So I want to get a controller…
So I have decided to invest a little bit into a controller since I have been doing some painfully slow to create mixes with my mouse and keyboard mappings. I am trying to keep it in a budget, say $350 or lower and I am not afraid to venture into the used market if there are some great deals to be had.
So Mixtrack Pro? Used VCI-100? What would be the best bang for the buck?
It depends what software you’re using. If you’re an Ableton DJ, then a Novation Launchpad or APC20/40 could be the way to go, but if you prefer Traktor and recording live, I’d probably reccomend a Mixtrack Pro, or even as you mentioned an used VCI-100.
You can’t go wrong with either of those two, so I’d be keeping a close eye on the Buy & Sell forum to see if somthing you like comes up.
I’d recommend the VCI-100 over the MixTrack if you’re heavy on/love effects. Plus Fader FX looks like tons of fun.
So do I gain or lose anything going with a VCI-100 SE, or should I stick with the original?
The original VCI-100 is pretty uninspiring as controllers go, until you upgrade the FW to make it an SE. Then it is indeed awesome. However, I’d say you can get more for your money these days. You still need a sound card remember.
fullenglishpint, what would you say is more for your money?
And for audio cards, is the Audio 2 still the go to card for inexpensive USB audio?
I think the best option to do is thing about how you mix, what music you play and decide if you need 2 or 4 decks, samples or not, loads of fx control or little to non, then how you would want these mapped like fader fx or knobs etc…
Your ideal setup might end up being, 2 korg nano kontrols and a soundcard = around 150…
So you really need to think outside the box, I’ve seen a dj turn up with a laptop, a desktop soundcard (huge box) and a nanopad and rock the night with whatever mapping he used…
So for a bit of history, I used to spin vinyl, then moved over to CD’s till circa 1999. That was the last bit I used “professionally” when I used to do clubs and parties. I used to be big into scratching and not much into effects. Of course times have been a changing so I want to explore some options.
I do feel I want platters. I don’t think I can just go into a straight midi controller only and be 100% satisfied. I am doing that with my keyboard mappings and feel that something is just “missing”. I can be happy with 2 decks which is what I had always used in the past, but I suppose I could get into trying to control 4 decks. I want serious control over loops. Probably the consistent method I do is I constantly loop beats over tracks, so some EQ control is essential.
Musicality, hip-hop and R&B is my go-to.
Looking further into things should I set my sights higher for something like the Kontrol S2 so I have the built in soundcard? I would probably be doing a lot of bedroom/office mixing for a long time and given I have two young kids (3 & 4) the smaller the footprint and the more integrated it is, I would probably be better off.
Big on them platters, eh? Then Allen & Heath and Novation controllers are out the window regarding recommendations. A MixTrack Pro with a special mappingsfor 4-deck control and a Kontrol X1 could be a good setup for you. The Kontrol X1 provides some decent loop control from what I’ve heard and seen.
Edit: Also, hunting in/watching the Buy and Sell section here on DJTT might bring you what you’re looking for.
Edittt: I think waiting for the S2 would benefit your situation as well. 
You could look at reloop’s range, something like the Digital Jockey 3 might suit your needs. Not sure if they fixed the platter problems they were having but I know a fix was due. Apart from that reloop make some very good controllers at good prices. Integrated soundcards, the lot.
was thinking the reloop aswell whilst reading, not sure which model it is but one comes with hugeish touch wheels. full fx control and built in soundcard as for loops, thats all down to mapping 
the vci100 1.4 firmware gives you 4x the resolution on the jog wheels and pitch faders - which might well appeal to you.
overall tho i agree with FEP that they’re a bit pricy as there’s so many other controllers around with the same form factor these days. i’d like to buy a vci100 sometime when they’re cheaper, would only buy one with the 1.4 firmware, or make sure i could also get the upgrade kit.
i suspect you’d prefer an internal soundcard too that the vci100 doesn’t have ofc…
the S2 should have nice and responsive jogs - tho more expensive i think.
So how big are the improvements of the 3 over the 2? Looks like I can pick up a DJ2 for around $400 while the DJ3 is priced more at the $700 mark. If I am patient I could get the S2 for $600, which I would lose 2 decks compared to the DJ3, but I am unsure if I am going to get into serious 4 deck mixing (I could, just not sure).
I was reading up on the VCI and the 1.4 rev does sound appealing, I almost wonder if it’s worth finding a 1.3 rev or less board out there and doing the upgrade myself. Might even be worth doing the Arcade mod on it too. But the lack of a sound card on board is a bit of a deterrent but not a show stopper.
Oh I just wish I had a few large bills lying around to spend willy nilly.
I’d hold out till after BPM show when new stuff will be released.
I think the S2 will be a good fit for you. Hi res jogs, solid bit of kit, decent soundcard, will ship with Tpro.
Or VCI-300mkii
Yeah right now I think I am going to holdout for the S2. I wish I could find somewhere in the DC area to give it a test drive when it would come out.
So I was thinking of holding out for the S2, and as much as I want to, I might hold out for such an investment since to be frank I would be starting from near 0. Yes I spent years, close to a decade spinning vinyl then CD’s before you could even scratch on them, before Traktor or VDJ were ever thought of.
Sure I have been doing some dummy practices with my laptop (VDJ and Traktor) to get some of my listening and basic transitional skills back. As my wife was listening last night beside me, she was first like “wow that was seamless, sweet” to my next song where she was like “WTH was that, seriously what were you thinking”. LOL.
So anyways I have been toying with the idea of lessening my goals for my first purchase and maybe deal with something less, like a Mixmaster Pro to start. I was hoping to find a used one, but haven’t seen many.
Am I just kidding myself with going with a “lesser unit” like the Mixmaster Pro instead of just trying to find a VCI-100 or waiting for a S2?
It’s a matter of investment, usually you can’t get a good price if you suddenly want to sell the cheaper gear and upgrade. I would say that if you really want to DJ more than let’s say two months, get better gear, S2 and so on.
Good point…