows 7 from xp) i have and do on a regular basis play 10-12 hr sets using virtual dj pro (which in itself is a pretty processor hungry program) and i can honestly say that in the 5 yrs ive had this thing it has only crashed on me once while playing.. and that was due to an external hard drive taking too long to read.. granted the PC did not run that well out of the box, i have tweaked and tuned it to my needs.. and i have never used a mac to dj with but i find it hard to justify the 3000$ you have to spend on a mac to do what a 1200$ pc will do just fine.. i guess the bottom line is how much do you wanna spend vs. how much are you willing to work.. they probably both have their own list of pros and cons and in the end a computer is only as good as its user.. T d-.-b
Ok, I AM a dj and ive been using a pc from scratch.. so i guess i will be the voice of the PC in the MAC forum lol..
IMO a well tuned pc will run just as good as ANY apple product.. I'm using a 5 yr old hp laptop with a amd 64 mmx processor with 2 gigs of ram (just upgraded to windows 7 from xp) i have and do on a regular basis play 10-12 hr sets using virtual dj pro (which in itself is a pretty processor hungry program) and i can honestly say that in the 5 yrs ive had this thing it has only crashed on me once while playing.. and that was due to an external hard drive taking too long to read.. granted the PC did not run that well out of the box, i have tweaked and tuned it to my needs.. and i have never used a mac to dj with but i find it hard to justify the 3000$ you have to spend on a mac to do what a 1200$ pc will do just fine.. i guess the bottom line is how much do you wanna spend vs. how much are you willing to work.. they probably both have their own list of pros and cons and in the end a computer is only as good as its user.. T d-.-b
Ok, I AM a dj and ive been using a pc from scratch.. so i guess i will be the voice of the PC in the MAC forum lol..
IMO a well tuned pc will run just as good as ANY apple product.. I'm using a 5 yr old hp laptop with a amd 64 mmx processor with 2 gigs of ram (just upgraded to windows 7 from xp) i have and do on a regular basis play 10-12 hr sets using virtual dj pro (which in itself is a pretty processor hungry program) and i can honestly say that in the 5 yrs ive had this thing it has only crashed on me once while playing.. and that was due to an external hard drive taking too long to read.. granted the PC did not run that well out of the box, i have tweaked and tuned it to my needs.. and i have never used a mac to dj with but i find it hard to justify the 3000$ you have to spend on a mac to do what a 1200$ pc will do just fine.. i guess the bottom line is how much do you wanna spend vs. how much are you willing to work.. they probably both have their own list of pros and cons and in the end a computer is only as good as its user.. T d-.-b
If heard a couple of times that for audio processing it is better to use an external hard drive. You seem to do the same, why is that?
personally when I produce not with mixing and live sets but making productions You usually need good computer as your vsts can take up alot of cpu , I havnt tried producing in a while Ive used sony acid, ableton and cubase although cubase is a hard one to get used to using vsts and timesctreaching
It's all about the latency, would you agree?
My setup gives me sharp immediate response. Nothing worse than having a lag when you are trying to find that melody.
My first live djing Mac was a Powerbook G4 in 2005. A year and a half later I moved to a MBP 1,1. That laptop was my workhorse for 3 years. Currently I use a Alum MB 5,1.
I have been live laptop djing for 6 years (which is about as long as Serato has been in existence) and I have had TWO crashes.
This is out of an average of 3 nights a week. Thats ~140 gigs a year for 6 years with TWO crashes.
I have used SL1, SL3, SLVideo, ITCH, and beta tested Bridge.
TWO crashes.
Everything I have thrown at my Macs has led to a 99% success rate. No driver issues, no sound issues, no OS crapshoots... Just solid work night after night.
I have nothing against PCs (I have a Thinkpad T61 for my day job) but I just wont mess with them when it comes to making sure my nights go off without a hitch.
I have been live laptop djing for 6 years (which is about as long as Serato has been in existence) and I have had TWO crashes.
This is out of an average of 3 nights a week. Thats ~140 gigs a year for 6 years with TWO crashes.
I have used SL1, SL3, SLVideo, ITCH, and beta tested Bridge.
TWO crashes.
