Poll: Next purchase: Maschine Mikro, Midi Fighter or Kontrol F1?
My current set up includes a MacBook Pro 15", Traktor S4, Traktor Pro 2 and 2 vinyl decks. What would you buy next?
Maschine Mikro.
what do you need?
Either of three will work fine for what I need, Im really just looking for an extension to my S4. I started out on vinyl decks and prefer controllers way more, so I’m looking for a way to expand my digital dj’ing creativity with solely MIDI devices. The only factor that would put one ahead of all others is the fact that Maschine will also work well with my production work in Reason. Im really just interested in what the general consensus among the DJTT members is? If any.
I’m getting an F1, I think I am going to have a lot of fun with those remix decks.
Just get all three 
I have a MF Classic and a MF Pro Cue Master and love them both. The new MF 3D looks pretty nice too. The F1 also looks like an amazing controller and has some innovative features. I’ve considered a Maschine Mikro in the past as well. Tough choices for sure. I think I would probably go with the F1 myself.
Do you really need more than the S4 and two decks or are you just itching to buy new toys?
If you haven’t used the full potential of the S4, I’d save your money until you start to feel limited…
Sorry, what? Innovative features like…? I’m drawing a blank here.
Nothing. If you’re honestly comparing those 3 products, you have no idea what you want to use them for.
Well I have to disagree. I would use the Maschine for production work and an all MIDI dj set up, the MIDI Fighter Pro for samples, loops and effects along with an extension of control from the S4. Mostly I was just looking for opinons of which you guys would choose for your digital dj’ing showing peoples opinion between two proven well made products and a speculated upon new product to gain some insight on which one I should buy next, if I were/am buying one next.
I hardly use the two vinyl decks and stick with just the S4 and my MacBook. Im not necessarily saying I’m going to buy any one tomorrow. The thread was mostly for the sake of interest and conversation.
seriously all 3 of those things all have completely different purposes.
Anyone care to elaborate on how exactly they are completely different?
for you’re setup, maschine mikro. i want a midi fighter, though.
one is aimed at production
one is a box of high quality buttons
one appears to be designed for software that hasn’t actually been released yet
fairly different
Agreed.
The Maschine Mikro is a half-assed, budget version of Maschine, which is an awesome computer-based groove box. Unfortunately, most of its users seem to want it as basically a bigger M-Audio Trigger Finger. If you want to get into production, the full Maschine is a good way to go. The Mikro……I don’t think is worth buying at any price unless you already own a full Maschine and want something to leave in your laptop bag.
The MIDI Fighter is a bunch of buttons. Frankly, I can’t see it’s appeal…but I’m not a controllerist and never plan to be. Apparently, it has its uses. But it’s based on needing buttons for controlling DJ software. I suppose you could use it for anything, but any pad controller will work better in a production context……
And the F1 is a very specific controller for the upcoming remix decks, which is kinda like a really shitty version of Ableton shorehorned into Traktor for some reason.
So…your question is “which of these 3 silver medals designed as cheap copies of good products that were designed for different purposes do I want to buy? I’m not going to tell you what I want to use them for or what I’m trying to do…I just want to know how to waste money.”
sup bro i also have an s4 and 2 vinyl decks, and been wondering the same, but my mind is set on the f1s they look just so sick cant wait to add 2 of those to my set 
and i dont really care what its preset to do ima do my own thing with it, aint that what controllerism is all about , i mean i could go for the micro but f1 just got the looks
Ok I don’t know why everyone seems to be hating on you, but let me try to help. So it seems to be that you are looking for a pad controller to launch samples (Which you could do on you’re s4) and maybe some other functions like trigger instant effects or cue points for your vinyl decks if you are using timecode correct? If this is the case then I think you should rule out the mikro immediately. You are paying a lot extra for the maschine program essentially, and unless you have a production background or focus, it would be honestly a waste of money. You would be better off with any akai MPD instead of a mikro imo. That said I would lean towards a f1 since we all know how well native instruments integrates their hardware, and that would be perfect to control the new sample decks in 2.5, and would take little to no effort to map. IMO the midi fighter is a little gimmicky for what you get. Sure the buttons are high quality, but you can do the exact same thing with any 16 pads.
I worked it out buying second hand and try being smart doing business so I know I can get significant sum of money back easy, this way I can change stuff around me often, which gives me like a kick of happiness, although the lesser money involved in the trade the lesser joyrush..I would use the Maschine for production work and an all MIDI dj set up, the MIDI Fighter Pro for samples, loops and effects along with an extension of control from the S4.
Do you integrate the 2x Vinyl tables with the S4? (Do you use control vinyls?). If not I would suggest the scratch upgrade for the S4 so you can use control vinyls and get scratching (Alot of practice required though).
If your looking for something to compliment the S4, I would suggest first experimenting with various custom .TSI mapping files for the S4. I was totally sold on using a Midifighter side by side with my S4. So I bought it, played with it for a bit, then discovered Ean’s custom S4 mapping and haven’t touched my Midifighter since.
Honestly the S4 has so many buttons/knobs that you don’t really need anything to compliment it, just start messing with custom mappings and take advantage of all it’s possibilities. I much prefer using the jog wheels in midi-mode to do my effect chains rather than a MF.
Now if your looking to get into production, don’t bother with the Maschine Micro, it’s a watered down version of the Maschine and is difficult to work on. Get Maschine and your mind will be blown, seriously that thing is worth it’s weight in gold.
Other production devices would be a midi-keyboard, or analog synthesis. Just some opinions from a confessed gear whore.