Need buyer's advice: Budget solid controller for old school vinyl DJ?

[B-Naut]

OK. ...I'm looking for advice on a new controller that is moderately priced ($150 - $400) that is sturdy, easy to map and tweak, has a few different .tsi maps available for Traktor Scratch Pro 1.2.7 or better, and will have above average curve adjustment and jog wheels for scratching.

I already have an Audio8, so having a built in sound card is not necessary. I consider myself to be an advanced DJ but a bit new to using strictly a controller to spin. I've used timecoded vinyl for a few years but want a controller for quicker gigs so the club doesn't need to dust off their 1200s specially just for my hour set. I also do not want something that looks like a toy that I can play out @ some of the bigger venues without being snickered at by anybody who bothers to look at what I'm using. So far Reloop, Numark, B52, and Vestax seem to be where I'm leaning...but I'm having issues narrowing down which flavor of which model to run with. I spin Electro House, Dubstep, and mashups.

HELP.

[dj stifffy]

Numark mixtrack springs to mind... Has fx control, touch sens wheels, good eq section ans is all remappable... Make ur own mapping and ull no what everything does plus this will be low in ur budget...

[photojojo]

There's a good deal on a VCI in the buy sell section right now. Might want to take a look at the Twitch when it comes out.

[dj stifffy]

I myself use a omni control, but the stealth doesnt have a soundcard and looks a lot more badass only thing is just jogs no scratching but says you play electro and dubstep so cant imagine too much scratching needed..

[Conall]

why dont you get an x1 and use the cdj's in the club with timecode?

better and cheaper option than getting some mid range controller which feels like a toy, most controllers under $400 are entry level. If you want to scratch then cdj's with timecode are the best option as far as i can see, cdj's arnt very good for scratching but they're sure as hell better than any controller you'll find.

[B-Naut]

There's a good deal on a VCI in the buy sell section right now. Might want to take a look at the Twitch when it comes out.

I considered a VCI. But what is this Twitch you speak of, sir?

[B-Naut]

why dont you get an x1 and use the cdj's in the club with timecode?

better and cheaper option than getting some mid range controller which feels like a toy, most controllers under $400 are entry level. If you want to scratch then cdj's with timecode are the best option as far as i can see, cdj's arnt very good for scratching but they're sure as hell better than any controller you'll find.

Pioneer CDJs that are worth anything are bulky, expensive, and don't have the same ability to map knobs and buttons to bend the sound to your will. I want something I can have at home to rehearse then feel confident it will travel well, then pull off the same routine at the club just like I practiced at home. The ONLY way to do exactly that is with CDJ-2000s.

[B-Naut]

I myself use a omni control, but the stealth doesnt have a soundcard and looks a lot more badass only thing is just jogs no scratching but says you play electro and dubstep so cant imagine too much scratching needed..

Not much scratching with Electro? Then you haven't seen this DJ battle entry I did last April.

The ability to scratch accurately is a MUST HAVE capability for any controller I would get.

[Topps]

I'd recommend the Numark Mixtrack. You'll be able to map it however you want and it's jogs are pretty solid for a budget controller.

[DJ Asand]

scratching on a controller isn't gonna happen... unless your idea of "accurate" is more like "acceptable".

What if you only took on TT with you so you can scratch a deck and then beatmatch the other(s)?