hmmm....looks like Im gonna need a shitload more cash to go in that direction (the mp3/serato/final scratch/traktor/blah direction)
maybe Ill just try origami
LOL
I'll refer back to what I said earlier... People think MTBing is an expensive hobby! 
Im running a MacBook Pro so by external soundcard Im assuming something firewire based?
More often than not they're USB2.0 based these days. Not many DJ specific (if any) soundcards are Firewire these days.
but vinyl is a false economy - it's expensive to buy more difficult to find and less releases are coming out on vinyl.
Never a truer word spoken. Much as it was THE THING for several decades in the DJ world, as a format for buying music on at least, it's pretty much had its day. Even die hard vinyl junkies and turntablists have either gone on to the likes of Traktor Scratch and Serato Scratch, or moved sideways to CDJ's (which incidentally you can scratch on these days).
I've been thinking in more depth about what it sounds like you want to do as a DJ, and much as I agree with ooOOoo about it being a pain in the arse to look through your music collection on your laptop to find a track (you NEED to be organised), using either Serato or Traktor Scratch is pretty much the most effective (performance and cost wise) way to go...
With Traktor Scratch, or indeed Serato Scratch, you have all the functionality of playing vinyl, without the pain in the arse of it being heavy/bulky/expensive as you only need the 2 timecoded vinyls. And seeing as you already have a MacBookPro, you are saving a TONNE of cash already towards your setup...
The following is a list of what I would get if I were you, being as cost effective as possible (but still being realistic that you have to pay some money to get decent performance)...
-Pair of Technics SL1200/1210 turntables 2nd hand off ebay... Probably about £350ish including cartridges. Anything else is false economy in my view... "Buy cheap, buy twice" has never applied quite so much as with the DJ turntable!
-2 Channel Mixer, probably 2nd hand off ebay... Look for something that has 3 band EQs, decent crossfader etc. Something like an Ecler Nuo2.0, a Vestax of some sort, even the Pioneer DJM300 (of which I have one for sale if you wanted, would do you a good price). Probably looking at £100ish, maybe budget up to £150.
-Native Instruments Traktor Scratch, or Rane Serato Scratch. Have a try on both, see what you like more. Both have their plus points, both their detractors, but basically what they are allowing you to do is play your music (MP3's, WAV's, CD audio or whatever) as if they were on the vinyl on your turntable. Personally, I've tried both, neither is my thing (I prefer CDJ's) but if I had to choose, I'd go with Traktor Scratch. Either will include the software, a USB soundcard, time coded vinyls and all cables required. Either will set you back approx £400.
-Headphones. Personally I'm of the opinion not to scrimp here either. I've got some Sennheiser HD25's. Yes they were £140, but you get what you pay for. That said, I recently tried out a friends pair of Sennheisers (can't remember the model) that had cost him £50, and was surprised how good they were for the money. I'm a brand snob though, and always stick with Sennheiser for headphones.
So, all up, excluding amp/speakers and any music, you're looking at around £900 I reckon, but that lot WILL DEFINITELY last you some time and serve you well. Like I said, in having a MacBookPro already, you're saving a tonne of cash. Often going down the digital DJ route, buying a decent laptop represents a serious financial hurdle. If you compare that to the £900 it cost me for my CDJ's alone (and that was last year, before the price hike) you're looking at a pro spec setup for not a bad price at all. Just add music and go then!
[/img]heres my dj setup its been updated abit since this pic though added some better speakers and also running a laptop with traktor scratch pro and abelton .
