Cheapest way to get into basic scratching for nu-metal? (Told to post here from DJs subreddit)

[u/TheGreatGasHead]

What is the absolute most budget way to get into scratching?

I'm in a metal band and did edm production for years, worked in studios across the US, etc,.

We want to incorporate scratching into our band, and I don't know where to start. Google summary b.s. is pointing me at $1,000 in gear but like I just need what, a mixer and two jog wheels? I'm disabled (hEDS, Dysautonomia, Fibro, all the bs disorders that I thought were fake a few years ago) so I can't afford to drop massive amounts on this. I'm wanting to keep it below $300 if possible but I just want to be able to scratch and record it specifically for nu-metal.

I do all programming, mixing, mastering, bass, and our guitarist does symphonics, stringed instruments (also bass), etc,. We don't play live (our band is digital, Germany, The United States, and a new guy from Slovenia?) So I can program the drums for now, hence getting the gear for scratching before a drum machine.

Is this crazy to think I could do it for less than $300? I can go over if I use zzounds but I'm wanting a drum machine next year so I'd prefer not super over.

I thought there would be a market for like, just controllers with no live DJing? I see Traktor stuff and the mx2 which YouTube seems to be glazing but people here (edit: DJ sub) said it was awful? I'm not expecting to be scratching like Abilities over night but I do want something decent enough to grow with and I can manipulate bad skill in the studio within reason so as long as it CAN give me dj lethal/craze/abilities sounds to use I'm happy. I have loved scratching since I grew up on it but idk more than rudimentary methods to do it so I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I'm open to sketchy DIY solutions fwiw.

Added: I am not worried about playing the full section, I will chop and edit the scratches piecemeal like modern guitar production, I pick stuff up quickly and play several different instruments already, we don't play live and never will, it's mostly music for the sake of music, I'm disabled and work in Healthcare, other guy also works in Healthcare, and third guy is a high up IT guy so we're never going to get together and tour, it's more like a fun hobby for people who can no longer do the dedicated band thing. It takes us months to get a song finished, usually a full day of working on a track every two weeks and then every third or fourth demo we decide to polish further (and then drop). Nothing released just some 30+ guys making the music they used to love after leaving bigger bands for various reasons. We are looking for a vocalist singer and I would love to pass scratching and some production off to someone else but most people want to get famous and tour, not hang out for free on a discord server sending wips and stems back and forth, so I'm just doing it my self.

[u/Sapiotone]

Traktor S4mk3, unless there are cheaper alternatives with the vinyl feel (?)

DJ Blakey’s Ultimate Scratch course

… working like a charm for me!

[u/TheGreatGasHead → u/Sapiotone]

I was leaning Traktor, if it can scratch I'll go with it. I wanted the Traktor and Maschine combo when I first got into music like 17yrs ago haha

[u/Sapiotone → u/TheGreatGasHead]

Main thing will be how much oomph your computer has. I’m using a Traktor Pro 3 on a top-of-the-line 2013 MBP, and have to hit the smart cue regularly as timing slips regardless of buffer setting. Totally down to the age of the laptop though.

I’ll never not be surprised at how quickly I got to a passable level of scratching. Blakey’s course is really well structured

[u/TheGreatGasHead → u/Sapiotone]

I'd be hooked up to my studio pc, best AM4 MOBO then a 5900x and a 6700xt gpu with 32gb of 3600mhz ram and 12tb of storage. I assume this will be fine haha but I'm looking to upgrade due to it struggling with big project files but those are like 40-50 fx, dozens or kontakt and vsti synths loaded, and multiple guitar amp sims for quad tracking with full mix chains

[u/No-Cardiologist472 → u/Sapiotone]

I use an m-audio xponent running on a 20 year old 200$ Acer running windows XP lol 

Shit works great, I keep buying newer equipment and always go back to it. 

[u/Yeetfasa]

you can probably start with getting a used direct drive turntable off ebay or somewhere check out the list; a control vinyl; an akai amx, numark scratch or traktor z2, etc for the dvs mixer and you can use a free program called mixxx instead of paying for traktor or serato too.

[u/Legitimate-Event-420 → u/Yeetfasa]

Picked up a Numark Direct drive record deck at a local charity shop (goodwill) needs a new cartridge but all in for £10 that's probably the same in dollars, also I've seen basic mixers for £5-10 at boot markets if you want vinyl the stuff is quite cheap, except the records themselves. And the stuff is pretty tested already by professionals for the last 40 years

[u/Yeetfasa → u/Legitimate-Event-420]

the only downside with analog in their situation is needing to actually go out and find the records to comb through to find the samples they want to scratch or be limited to scratch sample vinyls. with digital vinyl control they can download and/or record any sample/sound they want to use and not have to go anywhere

[u/Legitimate-Event-420 → u/Yeetfasa]

Yeah I don't know if it's cheaper just it's cheaper now then it's ever been.

[u/TheGreatGasHead → u/Yeetfasa]

I do have a local record store that has $1 45s and albums, but they're all like 60s and 70s gospel and christian music. I do think digital like you're saying would be better because we're trying to do a limp bizkit/linkin park vibe, basically the kind of music where you'd picture yourself drinking a hi-c sour blast and playing fusion frenzy before going to the mall to hit on the dreadhead working at natural wonders and shoplift a new chain wallet from Spencer's while your homie with the guy fieri hair scored you an eighth of mostly seeds and you're gonna go practice kickflips and nailing a strawberry milkshake on your busted ass pink heartogram board you lifted off your brother.

Like, throw on your busted vhs of scribblejam or attack of the show with a mtn dew code red and a tostinos pizza writing shitty anthrax knockoff riffs in your bedroom vibes

[u/danby]

If you just want to add scratching sounds to your music and you're on a budget then I'd avoid buying a whole controller. There are many options for scratch "instruments" that are probably better suited to your purpose.

The Stanton STX, Numark PT01 or Reloop Spin should all work or if you can find one a Headache sound Wow and Flutter machine

More info on this post

https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/1v8ieal/comment/p07ye9u/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=2&utm_content=share_button