Post NAMM thoughts
Big thanks to everyone that I met at the NAMM show. Especially with everyone that I worked with from the DJTT forums. Mike, Andrew, B33SON, Dj Phaded, Nemonic.
Absolutely. NAMM was a lot of fun and it was great meeting all the DJTT heads out there!
Did anyone see anything they may actually buy ?
I like the new Denon X1600. TSP Certified and only 8 or 900 smackers.
I am in desperate need for a new controller right now and was considering the Vestax TR-1 controller for Traktor Pro. It does not have jog wheels or a crossfader, so that is something that I would have to get used to. Crossfader I can live without, since I’m not really a scratch DJ, but jog wheels are something that I have been accustomed to. So I’m still really on the fence with this controller.
If i were in the market for a mixer, I’d seriously the Denon X1600. Its certainly a solid mixer and at that price point, it should be seriously considered by anyone who needs a 4 ch mixer with full EFX functions similar to the Pioneer DJM-800 (800-900 bucks vs. 1300-1400 is a big difference!).
I also like the Rane 62. Its a solid piece of hardware, but running around 2500-2600 bucks, its also a very expensive one too.
The American Audio VMS4 looks very nice, but it’s priced at 700 USD… if it was 500 USD i would def buy it…
I say that because i dont like on board soundcards competing with midi messages on a single USB Cable, i would use the VMS4 with an external firewire audio interface. The same problem happens with Xone DX (but in this case we are talking about a lot more money 
)
Since i would not use the audio interface and outputs on VMS4, I think the 500USD would be fair.
I think the street price of the VMS4 is 500 USD. Any cheaper and it would probably be not worth considering.
Re: Post NAMM thoughts
Same here, I’m in the market for a new contoller but I did see anything that blew me away. I was impressed with the DJ Tech gear, I was the usolo fx.
To be honest I wish vestax would make a updated version of the VCI100. Something like taking a 100, 300, and TR-1 and putting in one unit.
vestax would def be the best company to achiev a pro result. I love their hardware, VCI is still the most solid controller out there for me 
the v7 is crazy… waiting to see the bridge implemented in itch 2.0 …
I like the new 7 series controller but I need to play with it more to get a real feel for it.
i was a little disappointed that Vestax did not announce anything new, its gotta happen soon though!
i am surprised no one has mentioned the american audio controller, that thing looks pretty decent, the soundcard in it is probably crap though so you would still need an external soundcard.
Everyone still is falling well short of the ideal dream controller though, but we are slowly getting closer
I couldnt be at a booth for too long cuz they thought I was spying!
spy, spy, call security!!!
NAMM was awesome, it was very cool to meet and hang out with you guys.
I thought you were spying
This is a really interesting point, and actually seems worthy of much more discussion and investigation (perhaps a DJTT article on it?).
I wonder if it is a real issue though?
Is there any evidence to suggest that this causes problems?
Allen and Heath’s reputation is really built on sound quality so I would be surprised if they would compromise that with the Xone DX…
I would wager that the soundcard will be first class.
They havent asked for TSP certification as far as i know but im guessing that the quality is good enough.
My worry is that the rumour is that the buttons and construction are a little flimsy.
Im not sure that the DX has the build quality of other A&H products.
My hunch is that this is due to Denon (the new owner of A&H) imposing cut backs ..!.
I hope you WERE spying.
I hope that rumour turns out to be wrong Karlos… my feeling is that the price of the DX is only justified if it is TOP quality throughout… I await the official DJTT review with baited breath
Yeah me to… Despite loving my VCI im looking at the DX to be a new all in one solution for me.
The DX and Traktor will be a perfect match and i can see it being a great controller just as long as those buttons are to plasticy.
It does have a hefty price. I just hope the politics dont get in the way and it get Traktor Certified but i fear it wont due to its Itch partnership.
Time will tell. The DJTTs scoop is what we need..!
In reference to the build quality of the DX. I just looked here to see if the same components used in other Xone products are inside the DX. Unfortunatly A&H have not put up the pdf. However if the same encoders, pots etc.. are used I can vouch for the quality. A&H have the best feel on any audio/dj device I have ever used–though the rotaries on the 92 do feel slightly different than the 4D. Of course this is a subjective viewpoint in so far that what feels good for me may be fingernail on chalkboard to someone else. The only issues i’ve ever had with A&H midi happened after pressing a button. Their all-in-one midi devices IME have been quirky as in a button will sometime send On/Off signal signal on push rather than the normal On. Sometimes the 4D would lose connectivity with Traktor after 10 min of inactivity…not a big deal while live but… Also the endless rotarys, though notched and great for loops, sometimes would not send a signal until the knob was turned to the second notch after a left/right direction change. this was very troubling when loops got around 4 beats or lower.
Perhaps A&H have worked out some of the sofware/firmware wrinkles with the DX. Dunno who their chip/USB/midi board suppliers are and this would be the real tell as to whether or not I would lay down the cash.