Everything I have thrown at my Macs has led to a 99% success rate. No driver issues, no sound issues, no OS crapshoots... Just solid work night after night.
I have nothing against PCs (I have a Thinkpad T61 for my day job) but I just wont mess with them when it comes to making sure my nights go off without a hitch.
Last two DJs I talked to rocking MacBook Pros said it was because there company or hosting people had a specific selection or list of music. I mean they usually have a good amount of music on there harddrive that they can use but the external is usually for extra music or from another person. I just am amazed at what a simple audio out from your MB can provide during an event.
Last time I saw Mayer Hawthorne DJ, he used a Toshiba netbook. A couple hours later, A-Trak used a MBP. If you treat your machine well, it will treat you the sameit's really your call..
Well what did you go for when you bought your decks?
Cheap Stanton's?
Or 1200s with Ortofon's? / CDJ1000s?
I bought 1200s with Ortofon's 10 years ago, only thing upgraded was mixer to Pioneer 909, 7 years ago. I got those because like you, I want excellent equipment that will last. So it depends what type of person you are. Are you the type to research what is the best & why, and get the best gear first up? Or do you start cheap & buy your way up?
A mate of mine bought $600 pair of decks when he started. 1 week later he went and got a pair of 1200s. So it actually cost him more. True story.
Cheap Stanton's?
Or 1200s with Ortofon's? / CDJ1000s?
I bought 1200s with Ortofon's 10 years ago, only thing upgraded was mixer to Pioneer 909, 7 years ago. I got those because like you, I want excellent equipment that will last. So it depends what type of person you are. Are you the type to research what is the best & why, and get the best gear first up? Or do you start cheap & buy your way up?
A mate of mine bought $600 pair of decks when he started. 1 week later he went and got a pair of 1200s. So it actually cost him more. True story.
Ahah,
I once bought a behringer mixer. it lasted a year or two, in the end, faders worked bad, headset knob worked bad and the effects had always been aweful. I moved to a pioneer mixer, best move ever. so yes, paying a bit more for some good gear is worth it I think.
Same, bought a mac soley because I wanted to switch form Cubase to Logic. As it turned out it was a great move all around. No headaches with compatability / driver problems, just hassle free music makin! If you're not an IT geek and don't want to f@ck around for hours on end just trying to make things work, get a mac.
I love my macbook!! Just upgraded to a 2011 17" I use it all the time when I'm mixing and Serato looks so sexy on it!
Macs are very stable and runs Serato smoothly.
My setup with my old macbook 13:
Macs are very stable and runs Serato smoothly.
My setup with my old macbook 13:
Latency. Atleast the 2010 model have incredible latency, you won't find an other laptop that has such a low latency.
Same, i bought a mac because of Logic, but in the end Apple has to improve Logic because it's much weaker in some area's in comparison to Cubase. For example, Pro Tools 9 and Cubase are much better for audio editing than Logic.
But let's see what Logic 10 brings.
I have been a pro dj for 11+ years starting from "old school" vinyl and digging through crates. True, the old school way shows your "skill" but having your entire vinyl library plus more (videos for mixing) on your laptop is so much more convenient and gives a dj much more flexibility on reading crowd response.
Since macs are known in the industry to be super stable in both producing and mixing... this is why mac is my #1 choice. Just like technics (r.i.p.) were the dj standard turntables for vinyl. Plus, serato is specifically made for macs. Their software always comes out and gets tested for OSX first then Microsoft second.
Since macs are known in the industry to be super stable in both producing and mixing... this is why mac is my #1 choice. Just like technics (r.i.p.) were the dj standard turntables for vinyl. Plus, serato is specifically made for macs. Their software always comes out and gets tested for OSX first then Microsoft second.
Just felt like reviving the thread
Any suggestion on what music/audio programs to get for an mbp? (I'm not talking about serato or traktor here!)
as a music student and student sound technician.
Finale/Sibelius: Music Composition
SmartMusic: Practicing
Pro-Tools, Garage Band, Logic, Adobe Audition, Audacity: Recording/ Editing
djay: Mixing (just for fun as I don't DJ)
Our school uses Finale, Sibelius, GarageBand, Logic, and Pro-tools in either our music lab or in our concert hall. Out of those I prefer pro-tools and finale.