First of all i just wanna say that DJ Techtools is Great! I have a question about using the trigger finger and the VCI-100 at the same time when using traktor.
Is this possible? Im not much of a turntablist or scratcher and all i really do is beatmix at my gigs. Id like to use the VCI platters to find the cue points of my songs and use the volume sliders to control my volumes. Also id like to use my trigger finger or maybe even a novation like ean to control my play, play/cue buttons, as well as effects buttons or other parameters.
The reason why i want to use another controller for controlling my play buttons and stuff is because i feel that the vci-100 buttons are not responsive and easy to press for my beatmixing style.I know i could setup arcade buttons, but i dont really want to go through all that. I hope you guys understand what im trying to get at.
Is there anyway to set up a vci-100 and either a trigger finger or maybe novation remote sl together?
i know i might have missed it in a post or something on the site, but id like your guy’s input. Thanks
I use a PadKontrol with my VCI and I can speak from experience that it is very much do-able. THe only difference between what you are using and Ean’s set up for the Oxygen8 that he talks about is the number controls you have.
What you’ll do is just assign CC# or notes to each of the 16 squares and assign them to the commands in your tks. If you need assistance on this there are videos here that explain how to use the tks, etc. but feel free to ask if the that, and the manual, doesn’t make any sense.
Now, I have a question for you. As a fellow VCI-100 owner I was wondering what you felt is unresponsive about the play/cueplay/cuepause commands? Do you not want to have to worry about clicking down the button and would rather just have a pad to strike? I mean, if you wanted to do it that way you could just turn those buttons on the VCI-100 into arcade buttons.
i use my vci-100 in combination with a korg padcontrol. the vci runs on midi channel 1, you hast have to program the second controller on another channel (2-16)…i also use my pads on the padcontrol for cue beatjuggle, play samples, beatmash an so on.
with the help of nem0nic, i got both of my triggers to work.
i picked up a vci-100(modding now) too and i’m playing with layouts for a .tks which will work best for me. i love this forum. all 3 mapped and working seemlessly. i want to change my overall appearance on stage from the usual 2 turntables and mixer to 2 trigger fingers a vci-100 and an oxygen8.the only thing is getting used to playing in this fashion and getting confident enough with the controls to perform live. as far as music expressionism, this is by far the way to go.
A padKontrol would be ok, I wouldnt reccomend a 25SL, as I have one and they are quite big, so in combo with a vci probably 2 much of a footprint, not to mention a 25SL is probably a bit over the top for what you need, unless you want to get into production or using it by itself.
On another note!, if you wanted to have arcade buttons, which i’ve used and are awesome! But still want a separate versatile unit thats nice n small check this out!:
I’ve been talking with Midi Fidler who made this and hes in the process of making a few units to sell to mates and DJTT people in the next month or so! I’ve already put a $50 deposit down. I think they’re going to be around $140-180 all up, depending on what u want custom on them.
Also - its now around 1/2 the height (about the same as the vci) and can have pretty much any surface on it - Midi was talking about having a clear acrylic layer with black painted on the back, which would give a nice 3D effect - I’ll probably design some cool stuff to put on them at some point.
For Sure man, I’ll talk to Midi Fidler about it (get him to post), should be getting some updated pics soon, and hopefully a youtube video. The PS2 joysticks look fucking cool! They can have up to 4 effects stacked onto them. (Ie left is on, down is one, right is one, up is one). Cant wait to get my hands on mine!
I was also thinking of getting a few of those touch sensitive ribbon sliders to combine into it as well.
Also its completely customisable, ie a selection of button colours, all the LED lights can be whatever you want, same with the graphics on the top. Could be engraved metal, whatever! I’m thinking of developing a steampunk concept for mine and modding it up hard! Lots of working dials n stuf!
Anyway, sorry to hiJack thread, back to controllers to use with the VCI!
You will find a bit more info on the midifighter under here,
I wouldnt expect it to be ready to ship for another 6 weeks, as I have a three week wait for PCBs then have to complete the new code for V2 (slim version). Currently it looks like the build cost is going to come out to about $160 USD. Im am already building extra units for Kaon & Midian, but I will have enough PCBs left over to build 5 more. Any DJ TT’s regular will be able to pick one of these up at cost price.
Thanks alot guys for all your input! Yea i would really like to use another controller for to use as my play/pause/cue buttons because i feel that the vci buttons are not soft enough to press for me.
My only set back is that i havent really learned how to set up 2 midi controllers such as a vci-100 and the novation or trigger finger together. Id also like to use those controllers to set cue points or engage effects. Are they any videos or exact tutorials that can show me? or is anyone willing to send me a message on how to set it up.
Im using a macbook pro, vci-100, and soon ill be getting either a midi keyboard or a pad like the trigger finger. Id like to use my vci-100 to control my volumes. Thanks again for your help guys!
Hi Dvls,
yea i really feel that the vci-100 buttons are to hard to click and i dont want to take apart my controller and put arcade buttons. I would just like either a keyboard key or a pad that i can easily hit and allow me to play my music in real time.
Midifidler - Would I be able to have you do some custom work on it, being I have no DIY ability with metal? I am willing to pay, of course. I’ll drop you a PM.
408bks - Editing your tks is really easy. It’s not as complicated as regular MIDI programming and it literally just assigning buttons to actions (Pad 1 - Cue/Play). I would first sit down, though, and figure out how many commands you need to replace on your VCI-100, and if you are going to use those commands on the VCI-100 for anything else (will you reassign the Cue/Play, Cue/Pause buttons on your VCI-100 to, say, Punch In and Punch Out actions). Once you have figured that out you can figure out what kind of MIDI controller you want.
If it’s more than 16 (which my guess is it probably will be) than you might want to look into a keyboard style (Oxygen, for example). The advantage of that is the octave key can be for different decks (Octave 1 for A, 2 for B, 3 for C, 4 for D), or for different types of controls (1 for Play/Pause and Cue, 2 for Loops, 3 for Effects and 4 for collection navigation).
I think the best bet is to map out what you want to do and then we can help figure out the tools to do it with, and then we’ll know what you need to do to program it into Traktor.
Dvls, thanks again for your help. I’ll take your advice and plan out my controls first and then ill get back to you. I think i will go with a midi keyboard, so ill plan around that. Thanks!
That’s fine. If you’re going to use it with your VCI then you can put together some interesting control combinations if you can adequately jump between controllers
DVLS,
one more question. will i be able to use each controllers functions at the same time without having to switch between them? What i mean is, can i use the job wheels on my vci-100 and then press play on my midi keyboard instantly? without having to switch between different modes?
There are no modes involved. As long as the commands don’t overlap where you don’t want them to (the commands in the tks highlight red when this happens) then you can use as many MIDI controllers on as many different channels as you want. The best bet is to make sure they are on different channels so the commands can’t overlap between units.
i have a new question. If i used a trigger finger or any kinda of midi pad control or keyboard and also a soundcard that supported midi ports, could i connect my controls through the soundcard? or would i have to use the usb connection for my midi controller?
You can connect your controls through the MIDI on the sound card, but that would require you to use the A/C adapter for the MIDI devices. If you find yourself running low on ports (lord knows I am) then look at getting a four port MIDI hub or something of the sort. That way there’s one wall wart that can power up to four devices along with USB power, instead of four wall warts, one for each device.
Good luck to ya.