I’ve finally saved enough to get some shiny dj stuff instead of just using the computer. My big dilemna is should I do a vci-400 or s4 or s2+maschine. I really like the idea of the maschine and being able to do lots of things on the fly. I have used controllers and mixers before so I’m not a total complete beginner but mostly just in bar scenes so nothing to crazy was involved. In traktor with an S2, does the maschine act like a third deck when using the sample deck? I know I should buy just one thing at a time and use it until you master it but I’m looking to the future to see what can be done where I’m the limiting factor, not the equipment.
Between the S4 and VCI-400, I would pick the VCI-400. It is smaller, has better build quality, and comes with a cooler DJTT mapping, in my opinion.
As for the Maschine, you need to think about what you want to do with it. If you just want to use it as a generic midi controller, there are cheaper alternatives with the same 4x4 pad layout and knobs/faders (like Akai MPDs). If you think you’ll want to get into producing music, however, then the Maschine is great because it comes with software and can serve as a production tool in addition to being a performance tool.
Maschine has nothing to do with Traktor. You need to actually go watch the videos on Maschine on NI’s site and see what it is and what it is not.
You can get it to follow Traktor’s tempo (if your beat grids are perfect) and make the audio work, but it has literally nothing to do with Traktor’s sample decks or remix decks. Period. It’s a completely different product.
Using it like I think you’re envisioning is essentially paying $600 for a slightly better built PadKontrol or Trigger Finger.
But I remember hearing something about the Twitch not being updated to the new Serato software? Or something like that, which was making it look less & less good.
How do you like it. I have a man crush connection with my VCI-300 as a small/portable set up. 2 decks and a mixer, great platter…but an even smaller Twitch looks pretty neat. Especially at 260 bucks. Just not sure how much I’d enjoy no jogwheels? Tried to get into that once using traktor and X1’s and never really enjoyed it. Especially for an open format type gig.
260 is just hard to pass up on for fun looking piece of gear.
The touch strip is alright on twitch. Make up for lack of jog… Almost feels like the edge of a jog when you nudge it to get it in phase etc. that was just from playing around with one in a shop. Only thing is it felt a little cheap to me. But at that price is defo worth it
I detest jog wheels personally…so for me it was perfect. And I f%^&king love it. I can get over the inability to scratch with the performance modes, they’re so fun to play with. There’s nothing like them loop rolls
That being said…I pray for the day my Twitch runs seratoDJ - and seratoDJ has some kind of SSL plugin to run control vinyls.
Seriously though…gigged with mine loads. Not really a big deal.