midi controller vs 2 cdj and mixer for a begginer

[dolke]

I have one really basic question for you guys.

My budget is quite limited, and I really don't know what to buy.
I never had any piece of Dj equipment before, but I did some mixing on some devices that I borrowed from a friend.

I was considering midi controller from NativeInstruments. In combination with Tractor software can that be solution for me, begging Dj, small town music lover ?

Ty all in advance
Dolke, Serbia

[dfinch805]

How limited is your budget? And what do you plan to do with your gear?

[dolke]

How limited is your budget? And what do you plan to do with your gear?

Hi.

Ty for taking interest in my topic here... I left some details covered and some things unsaid as I wanted to do the during the discussion.

Well, I will use my gear mostly at home but as I progress I will probably make a few gigs at my friends caffe, for close friends, so just small parties.

Im not setting some straight line when it comes to budged, but lets say that It is less than 1000 euros.
Let me just add that I already have decent laptop, notting fancy really but let us say some middle-class machine.

[Saurus]

If you're on a budget, controllers are the way to go. You get more relative quality for your money with controllers than you do with CDJs.

Best you could do is a pair of used 400's or something.

You'd be best served by buying a NON-native instruments controller, and downloading the stock mapping from the manufacturer. If you don't have the means/desire to get traktor without buying it, then buy an Audio 2 DJ from NI, which comes with a license, and get cheap modular controllers.
These both come out next month.

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/CMD-PL-1.aspx
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/CMD-MM-1.aspx

two PL-1 deck controllers and a MM-1 mixer is $450 plus $100 for the Audio 2 DJ/license is $550. And you get a platform MUCH better than an S4, and $300 cheaper.

(there's also the S2 for $50 cheaper, but VASTLY inferior)

[dolke]

Tnx for the advises and suggestions mate.

So you think S2 or S4 from NI would be waist of money comparing with these behringer setup?ractor
What about sync? On the NI showcase videos I saw that one of the best advantages of their S systems is that they are totally in sync with the Tractor software...

[Saurus]

you mean what they call "superior integration", but it's complete bullshit. It's actually just a locked down HID system that you can't remap or customize. Only benefit to it is that you don't have to spend 10 seconds installing a mapping. It's all marketing crap.

Every other controller made by anyone else allows you to remap and customize. Also doesn't need drivers that break every single time they come out with an update.

You'd be better off with any controller besides NI ones, I'm just suggesting the behringer ones lately because they are the best deal I think I've ever seen in DJ gear.

[dolke]

I see.

But can you tell me when it comes to quality of manufacturing, many people here told me to stay away of Behringer. I really dont know why is that, are they inferior by design or just lack some finalization (finishing)?

Ty

[photojojo]

S4 or S2 is in no way a waste of money. In fact I would recommend an S4 or S2 to a beginner over anything else because they don't have to worry about mapping anything, just plug it in and go. They don't have to worry about sound cards or setting up the routing correctly in preferences. Sure you can do all this and probably save a little money with other stuff, but they get a better 1 to 1 control with less hassle than anything else out there when going the S4 or S2 route.

[fullenglishpint]

If you're worried about stability you might want to look at the serato ITCH controllers. They're also premapped and in my opinion the software is very good. You can't customise the mapping yourself though, which is annoying. I'd say you could do a lot worse than get a vestax VCI-380.

[dolke]

Here is the truth guys.

Im quite familiar with the tech, I study automatics and system control, also I think I'm quite skilled with the pc but have no idea about mapping, and all other stuff regarding digital music. So in other words, I want something to learn. I'm not sure if I want to do it by mapping from scratch and so on... I think I would rather like to have something that is working great by default and just to improve my skills playing the music. Im sure that one day ill figure that mapping is the thing I would like to learn and maybe switch to some more complex stuff...

I think my favorite for now are NI S2 and S4 but I'm still open for any suggestion and personal ex of you guys...
As I said, I'm total noob when it comes to djing but at the same time quite skilled with computers, cabling, electronics...

Tnx