Help please! (controller suggestions)

Help please! (controller suggestions)

Hello I want something that can do this:

  • I can just sit down and start tapping buttons and freestyle

  • I can like have a song playing and mix to it

  • I can like sit here and perform some freestyle or some beat that i’ve learned.

  • Be able to make music/beats

What suits me? Midi Fighter Spectra? Midi Fighter 3D? Maschine MK2?

Velocity sensitive pads like on Maschine or other controllers are the way to go for making beats.

I (personally) hate velocity sensitive pads! I’d go far the quick trigger and unique feel of the Midi Fighter!

Are you able to like, lets say you are djing on a party and you’r just standing there hitting some buttons but you can like talk to someone and stuff so you dont need to do stuff all the time is that possible on like the midi fighter and Maschine?

Sounds like you need something more traditional like a Mixtrack.

But lets say you’r listening to music and then you just hit some buttons sometimes while listening to the music, cant you do that on the midi fighter or the maschine?

The Mixtrack Pro 2 has pads similar to Maschine although they are not velocity sensitive.

The fact that you are asking these questions suggests you don’t have all that much experience, so a standard controller like the Mixtrack would probably suit your immediate needs better for mixing purposes.

Wow, that seemed like a really cool and fun product. I saw a video of a guy who was mixing with it but he tapped buttons like all the time.

But once again is it possible to just listen to music and hit some buttons sometimes on the mixtrack pro 2? and is it possible on the midi fighter?

Also found some other similar controllers :
Pioneer DDJ-WEGO-R
Pioneer DDJ-ERGO

For example, what do you know about those? Or should I stick with the mixtrack?
By the way thank you for suggesting the mixtrack, just what I wanted :slight_smile:

So that’s what that’s called.

Makar ---- you have patience man.

OP talk to Mdcdesign, he can help you out!!! :thumbsup:

The big question is, do you want to DJ or do you want to do live performances?

If it’s the former, then a Mixtrack is a good way to get started, as would be the CMD Studio 4A when it comes out.

If it’s the latter, then personally I’d recommend a second hand MPD (MPD16, MPD18, MPD24 or MPD26 - just find the cheapest one on eBay) hooked up to Ableton or Mad Zach’s Soundpack player, which will let you play samples live. Most of them have a “fixed velocity” mode as well which you can switch on/off if you find velocity control isn’t working for you.

You should be able to pick up a used MPD for less than £20, and you’ll be able to work out whether you enjoy using it before then making the decision to pick up something like a Maschine or MIDIFighter; both of which are considerably more expensive.

Well DJ because I will basically just mix a bit to freinds and maybe take it with me to freinds/parties.

I mean you can do live performances when you are DJ’ing right? But you mean making song and performing them live? Well I’ll Dj/Mix and perform to freinds :slight_smile:

But the mixtrack pro 2 felt like that’s just what I want.
But then I saw all these Pioneer controllers but you mdcdesign reccomended the Mixtrack so thatis what it is :slight_smile:

You can do live performances, yeah, but most people add a drumpad-style controller at a later date (Maschine, MPD, MPC, Korg padKontrol, MIDIfighter, etc) for the velocity-sensitive pads which let you actually “play” tracks live and improvise over the top of the track they’re playing off CD/controller. A perfect example of this is this:

He uses a Maschine, but it’s quite possible to do that on ANY 4x4 pad controller as he’s not using any sequencing, it’s all performed live.

But then if I also buy some drumpad-style controller, the velocity buttons on the mixtrack aren’t useful? And then I can buy some other like pioneer or should I still stick to the mixtrack? :slight_smile:

There’s an article on digitaldjtips that gives a very good overview of a pile of controllers. Take a look at that, and see if you can find what you want. Remember, DJing isn’t about hitting buttons, its about mixing tracks. If you just want to play a song and drop some fx over it, check out the traktor x1.

+1000 on makar’s willingfullness to help.

I know DJing is for mixing but if I also have some drumpad controller I can do both :slight_smile: But no one really answered my question.

You that recommended the Mixtrack Pro 2, isn’t this better : Pioneer DDJ-SX? though it costs more money.

Do you want to spend all this money on something you may use for like a month and then give up. If yes, go ahead. If no, think more about what you want to do and do some research, including the digitaldjtips article dripstep mentioned.

I will not stop with it, because it will be fun and I can always have it to mix a bit and mix to freinds. And if im starting to get serious with it I can take it to partys and stuff. I mean if I buy the mixtrack I will sell it after a while because I want something better, so isn’t it better to get the good stuff at the beginning :slight_smile: