Well if you’re going for budget, why not consider a used VCI-100 SE? I’ve seen even the arcade editions going for a steal in the buy/sell forum. Of course, if you want to use sample and remix decks, or you routinely use more than two decks, there’s a lot of shift-ing and such, but for basic mixing with a fair amount of creative effects, it’s a tank. And it’s much smaller (and to me a lot cooler-looking) than the S4.
I don’t think the effects and amount of control weigh too heavily in one direction or the other with the 400 EGE vs the S4 – Ean distributed some great S4 mappings that give you all the instant effects overkill possibilities that you have on any of the controllers. The mappings are very different beasts, but they each offer multiple ways to completely destroy a track with minimal effort
I never knew that you could turn off the 3D motion on the MF3D or that Ean had made a mapping for it to work with the remix decks (practically guessed that he would eventually though). In that case I’ll prob get a MF3D instead of an F1 so.
With regards the S4 vs the VCI EGE I must really have a think about what I want to do. I mostly play at home so I think the EGE would be more suited for me trying to be creative. I don’t play in clubs but do DJ at 21st parties the odd time. Let’s be honest all you gotta do at a 21st in play chart so I wouldn’t be doing anything fancy like using the perfomance grid, jog effects or going hard with the crossfader. All my attempts of trying to be a controllerist would be done in the comfort of my home. Not really trying to get gigs in clubs at the moment as I’m gonna be busy with my final year in college and I also have a part time job so don’t necessarily need the money or have the time to dedicate to it that I would like to to feel comfortable to apply for gigs in clubs. If I did get gigs in clubs though, I would be happy to use the cdj’s provided with Traktor. Like I said in a previous post I can pick up a used Audio 8 for a very good price so would be happy to use the cdj’s with a MF3D(if I get one) as I previously had a pioneer setup and am used to them.
Because I’m not trying to get gigs in clubs at the moment, all the bugs and glitches would hopefully be sorted by the time I go about trying to get gigs. Still it will be a nightmare having to put up with all the glitches at home and having to find solutions to them. That’s what the S4 really has going for it and the fact that I could get a second hand S4, MF3D and that Audio 8 I was on about for close on the same price as an imported EGE. I know the S4 will work without the need of a soundcard but I am unaware of any controllerist scene where I’m from. I’ve seen a few people using controllers out in bars but they were just using them to mix and that’s it. I’ve only ever seen people in the clubs around here using cdj’s so not sure if I’d be allowed use my controller in a club hence the need to pick up a soundcard.
I’m really looking for a 4 deck controller as I only had 2 decks when I had my cdj setup and was never happy with just 2 decks. Always felt I could do a lot more with my mixes if I had an extra deck or the option of sample or remix decks. I had so many ideas popping into my head when making mixes that I felt could work but were never possible with only 2 decks.
I agree with what your saying about the effects and overkill that can go with it. If I was out gigging I would prob use the 2 decks and 2 remix decks and just mix house/tech/prog with out all the fancy tricks. I would keep all my attempts at trying to be a controllerist and all the overkill of effects for the bedroom and my electro sets that I upload online(provided they sound good )
