Design your own controller!

[Mudo]

I think/hope it will be a fail... Ripoff and for that price will be a insanely message for the future of djing/controllerism IMHO...

[guiltyblade]

I don't hope they fail. Thats a pretty awful thing to say considering they are entrepreneurs and trying to do some innovative. If its not for random people like this coming into the scene and making new things potentially shaking things up then where will innovation come from? With a traktor S4 mk2?

Its a fully custom piece of equipment, made to order, with crazy lights that are programable, it should be a premium just like any custom to made item. Now I agree the price is steep, but hell if its your cup of tea then go for it, its not mine after I heard the price as well. That said I don't want anyone to fail trying to follow a dream of offering something new. For some people custom work with custom controls is worth the premium.

[jdownesbaird]

I think/hope it will be a fail... Ripoff and for that price will be a insanely message for the future of djing/controllerism IMHO...

And what "message" would that be?

[Mudo]

I don't hope they fail. Thats a pretty awful thing to say considering they are entrepreneurs and trying to do some innovative. If its not for random people like this coming into the scene and making new things potentially shaking things up then where will innovation come from? With a traktor S4 mk2?

I don't remember if I posted this HERE but...
http://fuzzywobble.com/thesis/

Its a fully custom piece of equipment, made to order, with crazy lights that are programable, it should be a premium just like any custom to made item. Now I agree the price is steep, but hell if its your cup of tea then go for it, its not mine after I heard the price as well. That said I don't want anyone to fail trying to follow a dream of offering something new. For some people custom work with custom controls is worth the premium.

I could be hipocrite and say "wow good idea! Let's go support them!" But... Mmm no, sorry 1050 $ for a midi controller is too expensive for a kickstarter or custom one nowadays... Do you know what is a FabLab?

And what "message" would that be?

Djing was elitish but controllerism born from hardware hacking. If the UMIDI success then the message is clear: Controllerism is the new fashion. Become cool buying flashy overpriced hardware and justify the Pioneerism elitism.

The weird is all by kickstarter campaing. Offensive with the essence of diy movement IMHO as I said before...

[jdownesbaird]

I could be hipocrite and say "wow good idea! Let's go support them!" But... Mmm no, sorry 1050 $ for a midi controller is too expensive for a kickstarter or custom one nowadays... Do you know what is a FabLab?

Djing was elitish but controllerism born from hardware hacking. If the UMIDI success then the message is clear: Controllerism is the new fashion. Become cool buying flashy overpriced hardware and justify the Pioneerism elitism.

The weird is all by kickstarter campaing. Offensive with the essence of diy movement IMHO as I said before...

Wow.

YOUR comment is actually "elitish", as you are implying there is only one way to DJ correctly. You are also assuming that only people who want "cool, flashy, overpriced" hardware will buy this product. Not everyone has the DIY ability to hack together their own custom controller, and boutique-style, customized DJ equipment has ALWAYS been expensive (even if it was a tricked out turntable).

You should be excited that companies are still willing to take risks with niche equipment like this, so that there are other options out there then just the mass produced products from the major players. Sooner or later a company might make a product you like. If this thing is successful, it's because there is a demand for it (whether you want it or not). It won't be because "controllerism is the new fashion".

I think you want this product to fail because you don't want to believe that there IS a potential demand for stuff like this. I won't be buying one, because it doesn't suit my needs (and is quite expensive). But that doesn't mean that I hope innovative ideas like this are unsuccessful.

My way of DJing is the best way --- FOR ME. But I'm not concerned when something comes along that wasn't made for me, and I don't care if everyone buys it up. It won't stop me from doing my thing. Some trends come and go, while others stick around. As long as you are passionate about your own craft, you shouldn't feel threatened just because other people are having fun using different gear.

[ReggieUK]

I can see mudo's point about dj'ing being elitist, pretty much £1000 for a technics setup back in the day was not small change for bedroom dj's, neither was hunting down white labels, not sure about you but I didn't really tell people where I got all my records and rightly so, I put effort into having tunes no one else did.


Either way, I don't want to see this project fail as such, I just wonder how it will appeal given that it's got a pretty limited scope, sure it's got all the usual controls but it's a bit small and for what you can put on it, there are loads of controllers out there at 1/5th the price with more controls on them. I also don't see much innovation here, don't get me wrong, it's a well produced looking piece of kit but it's just a bunch of sliders, pots, buttons and jog wheels.

It's undoubtedly a quality looking piece of kit but does it need to be cnc'd aluminium? why not give a much cheaper laser cut perspex option?

Lastly, luckily for me I do have the skills to build my own, I doubt it will look as slick as a $1000 controller but it will do what I want :-)

[jdownesbaird]

I can see mudo's point about dj'ing being elitist, pretty much £1000 for a technics setup back in the day was not small change for bedroom dj's, neither was hunting down white labels, not sure about you but I didn't really tell people where I got all my records and rightly so, I put effort into having tunes no one else did.

