Considering moving back to Controllers (GAH??!?!?!!?!?)

[oliosky]

What about the VCI380? Has the pressure sensitive pads and is serato DJ compatible. Standalone mixer too so you can hook up your TTs with serato if you get more space.

That new pioneer thing is an oversize, heavy behemoth IMO.

[mostapha]

Decent suggestion oliosky, but I'm not a fan of the 380's layout as much……I remember not being impressed when I saw one. I like Vestax stuff in general, but their 2-deck controllers leave a bit to be desired to me……plus, while I still feel 4 channels is overkill, I often find reasons for 3.

Apparently I need to run by GC later today to pick up a power amp for a friend anyway, so I'll check it out then.

[photojojo]

I don't think you would ever be truly happy with just a controller.

[mostapha]

You're totally right. I found the SX because I was looking to upgrade my mixer and in browsing to see if something had come out that I would think was hands-down better than an Empath, my search didn't adequately exclude controllers.

It peaked my interest because my girlfriend and I don't really have an abundance of space. I don't think I've actually spun since we moved in together in March. My DJ setup is in storage. There is literally nowhere that can fit it except our coffee table……and even storing it here would be an issue.

I've also been without a guitar amp and using modeling software for the same amount of time……which is a huge PITA.

The "problem" is that CDJs still kind of feel "off" to me. I like them. I've spun on them. I can perform just fine on them. But actually writing a check for 3-5 thousand dollars worth of stuff is different from spending $40 on some USB keys and letting someone else pay for the CDJs if I ever wind up in clubs.

For that money, I could buy a Bill Nash S-57, a Bad Cat Bobcat, and the Mics/cables/stands I'd use to record it……but that wouldn't really fit here either.

Alternatively, at the top end, I could get an iMac, a Synth, and some actually half-way decent guitar amp modeling.

What would really make me happy would be to go back to spinning vinyl, but I just don't have the budget for vinyl……or the space to put the turntables, let alone the vinyl.

And the SX is actually a mixer. So I wouldn't have to change anything right away when I have more room. I'd just plug in my turntables.

Really, I think the question is whether it's worth the $900 price difference to get the SX over an Audio 2 and setting up my Maschine to control Traktor. I've done that before when I was traveling between my place and my girlfriend's place (before we lived together), and it was somewhat enjoyable……but beat matching with knobs really is kind of a PITA. And I know I'll never bother to set beat grids again.

[photojojo]

Speaking of having room here's a handy size comparison to help visualize how big the SX is.

[mostapha]

I went ahead and picked it up. My initial impressions are very good. I thought it was broken at first before I realized that the channels on the mixer go 3, 1, 2, 4 not 1, 2, 3, 4.

It feels like Pioneer, which means that the mixer feels tier 2 (to me) and the "players" feel tier 1, though the platters themselves feel better than CDJs to my hands. It just accessed my serato library right away. I was playing 5 minutes after starting to open the box.

So, nothing all that surprising so far.

And the size is still a bit big for my apartment, but it seems about right……big enough to not feel cramped……small enough (and easy enough to set up) that it doesn't have to be left out all the time……unlike my TTs. And I like the fact that it's not mirrored. It feels more natural that way.

[photojojo]

Interested to hear some long term opinions.

[mostapha]

After actually spinning a "set" (1 hr) with it instead of just checking to make sure it works……I like the interface about like SSL. I don't really like the effects. I still don't like Pioneer's filters. And I probably won't use any of the pad functions except the sampler……which is all fine and expected.

But it feels like using a Pioneer setup, which is something I'm familiar with. Also, the instant doubles behavior appears to be slightly different from SSL. And 4 decks takes up so much of the screen, it seems like selecting tracks might be more of a PITA than I'm used to……only because I like cover art.

And the layered decks aren't that bad. I do wish it was 1234 instead of 3124, but I'll adjust.

Also, it appears that the meters are flat-out lying. Some kind of logic appears to be keeping the output clean even when slamming the red. But……that's no big deal.

And while I don't have room to leave it out, it fits on my Griffin laptop stands (I have 2) just fine……moving the computer to a bookshelf instead of my desk seems to work great. So, I can actually spin in my apartment, which is good. I measured my xpedit again, and the TTs never would have fit. This takes like 3 minutes to set up the DDJ-SX. TTs usually take 20 to get everything wired and leveled again, plus I just plain don't have that much horizontal space available.

I didn't bother recording, but I probably will soon. I'm off to beatport, because it's been too long since I've bought tracks.

[photojojo]

I do wish it was 1234 instead of 3124, but I'll adjust.

I always route my stuff 3124, or CABD to be more precise.

[mostapha]

Yeah…that never made sense to me. If the channels aren't going to be the exact same arrangement on the screen and the mixer, I prefer for the numbers to make sense on the mixer.

FWIW, this is the kind of space I'm working with:



Unfortunately, there's too much stuff on that bookshelf to replace it with an expedit, especially when you consider that there's only about 2' of clearance to the bed and vinyl/speaker storage. I've already made my peace with doing everything music related in headphones for the time being.

This works. $1300 ish with Pro Coverage is a bit steep for a controller, but it was doable. And it seems to work. I do miss my turntables (like I knew I would), but the hassle of running SDJ and SSL together will get me back to buying vinyl occasionally, and for the first time in a while, I can spin at home without taking over the entire living room, which my girlfriend and our roommate would not stand for.