Advice for ... Scratch

[michielwijnen]

Since I always was a vinyl only DJ I don't really know much off all this digital stuff. But because of all the digital exclusive releases these days, the intresting releases on netlabels and off course because I'm still a student and mp3's are cheaper than vinyl I'm thinking about buying one of these digital DJ systems...

My question for you is; you have Final scratch, Traktor scratch, Serato scratch, (maybe others?)
- What is in your experience the better product (price/quality way)?
- I read all about the features online, but what do you concider to be a great extra about one of these?
- Is my laptop with windows vista on it gonna give problems with one of thes types of software (I allready read that serato preferes XP)?


Many thx in advance

[N - Jay]

Since I always was a vinyl only DJ I don't really know much off all this digital stuff. But because of all the digital exclusive releases these days, the intresting releases on netlabels and off course because I'm still a student and mp3's are cheaper than vinyl I'm thinking about buying one of these digital DJ systems...

My question for you is; you have Final scratch, Traktor scratch, Serato scratch, (maybe others?)
- What is in your experience the better product (price/quality way)?
- I read all about the features online, but what do you concider to be a great extra about one of these?
- Is my laptop with windows vista on it gonna give problems with one of thes types of software (I allready read that serato preferes XP)?


Many thx in advance

I'm using Traktor Scratch nowadays. Works like a charm. I buy all my tracks @ beatport & whatpeopleplay.com. I just use it for 2 decks and a mixer. The plain setup I've always used. Only my media is digital now.

The laptop is the most important thing. I've been reading and surfing for a long time what kind of laptop to get. Well, it's a freakin Dell
It works perfect, lately spinned 7 hours without a glitch or crash!

My OS is XP sp2. It's still widely used in comparison to Vista when it comes to audio etc. I've completely tweaked it to use it only for Scratch.
My CPU is only bothered with keeping my program up and running and that's what most important. There is a guide out there who tells you what
background processes to turn off + your wireless internet radio etc.

If you think a laptop is expensive for only use for spinning.
I've got a dual-boot installation with only xp for djing and one xp with all
the extras for school, work etc.

www.musicxp.net

Search for tweak XP for DAW.

Or manually disable these services.
Make sure you make a image of your installation or you have to this all over again next time you install XP.

Alerter Disabled
Application Layer Gateway Service Disabled (Manual)
Application Management AppMgmt Manual
Automatic Updates Disabled
Background Intelligent Transfer Service Disabled (automatic)
ClipBook Disabled
COM+ Event System EventSystem Disabled
COM+ System Application Disabled
Computer Browser Disabled
Cryptographic Services Disabled
DHCP Client Disabled (IA)
Distributed Link Tracking Client Disabled
Distributed Transaction Coordinator Disabled
DNS Client Disabled (IA)
Error Reporting Service Disabled
Event Log Automatic
Fast User Switching Compatibility Disabled
Fax Service Disabled
Help and Support Disabled
Human Interface Device Access Disabled
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service Manual
Indexing Service Disabled
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Disabled
Internet Connection Sharing Disabled
IPSEC Services PolicyAgent Disabled
Logical Disk Manager Manual
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service Manual
Messenger Disabled
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider Disabled
Net Login Disabled
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing Disabled
Network Connections Manual (Automatic) IA
Network DDE Disabled
Network DDE DSDM Disabled
Network Location Awareness (NLA/ IA) Disabled
Network Provisioning Service Disabled
NT LM Security Support Provider Disabled
Performance Logs and Alerts Disabled
Plug and Play PlugPlay Automatic
Portable Media Serial Number Disabled
Print Spooler Disabled
Protected Storage Disabled
QoS RSVP Disabled
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager Disabled
Remote Access Connection Manager Disabled
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager Disabled
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Automatic
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator Manual
Remote Registry Service Disabled
Removable Storage Disabled
Routing and Remote Access Disabled
Secondary Logon s Disabled
Security Accounts Manager Disabled
Security Center Disabled
Server Disabled
Shell Hardware Detection Automatic (dvd)
Smart Card Disabled
Smart Card Helper Disabled
SSDP Discovery Service Disabled
System Event Notification Disabled
System Restore Service Disabled
Task Scheduler Schedule Disabled
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service Disabled (IA)
Telephony Disabled
Telnet Disabled
Terminal Services Disabled
Themes Disabled
Uninterruptible Power Supply Disabled
Universal Plug and Play Device Host Disabled
Upload Manager Disabled
Volume Shadow Copy Disabled
WebClient Disabled
Windows Audio Automatic
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Disabled
Windows Installer Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation Automatic
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Manual
Windows Time Disabled
Windows User Mode Driver Framework Disabled
Wireless Zero Configuration Disabled
WMI Performance Adapter Disabled
Workstation Automatic

[Macaque]

I use Traktor Scratch and it doesn't like Vista either. It still works but only with high latency settings. You can always downgrade the laptop to XP though

[JCH]

Since I always was a vinyl only DJ I don't really know much off all this digital stuff. But because of all the digital exclusive releases these days, the intresting releases on netlabels and off course because I'm still a student and mp3's are cheaper than vinyl I'm thinking about buying one of these digital DJ systems...

My question for you is; you have Final scratch, Traktor scratch, Serato scratch, (maybe others?)
- What is in your experience the better product (price/quality way)?
- I read all about the features online, but what do you concider to be a great extra about one of these?
- Is my laptop with windows vista on it gonna give problems with one of thes types of software (I allready read that serato preferes XP)?


Many thx in advance

It all depends on what hardware you got like laptop and audio-interface, etc.

Both have their strengths.

[Harrison]

serato & macbook

[patrick bateman]

I have serato and mbp, but would recommend Traktor and mbp

[michielwijnen]

Thx for the help so far!

Well I'm certainly not gonna buy a mackbook for the moment... If I start working I'll probably gonna buy one and use it just for musical perpose only and keep this laptop for everything else and fruity loops...

But traktor seems to be a good choice... then!?

But i have one question, since I am not that much of a computer wiz...

For the moment I have this laptop:
HP pavillion entertainment PC dv6500

Specifications:
Operating System : Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Memory : 2GB DDR2 (2 Dimm)
Display : 15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
Graphics Card : 383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS with DirectX 10
Networking : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
Hard disk : 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
DVD Drive : LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Battery : High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Isn't traktor gonna work on this even if there are stuff from school on it and the basic programs... and fruity loops??
(except the Vista than maybe...)

[trak660]

For the moment I have this laptop:
HP pavillion entertainment PC dv6500

Specifications:
Operating System : Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Memory : 2GB DDR2 (2 Dimm)
Display : 15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
Graphics Card : 383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS with DirectX 10
Networking : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
Hard disk : 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
DVD Drive : LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Battery : High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Isn't traktor gonna work on this even if there are stuff from school on it and the basic programs... and fruity loops??
(except the Vista than maybe...)

I think so. That sounds good enough to me!

I have an HP dv6000 with a Turion 64 2.2ghz and 1gb ram. It has XP Media Center. I get on the internet while I spin all the time, and also watch mp4 and divx movies from my hard drive.

My older notebook is a Dell Latitude c840 Pentium4 1.6ghz with 1gb ram. I can't run anything else but Serato on that one without fear of glitches.

Your HP would probably be awesome without Vista, if you're up to "downgrading." I bet the hardware is compatible with XP. It's not hard to install Windows if you follow the directions.