A Question About TPro

hello all,

I've got a pretty simple request. I'm looking to buy a controller for traktor that will fit what I need. I've done my research (Novation zero SL, UC33e, Vestax VCI-100 being the main contenders so far), but I still don't have an answer. I'd appreciate it if someone on this (very useful!) site could help.

I've been playing around in Traktor Pro for several months and have reached the limits of what I can do with hotkeys and my MacBook's mouse. I think the program is amazingly well designed & easy to use. (shameless self promotion: I did a twenty minute dubstep mix you can listen to here, [hotkeys and mouse only!]: http://www.zshare.net/download/52608858d30ab02e/ . Critique at will!) I will play mostly minimal, tech/house, and some electro and dubstep.

Basically, I'd say I just want to take what's on the main traktor screen and create a palpable version of that.

Specifically, here's what I need:

1) I am a HUGE fan of a) TPro's effects and b) looping, especially in tandem, and especially using two or more effects simultaneously. So I think I'd need lots of knobs (the UC33 has been recommended in this regard, but doesn't meet some of my other criteria, I don't think).

2) I only want to touch my computer keyboard to search and/or load a track into a deck.

3) I often use more than two decks.

4) A cross-fader would be NICE but is not required-- mostly I use the filter and/or gain buttons to "eliminate" a track. I also prefer four EQs (mid-hi, mid-lo) to three, but this is a relatively minor issue (as I understand it, I could just program a knob to be the missing EQ, right?).

5) I need the ability to prelisten to tracks. I know this can be done via external soundcard, which I am open to using if necessary, though I can't say it's preferable.

7) What I don't need: scratching ability, or a bpm counter really. Frankly, I am LEAST concerned about beat-matching (am I preaching to the choir?); for you purists out there, I am decent, though far from perfect, on real vinyl, and I refer anyone who is offended by this to Mr. Hawtin's views on the matter.

8) Less important things: I kind of suck when it comes to anything approaching computer programming, so if the controller were easily mapped to Traktor, that'd be nice. Also, if the controller were somehow useful for producing music in addition to mixing, that'd just be the cherry on top.

9) My price range peaks at about $700.

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Basically, every option recommended by people didn't seem to meet one of the necessary criteria (1) lots of FX/Looping flexibility (2) multiple decks (3) [(<) V (~)] $700

One thing I'm especially concerned about is the "FX ON 1" and "FX ON 2" buttons found right under Key control in traktor, because from my observations, it doesn't seem like some of hte controllers would allow to apply two effects (or perhaps more?) at a single time. Of course, I'm a relative noob at this, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong. (Also, I'm wondering if .vst's can be downloaded and used as new effects? But that's neither here nor there)

MANY Thanks to anyone who can help me out. And I realize the tone of this post is a little dry, but I'm actually pretty friendly, I just wanted to be as accurate as possible in my description. My apologies for the length.

 

Hi,

I can't name you a controller that fits all your needs.
But maybe the faderfox micromoduls are what you are looking for.
With 700$ you can buy 2 or even 3 of them and they should give you
enough control knobs and buttons.
www.faderfox.com

You can assign a button multiple times.
Let's say you want button1 to activate FX ON 1/2 at the same time.
The mapping would look something like this:
Map1: button1->FX ON 1
Map2: button1->FX ON 2

 

I haven't used anything other than the VCI-100, but I am completely satisfied with it. The designers made a mistake in hardwiring one of the effect buttons, but it's not a big deal and easy to work around. I suspect many VCI owners don't notice the problem.
Traktor Pro midi setup is much better than T3 in my opinion, and I'm now much more comfortable on the controller running pro than I ever was on T3. Using the shift functions possible with TPro can easily multiply the assignment of controls.
But I would wait for NAMM in January to see what the next round of controller hardware coming out looks like before committing to any of the current crop.

 

Hello dude,

Up to 700 bucks should buy a darn nice controller I think. I have been using the UC-33 for a while and it works pretty well, although I have run out of knobs and sliders. Not sure how much it cost now, but it use to be free with Reason.

I suppose it is all down to personal preference. If you wanted the controller to have a DJ layout you might go for a Xone: (2, 3, 4) D, Behringer DDM4000, or similar. The UC-33 looks nothing like a DJ mixer but you can still get some good results.

You could write down the number of parameters/things that you need to control and then get the controller with that amount of buttons/sliders/knobs on.

That’s probably not much help, for I too am pondering what controller to buy!

 

Hey,

For $700, I know you wouldn't be able to find one controller but perhaps two?

I have a uc33 and a korg padKontrol. I've actually been playing with setting up the padKontrol for only the last week or so but I find with the two, it's absolutely great!

I put the padControl on top of my mpb keyboard and just started playing...

I've only really managed to get full control, due to sacrifcing one deck setup for the fx nobs...Having just really started to understand modifiers, I've been able to rethink the uc33 configuration and get, hopefully, all four decks in a nice setup with lots of control.

Of course, there's two other controllers I think you should really consider, the Otus by EKS(?), 1 controllers will do two decks and they look sweet but they're 649 euros....the other and you'll have to wait for it is the Vestax VCM 400..it's utterly perfect and hopefully will be in the 700$ range. Id get one but I can't justify it, having the other controllers...still fits all in one bag.