DJ Controller for a starter

So what would you think is the best option for a starter who is looking to play music from Traktor, but needs something better than a keyboard and a mouse?

The budget is quite flexible, and I would really like something that won't get old right away and something that can be expanded later on if needed... So I'm probably going to use around 500-600 euros, but as I said its flexible and if its worth it, maybe I could pay up to a few hundred more than that.

Earlier I was thinking of a DJ Controller only setup, but now I'm just confused by all the possibilites and I need you guys to basically tell me what to buy...

I've also looked a bit into creating a hybrid setup like this http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=hybridset&L=1
But yeah just recommend anything for me

I was thinking of the Vestax VCI 100 but it doesnt have an audio interface... So that means I need an external soundcard with it? Would the NI Audio Kontrol 1 be good with it?

Also the Reloop Digital Jockey Interface Edition is pretty good looking, but haven't really seen anyone say much about it, compared to the VCI 100 which seems to be in everyones favour.

 

the best option would be to post this in the "Controllers" subforum in the Traktor Pro section or to browse and see what other people are using

 

Well now that we're all waiting for a mod to move this thread...
Meanwhile you could help me by telling me if a DDM 4000 + 2x EKS XP10 would be a good idea... That way I would have control over 2 vdecks with the XP10's but also I could expand that setup later to get all 4 decks.

With those, I wouldn't need an extra soundcard would I?

There's just so many options and I would like to get it right the first time you know

Edit: Scrap that, after further research, I have come to the conclusion that I have no idea of what I want. I've only become aware of my ignorance. I have some kind of an idea of what I'm looking for, but I don't know how to make that happen.
The DDM 4000 has some really great things about it, but would it work alone with my PC running Traktor?

 

You ve got the right idea> starting with something basic and then expanding.

For this reason a Scratch Compatible mixer/controller or an NI sound card might be best. This would give you a high quality interface in the A-4 that would allow for use of a traktor scratch or any f NI's dongle based expansions in the future. The A-4 is a better avenue for the Dj than the ak-1. This card would give you the chance to mix out of traktor in direct/external mode and use an external mixer. This helps to hasten the learning curve> using your old eqs and crossfader and headphone queing technique.

If you look on these boards you'll see dozens of threads on the behringer controllers. Some people are like some people are like :angry: take it for what you will. Ive only owned one behringer product in my life and I hated it. Still the products are economical and it can be made to function nicely.

this is my current set-up

motu traveler (24 bit 8 out) w/ firewire
allen & heath Mix wizard 8 mono channels 6 stereo channels.
Traktor 3.4
Live 7 suite
mac g4 1.5 series
a&h 1d controller
alesis fusion hd series keyboard and controller.

I use my apple extended keyboard for traktor more than any other device ... this is a nice utility. Traktor allows you to set up your computer keyboard to control the program how ever you choose. By far the best thing about the program and something that almost no other comparable software is doing.

The level of midi control and device assignment is equally flexible. The two assignment systems are very similar and easy to learn .. it is highly recommended that you delve into the keyboard assignment process as much as possible and learn what you want to do with a controller. This will help you decide what type of midi controller you actually need.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll really look into that keyboard thing you talked about.

I'm not gonna be hasty about this so I'll take my time and look in to the properties of different setups. I'm gonna be asking more questions soon enough though so yeah I'm coming back for more later.

 

look me up on youtube for 4 xp10 and ddm4000, sweet

 

Yeah I looked up your setup andyfoz and it was pretty nice. Not sure though if it's what I'm looking for.
I think I'm gonna go for a VCI-100 though. There's just one thing I don't understand at all... The VCI-100 doesn't have an audio interface, yet it is said to be just plug & play with USB. So should I buy the A-4?

I was also thinking if it creates a problem that my speakers here at home are plugged in to my computer with a 3,5mm jack. Because I'm thinking it would obviously be better if they were connected to the mixer or whatever audio interface I would buy, right?

 

I would go for a pair of Allen and Heath 1D's ($329 each)... and whatever 4 channel mixer you can afford... then upgrade the mixer when you have the chance. (You could even forgo the mixer entirely if you use the internal mixer mode... I am working on several midi maps, one of which involves nothing by my laptop and a single 1D )

the 1d's are true, professional-grade gear. almost every other controller I have had my hands on since I began the conversion from vinyl to a hybrid to a purely digital setup has felt like a toy in comparison. Lightweight hunks of plastic with terrible-feeling knobs, buttons and faders. The A&H gear, by comparison, is as well-built and solid feeling as their industry standard club installation mixers. Also, INHO, the way the controller is laid out gives you the best combination of buttons, faders, encoders, jog wheel and locates them in a pretty intuitive layout... If I had clout with A&H like hawtin does, I would have it redesigned a little bit (one of the three rows of buttons located north of the faders rather than all three to the south) but for the most part, I find the layout excellent.

