Trying to decide on setup, VDJ + DVS or Traktor/Midi controller

Trying to decide on setup, VDJ + DVS or Traktor/Midi controller

I’m new to the DJ scene, but I’m getting into it and am motivated to keep improving. Eventually I want to work at some nice venues, but to start I am aiming at the bars in my college area. I’m into mainstream house and hip hop.

I’m at somewhat of a dilemma, I currently have traktor pro, VDJ v6, and a Hercules RMX. I’ve been mixing on traktor purely with the RMX. However, I notice most of the well known DJs playing mainstream tracks that I’ve seen on youtube are using digital vinyl software, primarily SSL. They often do scratch mixes, which I can’t really do with my RMX, but it would be a stretch money wise for me to buy an SL1 at the moment. I’m trying to decide, would it be worth it for me to invest in some turntables and buy the timecode vinyls for VDJ, or might I just as well upgrade to a nicer midi controller like the VCI 100 and stick with traktor pro?

Thanks

Up to you mate but my vote would be to go down the Traktor and VCI road.

since you said “SCRATCH”

go get some second hand technics - they will last you a long time and it will be worth it

these days second hand technics are cheap and u can find plenty

It all depends on how deep you want to go on the scratching route…

If you just want to put a scratch here and there the vci should be enough.

If you’re planning on learning all the scratching tricks go with the time code vinyl and buy a pair of used tanknics… sorry technics.

I mean, I don’t think I want to bust out into a scratch routine, I don’t think the people at the venues I plan to play at will want to hear that. However, I like the sound of Vice’s scratch mix at @40sec:

Is that possible with a vci 100?

You CAN do scratching on controllers, but they just don’t cut it if you want to get serious with it. But if you just want to throw in a stop or a backspin something like the VCI will be fine man.

I’d go the VCI-100 OR suss out the Numark NS7!

NS7 would be the best, a turntable midi controller. but maybe too expensive for ya.

I would say go for VDJ, as TP is mostly for EDM IMHO.

lol at the ns7 recommendations, for the price come on, think of what you can get for even half that, which still sounds out of the OP’s price range.

If you are scratching at all, i’d go DVS, although i would recommend a more tried and true system then (I’m assuming) u hooking turntables up to the RMX and using the timecode in VDJ.

maybe sell the RMX save like hell, and get a DVS system like the scratch duo or used SL1 box.

or determine how important scratching will be in your djing and see if the money could be better spent elsewhere.

the rmx is totally enough for TCV in VDJ. There are no big differences between those cards ^^

VDJ-DVS is tried and true. IDK how you mean your sentence. But i for reference am using a bcd3000 with dvs in vdj, and it works flawless. Most peeps at the vdj forum are using a rmx with dvs.

I believe some people have had problems with the RMX being only bus powered,

here is a thread i found quick that describes this in more detail:

As the BCD3000 is externally powered i would rank that more tried and true in a DVS setup then the RMX.

I could never get a decent signal when trying a BCD2000 like this but i believe that is an asio driver issue for the 2000.

If you want to go the DVS route you should really be looking at the Traktor Scratch Pro crossgrade not VirtualDJ. If all you need for VirtualDj is the timecodes then go for it, but I think that eventually you’ll want to move to a Traktor Scratch setup.

The Numark NS7 is about $500 more than a timecode vinyl system!

IT comes with cue buttons, replaceable parts, no need for the replacement of cartidges or vinyl, maybe a slip mat here n there?

How often do you have to replace cartridges or stylus or whatever you call them? Depending on scratch, angles, etc?

I’m mostly concerned with doing basic scratches… just to have the option of using them to mix when I play hip hop or top 40. Is this that difficult to do with a vci 100 or vci 300 (I hear the vci 300 is a lot more capable because of the larger platter and higher midi resolution)?

I would prob get an NS7 if it weren’t for the $1k+ price tag.

Yeah the 300 would be better for that. But do you want to base your choice of controller just on whether you can do a bit of “wicky wicky” with it? Go for the VCI-100 man, hands down.

What would be better for scratching?

DVS or NS7?

tried both and they are pretty semblable… but I prefer the real vynil and mixer feel.