For a while now I have made it known that my cd decks are very old and are not working as often as I'd like them too. If you are unaware of the situation, here's a lil recap for ya...

*start "This One's For The Children" by New Kids On The Block to play in the background while reading this*

One day while heading to a gig at a high school in Mojave with DJ Pat D, my cd decks flew out the back of his truck. We got to the gig and discovered they were missing and had a quite awkward time dj'ing from a portable walkman cd player. yes one. LOL anyway, Pat replaced my decks by purchasing DJ Bunny's old decks, American DJ CD2's. These were pretty used up by the time I got them and I had no complaints. In the last couple years one of the decks would not open and started to not read CDr's. Now both won't read cdr's very often. this is bad because most of the music i get is either on CDR or mp3's that I have to burn to cdr. which means I can't mix as often as I'd like.

I really want some CDJ1000's or something comparable or the Numark CDX decks, but my credit is shot and I just will not have the money no matter how hard I try to save. I simply do not make enough money to afford a savings account. I am asking someone to please help me out.

This truely is my only Christmas wish. everything else does not matter. I love to spin and I can't right now and that tears me up.

*Jordan Knight in a silly high voice: "The children ooooof the world"*

which deck are you looking at/what is your price range?

wish I could help you out Chris! Good news I am going to be renting out a 2 bedroom house! My own place - finally!

woot!  congrats patsy!
and... sorry chris - unfortunately i'm not the dual-job money-maker i usedta be.

Alex, I'm not looking at anything specific. I don't have a price range. I was hoping to find someone who had any extras / back-ups that they are not using.

Pat and Rick, you are exempt. ;)

at one time I wanted to sell my CDJs, just leary of it since I got a great deal on them.  Im on the other end, I need a bigger mixer so i can hook them up.

o......k.......?

check your PMs....

Thank you everybody for the IMs. There were some very nice offers, however, I feel that the above portion of my original post was overlooked. I do not have the ability to pay for anything. I don't make very much money and that is usually spent on bills prior to be getting paid.

I honestly was just hoping for God to lead me to someone with an extra set of decks that they could let go as a gift. I know how aweful that sounds. It's just where I'm at...for a long time.

I am officially embarrassed and ashamed. Let's just forget about it. This never happened.

 - Chris

Chris, no reason to be ashamed or embarrased. Good news! Hardware is a waste of money!  and ableton live 6 demo does more and is free - http://www.ableton.com/downloads (http://www.ableton.com/downloads) , you can do your set plus add vocals plus another background track for 4 tracks total, can't save or export, but just send to minidisk or another computer.

please forgive me for digressing, but i will take this opportunity to speak my humble opinion about modern dj'ing.  it is basically now silly to nudge a slider gently for 4 minutes up and down for each song for 4 hours.  with m-audio's torq
http://createdigitalmusic.com/index.php?s=torq (http://createdigitalmusic.com/index.php?s=torq) and/or ableton live, there is really no need even for decks or cddjs, except to go "wicky wicky" and bust a funky chicken elbow / "thumbs-up" combo to the crowd. 

<insert traditional rebuttal here>

dj's are now producers with ableton live and these kinds of things, and if they are not producing, chances are the phone is not ringing.  harsh to say, but i do believe she's a true.  so much more can  be done now, you don't need cddj's, the tactile feel really only translates to cueing tracks, which you can do with your eyes now anyway. this is also to say nothing of the vj'ing and dj'ing combination possibilities with free tools like www.vvvv.org (http://www.vvvv.org), you can scratch with a nintendo ds for example, take one look at the remix/dj racks for manipulating audio in real time in live 6 and i think you will agree that 400 for a low end cdj is laughable, or 99 for that matter. plus you can warp quicktime with live, not to mention run a realtime visualization plugin for the club's projector and tweak that as well, with metadata info, Scripture, etc., or run a video podcast.

additionally, there are about 1.2 quajillion free dj tools at http://www.linux-sound.org/ - burn a 10 cent cd-r and boot from a cd, there you go, countless opportunities with mp3's etc.

there is a tiny learning curve to some of the software, but if i can do it, trust me, you can do it, if you look at some of the videos on youtube to see what people are doing with audio and video, i think you will be excited to forego the "old school" <sniff, sniff> of watching that beautiful platter glimmer in twighlight, for the cheery future of laptop-encrusted technodom. maybe after a little while, get a sweet little hardware controller like x-session, which basically seals the deal with software.

hope that helps bro, live is more fun anyway, and you won't get that crick in your neck from headphones

^ doesnt help if you hardware wont support it. i was looking at doing that once.. you need duel sound cards for the most part i think.

chris, andy's statement just gave me an idea.

I believe I have a Ableton Lite lying around and for you only, be willing give you my X-Session Controller to control it. Wanna try that?

no... or yes... you need 2 sound cards OR... you need 1 sound card that can process audio as seperate outs. Soundblasters won't do that. You would probably have to spend about $150-200 to get something that does. You need an m-audio interface. I just bought a Fasttrack Pro and I cannot overstate the value it has brought me in just a few days of use.

