I’m considering jumping on the F1 but I have to ask myself, is it really worth $249 for control over remix decks and a potentially mappable piece of midi hardware?
Then you have to ask yourself, can you see yourself gigging with the thing everyday?
Then you weigh the plusses in.
It completely revolutionizes one’s workflow
No longer are we limited to playing songs…
64 samples in the banks means limitless possibility for live remixes. Taking pieces of tracks and acappellas and layering them to create an absolutely fantastic set showcasing the limit of what’s possible. With utilities like the loop recorder available, the possibilities are limitless.
I’m skeptical and still continue to be about jumping on this.
However, I think it’s time to step up and get used to a new workflow as a dj, because there are miles of possibility ahead.
I was trying to insinuate the general point that i’m not the one to convert to this new button mashy-esque thing. However it’s time to stop being a stigler and perhaps jump in. It’s going to be more work making samples and organizing sets and all. Doing that stuff live still retains a connection with the crowd.
However, you maintain the possibility of incorporating elements subtly that contribute to a delicate build or continue a mainroom high time feel.
I’m getting one. I use Ableton and Traktor and I definitely look forward to doing more “Ableton-like” things in Traktor…The pre 2.5 sample decks just didn’t cut for me…the remix decks are looking way more like they fit my style and ideal workflow…so I will definitely get one. I also get that it won’t be ideal for a lot of people. That is why I like the modular controller paradigm. Some people love their S2, S4, VCIs etc…for me…all-in-one controllers don’t fit my workflow…but I believe the F1 will. That’s my $0.02!
Pretty lights be damned, I’m probably going to keep with my old kit for a bit, I’m enjoying it a lot and not really needing more right now. The pretty lights are snazzy though and I’m really drooling over them.
I got mine today, literally just plugged it in, loaded the free content from service center, and I’m loving it, can’t wait to start filling the slots with whats in my head!
I have yet to see what’s better about Traktor’s Remix Decks and the F1 than Ableton Live and any of a host of controllers that might fit your workflow at least as well if not better.
Apart from what they both do, Ableton gives you…more effects, better effects, the same effects (Traktor’s 12 for Guitar Rig Player), software synths, software drum machines, sample slots and channels only limited by your workflow & computer power, better Macro capabilities, more powerful MIDI mapping, MIDI effects that let even a novice play along with whatever’s going on if they know the most basic music theory, more tools to shape your sound, more controllers, the ability to record (and later edit) MIDI automation any time you’re playing, and MIDI recording that puts the loop recorder to shame.
Apart from what they both do, Traktor gives you…pitch faders, vinyl control, and a more straightforward loop recorder that can’t save what you’re doing.
The F1 is a really pretty controller. I don’t think anything else about it or Traktor 2.5 comes even close to what Ableton Live has given people for years.
I agree 1000% that being said, for someone like me, who loves production, yet hates the engineering aspect of it, this is great. Why not just use ableton since it’s a lot better and more in depth? Because in the same GUI, I can go back to just playing regular old tracks and then switch back to an unengineered track that I’ve made without ever changing my screen, or worrying about CPU load across multiple pieces of software, and do it on something I find a bit more intuitive for DJing as compared to Ableton .
I wanted to take my mixes up another notch from just mixing tracks and using effects in a mix. Other alternative was either to send midi clock from Traktor to Ableton and use an APC or move to Serato/Bridge/Ableton. When NI announced the new remix decks and controller, I wanted it. Remix decks have Ableton like launching of clips and F1 is much smaller. Got my pre-ordered already.
I was actually going to start a new thread comparing ableton to the new traktor with the new remix decks. I couldn’t agree more with mostapha.
I wish they would have focused more on improving existing features as opposed to early implementation of something that will only make more bugs that NI has to work on.
I get the marketing part of it but as far as retaining customers…NI is moving in the wrong direction.
touching on the topic of having multiple screens and CPU load…ableton uses literally 1/8 of the load that traktor uses…and thats when traktor is using internal playback, not even scratch. Also, if your going to have that planned of sets, like i have done at home (never live), I have a way to play into a screen change and software change, it takes me 1 or 2 tracks to get to an (ableton) part of my set.
I don’t see me easily integrating tracks and remix decks anymore than tracks and the old sample decks. I would use 1 or 2 samples max to layer an outro or intro of a song, having an extra 56 samples isn’t going to change that at all.
So the final point I am making is…for ppl that have traktor and traktor only then the new capabilities are nice. However, most ppl who will actually be using the new remix decks will have had experience producing their own loops or tracks (hence having ableton or something similar) so alot of those ppl see it just as I do…being pretty much a striped down version of ableton lite.
The whole point where I see this being the most useful is for standard nut and bolt dj’s working with track decks. Adding the remix decks into the set would help to create a more dynamic set whilst still keeping focus on mixing and track selection. If used right, these decks can be powerful tools to greatly enhance a set. If used wrongly, they can be tacky toys.
It will never compare to the likes of Ableton, but ask yourself, was it really meant to compete with Ableton in the first place?
That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do. And be pretty.
Live can be pretty cheap if you want it to be. I think even Live Lite that comes with most of the controllers you’d even think about using with it will beat the Remix Decks in terms of functionality.
I’ll give you that it’s more expensive and sobi that it’s more straightforward to play full tracks in Live, but…meh. Live can play full tracks just fine. With as many loops and hot cues as you want to set up ahead of time and a good way to store them if you make them on the spot.
I just don’t see how it really competes with Live or even Maschine.
Well…it does make it possible to stay all-NI and use time code. That’s probably a plus for people who aren’t pissed off at NI.
