Controller Overload - It's all the same!!
Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 35
  1. #1
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    West Coast, United States
    Posts
    631

    Default Controller Overload - It's all the same!!

    Any other midi experts out there who feel like the million varieties of "dj controllers" out there is just overkill? Let me explain what I mean. I'm coming from the perspective of someone who builds and uses custom maps, so the out-of-the-box functionality doesn't mean jack to me. I could take three controllers and make them all do exactly the same thing. It's just midi, after all. So after that, what's left to distinguish any of these machines from one another? To me the only things that matter are:

    Feel of controls and build quality
    Does it have any special type of transmission (timecode, OSC, HID, or hi-def midi)?
    Does it have any unique controls (endless encoders, ribbons, etc)?
    Does it have enough controls?

    I don't know, I guess I'm just talking out loud to think it through. Seems like everyone gets all fired up to sell old stuff and buy new stuff, and I'm just kicking back thinking "what's wrong with your old stuff? you can program it to do everything the new stuff does". If its cause someone hates the build quality or whatever, I get it, but I'm bummed seeing people get excited about things like factory installed 4 deck switching on a controller with two channel faders, like it's a new innovation or something. DIY, baby.

    Here's what I want to see:
    1) A mid sized controller with a ton of buttons, faders, and endless encoders with leds, without a soundcard. But most importantly, I want each control module (fx area, eq area, transport, etc) to have a number of banks, stored in memory, that send a different set of messages depending on which bank you're in. I want the banks to be progammable, and stored in memory. This way, YOU get to define what and how the controller sends info.

    2) A hi-end midi enabled mixer surface with a built in sound card that takes digital input via the card but sums it in the analog domain.
    MacBook 2.4GHz, 6GB, Traktor Pro, Ableton Live, Bomes MT, Audio Kontrol 1, Vestax VCI-100 SE Custom, M-Audio Axiom 25, Akai APC40, NI Maschine, 2x Midi Fighters (c/o DJ TechTools - Thanks!!)

    Mixcloud DJ Sets

  2. #2
    DJTT Dominator JesC's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    127.0.0.1
    Posts
    5,611

    Default

    i feel you...I a vci100, xl, nano pad/kontrol, axiom 25 and so on. I went back to the basics, 2 cdjs 800 + dvs + ddm400 and im a happy camper
    Controllerist: Think different | SoundCloud | MixCloud | Twitter |

  3. #3
    Tech Guru Str8upDrew's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    1,158

    Default

    I pretty much stick with a controls per dollar model. As in how many buttons and knobs am i getting for my buck. So naturally i had to get a launchpad, and a nanokontrol when those first came out.

    And i really would like to see your second idea come to fruition. As much as i love midi, nothing really sounds as good as "high quality" analog summing.

  4. #4
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    2,597

    Default

    totally feel this.

    some cool gear coming out sure, but worth another 1000$ investment... ahhh not quite imo.

  5. #5
    Tech Guru BradCee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Amazingstoke, UK
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    totally agree to, was all fired up about wanting an S4, but i'm happy with my vci100/dicer combo. no need to remap anything right now. until the Tpro sampler deck update comes out, then it's just a few simple tweaks to the mapping

    Win 7 / 2x Reloop Contour / Numark M6 /Traktor Pro 2.5
    SoundCloud

  6. #6
    Dr. Bento BentoSan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    6,383

    Default

    I do all my own totally custom midi maps and for me the two biggest contributing factors in my purchase are 2 things

    1) Build Quality
    2) Controller layout

    Both of these are huge factors, i cant have one without the other.

  7. #7

    Default

    ^^ totally agree

    for me its build quality, layout, and having enough controls, and at the same time not having too many controls

  8. #8
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    2,015

    Default

    build quality/feel of controlls; enough controls; soundcard, hi-res or HID jogs that you can scartch on.

    Now having that thru an analog mixer would be awesome. I think the S4 came very close. With these new controllers coming out, the S4 is really looking like an awesome deal for everything it offers. I don't there will ever be a controller that satisfies EVERYONES needs. So somwhere along the line you're gonna have to sacrifice a bit. Whether it's one less button or the need to add an extra controller. I personally prefer things as simple as possible.
    SSL - DJM 800 - Technic 1200's - X1 - ITCH - NS6 - VCI-300

  9. #9
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    West Coast, United States
    Posts
    631

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Str8upDrew View Post
    I pretty much stick with a controls per dollar model.
    Yeah, I'm right there with ya on that. Add Bento's build quality and layout, and that's pretty much what I look at in a purchase. There's definitely no "one size fits all", but damn if I'm not tired of all the vci-100 clones, and the DB4? What is that? I really like the S4, the efforts of Livid Instruments, and I think the VSM4 was a shot in the right direction. Strange as it seems though, I can't live without my APC40 now, just can't beat that many controls and leds. And $300 US? That's what I'm talkin about.
    MacBook 2.4GHz, 6GB, Traktor Pro, Ableton Live, Bomes MT, Audio Kontrol 1, Vestax VCI-100 SE Custom, M-Audio Axiom 25, Akai APC40, NI Maschine, 2x Midi Fighters (c/o DJ TechTools - Thanks!!)

    Mixcloud DJ Sets

  10. #10
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    327

    Default

    You should look at the BCR/BCF controllers and that shiny new Xone mixer.

    That, or the Xone 3D or 4D
    I'm not good at things, but I like to pretend I am.
    :Project-Segfault:

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •