If you were starting out today…
If you were a new DJ who was starting in the world of digital DJing today, where would you spend your money? Certainly there are more choices today then there were 3 years ago and the one that has really got me thinking is the Kontrol S4.
Would you pick up the Kontrol S4, VCI-100SE +MIDI Fighter+Sound card, or some other combination of tools? Why?
I chose ‘other’ as I think it is still probably best to learn on basic equipment and understand the fundamentals of music, mixing, and equalizing.
Take the MIDI-Fighter out the second option and I might actually vote
@lethal_pizzle, so you would pick up the VCI but not the MIDI Fighter…would you use another tool to gain access to the additional hot cues? I’m also thinking about tools you would use with the pending release of a version of Traktor with sample decks.
As a starter, I’d want something that I could beatmatch on but wouldn’t cost the earth, so a VCI and a soundcard would be ideal. I’d worry about sample players etc later
I said the S4 simply because its an all in one package, that can also be added to later. I mean a few years down the line, you could add some cdj’s and you have an epic 4 deck traktor setup. If you go for the VCI you have to think about software upgrades and different sound cards if you want to expand your setup.
Thing about the the S4:
$$$
You can’t buy it
The S4 looks suitable for anyone willing to learn classic mixing as well. I will say that I’d probably save for the DJTT kit, though. I was a classic ADHD case as a teenager.
I think it’s difficult, because everyone’s situation and work-flow is different. You’re comparing a 2 and 4 channel controller, which are designed for similar but not the same purpose.
I think alot comes down to budget and what style of music you play. I love my VCI-300 and got it off a forum member hardly used for 350.00. I enjoy playing open format and for 350.00 getting a controller I can scratch on, sound card and software was a sweet deal. Having said that I think the all-in-one package of the S4 at 899.00 is also a sweet deal. If I didn’t have 899.00 to spend and was mostly an EDM DJ i would look for a VCI-100 and sound card.
+1
I think though… as most people will not really build up a vinyl collection, turntables are a thing of the past.
I think the cheapest walmart usb midi controller for the price range would be something to use and eventually figure out what parts you want/need.
Alot of the choices in the poll are semi advanced in terms of someone just starting out.
in 2003 or someyear around there.. I tried traktor out already being a vinyl/cd dj and I was impressed and so forth… but mouse mixing and spending the time to figure it out was too much… too many options. I didnt have a huge mp3 collection either. Sometimes the simplest interface will let someone get right into it and have all good experiences and not be cumbersome to learning the whole feature list. Long time users of Traktor will just eat up new features .
Although the vci 100 is a good middle ground. Midi fighter isnt really needed imho as this is just for djhero mixing style( not a ref to xbox game) more the timing to the beat. Same as using a hardware sampler
iPAD + external audio interface with 4 stereo outs (maybe M-Audio Profire 610)
^^ this will be your setup for gigs, it will allow you to change a lot of controlls because of the Touch OSC versatility
Latter you can add a controller that would allow you to have a tactile feel for some commands, if you need to. A cheap one for faders, tiny buttons and small faders is the korgNanoKontrol (I have two of them, US$59 each). Another option if you are really a beat juggler is to use the Midifighter…
You need to buy a cheap 4 channel External Analog or Hybrid 4channel mixer for practice at home, I recommend the Behringer DDM4000. You can mid map it, or use it analog as you would at a gig.
korgNanoKontrol all way up! I bought two of them 3 months ago, before it I had a M-Audio v2 25keyboard, I’m loving it, it’s perfect for the price.
I’m far away from my dream setup, but I can do all the basic and some advanced psytrance/electrohouse mixing techniques
That is more what I’m looking for. The question is how would your setup be different now than it was when you started.
This would be my starter build:
mixing at bedroom
Macbook
Macbook+DDM4000 (mid mapped)
Macbook+DDM4000 (mid mapped)+korgNanoKontrol
mixing at gigs (4 deck external mixing, keep your DDM4000 at home, use the club’s mixer)
Macbook+korgNanoKontrol+MAudio Profire 610
Macbook+korgNanoKontrol+MAudio Profire 610+iPAD
CDJ350’s. None of the small venues that or a beginner DJ would use have CDJ900’s or 2000’s, so that whole “1 USB cable to Serato” stuff is much of an argument. If you want to lug around your gear, more power to you, but it just doesn’t seem worth it to me. Everyone else is getting by fine w/ CDJs. Maybe it’s that Japanese mentality of sticking out is bad…
as a new dj, s4
for me, it’s vci-100/nanokontrol/firebox with the label plates taken off the vci-100 and a custom mapping for everything.
With what I know now If i were starting out today i would select the APC 40, Ableton 8 and a profire 610 for starters. Take a few classes in ableton learn how to dj and use the software to its potential. Then WHEN YOU CAN FINALLY RIP THROUGH A MIX hopefully the Bridge will come out AND YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!Can learn to mix with time code vinyl too. Jog wheels just dont do it for me. Also later you can use an external mixer as well. Whatever you do dont limit yourself by choosing an all in 1 dj in a box solution unless you can afford a back up.
As someone who is just starting I would say to use
Traktor pro
2xmidi fighters
Audio 2 Dj
and a X Session mixer (or any mixer really)
This way if djing is not really your thing you could still use the midifighters for other software because they are just buttons basically. But yeah, thats my set up and it is on its way now. its my first one as well and im pretty excited!
The S4 is cool and all, but it is lacking the superior mapping, choice of sound-card, and customizability. My vote’s on the VCI-100 100%