What would be your ideal setup if you only had this much to spend on hardware? starting from scratch, besides software that is

 

Korg ESX
Korg Volca Bass
A small mixer
A pair of headphones
Some cables
Spend the rest on guitar pedals.
Try to buy 2nd hand.

You could go the software/Push or whatever way, but to have a stable system you need a powerful laptop and then you're easily over 1000$.

 

Biggest compromise is power. You don't need a so powerful laptop...if you stay away from most real time VSTs.
Stick with Live plugs, render your tracks as audio only, and use some Live effects only.

And so a second hand, under 500 bucks, Macbook will be powerful enough.

You need an audiocard with 2 stereo outs (4 mono), because you will need monitoring to headphones, and SEPARATE Power amplifier/public. Be careful, headphone output with separate volume doesn't mean 2 outputs
You can crossfade with integrated Live crossfader and a MIDI controller, or use an external mixtable to do it. But you will still need 2 stereo outs.
It is a VERY important point.

Having an external mixtable can be more "secure" than MIDI integrated. But with Live, you can crossfade EACH track separately too, not only A/B group.

For limited budget, i would stick to MIDI crossfader way. Because you will need controllers.

Good music !

 

My live setup :
- an old macbook (500-600 $ish) (mine is 2009)
- a crappy 1 channel out sound interface (60$)
- one Novation Launchpad (100$ used)
- one BCR2000 (100$ used)
- headphones (100$)

sums up to a bit less than 1000$ works usually right.
This is a good and solid setup (for now).

pros :
-nerdy geek heaven pimp my setup
-pretty unusual
- EIGHT TRACK YEAH HIT ME UP
-many LEDs

cons :
-software FXs
-some python coding was involved in my case
-long to setup right

I considered this setup to :
- old macbook
- xone23C (for summing and sound interface) (500$)
- launchpad
- headphones

a bit above 1000$, but :
pros:
- less cables involved.
- better eq/filters

lazy setup :
- any laptop
- traktor S4 , used, 500-600$

pros:
-work out of the box
-SOLID (afaik)

cons:
-not really tweakable
-not so original
-from audience, it look like you're masturbating (the controller is small)

 

No you don't, at least, not with Macs (idk for PC, a friend told me there was a similar solution.

1. Get any 1 stereo out interface.
2. In MIDI/Audio Utility , in the list on the left : click "+"
3. choose "new agregate device"
4. You'll see a window with selection...
5. choose "integrated audio out" as 1st 2 channel, and your great interface as a 2nd (the order actually matters)*
6. You have a 2 stereo channels interface, congrats.
7. plug headphones in computer, sound interface to PA.

*put headphone output as first 2 channel, your audience doesn't really wants to know if you're almost out of batteries, or receiving some facebook alert during your set.

 

Thanks for all the replies! Fortunately I do have a decent MacBook.. i7 8gb ram and am not really looking for a Dj setup, I want something more intuitive, I've been looking at the tr-8 push and apc 40, I know that puts me a little over 1k but that's somewhere to start. Also have been looking at the esx which looks like an awesome starting point! Would still like to expand on this to see what others think and to brainstorm ideas

Also have a fast track duo from avid but idk how far that will get me..

 

Maschine or Maschine Mikro.
Hardware is awesome and you get a sh1t ton of samples with it. And the obvious expansions are available.

It handles most DAW functions, drum machine, sampler or just plain old midi interface. So it can perform as any of these along with any other gear.

 

Are you willing to bring the laptop on stage?

You don't really need a computer with ESX.

You do need a computer with APC40.

APC40 + a monome stepper would do great

 

You might want to look at this live set... the girl is an Electribe freak!

 

Yes I would like to incorporate ableton ya the korg machines are definitely affordable and efficient!