D2 vs X1 vs F1

Hey guys!

I recently saw some DJ's what seemed to me 'producing on the fly'. DJs such as Dasha Rush and Nicole Moudaber.
I started dj'ing with a standard midi controller, then upgraded to 2 Pioneer CDJ900 nexus and now recently I added two D2's to that. I will start using them heavily since today, and see what I find and experience during exploring. I hope to make something new, something that stands out.

The key point of the D2 is also the use of stems, I know that. But I wonder what the difference is between the D2, F1 and X1.
Like, Nicole Moudaber, she only uses the X1 as example. But she still makes an amazing sets with tons of loops. (Side question to that: these dj's that heavily use D2 or F1's for a whole set, do they also play like full tracks still, or is it all build-up out of pieces?).

I am just wondering if I made the right decision with buying the D2's. I bought them second hand and it's not a problem to resell and switch. Wish I could just play with it all and find out what feels the best option for you personally. It depends on what you want to do, I guess.

My 'mission' is to be able to play short sets which are totally build up out of small loops, samples but also play longer sets in which I would play a lot of loops on tracks. That track could also be a stem.

Thanks already for any advice.

 

D2's pretty much a super-sized version of the X1 with remix deck functionality built in. You can also do small loops with the D2s as well. Only downside is the size and the need for a mains power source, but it more or less renders the X1 redundant if you can manage this with setting up at gigs, else the X1s are quite capable in their own right.

The F1 has no default transport controls built in, and obviously is built for the remix decks primarily, with the relatively late stems decks functionality without transport controls. Probably slightly more agile in terms of being able to sort through pages of samples and loops quicker as well, but depending on if you're using custom remix deck sets you've constructed yourself, you could get away with just the two D2s alone (i.e. have decks A and B running the stems or normal tracks, and C and D in remix deck mode triggering samples and loops).

I tend to play full tracks at the moment, along with a handful of stem tracks, though once I'm more used to the pair of D2s (I had one initially, making juggling things a bit more tricky), I'll probably start mucking around with the remix deck samples more. I've also got a pair of F1s already, so I can probably just dedicate them to decks C and D and leave A and B for the D2s, with the occasional glance in the D2s at what samples are loaded in the F1s.

 

Ok so I'm a long time DJ and recent Traktor convert. I know exactly the sort of set you are talking about, I play similar music and strive to play with more loops and samples. I had a DJM-T1 (similar to a Z2) and F1. I was looking at getting a pair of D2's but ended up with a pair of X1's and the F1.

My advice to you is to really get deep into programming hot cues and hot loops on the track decks. Play with grabbing those hot loops to the remix decks and jamming on those. The D2's are incredibly powerful tools that have everything you want to do on them. When you run into the limitations (and there were large limitations on my workflow) then it's time to consider an alternative setup.

I usually use four track decks with X1's and find the hot cues and hot loops incredibly powerful. In that setup the F1 is used with a custom mapping for hot cue/loop control, some FX macros, and some programming/prep functionality. I've started to reintroduce using one remix deck controlled by the F1. I am yet to settle on its permanency but my way of playing is constantly evolving.

 

thanks people,this advice helps out,i own a djm-t1 for traktor control but have a djm909 sitting on a shelf this was used for scratching with mixing,so lately i thought bring the 909 back in use with a library of old skool music I'm sure i can link the 909 with audio 8 dj soundcard but need a controller to run alongside the 909,i thought x1 mk2 should well be capable of this but then started looking at the d2,the thing is do you need a pair of these to feel the full benefit of work flow or can you use 1 controller with a mixer,i enjoy the t1 for scratching reasons but then if possible to use the 909 with other controller i.e. d2 x1 mk2 is this needed-or could it be beneficial having dim-t1 with 2 d2's any help on this will be much appreciated many thanks j-lee