(ask) Vestax vci-100 to Pioneer CDJ-1000

[MartinK]

Don't expect the jogs to be anything like a cdj though, just incase you get the impressions from above that they are. There nowhere near the same.

If you want a vci be prepeared to be using sync as the manual beatmatching abilities of the vci are a bit pants compared to cdjs and other turntables.
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Interesting, I'm teetering on buying a VCI. This suggests that I'll need to get to grips with Traktor's functionallity and mix via that, rather than in the conventional way?

Sure I've seen similar comments elsewhere on the board.

[Archies'bald]

Because many of my friends said that if i'm new to mixing stuff they advise me to try CDJ rather than USB midi controller.
any suggestions perhaps?

cheers

There was a time when people would tell you to learn on vinyl before advancing to anything else. A lot depends on the type of music and how you normally mix.The truth is that whatever you learn on will decide how you look at Djing for the rest of your days. I know this from personal experience.

I personally couldn't DJ with a button only controller (even though I'm not a scratch DJ, house mostly) simply because I would have to learn a new way of working, but I've seen people do amazing thing with just these types of controllers, so they can't be shit. People talk about controllers being intuitive, but they are only intuitive to DJ's if they have used other types of technology before getting their hands on new kit. For instance the reason the CDJ's were so good was because vinyl DJ's found them easy to use after only a few hours of practice.

If you are completely new to this you then have two options. Firstly you can get the VCI 100 and use this excellent site to get all your info from. Either that, you can buy the CDJ's and learn from your mates. Either way if you don't have the dedication to 'learn your trade' you will fall by the wayside.

It's not the controller that makes the DJ, it's hard work and talent. So, don't fret too much about what you're going to buy, just get something and start learning. That's what I would recommend.

[djmoonie]

This is a tough question.

I learnt 'traditionally' and moved to the digital arena and now spin on a VCI-100. I've no regrets, but I wonder what it would have been like going straight to the VCI.

Its not that traktor isn't capable of being run in 'manual' mode.. ppl do it all the time with timecodes, but on a midi controller, particularly the VCI, and I assume most other controllers with jog wheels, beatmatching by ear is not as intuitive as on a cdj/vinyl

Why ?

Firstly, whilst the VCI is a lovely unit, the quality of the faders and knobs, compared to say my DJM600 mixer is just no where near. The buttons are 'clicky' (but the arcade mod does alot to alleviate this), and the rotaries are often stiff (well some are, some aren't, which makes it worse!).

Secondly, when you touch the side of the platter on a cdj or vinyl, the amount of drift you inject depends entirely on how much pressure you apply. So for instance, if your incoming track is ahead, you know just how hard to press to get it back in line. On the VCI, moving the side of the platter causes a fixed amount of drift, its not variable.

This sounds like a VCI bashing.. its not.

If it were me, I'd borrow your mates cdj's and learn to beatmatch by ear, then get a VCI-100 and understand that its a very different affair, but that it also has a ton of other things to offer. If you try to learn by ear on the VCI to start, I think you will get frustrated.

[MaxOne]

I'm glad I learnt on turntables but i'm not sure i'd advice someone to spend the money on buying cdjs just to learn on them.

I think cdjs are cool, and the touch when it comes to manual beat matching is probably superior.

At the end of the day though, I think what you can do with traktor and a vci is more powerful than cdjs. And you can learn to beat match manually on them anyway. ok a tiny bit not as tactile as a cdj but still more than doable.

Traktor and the vci are not so good at auto beatmatching that you never have to learn to do it manual sometimes...

This idea that a vci is for beginners is sort of nuts to me. I'll never "graduate" from digital djing because the creativity and learning curve that it allows you is far richer and complex than a cdj...

[Big Pie]

I use traktor and a vci 100 and have not had any troubles beatmatching with the pitch faders. I understand that they are not as precise as they could be, but you can get two tracks within a close enough range, usually 0.08 bpm. Sure after a minute or so of play they begin to drift, but this is fairly easy to detect/correct. especially if you enable the phase meters.
The traktor/vci combo can be fairly "traditional" i suppose if you don't use sync, quantize and snap. I enjoy using it this way, because i am currently saving up for turntables and timecode vinyl and want to get used to mixing as manually as possible.

Bottom line, get something that gives you all necessary functions, and start having fun! the vci by itself is a blast, and its one of the best purchases i've ever made.
If possible try all possibilities first before you buy, but the cost of the vci is almost too good to pass up, especially if you can find one used in good condition. I bought mine used for 300 Canadian, without any problems except for some scratches on the underside (who cares about that? )

Good luck and have fun!