Originally Posted by
soundinmotiondj
The S8 is awesomely capable. BUT...for beginners it presents the Tyranny of Choice. There are soooo many options available that it can be difficult to pick one and focus on mastering and building your skills.
A solid two deck controller is a MUCH better option for learning the craft. The S2 or even the new S5 offer a nice package that can grow with you. Even some of the modular controllers are better options than the S8. As you are learning, having fewer choices means having fewer distractions. Once you have some sense of how you would like to work, then you can move in that direction.
It can be difficult if you think about what you are giving up. So, don't think about that. Think about finding a solid platform that will let you learn, master, and build on the "basics" of being a DJ - whatever that means for you.