Thats so true!

"Introducing the new DJ software from Microsoft: 2nd Grader DJ! 2nd Grader DJ presents the most user friendly interface known to man, complete with single button beatmatching, 1 touch mixing (just press the crossfade button and listen as the 2nd Grader DJ mixes for you!). Package includes the 2nd Grader DJ software, 2nd grade level user manual (read as your guide, Jackie the Jack Rabbit shows you how to use the 2nd Grader DJ software!) and grade school level calulator (for those times you need extra help with that math homework!)"

haha... software these days, takes the fun out of everything...

hey I actually saw a 2nd grader DJ in a hiphop show before, DJ Kid or something?

Naw software doesnt totally take the fun out of it, like Oneel said in another post, allows for more creativity. 

you totally killed my joke.... haha

pray along with me! 404 needs decks!

Father, You are the creator of all things. You called forth the planets with a word, and established the stars with the sound of your voice. You have authority over all the resources of the universe, and you have promised to meet all of our needs.

I bring dj404 before your throne of provision right now. You know his needs for dj equipment, and the challenges that face him as he sees no answer. Lord, I ask that you would release a mighty blessing upon him and demonstrate your enormous generosity, by providing above and beyond all that he could hope or imagine right now.
Guard his heart from anxiety and fear. Fill him with Your Holy Spirit and cause faith to rise up within him. Enable him to stand firm in the midst of uncertainty, and bring forth a mighty victory. Establish for Yourself Lord, another testimony of your goodness, that those who hear of it might glorify Your name. I pray in Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Lord, i stand in agreement with pat. Lord bring chris the tools to work in his calling. amen

I asked the Lord for help in updating my DJ rig that I use for my music ministry and he answered my prayer. The answer came in the form of a hard and dirty job and discipline in my finances. about a year and a half ago I was using the same low end cd decks as 404 and was happy to have them. I made them do the most that they could do. When it was time to move up, I worked hard doing a day job that took prayer to get out of bed for.  The book says "that if any would not work, neither should he eat." If it says this about something as basic as eating, What about electronic gadgets? :)

good advice for all of us "discipline in finances"
I know looking into that can solve many problems
sometimes when we have finacial problems its all about spending wisely or maybe not spending at all
good points!

So true alot of the time we can just think we can sit back and wait for things to fall into our laps. But more of the time waiting on the Lord is a two way thing. Just like trying to get decks/gadgetary! [for relavance!  ;)]

Still prayin tho bro.

I run multi-in/multi-out on my Audigy 2 just fine...  1 out for each virtual deck and an in for recording...  Well...and I have a second card in here too...  I've got 4 stereo out, 2 stereo in not counting the SPDI/F interfaces.

Well... my SB live couldn't do that.

Neither could my sb 16.   ;D

painful phrase but I believe we all go through that...  right now I got some extra money and I was like, "Yes! The money for my new headphones!" and then I remembered that I need tires for the winter...  I guess sometimes we just have to wait...  other times I've had God tell me to just go buy something on credit.  And I'm like, but that's not right... how will I pay it back ?  oh it just must be me saying to go get it... and then he'd again tell me to go buy it on credit.  And I would and then he would provide a way for me to pay it back before it even accrued interest...

God is our provider!  So Chris, I'm believing that he will provide a way.. sometimes it's not what we expect...  but he will definately provide a way for you to continue!   

One word of encouragement for all of us with tight funds, if God desires you to reach others through djing, music production or anything, it's his will for you to do that, of course he's gonna provide a way... how we might not be able to see, but he will!    For me it came in the form of instead of buying CD Decks and a mixer, he led me to purchase traktor and a midi controller.  which was about a 1/4 of the price for a full setup but I can do anything anyone else can and most of the time easier and other times more...  traktor allows for 4 decks at once, hot cue jumping, saving your cue markers, has 4 built-in fx, mix recording, and you can go back to your mix and correct when you mess up, looping and it will save your loop markers, etc etc... either way God knows what tools you need to execute what he desires for you to do, so just confirm with him that you're doing everything you can do on your end and then he will make up the difference.

ok I'm done ranting :-)

LOL,
I just had a tire blow out yesterday, I had one bite it at Cornerstone and I had one die on me about 4 months ago... I think it's time for more discipline... :'(
(http://www.jeremykadinger.com/cornerstone%20web%20photos/flat%20black%20flat%20tire.jpg)
Cornerstone flat tire.

I'm lacking on that right now :P Just bought a 320 GB external hard drive. I do need it for backups, but  was now the best timing? I did save $70 though.

wow! talk about a sales pitch!!! amazing... whatever you're selling, I'll buy it!

