Future controller and USB 3.0/thunderbolt

[sdrthedj]

Looking for thoughts and input on if you believe that controller's will move to USB 3.0 in the next year? Thunderbolt?

[SirReal]

Yes.

[ksandvik]

Thunderbolt is overkill for controllers, USB 2.0 works fine. The only need someone will have for Thunderbolt is fast I/O for drives and audio streams, for example for recording 16 tracks at the same time. That and less cables as you just fire Thunderbolt monitors, drives and audio interfaces in the studio.

[StephanV]

The biggest advantage imo of USB3 for DJ use is the increased power specification, going from 500mA in USB2 to 900mA in USB3. This might just be the difference between needing a powered usb hub or not, or a power adapter for your controller or not.

[fullenglishpint]

Thunderbolt is overkill for controllers, USB 2.0 works fine. The only need someone will have for Thunderbolt is fast I/O for drives and audio streams, for example for recording 16 tracks at the same time. That and less cables as you just fire Thunderbolt monitors, drives and audio interfaces in the studio.

I respectfully disagree. Now that CDJs have scrolling waveforms, people might start asking for a waveform displays on the controller itself. It makes sense, people go on and on about not having to touch your laptop, with waveforms on the controller you wouldn't even need to look at it either. I think a workflow in which the laptop is purely for browsing and everything else is on the controller could be cool, and that would only be achievable with TB or USB3.

[Lilac]

I respectfully disagree. Now that CDJs have scrolling waveforms, people might start asking for a waveform displays on the controller itself. It makes sense, people go on and on about not having to touch your laptop, with waveforms on the controller you wouldn't even need to look at it either. I think a workflow in which the laptop is purely for browsing and everything else is on the controller could be cool, and that would only be achievable with TB or USB3.

This. I would love to have scrolling waveforms on a controller

[fullenglishpint]

Although thinking about it, that begs the question of why the laptop is there at all. This could be achieved with a better implemented Stanton SCS4 type solution and some library organisation software like rekordbox to arrange everything on an external hard drive. It all comes down to what you can build at a reasonable price, and by reasonable I mean significantly less expensive than a full Pioneer setup.

[Lilac]

You need a laptop. How else can you watch porn between mixes? =P

[Louie_V]

i don't quite think that the controllers will be moving to USB3 this year, Next year may be a bit to early (winter namm) but i think by 2014 when USB3 has all its kinks worked out and is finally standard (and 2.0 is dead) then i think manufactures will be pushed to use USB3.

As for thunderbolt, while i would love a A10 DJ or my 900Nexus to have a TB connection, TB is still really not as popular. sure its on most new macs, but its not something that many pc's have and it is still very expensive.

[Cyribro]

I think I would rather have my controller working with USB 2.0 or firewire and use a TB EXHDD to store all my music... Shit I think that feature alone would be amazing. I'd just have my laptop off on the side somewhere with the lid closed (and using something like InsomiaX to keep it awake while closed) and just play off my CDJs or controllers with a wave form on it.


I will say however that I wish Pioneer would've went with a wave phase meter closer to Traktor rather than Virtual DJ. I seriously dislike the little bar thinggy at the top, though I still love the CDJs.

I'm honestly probably only going to use my laptop to have songs up i intend on scratching to, I like the way Traktor feels compared to Serato.