Hello! this is my first post here. I have thus far been reluctant to post because its quite intimidating entering the world of the DJ but I am making the leap in hopes of finding the perfect travelling set up. I am a small person (under 100lbs). I travel and use Traktor software for my work (dance facilitator, I have never played music in a night club and don’t expect I ever will) and I would really like to find the perfect set up. Currently I use a S2 at home to compose soundscapes which I use at events and generally just to arrange and store my music. Thus far I often use the faders, the tempo controller, the EQ, and the browser. I also use the precuing function a lot. I occasionally use the crossfader, sync, looping (super simple, generally to extend an ambient track for an exercise or for meditation) and add the occasional extra cue point. I have never used any FX, I have never once used a jog wheel.
The simplest set up I use in my classes is to run my computer through a NI Audio1 for good sound quality and the ability to pre cue, everything else I do on my screen. This is in situations where I am mostly just hitting play on an already recorded soundscape or running a class where I am starting and stopping the music often and transitions really don’t matter. For actual DJ work I take along my S2(again I do not work in night clubs. I play at ecstatic dances, teach conscious dance classes, dj parties, weddings, festivals etc) but it is just too big and heavy once I include the case, cords etc SO I recently purchased a Z1 and X1 (second hand older model) from Native Instruments to be able to travel and not lug my S2 around (plus I like just leaving it set up at home). I am really little and lugging gear is a PIA especially given I’m lugging around jog wheels that I have never once touched. I thought I had it all figured out but the Z1 for some reason has a far lower sound quality than my Audio1 and the work flow of the X1 Z1 combo is terrible, lacks symmetry and the tempo controller is TERRIBLE … lacks finesse, super clunky. SO… given all this I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion? I would REALLY like this controller to have a high quality soundcard so I don’t have to toggle it to my Audio1 but I am willing to give this up this desire since it is a tiny piece of gear. I think mostly what I want is a controller without jog wheels
If the Z1 and X1 had a baby, this would be pretty much it. you get a 2 channel mixer and tempo faders in one.. it’s originally a Serato controller but there is full mappings for Traktor.
You’ll still need something to take care of the rest of your needs, you can buy any small controller like the F1 and just map it’s faders to tempo etc…
Akai have also made the AFX which would be amazing along side the AMX and has a touch strip for changing the tempo, with those 2 controllers you an amazing level of integration.
They both obviously work better with Serato, and they come with a licence… but they’ll work with Traktor just fine if you would rather stick with that.
Thank you, all three of you, I am off to investigate these options. I have been very reluctant to remap anything, feels like a big learning curve but I am seeing that I must tackle this if I want to have the workflow I am after. Right now the fader fox seems the best option as I already own the Audio2 sound card and I can see from the picture that it has all I need except I still can’t figure out how to control tempo on it… I have already thought I could remap the 3rd and 4th volume slider to tempo since I rarely use more than 2 decks… thanks again!
look for a zomo mc-10000 … all your deck controls are included and a very nice soundcard on top of that. you can use it with your z1 for your faders and crossfaders or any other analog mixer you like.
If you don’t want a jogwheel and you want to be super light, I would suggest a Numark orbit. Around $30-$40.
It took a minute for the scripts but if I need the fx whether it be to drop the pitch, reverb, reverse, overloop, beatgrid. Then it’s all on one side of the controller.
If I want to cue, there are 8 pads on the other side to choose from. Not to mention the other 3 of 4 banks where I could do something (Ie. Loops, samples, and drum).
Badumdum.
would the X1Mk2 not be a great, easy, natively supported fix for the main issue of tempo control here? Tempo is controllable via the encoders, and the Z1 should have the same exact sound quality as the Audio2 interface (since the Z1 is basically an Audio 2 with some knobs and faders).
Experience with NI shows otherwise (only the first version of Audio 2 has hi-quality Cirrus Logic D/A converters) mind you But, to be fair, I have seen no Z1 review that stated the sound was bad or has low otput.
But, to be fair, I have seen no Z1 review that stated the sound was bad or has low otput.