Hey Everyone, Your opinions on my first controller purchase

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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1

Hey Everyone, Your advice on what my first controller purchase should be

Hi,
I recently got into DJing last year, doing primarily electro/house/dancehall at small house parties/ friend’s concerts and i’ve been having a blast with it.

I’ve come to a crossroads where I need to get something, even if it’s just a soundcard to grant me the ability to preview tracks. I’m leaning towards buying a controller though, and the one I’ve seen with the build quality + price I like is the Hercules Rmx (If I had the cash to spend I’d get a VCI 100 or 300 but can’t justify spending that amount of money on this new hobby just yet).

I’d like some feedback regarding the Hercules Rmx as a first controller, or any similarly price alternatives, as well as the idea of just buying a soundcard and continuing to mix from laptop solely. For the record I’m not that interested in complex scratching but i’d like hardware I can grow into, so I draw upon your vast amount of knowledge, Rmx vs. Soundcard vs. Alternatives ?

2

imho, in that price range, i would go for an audio2dj soundcard ($100) and something like a numark mixtrack or total control, being that you would get the same amount of buttons and the same feel of djing but you will be set with better sound quality the bundle would probably be cheaper than the hercules altogether. cheers! :sunglasses:

3

what are you using currently (computer, software, hardware)?

the spin is a great piece of kit if your on a mac for the price (cheaper than the typhoon which is the same thing – but for pc – built in soundcard-its decent- and midi mappable to traktor).

its what i started on, then added an x1 and i could do basically everything i wanted.

got the s4 on sale/ wanted the new tpro2 upgrade fo free anyways. and if your serious? why not go big or go home?

4

Thanks for the input.
I forgot to mention I use Traktor on a Lenovo Laptop.

Based on your input, I may just get a soundcard for now, and then save a lil and get a VCI 100.

But, I’d still like some more feedback to weigh my options a lil more.

5

Buy the right gear once and be done with it. Most people go the cheap route to start with. Then they figure out the gear is crap. Then they buy gear in the mid range, all of a sudden the want more. Finally they buy the right gear and end up losing a lot of money from wasting it in the beginning.

6

^^^^^ truth.

7

Hahahaha, I understand this very well, being a guitarist who’s bought a lot of shit*y cheap guitars before ultimately buying a good piece of kit.

8

grab a used vci and a sound card. or buy used untill your comfortable enough buying expensive good gear.

thats what i did with my drumset. (i love my pearls :stuck_out_tongue:)

9

Nice, yeah I’m gonna grab a soundcard for now and then in a month or too grab a VCI - 100. I appreciate the input guys.

But now, here’s my new question, what’s a great soundcard under $200 USD?

10

a2dj is like $99 bucks. will do everything you need.

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I agree @Viirus
Other approach may be to choose a good mid priced controller with an included soundcard,
and when you feel the need of a better sound, then go for an external soundcard.
This was my choice when brought the Reloop Digital Jockey ME2 for 375€, a good value for the money choice (but i have to warn you that some people had problems with it and had bad experiences with the warranty and support). Im ok with it (and aware of the risks), but i recommend to you to look at the mid priced Vestax

12

@Rasti Datajay, I definitely will get the VCI-100 but I wanna get soundcard till then, I’m torn between the Mixvibes U-MIX44, the Audio 2 and the Reloop Play…

I’m really torn between all of them, and would get the U-Mix44 but i’m wavering between the three. I want something that i’ll never have to replace (i.e. for better sound quality), so If i should just buy something else for the VCI-100 i’d like that input from you guys.

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if you got the vci 100 youd need the a2dj to run it and cue at the same time.

its not an if/or situation. its and which one/and situation if your followin me here.

14

@Djnesquigs . No, I get that, I’m just trying to find the best value in soundcard, something i’ll use in the meantime with only my laptop to preview tracks and then later with the VCI when I get it.

15

Your in the right track by choosing the VCI100

I have to confess that ive started with an Hercules Mp3 Dj with Virtual Dj Bundled (it sells used on ebay for 45€), and the preview headphones routed throuh a crappy 12€ usb soundcard. For the main output i used the laptop headphone 16 bit out, and i have to say that it WORKS:smiley: !!

So, for me if i will play mainly at bars its ok to use the included 16 bit soundcard on my controller.
BTW.. What is the point on have a 24 bit soundcard to play 16 bit encoded MP3s in a low end bar soundsustem:confused:??

16

HAHAHHA, Very good point my friend.

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Jokes apart, at the end you will need a good 24 bit, balanced output and good noise/signal ratio to work.
Maybe you can get the soundcard of your dreams and the crappy Hercules Mp3 Dj by 45 bucks that is way better than nothing (or than the pc keyboard),
And give it to a children (Definitely looks like a toy) when you buy the Vestax !!

UPDATE
Surprisingly the Hercules Mp3 Dj have the same jog wheels than the Allen & Heat XONE 4D :eek:

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Thanks for the input guys, gonna order the Audio 2 DJ and then get the Vestax VCI-100.

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It’s amazing how many of our discussions on DJTT end this way :smiley:

That or ‘buy an S4’.

We’re so original.

20

If you’re gonna get a vci-100 then get a VCI - 100SE from here.

http://store.djtechtools.com/products/vci-100se

The mapping and overlay are amazing and the FW 1.4 upgrade that has been done to the units makes a massive massive difference :slight_smile: