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:
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
but are they vci-100 clones? didn’t anyone else have a controller with jogs out first? when you think about it, it’s not so much a clone as just fairly straightforward and standard layout, mixer controls, jog wheels, pitch fader. just typical emulation of a traditional set-up. yeah the vci was the first to be taken seriously and a few other companies may have stepped their game up, but it’s either that layout or something like an apc with lots of buttons and faders.
it’s like saying that all tt’s are 1210 clones, or all cdjs are 1000 clones (ok a lot are very similar so not best example - but you i think you get my point)
what kills me about the VCI-100 “clones” is they come set up for traktor — but they are all missing a button or a knob they should have. Reloop is coming out with a new controller this weekend called Mixage and man it looks pretty good for a “standard” type mixer, eq, jog, pitch set up. But for traktor it’s missing 1-2 knobs. I think you could consider them VCI “clones” because they are aiming to work as well as the VCI does with TP.
I think that might just be a list of the kind of clone controllers Zac is talking about (despite them all being quite old now).
The thing with these “VCI” clones is they are made to sell units.
The VCI has sold really well but if company can cobble one together for half the price they may think they can sell lots of them.
I dont know whether the VCI 100 was a stroke of semi-genius or just a happy coincednce that it works really well with Traktor.
Most of these clones that are "made for Traktor’ are far from it.
The only Kontroller that gives a totally natural feel over Traktor is the KS4 which is obviously made for the job and it does the job a lot better than even the VCI depending on the usage case (not talking about arcade routines).
Other than that its what guys on here are doing to adapt controller that have more flexibilty of simply just a lot of buttons and knobs that is more exciting that some VCI clone.
Im quite glad that im not coming into Digital DJing right now because the choice of controllers is bewilldering. Its easy to use an experienced eye, some of us guys can spot a mistake a mile off.
I imagine that this forum is gonna get pretty busy around Xmas with guys asking “why is the VCI100se Acrade Edition $800 when the Casio T4 controller is FREE with 10 packs of Corn Flakes, they look similar”
The most important thing to consider is what type of motor is in your kit, brushed or brushless. There are hub-motor bike conversion kits in both types. A brushless motor kit will not work with a brush-type controller and vice versa.
I don’t really care how many of the same two-jog/pitch fader/mixer/effects controllers there are out there as long as:
DVS is still around
EKS continues updating and refining the Otus series
Just as a reminder of how far DJ controllers have come, I tried to map my old KDJ500 last night for effects and deck C/D control in Traktor, and what a convoluted facking nightmare that was. External software, virtual midi cables, input/output conflicts, low quality faders, knobs, and encoders… it’s good to have what we have today, kids.
lol 