Thanks for the Add !

[NetrixUser]

Greetings to all,

A good few years ago I used to help a friend out in a pub by doing her party music, and for that I built a small portable rack, using a Windows laptop running PC DJ Red software, Mackie 401 speakers, a small purpose built booth and, I think, a Numark DJ mixer. The lights have long since been given away.
Although I probably was a DJ in the loosest of terms I didn't use that term as I didn't, and don't know that much about music, I just enjoyed playing tunes that I would like to dance to, it just so happened that the folk in the pub enjoyed the tunes too !!
My kit has been in the garage, under wraps for at least 9 years but I am contemplating helping my village hall in hosting a couple of parties and have some questions to pose !

My first question is around a 19" rack-mounted DJ controller that I had that emulated the Load/Cue/Play functions of the PCDJ software - I don't have any model number yet as the kit is still packed away, but I recall that the connection into the laptop wasa VGA type connection, but after all these years I don't think it would connect to the VGA port on the laptop.

The old Windows laptop doesn't boot now so, if I go ahead and offer my services, I'll be using a Macbook as the playout device.

So, does anyone on here know what I am waffling on about in terms of the "DJ controller" and if so, do you think there is any chance that it would work with my Macbook and a newer version of DJ'ing software (I was thinking of getting something like PCDJ DEX 3 RE) ?

Or is there a similar, more updated, version of a software controller ?

I have been searching for "Numark DJ Controller" but do not see anything that resembles what I used to use.

Thanks in advance for any help

[Excalibur]

First of all, :welcome2:

Secondly, there are people who will remember the software PCDJ ( not me, I was a late arrival to being a laptop DJ ) and I'm sure I remember the hardware you refer to, but can't give it a number at the moment.

Aha, maybe I can. (https://www.numark.com/product/dmc2) The DMC2.

As to compatibility, we'll need the Technocrats for that. For what it's worth, I'd suggest some form of DJ2GO as being effectively a set of play/pause buttons and quite possibly a soundcard. It's a very long time since I plugged one of those in.

[Nakatomi]

If my memory serves, that first (or one of the first) DJ controller plugged into a PC by its serial port (COM port), not VGA. The confusion is understandable - a 9 pin serial plug looks very similar to a VGA plug ;)

Later ones used USB & that's pretty much the standard for controllers even now.

In terms of rack mountable DJ controllers there's really nothing around these days. Nothing at all! Denon were the last to stop making them & even that would've been a 4U or 5U height - the MC6000 series. You can probably pick up a used one for under 200 quid but I wouldn't advise you do. At this age it'd be in need of the main switches (play, cue etc) being replaced if not all the faders too.

As Peter said there's the Numark DJ2GO which you could probably wrangle into a rack format with a recessed shelf & heavy duty velcro or other sticky stuff, but that's hardly an elegant solution.

If you really need a rack mounted controller that's about your only option unless you can find something like a used Numark DMC2 in good nick.

[NetrixUser]

First of all, :welcome2:

Secondly, there are people who will remember the software PCDJ ( not me, I was a late arrival to being a laptop DJ ) and I'm sure I remember the hardware you refer to, but can't give it a number at the moment.

Aha, maybe I can. (https://www.numark.com/product/dmc2) The DMC2.

As to compatibility, we'll need the Technocrats for that. For what it's worth, I'd suggest some form of DJ2GO as being effectively a set of play/pause buttons and quite possibly a soundcard. It's a very long time since I plugged one of those in.

Thanks for the welcome, and the link - it gives me some food for thought

[NetrixUser]

If my memory serves, that first (or one of the first) DJ controller plugged into a PC by its serial port (COM port), not VGA. The confusion is understandable - a 9 pin serial plug looks very similar to a VGA plug ;)

Later ones used USB & that's pretty much the standard for controllers even now.

In terms of rack mountable DJ controllers there's really nothing around these days. Nothing at all! Denon were the last to stop making them & even that would've been a 4U or 5U height - the MC6000 series. You can probably pick up a used one for under 200 quid but I wouldn't advise you do. At this age it'd be in need of the main switches (play, cue etc) being replaced if not all the faders too.

As Peter said there's the Numark DJ2GO which you could probably wrangle into a rack format with a recessed shelf & heavy duty velcro or other sticky stuff, but that's hardly an elegant solution.

If you really need a rack mounted controller that's about your only option unless you can find something like a used Numark DMC2 in good nick.

Haha ! I'm more than slightly embarrassed to even suggest it was connected via VGA, you are, of course, correct in that it is a 9 pin serial port connector, I recall now that I had a serial port to USB adapter to connect it up. I will try and source another adapter and see what happens when I connect it to the Mac - I have a Gigaport analogue USB to "8 out" audio adapter that works when I connect it to the Mac, without installing any drivers .... I'm quite excited now !!