Well, just because equipment is expensive doesn't make the scene "elitist".

Technics weren't (aren't) cheap, but it wasn't an attempt to "weed out" poorer DJs. That stuff just costs a lot of money, so naturally non-serious DJs or hobbyists would be less likely to invest in an expensive setup. There will always be expensive options for equipment, but that's how things work; more options, features, customization, quality components, special materials, etc will ALWAYS raise the price. Here's the thing, though: it's just another option.

It's wonderful that there are cheaper controller options for beginner/casual DJs to have some fun. Everyone can participate. But that doesn't mean that we should get rid of the more expensive options.

Elitism is an attitude that you are inherently better than someone else, and that somehow another person shouldn't have access to the same scene that you enjoy. Mudo's comment about wanting this project to fail because it's somehow elitist due to cost is ridiculous; in fact, his comment is really quite elitist. He seems to not want others with different equipment needs or resources to have access to the DJ scene, so as to preserve what he thinks is the right thing for the culture.

It's just equipment. Some of that shit costs more than others. Always has, always will. Simple, really. The culture will evolve just fine.

[mdcdesign]

$1050.

[Mudo]

Well, just because equipment is expensive doesn't make the scene "elitist".

Technics weren't (aren't) cheap, but it wasn't an attempt to "weed out" poorer DJs. That stuff just costs a lot of money, so naturally non-serious DJs or hobbyists would be less likely to invest in an expensive setup. There will always be expensive options for equipment, but that's how things work; more options, features, customization, quality components, special materials, etc will ALWAYS raise the price. Here's the thing, though: it's just another option.

It's wonderful that there are cheaper controller options for beginner/casual DJs to have some fun. Everyone can participate. But that doesn't mean that we should get rid of the more expensive options.

Elitism is an attitude that you are inherently better than someone else, and that somehow another person shouldn't have access to the same scene that you enjoy. Mudo's comment about wanting this project to fail because it's somehow elitist due to cost is ridiculous; in fact, his comment is really quite elitist. He seems to not want others with different equipment needs or resources to have access to the DJ scene, so as to preserve what he thinks is the right thing for the culture.

It's just equipment. Some of that shit costs more than others. Always has, always will. Simple, really. The culture will evolve just fine.

I respect others opinions and choices (even when they call me ridicolous) but technics are overpriced 30 years later (And finally going down this days) even with other options better in all ways (but the majority of technics fans will never hear, take a look in the forums... Specially techno or old school turntablist).

So I suppose piss you off the idea to be right with my own opinion and be CLEAR, sorry about that and let me be more clear:

I'm didn't saying this is wrong, I'm saying this is bad for. I believed that Controllerism (as extension of Dub culture) was about doing it by yourself. It is not about totally cost, I had an ipad which is one of the most elitish tools out there but I "hack" anid try to keep the essence (and share my improvements) as a revenue for other people (fuck culture and polithical correction sir).

It is about how Pioneer shitted of about controllers in the past and later released the same shit they argue but at 999€ start pricepoint.

We (Humanity involved in finantial crisis) don't need more dumb Technics/Pionerism. And I will love to see Umidi fail until they fit the right pricepoint (which 1050€ isn't). If they make it at right pricepoint (and due to OUR economic context remember) it will be any problem to me but meanwhile it is not for me and bad for the people as statment (become a REAL controllerist/dj buying overpriced gear crowfunded)

And the best part...

I think you want this product to fail because you don't want to believe that there IS a potential demand for stuff like this. I won't be buying one, because it doesn't suit my needs (and is quite expensive). But that doesn't mean that I hope innovative ideas like this are unsuccessful.

I know there is a potential and surely they will success (or maybe not, some interesting and affordable projects failed before) and what I'm saying is near to ReggieUK described. The project that I linked before is the same concept for everyone who wants to learn how to do it by themselves. So it is not about innovation sorry... It is about get profit of crowfunding for EXPENSIVE gear.

There is nothing more elitish than buy something and don't care about how much it really cost and I'm talking about inherent ecological cost. If you want a cnc aluminum faceplate, go for it but if you want to be "peopular" try almost learn something about cnc drilling or laser cutting. Today we are in the middle of a revolution with its core/heart in Fablabbing concept.

I could respect your opinion and choice but I still could think is fancy and a mesh.

Jm2c.

[ReggieUK]

I think $1050 for a machine is funny when the best bit that people seem to mention is that the top is cnc'd out of aluminium, it get's praise not for what it can do but how nice it looks.

I've not heard anyone on here mention about what those controls are actually able to do, not a thing. Can I assign my own strings to it? is each control bound to a single message? Can I customise messages on the fly? Can I link controls? What can it do for ME?