Soundwav

when i was hurting REAL bad for money ( i mean really bad...i'll tell the story one day), i had a combination of things come together.  some of you may not understand some of these comments,but i bet my buddy Chris will  ;D

1 was definitely working hard to buy some cheap gear so i could start DJing again professionally.  i put in COUNTLESS hours putting a crate of wedding songs together. after my first few gigs i invested the money into some other stuff i needed (tuxedo, lighting, etc).
    - getting the nerve to take on somewhat upscale wedding clients when you're rusty is a VERY tough challenge, let me tell you.  had a panic attack before my first wedding. God (& xanax) helped me through that one.

2. i went looking for a DJ job at a wedding company.  i did get the job,but needed to upgrade from the cheap speakers i had to professional ones (IE mackie srm 450s  ~ $1200/set).
    -another very hard thing to do: it's not easy to step up and step into something that you think you're not ready for.  "fake it til you make it" comes to mind.  even today when i feel like i'm not up to doing an especially upscale/large/challenging event i tell myself "time to put on the superman suit".  i literally force myself to act positive and in control, even when i don't feel like it.

3. by God's provision, i had a set of speakers bought for me. it was a great blessing & i couldn't do the pro gigs without them.


so now i'm finally getting financially stable, am booked for most of the summer next year already, and have even booked other DJs to work for me this year.  so i guess i'm saying there's always a solution to every problem.   and that God really is good all the time

dave richards...i can honestly say i know how u feel.  Ive been in your situation since i sold my old decks.  I needed money bad and i had to put the dream off for years.  Im still in that rut...sor about 4-5 years now.  Everynow and then i get lucky enough to go record a mix at a friends place or something.  But i cant rely on that.  Im broke as a joke too.  I cant offer you money...but maybe we can offer each otehr some thoughtful prayer.  Im puting your cause in mine tonight before i sleep.  I ask that you do the same...you never know...Father is always just in time.  Also, I skimmed over some of the thread here...noticed someone talking about producing.  My plan to get my pioneer cdj1000's, is to start producing.  In this world,  your never gonna leave your local scene if you dont produce.  Tiesto, AVB for a few names....they started remixing.  THen thier own productions started comming out,  an now look, tiesto ran dj mag for 2 years....was it 3 years?...anyway..he made #1 more than once.  AVB finally got a well deserved one this year.  My buddy shawn mitiska says the same thing.,  He and I started doing a radio broadcast from a cs server.  I produced a track but didnt take it seriously.  He produced one and stuck with it...now he has tracks will all sorts of labels...he has gigs outside of Colorado now.  meanwhile im stuck here in NYC with nothing but a fading dream and a full time schedual.  07' im going new PC first....my cdj's are gonna wait.  Far as im concerned...a monkey can spin on cd's....i wouldnt even bother testing new technology on laptops. Unless your PVD forking over a fortune to have that high end mac on the decks and can keep paying to keep it tuned, repaired and running smooth.

Your in my prayers tonight...let the Father take care of money problems.  We should just focus on the cause.

um... I think you mean Chris not me.

BTW, don't buy that lie about not being able to make it without producing. If you don't like producing. If it isn't a passion for you, don't do it. Also, just don't try to make it big. Even Judge Jules has a day job.

As far as anyone being able to push a cd player... I can't. I honestly can't beatmatch at all. I've practiced and practiced and I can't get it consistently. I'm not wired to be a DJ. I don't think everyone is wired to do both. Of course, Ableton changes that, but even then... just because you can do one, doesn't mean you should do the other.

I'm not saying don't pursue a dream. I'm simply saying make sure you are pursuing the RIGHT dream. If you don't have the right dream for you, then you won't find satisfaction in your life regardless of how successful you are at it. Nothing could be worse than waking up one day and realizing that (despite traveling all over the world and getting paid $20,000 a remix) you are still aching for a peace and a joy that all of this didn't give you.

LOL...how's that for perspective. I often forget that myself. That's going in my sig! Too good to resist.  ;)

he's a lawyer from what oneel told me. So... the name actually fits :)

I was gonna say that Judge Jules day job was his radio job at Radio One, but I had no clue that he actually WORKS! By the way, working at radio is hard work. I know. I love it!

This was an encouraging read, thanks for sharing that Dave.

I tried doing event DJing for things like weddings and stuff, and I just couldn't do it.  I hated every minute of it and realized that it wasn't something I would be able to pursue.  Still for those able to pursue it, there's good money to be made there.

For most of the beginning of my DJ career, I was extremely broke.  I always played on other people's decks.  In fact it wasn't until after my prime/peak that I got my own equipment (took 4-5 years).  About the same time I had a hard drive crash and had to rebuild my computer.  I was convicted of all the Warez I'd been using and asked God to replace the software legitimately if he wanted me to continue in that realm.  Over a period of 3+ years God not only replaced that software I pirated, but added a number of other packages as well. 

It is hard work, and it pays crap compared to other industries.  I think this job will be my last foray into Radio, at least in an operational position.

recycle. i got 600 dollars for my scrap gold






what¿?

Go on "Cash in the Attic"! ;)