If your are going with the Scratch package, you'll have an Audio8DJ. If you're not needing timecode control, you could go with a 1D/2D combo which would give you a soundcard built into the 2D with mostly the same midi functionality and a couple of extra bells and whistles (like a horizontal fader you could use as a x-fader)...

My feeling is that you should start on a controller setup that you stick with. It takes a long time to develop your own midi map, and this will essentially be your instrument for the long haul. Changing controllers down the line would be like spending a year learning guitar... finally getting good at it and then buying a better guitar, except you have to play it left-handed and the order of the strings has been changed.

If you have the extra cash and you are dedicated to the art, spend it now and grow into it.

 

I really think this would be the right setup for me. I know how versatile the 1D's can be and having two of them sounds really nice. But you just gotta walk me thru this as I really don't understand how would I get the setup working.
As far as I right now understand, I don't need an extra soundcard?
Would I then be connecting the 1D's to the DDM 4000 with MIDI or what...? I don't really understand how that setup would actually be working.
Thanks

Edit: The Denon DN-X500 might fit in the budget if I scrap the DDM 4000. That's a quality mixer too. How about that? I guess the problem would be the size and shape of the Denon mixer compared to the 1D's.

I guess I'm gonna line down the options here for the mixer :
Vestax MDM 410
Vestax VMC 004 XLU
Gemini CS 02
Behringer DDM 4000
Denon DN-X500
Korg KM 402
Stanton RM 406
Numark 5000 FX

That's pretty much all of the 4 channel mixers I can afford with the 1D's.
If any of you have any suggestions which one to choose or if theres any that I haven't listed and happens to cost something less than around $500, please tell me.

Edit again: Right now I'm going towards the 1D+2D only thingy without a mixer or anything else. I'm thinking that with the extensive midi mapping capabilities of the controllers I don't need a mixer right away. I'll probably upgrade the setup with a Xone 62 or a Xone 42 later on then.
I think that sounds pretty good.

 

you might find a screaming deal on an xzone 62!

 

if cost wasnt an option i'd go for the xone 4d

 

I am not really familiar with any of those mixers... I also don't have any experience with the soundcard built into the 2D.... you should check here and the zone forums before maing that choice. I am super happy with my audio8DJ, but if you're not going to get a mixer right away, the bit of extra functionality on the 2D might be a help...

If you are mixing four decks and mixing house and techno, u could probably live without an xfader altogether. The price is in the same neighborhood if you get the 2x1D's and and Audio8 DJ... and then you have timecode functionality available if you want to play with it in the future or have any DJ homies who want to use this when spinning on your rig. This is the way I would go were i faced with your set of limitations.

Add a xone mixer down the line and essentially you have a 4D but way more versatile. You can mix and match components to meet the needs of any situation. Like, if you go to play somewhere and they have their own mixer set up, u can just attach your 1D's and have your full functionality.

 

one mixer you might consider is the xone 02 -- this is a two channel battle mixer. BUT it has 5 mixable channles into those two channels -- so you can be playing back 4 decks from hardware units or a souncard and mix those into the two battle channels which you would then have external eq control over.

so a 1d +2d would give you a complete control over the internal mixer and software transport. a 1d + 2d is a complete internal sotware solution. for mixing internally you don't need much more.

adding the o2.

If you normally mix on just two decks or two turntables the xone o2 would give you the control you need with the ability to be mixing four decks in a two deck manner<wether they are two analogue decks and two virtual decks,... four virtual decks or two analogue decks and the internal system mixed into the o2 via the link connection or one of the battle channels.

I already have a nice motu sound card otherwise Id go with the 2d+1d like you are considering. Instead Ill probably end up with 2 xone1ds and then a another xone mixer later this year or next. Im kind of expecting the 92 to be revised to include further advanced tempo and midi features.

 

Do you have some sort of "information" on which you base this expectation?

That would be cool, cuz then the price would drop on the original 92. I'd love to get one of these. I love my 62 but would really appreciate the dual filters.

are you really expecting or just idly speculating?

 

i don't think the price would come down on them very much as there are very few a&h mixers just sitting in stores. the price on used mk1 mixers would come down with the release of an mk2.

Im just basing my hunch on trends that ive noticed. > and most of my hunches are correct.

 

Hawtin seems to use a single 1D pretty effectively to control 4 decks.
You don't need 4 separate controllers to control 4 decks.
I've usually got at least 1 hand on my mixer controls. I don't have enough hands to be useful on 4 deck controllers.
I've got a great midi map for the VCI-100 that lets me shift most of the buttons to get additional functionality out of them.
And the VCI mixer section is good - better quality knobs and faders than most of the mixers I see at smaller parties.
I'm currently mixing in software and very happy with it - I run my master out to a spare channel on the mixer, and my headphones into the front of my sound adapter (FA-66).
Takes away the complexity of multiple lines into the mixer, and the poor condition of some mixers, and all I have to carry is my laptop, VCI-100, headphones, and sound adapter.