Jog wheels

[Maxxx]

I am currently thinking about buying a new midi controller and realised they pretty much all have jog wheels, so i wondered why? I guessed that the intended use is scratching, but my understanding is that digital DJs don't scratch. I do get that they can be mapped to control other things a digital DJ might want such as effects but would it not be a better use of space to have knobs rather than huge jog wheels ?

[Patch]

Jog wheels are for pussies.

[DJAdeSands]

Jog can be used for loads of different things. Not necessarily scratch (altough the option's there)
Can be used for pitch bend, seeking through a track, detailing cue points, using FX (wet/dry) or cycling the strength of the effect.
There's no exhaustive list.
There's other controllers..

Just read your comment again, and just re-iterated the obvious duh. I need sleep..

[Redlight]

Its all personal preference. I like having jogs but I know a lot of guys that have no need for jogs. Don't let the title "digital dj" dictate what you can and can't do behind the decks. I think its great that we have options for just about every style, need, and want in controllers these days.

[overcast]

I mean, the biggest explanation is probably just because DJing started with two turntables so when it started becoming more digital, it was meant to on some level, capture the feeling.

Personally I like using jogs to cue up tracks and to use to correctly beat match but I totally understand why there are people who don't use those for that. I had a buddy who mapped his jogs on an S2 for FX though and he seemed fine with that.

[the_bastet]

I prefer touch strips over jog wheels. They simply take up too much real estate. I can still scratch on my turntables with both vinyl and DVS.

[Stewe]

It all depends on which DJ software you're using and how strong is the mapping interface in it. In Traktor's example, you can map a modifier button with a couple of control states that can allow your jog wheel to do many different things.

If you map one 'toggle' type modifier button you can assign jog to pitchbend while the modifier button is disabled and than maybe have control over your effects with this modifier enabled.

[Maxxx]

Thanks for all that info. Was just making sure there wasn't any huge benefits I was missing out on.

[The Lazy One]

I prefer touch strips over jog wheels. They simply take up too much real estate. I can still scratch on my turntables with both vinyl and DVS.

so, you're a proud owner of a Traktor Kontrol S8 I guess

[backtothefront]

Personally I wouldn't be without jog wheels, just the way I'm used to DJing, having grown up with TTs. It's one of the reasons I've switched to the DDJ-RZ instead of staying with Traktor controllers (yes, looking at you S5/S8!), the big, full sized jogs.