I have 400€ to spend on a controller. Can you help deciding what's better?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

I have 400€ to spend on a controller. Can you help deciding what’s better?

Hello, guys.

I wanna ditch my first controller (a Hercules DJ Instinct - I want to get something that doesn’t look like a toy) and buy something that I practise and do some gigs with.

I’ve been looking at the NI S2 MKII, but I keep reading these negative reviews regarding freezes and its overall quality. I use traktor, so it seemed perfect, but I want be sure I’m getting a good controller overall. What do you recommend?

Just FYI, I have an Akai APC20 that I plan to use together with the controller to control the remix decks on Traktor (this is the software I use).

Thanks in advance!

2

http://www.thomann.de/fr/allenheath_xone_k1.htm
http://www.thomann.de/fr/allenheath_xone_k2.htm
:wink:

3

LOVE this thing, but beware, no audio interface included

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2014/08/faderfox-dj44-midi-controller/

4

If I was you, I’d buy:

Zomo MC-1000 (incl. 4 channel audio interface) MUSIC STORE (formerly DV247) - Order musical instruments | United Kingdom, and;
Behringer NOX 606 MUSIC STORE (formerly DV247) - Order musical instruments | United Kingdom

Under budget (!) and you’ll have a GREAT 4-channel set-up that would be complimented by your APC.

Use the leftover money to buy a stand for the Zomo:

http://www.zomo.de/en/Products/MIDI-Controller

5

Thanks, guys, many good ideas in here.

But I find myself using the jogwheels to find cue points (on-the-fly) on my Hercules. Won’t I miss that? How do you guys do it?

6

APC40 has remix decks covered so I’d wait & check this out - Denon MC controllers excellent - I know it’s Serato but it would be fun to map to Traktor & the soundcard will be top quality:

https://www.decks.co.uk/products/dj-controllers/denon/mc4000-dj-controller

7

To be honest, that Denon looks boss. What’s the quality on these?

8

Just go for this one. Looks professional, and has the best jogwheels I have thusfar been able to find on a controller for this pricerange.

9

The stock mapping on the Zomo has “Seek” mapped to one of the endleess encoders. (I think it’s Shift+Loop Encoder).

You’ll manage just fine.

10

You guys have any opinions regarding this Pioneer?
http://www.thomann.de/pt/pioneer_ddj_sb_l_b_stock.htm

The thing I dislike the most about it is its lack of FX knobs, and I reda a few reviews that mention poor build quality. What do you think about it?

Regarding the FX, I have a Korg MiniKontroler that I can use for it.