Good DJ Mixer for Sampling Vinyl?

Just like the title says I'm looking for a good DJ mixer with an EQ to sample vinyl, I would prefer something affordable ($100-$200). I know nothing about DJ equipment but I did some searching and found two potential mixers, the Vestax pcm-5 pro II & Pioneer DJM 300? I am not a DJ so any suggestions or advice would be helpful, just looking to EQ my sample's and maybe scratch a little. Thanks.

If your main intention is sampling I recommend to buy a phono preamp and a graphic EQ.

Phono preamps from NAD have good reviews (PP3 for example also comes with USB so its not just a preamp but a A/D converter).

PRO of a graphic EQ: gives you more flexibility as a EQ on a DJ mixer cause you can only raise the low freqencies of the kick while leaving the rest of the bassrange relative untouched (or even lowering some of it)

CON: most graphic EQs provide a range of +/- 12dB while some DJ mixer EQs be set to -24 dB and really cut out the Hi,Mid or Lo frequency range (the DJM 300 is one of those)

a nice vintage graphic EQ would be the Sansui SE7.


You probably can also use the preamp in combination with your audio-interface. What intafce do you have?

peace

peterpiper wrote:CON: most graphic EQs provide a range of +/- 12dB while some DJ mixer EQs be set to -24 dB and really cut out the Hi,Mid or Lo frequency range (the DJM 300 is one of those)

That's a very good observation now that you mention it, I think I'll try out the DJM 300. Thanks, by the way is their any difference between the DJM 300 and 300-s besides the color?

infinit wrote:That's a very good observation now that you mention it, I think I'll try out the DJM 300. Thanks, by the way is their any difference between the DJM 300 and 300-s?

DJM 300 is the black version and the DJM300-S is the sliver version. Your going to have to upgrade the fader if you want to use it for scratching tho, as it has only a smooth curve for mixing. You might be able to chuck a pro x-fade, penny & giles or a innofader in it for scratching, so it might be worth having a look on Google to see if you can. Of course you could go really old school and use the line/phono switch for scratching

@Tag One The Fader Fiend

Thanks for the heads up, it will mostly be used for sampling anyway.

a decent dj mixer in the mentioned price range is the Stanton SA3... can be found used for cheap and they hold up well... if you decide to start going serious on the crossfader in the future, you can always just install an innofader in it and problem solved... i've had mine for years and i scratch with it and everything and for the $100 i paid for it i have no regrets.

infinit wrote:@Tag One The Fader Fiend

Thanks for the heads up, it will mostly be used for sampling anyway.

No problem glad to help

If your going to doing a little scratching then you can get away with using the phono/line switch, anything heavy and your wear it out in next to no time. Also you could use your stock fader to scratch as your be able to do some basic moves with it, but again more advanced scratches will require you to upgrade the fader as you won't be able to do them.

Here the legendary Mr Mixx from the The 2 Live Crew showing us how it's done on a simple 2 channel mixer like most DJ's did back in the day before curve control.