So im wondering for a 2 deck simple controllerism setup something like the Kontrol X1 and Audio 2 + Mixer would work fine right? something cheap to get my feet wet in controllerism before i chuck a good £1k at it
But thing is im a pretty large guy (6ft 2") so everything else is equally as large including my hands and fingers and watching the reviews alot of people comment on the size of the buttons
Now im looking at the Korg Nano series it never really struck me to begin with but i could get all 3 (Pad,Kontrol,Key) and still have money left over for something else from just a weeks pay and not effect finances…
I could use the larger buttons on the Key for transport Decks A + B
The Nano Kontrol for Effects Deck A + B
And Nano Pad for Cue points Deck A + B
It just seems more sense £90 worth of controllers for a better layout over a £150 controller premapped and small buttons
Would you agree or does someone have a better suggestion for me?
go for the x1, it’s tank built (nano’s don’t like heavy hands), buttons have a better feel (pads in the kontrol series suck) and you get led feedback that responds to what is happening in the software. if you don’t like the original mapping you can always edit it to fit your needs. watch the 7 Sonic Academy videos to fully understand the mapping. (click on the video title to watch the rest)
you do have more controls to map if you buy the nano series, IMO opinion it reduces to a) more control vs b) intelligent control and durability.
Personally, I Got an x1 when facing this decision. the thing is made for traktor down to the very last detail and its rock solid.
if you have to go the low cost route, get the akai lpd 8 instead of the korg nano pad. its built much better and costs about the same
yeah the nano’s have pretty bad build quality, i got a nanokontrol for alongside traktor scratch for effects and cue points (no mad cue point juggling obviously) and im definately gonna upgrade to an x1 at some point, nano’s just arnt built well enough and dont have enough functionality for a club enviroment.
wow thanks for that, those videos is really good. Iv looked into x1’s loads but those videos showed me loads of stuff i didnt know about it. I knew the mapping was well laid out but holy shit, im DEFINATELY getting one now.
X1 would seem to be the rational choice… Although I personally would vouch against it. The buttons are too small for my big 'ol magician hands (good for hiding things and bumping the wrong button), the knobs where the highlight of the controller, and using the case as a stand felt weird. I would even use a Akai MPD 24, save up and get MidiFighters, or some other controller you could creatively map yourself before using an X1.
Everyone else seems to love the X1, I guess I’m the only guy who just didn’t like it around here.
lets be honest though, midifighters dont really have much functionality if you dont hot cue juggle like ean, if your just using it as a normal midi controller you may aswell have a cheap drum pad or something of the sort and save yourself some money.
I’d go for the kontrol x1 too. I have both actually, but I would never consider using the nano units for serious djing. I just like to have them on the side as a plaything and when i temporary need buttons/sliders/knobs to work out an idea. Then, after I finalized the idea I head over to the kontrol X1 and figure out how to project it on that one.
A MPD would be nice. You can pick one of those up for the price of an X1. Adds faders and size for about the same price if you get the MPD24… If your going the BeatPad route you might as well get a quality pad controller.
Even more expensive but bound to give me what im after
Apc 20 + Midi controller + Apc20 → Usb to
Laptop → Audio 2 → Headphones + Main out
Use each apc20 for 2 decks each and 2 banks of advanced effects with channel volume controls then use all the buttons sections for transport, hot cues, fx1-4, all that stuff full set for each deck no compromize on space
Then the middle midi control for 4 deck eq (assuming i find the right controller possibly make one) as a internal mixer instead of spending cash on an audio 8 and all singing all dancing 4 channel mixer that i only want for eq
Its not the most expensive setup and having 2 x apc 20 is probebly overkill you could argue i could use a shift function for decks C-D but i want all my buttons infront of me
You couldn’t bring all that in a club and do the gig without having issues. If I’m correct apc’s need a power chord too, whoch would be a bitch to hook up. Functionality of the setup would be sick though.
How come? Is it because there two of the same controllers?
Its not truelly planned for a club anyway atleast not yet… i would need to work on some redundancy issues with my laptop and such before i attempted the clubs
As you say functionality would be sick just an endless amount of control on traktor is what im after
The 1d looks great but still not enough controls i could live with a little bit of button mashing to switch controls but i would much prefer a full array infront of me no mashing
As for power i was thinking of making my own flightcase for them one on each side with the mixer controls centre like normal with possibly somewhere underneith for the audio 2 and a powerstrip with surge protection etc
The same way i plan to lug around my turntables and mixer… in a flight case
The apc20’s are alot smaller and as i said above its not planned for the clubs yet not until i work out redundancy issues with the laptops and pc i use and make sure my mapping is efficient and not to confusing with all the buttons(can’t have me dropping or BSOD during a set)
The apc is just short of 30cm wide so 60cm wide + 20cm max for mixer controls + a laptop to the side or if necessary on a stand infront of it is hardly taking up alot of room …
Wait… How much control do you want? The less you have mapped the more you can do quickly. I’d take a lauchpad and a nanokontrol before I’d go to apc’s (no power chords, light weight, slimmer and can be transported in a soft bag. Even better, use Katapult and you could only use a launchpad.
Less is more, you want to be able to use all functionality quickly and easily.
Edit: My xone 2d is fair for 2 decks, combined with a Midifighters it’s overkill (a bit, not a whole lot though). I feel as if a apc 20 would be good, but a slight overkill. If you don’t mind the overkill go for it, but be ready to have a few to many buttons to press and remember what they do.
i had nano kontrol for a week and the faders started messing up sending shitty signals, took it back and swapped for a nanopad the same week ean bought out the we will rock you video and was all excited about this, after 2 weeks the top row of pads all tiggerd there own pad and pad number 4 and 5 and messed up, go for the x1 the korg are shit!!
Yeh im past the nano now i read some reviews about it and they say similiar things
Rethinking once again i think 2 x APC20 would be enough because i could use buttons as faders one button up one button down then some kills, not the most efficient setup but keeps it a little more simple
so Apc20 x 2 → Laptop → Audio 2 → headphones/Main out
Each APC20 mapped for two decks + Mixer controls
Transport, 8 cues, Loops, Effects, EQ H/M/L + Kills and more
