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Thanks for all of your replies, really helps me out :) What do you mean with this midi-implentation and banks, is it if they are pre mapped for different software or? And would the smartest move be to go for a controller without a soundcard? Seems like the soundcard is what needs to be up to date rather then the controller since it should work aslong it is compatibel and in decent shape I guess :)
midi is how most controllers "talk" to the software. just know that not all controllers are created equal ;) but no point trying to dive into any details.
banks are where one button or sets of buttons can control more than one thing, like maybe a controller has a button that switches half of it between controlling deck A verses deck C. stuff like that...
if it was me i'd look for a controller with a soundcard builtin as it'll work out a lot cheaper. you want a soundcard with two stereo outs, one for the main output and one for your headphones. u can get the native instruments audio2 soundcard for only 100usd now with traktor pro included but as u want to save cash i'd stick with looking for a controller that comes with one builtin.
you'll probably outgrow the controller long before the soundcard that comes with it...
I understand they arent build equal ;) I was just conserned if some midi controllers might have slow respons or something like that and that would be why they would be outdated, I dont know :p but outgrowing a controller before the soundcard, thats only for the budget controllers I guess?
response as well. a cheapo controller may not be able to process your movements and convert them into midi signals to your software as quickly. in reality tho this tends to affect jog wheels more than most other controls, tho if u want to slam a fader u may feel some lag maybe on a cheapo controller and if u wanted to rapidly tap buttons maybe there too... most controls on most medium priced controllers are probably ok. the jogs on my hercules mk2 are very laggy but i think thats more down to how they've been made physically rather than the electronics. sometimes the buttons don't quite work on first press, but they're so squidgy it's hard to tell sometimes. that controller doesn't get used much now anyway.
re: outgrowing... not at all. even if u forked out the cash for a NI S2 controller u may well still outgrow it sometime as it only provides a *fairly* basic set of controls. modular controllers like the midi fighter or other units can always be used as well as another controller tho.
in any case - it doesn't sound like you're looking for a controller that u won't outgrow - you're looking to spend the bare minimum to get a taste of whether u actually like the whole dj'ing thing or not.
Built in soundcard would be a major factor for me, especially if you are on a tight budget. Without the ability to cue with headphones, you will be limited on what you can do. If you get a controller without one, you are looking at another $50-$100 for an external card.
On that note, I recommend the BCD3000. Cheap, built in sound card, the ability to input a pair of turntables for a DVS setup, and all of the controls you need. The build quality isn't the same as an S2, or the mixtrack, but it IS better than the unit gets credit for. It was my first controller, and still performs very well after a year of using it.
After reading all your needs i would probably change mine to @ dripstep suggestion a BCD3000. if it makes any diffrent i love the mapping for the Novation launchpad for traktor and VDJ -
Pros of it :
All buttons mostly
has a nice feel
Cons:
no nobs
no software to dj with
The BCD3000 was the first controller i rly started looking at, but this is the specific controller that I have heard so much about.. How outdated it is and old and that it sucks according to some ppl, and some ppls loves it and recomends it to everyone...
If you don't want to/cant save up some more $$, you are very limited in selection. You will loose out on the build quality of a controller like the S2, but it doesn't mean you miss out on features.
Your budget is 150, if you get a $100 controller with no sound card, your budget needs to go up to at least $200. The BCD3000 is not a professional controller, but that doesn't seem to be what you are looking for. This isn't a cheap hobby, so you either need to save more, or get something in your price range, and bite the bullet on some aspects.
That being said, the BCD can take some abuse. The top and sides are plastic, but the bottom is metal. The faders are great, and very smooth. The pitch faders have a bit of resistance to them and feel nice. The knobs are all plastic, and looser than the S2/X1, but still feel good. Sound quality from the soundcard is good, and there is a mic input as well. Lots of buttons for loop in/out, cue, sync...the regular. The buttons are plastic, so not as nice as some more expensive controllers, but they still work well. Some are led lit also.
Save up or settle my friend. Or find a cheaper hobby.
u got a keyboard?
No I'm not looking for something professional, I'm looking for a device that I can try out and learn DJing on. If I like it I will go for the real stuff afterwards, but first I need to know if it is something for me or not..Quote:
Originally Posted by dripstep
And yes I have a keyboard and yes I have tried different programs using it, Itīs just that it isnt that fun to try on, you get bored directly since you dont have any knobs at all just buttons which makes it hard to control the EQ for example, and I dont have a second soundcard which makes it so much harder to get a good result..