Recommend MIDI controller (without platters) for TSP?
Greetings all
I converted over to Traktor Scratch Pro last fall, because 95% of the tunes I purhcase are beat grid-able, i’ve found myself using time-code via CD less and less as time has gone on. I mapped my MIC channel to do pitch adjustments on the focus deck via MIDI on my Ecler Evo 5, so I don’t really need turn-tables for songs that aren’t beat gridded, or if i’m mixing into another DJ’s set.
However. Carrying around my full size Ecler Evo 5 mixer to every gig is becoming a bit of a pain. I was thinking about getting a Behringer BCD3000, but I don’t need the two little platters, and I would like to be able to setup MIDI maps for the 3/4 virtual decks in TSP as well.
What would be some recommendations for a suitable MIDI controller, with built in SOUND card that I could use for gigs?
This is an old question. You should spend some time digging through this forum, as the opinions vary tremendously but are invaluable.
As for your question my take on it is that you will probably miss the audio mixing once you go internal (the only way with a midi controller). But that is a personal thing that you will have to firure out yourself.
Going from the quality and feel of your Ecler, you will probably be interested in the Xone DX. It can do what your looking for and the jog wheels on it are basically big knobs on endless encoders if I understand all the reviews (not usefull as platters). It comes with Itch (hence the price) but will be awesome with TSP (but you lose the timecode). Plus it has an A&H soundcard which SHOULD BE top notch at the price.
I am not a Behringer fan as their quality tends to be hit and miss (hence the price).
I love my VCI Arcade, only drawback is the two channel thing. Sure the DJTT mapping covers it really well, but its not the same as working on a real 4 channel.
Good luck, look around, and feel free to ask really specific questions (most people here love to give you their opinions).
M-Audio X-Session Pro ($60 on buy.com under the “mixlab” name)
NI Kontrol X1 ($200ish)
NI Audio 2 DJ ($99)
So for about $360, you have a nice modular little setup. and if I’m not mistaken, it’s smaller than most all in one controllers.
The only thing I can see that you would want for the 3/4 decks is potentially adding another Kontrol X1 in the future. And if you wanted to stick with the mixer that you have, you wouldn’t have to bother with the x-session pro but you /may/ need a bigger soundcard. Not quite sure on that.
I either like the idea of a perfect “all in one” setup, or a nice modular setup. And so it depends really on what you are looking for. From everything I hear, the Kontrol X1’s are fairly amazing as they go, and could fit your style perfectly.
I got an Akia APC 40 mapped to 4 decks. Got more than enough controls. You can find one for about $400 USD. You need a sound card. AUDIO 2 DJ is what i’m using. Very happy with it. I mix internal. Alot of midi mapping but it was worth it. Its an Ableton controller and works with Ableton great which is a plus. The X1 looks really cool but you can only really control 2 decks unless you use modifiers i think, so you would need 2 of them.
as I’m sure tekki will chime in, Maybe the BCR 2000 is up your alley? Its just 32 knobs, 16 buttons, and all the knobs are endless encoders. There are a few people who use this for traktor. You could also add a nanopad, or similar device off to the side.
I use it as a secondary controller… I actually got it for free here on DJTT via the buy/sell (15 dollars in shipping for it and 3 vci faceplates).
the vestax spin is fairly decent for the price ($280 cdn) from what I hear. It has an internal soundcard, Has touch sensitive spin platters (similar to the VCI-300), comes with a full version of djay software. Plus there are people here on djtechtools.com who have mapped it for traktor scratch pro and use it for gigs. I’ve order my vestax spin and i’m still waiting on it. I bought the NI Audio DJ 2 to use as a better soundcard than the internal one, but i’ve heard mostly positive comments about the product. Ofcourse you pay for what you get, so you shouldn’t expect to be able to do the same things as a VCI-100 arcade. But it’s a start.
btw if you have windows, it can work with windows. The person who mapped the spin for traktor uses it on his pc. Anyhow they are coming out with the Vestax Typhoon which is exactly the same as the spin but built specificially for the pc.
Why don’t you get a Vestax VCM-100? You’ll have control over two decks more next to your CDJ setup. With a four channel mixer, you can do the mixing and equalizing on the mixer and map the mixer controls on the VCM-100 to your liking. Route the soundcard back to your mixer and you’re set…
That sounds rad actually, I hadn’t considered that option. I’d prefer to use the analog controls on the mixer and not use MIDI for crate/play/queue/loop functions only, that’s what I do now with my current Evo 5 mixer. Most of my MIDI functions are mapped to the MIC channel.
Here’s what I use and it fits into a backpack:
Feena Electronics FMDJ9303.. $200-250 if you can find one since they stopped making them
Korg NanoKontrol: $50ish
NI DJ2: $90-100
Gives you control over everything you’d need in traktor and is compact as hell.
with two korg nano kontrol you can have a lot of controls
I’m going to use two of these for the 4-deck mixer session and FX in traktor Plus my Oxygen 8 v2 with a map similar to ean’s map.
Since all mixing will be internal I will not need to buy a big soundcard…
1 x NI Audio 2
1 x M-Audio X-Session Pro
2 x Akai LPD8
All in at around $400CND from moogaudio.com. Im pretty sure that if you do some checking around you could achieve your $300CND price point with this setup (the CND dollar being so strong right now).
You could take the DIY road and build a controller for yourself around the same price…
Externally:
Behringer ddm4000 is a very solid mixer and nothing in that price range can touch it (you would still need something for transport controls though, unless you just used your mouse). You can pick one of these badboys up for around $400CND all in as well.
Hey man, I also have the evo 5, I would tell you that the best and cheapest option would probally be to add 2x either kontrol 1s or 1ds, that way you lose no functionality, the downside is you still have to lug it around. Its a 1 peice thing man think of all the wires and confusions you will have to lug around, get a pair of midi controllers and add to it
