I got into DJing because i met a friend two years ago that was just starting and i see what he does now and i love it. I want to learn also. His setup is simple and only uses
a Vestax VCI 100
M-Audio X-session pro (rarely even touches it)
Kaos Pad (also rarely touched)
Tracktor (for live mixes)
Logic (for production work).
I really want to get into live mixing, and since i rarely see him use anything but his VCI 100 i was wondering if that was the right thing for me to get.
Im a complete beginner so i dont have a sound card or the know how to set it up. I was wondering if you guys could 1) reccomend me a midi controller (such as the VCI 100) and 2) link me to some tutorials on getting started in DJing (such as hooking up cables for a soundcard, learning how to mix live and how to produce non-live stuff).
If I were starting right now, I’d get a Kontrol s4. If you get the vci used for say $350 (and I would get one with firmware 1.4, which means more realistically $4-450 used), then an audio 2 for $100 and Traktor for $140 with the LE upgrade with the audio 2, you only save a few hundred dollars. It may sound like a lot, but the s4 is an incredibly better controller, has four deck control, sample deck control, better jogwheels, ability to easily beatmatch etc. - it’s a much better value. I originally bought a vci-100, and like countless people have since sold it and upgraded to the s4. It was well worth it.
The VCI 100SE has firmware 1.4 and some really cool features. But i will take a look at the S4 and see what it is like. I am assuming that the audio 2 is a soundcard, correct?
+1 for getting the s4…for the extra money get it because it comes with the 1-1 mapping for traktor which is very nice, comes with a sounds card, and traktor pro 2. And in the end if its not for you, you can sell it for pretty much what you picked it up for! S4 ftw
by the way, i am just going to be a bedroom DJ, my friend is actually trying to get into the business. I want this setup to do parties at my house and entertain myself, the S4 looks a little too fancy for me, but i am still open to it.
get an s4 (all in one solution, software, soundcard included) or a VCI100 se from djtechtools and an audio 2 soundcard (you will need to purchase software separately)
Lots of tutorials and advice right here on the forum if you dig. Welcome to DJTT
let’s not forget the almost-released (or already?) novation twitch. if i was just starting out and so didnt feel that i needed jogs then i’d probably go for that. plus at 500$ it seems like a steal with builtin sound etc…
there is also a newish/small/cheap controller that might or might not be of interest which i ordered to play with the other day (but havent got my hands on yet), the icon idj.
on the plus side it’s nice and small and has touch sensitive jog wheels.
on the negative side it’s very small and looks like a toy…
The s4 is bullshit for someone STARTING up, who wants to drop that kind of money on something new, you guys must all have rich parents or money to throw about, would you not recommend something cheaper to try it out, things are a lot different when you do it on your own compaired to witha friend, you might lose concentration and get bored of it faster…
Think about it - with a VCI at 450, traktor at 200, and a soundcard at 200, you’re paying the price of an S4 for worse equipment. You can go used on that and save some money, but you can do that with the s4 too. So no, it’s not extravagant unless you’re talking about getting a low quality soundcard and pirating traktor to save $300.
Plus then the S4 can be sold off if interest is lost for most of its value. It’s a steal.
Yeah, I agree. Everything you need out of the box for pretty much the foreseeable future. Easy to expand with TTs or other software. My one complaint about the S4 (and partly a reason I mix external) is the shoddy line faders. Yes, they may be decent build, but they are ridiculously short.
My gripe with the S4 is the lack of inherent ability to mix external. I plan on doing so anyway with another soundcard, but the difference between internal and external mixing is huge. Still, this is not a concern that I would lay on any beginner, especially considering you need an external mixer to… mix externally. Having used a VCI-100, an APC 40, a Kontrol X1, and an S4 - the S4 has been the best so far. Still, once I have more space I’m going to route the sound through my Mackie D.4 Pro and use the S4 as a control surface only. I so much prefer the sound through the D.4 Pro. So much warmer and the bass has much more punch (plus those wonderful analog filters and full kill EQs).
You could get the novation twitch. I believe that it is £399 (don’t know what that is in $) which comes free with serato itch 2.0 and an integrated soundcard.
You wont have the problem of trying to adapt to using the touch strip instead of a jog wheel, which is the problem a lot of controllerists/DJs will probably have. There’s a link to two UK websites for more info, unfortunately they’re out of stock though so you’d have to either wait or go to another website
Its about 50-75% of the cost starting up compared to 10 years ago stop complaining.
I would not recommend someone “Starting out” (trying it out) if they are not serious about actually throwing money about.
So you aren’t serious basically! .. get MIXXX and play around with your keyboard for a while… if you’re serious you already dropped a few hundred $ on Traktor, VDJ or Serato.
If you are losing concentration and getting bored … find another career (yes I said career!).
this is true - cost me a little over 1000gbp for my 1200’s, a basic mixer and cans when i started out 10+ years ago.
tho i dont quite agree with this… these days someone could spend as little as 100quid or so on a simple controller to at least be a big improvement over just using their keyboard and mouse to at least give them a ‘taste’ of it. back in the day it was buy your own decks or use someone elses ofc and not many other options then they can drop the big cash later if they know it’s for them.
