personally i do think controllers are the future - tho ideally not with a laptop attached. i’m sure we’ll see more hybrid systems coming out - or hope so anyway.
i’d rather just be able to use something like a cdj without messing with software and laptop - but then again i love all the possibilities of using controllers… ah well…
the more top dj’s use controllers the more they’ll be accepted, but hulking around a laptop and relying on software not screwing for most clubs cant be as handy as some hard wired cdj’s etc esp as the latest ones can read from usb sticks etc anyway.
top dj’s will always be able to use what they want ofc tho…
guess i’d like to be able to use different controllers with some kind of central brain - but that brain not being a laptop. i guess just some custom type pc with a small screen would do it tho whether integrated into a controller or not but at least with the option to connect more over midi or hid. tho maybe cdj’s already allow that?
i suspect there’s a good chance that i am just spouting bollocks as it’s friday evening and i am knackered
yep - you’re not far wrong there… i’d definately buy a pair if i could afford them. the stanton scs.4dj looks cool too - tho i seem to remember reading some bad stuff about it.
using a laptop is the only way i can really mash all my various controllers together tho in the way i like at the moment.
a device like a cdj that only read usb (or could read cd’s but probably not important) and that i could customise the firmware on somehow or at least uber custom mappings would be cool. but for that i guess i’m back to a laptop again.
nothing inherently bad with using a laptop i guess… but a small rugged box that was basically a custom pc with some kind of lcd for displaying waveforms and track navigation and no keyboard would be nice… that’s just a custom project tho i guess.
Ive learned in my experience that its better to invest a bit more and get a quality product instead off getting anything cheap. Id say the novation is probably the best bet. I want to get one myself. The double midifighters would be a fun setup as well, with its possibilities of customization. You could also build some stuff..
The twitch will be available any day now. For UK peeps the shipment is due to arrive on our shores today, so allow another few days for distribution, and I believe the US shipment was going to arrive slightly before so it should be in distribution. Basically they’ll be in stores imminently.
in a similair situation as you and finally after grueling searches i have finally decided that the twitch might be the one for me. along with the twitch i may also get the x1 (with free traktor pro 2) so that it will be easier to put in effects and probly open up more space on the twitch for other stuff like samples hopefully :S i think you can use the x1 with the twitch’s soundcard which mean all your spending is round $750 though it’s bit over your 500 limit, i think the investment will be good as this set up doesn’t seem too cheap & toyish and at the same time not too expensive etheir Hopefully everything works out well for the both of us i would wait just bit longer to see if more info gets released about the twitch and then decide properly
OK so last night I went out to a local beach club to speak to one of our local pros he has done everything from local radio shows to every club on the island. So basically I reached there and what a surprise it was.
One of the DJ’s Milox who was opening for him basically allowed me to help set up the sound for them. Then before anyone ever came to the party they basically gave me a chance to use their set ups. The opening dj had a alot of controllers to choose from: xone dx , s4 and denon mc6000 what luck right. So I got a real hands on with each one and he showed me the benefits of each one. I feel in love with the xone dx great sound super build quality and serato 2.0 was super easy to use. The S4 has alot going for it but I felt a little overwhelmed by all the features and I didn’t feel that comfortable with it so I can see myself getting one but I need more practice on the unit itself. The mc6000 is a great piece of hardware very versatile and solidly built its just to cluttered for my liking but a nice piece of gear to have.
Then CRX the pro dj brought out his set up for the night djm900nexus with two cdj 2000’s he didn’t let me use them but he give me loads of advice on starting out. Basically it went like this stay away from budget controllers and get quality products to start with. He recommended getting the xone dx to start with as they are now 599-799 and are top quality. He then advised me to get some great PA’s (QSC K12s) and a subwoofer with krk 8s monitors and told me to practice everyday. He and the other dj give me their cards and told me then when I’m ready they will allow me to play 2 hour sets to open for them and get experience sweet right.
I told him I wanted to go pro and stay digital what would he recommend I use. Same advice use top quality products that are digital and invest in a great digital mixer djm900 or xone db4 and build my set up around those. He advised me to get a budget mixer the dj tech x10(he says the quality versus the price is great and its very versatile basically its a usb hub 2 channel mixer and 4x4 sound card for 300 bucks) I could use that with a x1 as a good budget set up for house parties when I wanted to use traktor.
So to cut the long story short I ordered my xone dx today and my monitors as well as the x1 to get the traktor pro upgrade. Thanks guys for all your help I’m well on my way
and finally after grueling searches i have finally decided that the twitch might be the one for me. along with the twitch i may also get the x1 (with free traktor pro 2) so that it will be easier to put in effects and probly open up more space on the twitch for other stuff like samples hopefully :S i think you can use the x1 with the twitch’s soundcard which mean all your spending is round $750 though it’s bit over your 500 limit, i think the investment will be good as this set up doesn’t seem too cheap & toyish and at the same time not too expensive etheir Hopefully everything works out well for the both of us 
and turntables are still being used to this day… hmmm