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DJ Controllers

Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:04 am
by Haydn
There's a lot of discussion here about DJ hardware and software, but what about DJ controllers which can help tie the two together, and make using you software much easier?


M-Audio X-Session Pro

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Vestax VCM-100

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Numark Total Control

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I'm thinking of getting a controller like this. Many DJ software users seem to prefer one with their set-up. Any comments?

Re: DJ Controllers

Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:51 am
by Mr Awesomer
Haydn wrote:There's a lot of discussion here about DJ hardware and software, but what about DJ controllers
That's DJ hardware :lol:

The other night I needed to actually DJ and discovered the real short fall of DJing purely with software... you can't lower one level while simultatiously raising another... thus I'm really tempted to get a simple SMALL controller to throw in my bag.

Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:10 pm
by Toon Town Dave
The Vestax unit looks neat, it looks like the sound hardware plus hardware interface together.

The Numark unit seems a little over priced for what it does, basically a bunch of knobs, sliders and switches to operate things in the GUI of the DJ software. You could probably make a home brew version for about $50-$100 parts. Less if you cannibalize a USB keyboard for the interface hardware.

The M-audio is the same sort of deal as the Numark but costs much less. It's almost a reasonable price but still expensive for being nothing more than a special purpose keyboard (that's what the computer would see).

Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:19 pm
by CafeSavoy
from another thread http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... p?p=447365
A mate of mine at work has just asked me the same question (Hello Carl, if you're reading this).

I'm going to point him towards this thread, but here's the text of an email I've just sent him;

midi controllers;

These one's are all set up to use Traktor's internal mixer;

Vestax VCI 100 - seems to be the controller of choice for a lot of people at the moment

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/dj_p.../vestax/vci100

M audio torq xponent - Also includes soundcard. It's what I currently use, & I'm very happy with it. Only bad point possibly is it's quite large

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi...o/torq_xponent

Numark Total control - similar to Vestax & Reasonably priced. I owned one for a while & really liked it.

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi.../total_control

Numark - Omni control - New controller from Numark. Similar to Total control, but now has better build quality & includes internal soundcard

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi...k/omni_control

Hercules - Cheap copy of the Vestax, but a lot of people on the forums who own them seem very happy with them. They do two versions, one with & one without a soundcard built in

http://www.sounds4uentertainment.co....-rmx-244-p.asp

Reloop - Seems to be a copy of the Numark total Control. Again, two versions, ....with or without soundcard.

http://www.reloopdj.com/index.php/ca...a55bde5ad3 b0

M audio - X-Session Pro - Traditional mixer layout, & fairly cheap to buy. Also includes a free copy of Torq LE. I suspect that you'd soon run out of assignable buttons if you used it with Traktor

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi.../x_session_pro

Vestax VCM 100 - Slightly odd layout, as it uses rotary faders. does have onboard soundcard though.

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi.../vestax/vcm100

Vestax VCI 300 - Still a bit of an unknown at the moment. Designed to work with Serato's "Itch" software, but should be ok with Traktor (once they get the Hi-res midi problem sorted). Onboard soundcard, & excellent build quality.

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi.../vestax/vci300

Fader Fox - I still own one of these, & they're excellent! Great if you're tight for space, but possibly short on buttons (like the X Session Pro). Uses standard midi cables rather than USB, but that's not a problem if your soundcard includes a midi interface (most of them do)

http://www.faderfox.de/html/dj2_product_page.html

If you're using an external mixer

Stanton DaScratch - ask me in a few weeks time, after I've brought one! :-)

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi.../stanton/scs3d

EKS Controllers. - Not sure about the new big "Otus", but a lot of people swear by the XP5's & XP10's. ......soundcard included as well.

Allen & Heath Zone 1D & zone 2D - Serious kit! ....the 2D has the soundcard built in.

http://www.decks.co.uk/products/digi...key=0XEA50FE90

Any other midi controller in the world. - Why not? you can configure your existing keyboard exactly how you like. I also own an M-audio Trigger Finger which I've used for DJing on several occasions.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...gerFinger.html

This site & it's forums are worth a read. Lots of good tips & comparison stuff.

www.djtechtools.com

also, get yourself on the proper Traktor forums

http://www.native-instruments.com/fo...play.php?f=105

Re: DJ Controllers

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 5:20 am
by turntables
Dude you forgot the pioneer SX2, is a classic, wanted the get this last xmas but the wife gave it the thumbs down, hopefully get a newer pioneer this year :)

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Re: DJ Controllers

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:37 pm
by lipi
turntables wrote:Dude you forgot the pioneer SX2
Perhaps because *his* spammy webstore doesn't sell them?

Re: DJ Controllers

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 7:35 pm
by philippecrhk
As Swing Djs we need to give a small pause between songs so people can find a new dance partner so we dont really need fancy controllers . They are nice but not necessary .
I find it easier to control things from the mixer ( usually most venues use one) with basic equaliser functions being sufficient .

Re: DJ Controllers

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 2:42 am
by Swingmagistern
Hi!

I totally agree with Philippe that a controller is nice but not necessary, there is plenty of time to prepare things in between song changes when DJ-ing for swing dancing. It is however really nice to have physical knobs and sliders to make small adjustments to each "Deck" in the software and also buttons to select, preview, load and start songs I think. I DJ primarily from an iPad although I consider start using a PC for better library functions and to be able to play .flac files (I know i could convert to ALAC, but anyway).

I just bought a midi controller with a built in audio interface, Reloop Mixtour. No jog wheels or sample trigger buttons, quite basic and after trying it a bit at home I am very happy and eager to go live with it! The tactile side of real buttons instead of a mouse, keyboard or touchscreen input is quite pleasing. It is designed to work well with Djay software, but it is USB class compliant and uses standard midi over USB. There are profiles available for other softwares and you can make your own as well. I am currently working on a profile for Mixxx and it seems to be quite easy for the basic tasks. To make the start button for a deck blink when there is 30 seconds left on a track might need some scripting though :) It charges ios devices and the sound seems to be really good!

Did anyone else try using a controller yet?

//Per

Re: DJ Controllers

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by bananapie894
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