Vestax Spin
Hey guys im Global from australia, Im trying to get into DJing as I find it very fun and enjoyable, I’ve recently purchased a Vestax Spin Controller and while browsing the fourms I noticed a few mods/hacks on similar controllers like the vci-100. I was wondering if there was anything like that for the Spin?
Arcade mod, ect. Also if there were any guides on it that would be great.
Thanks! 
I’m afraid I don’t think you’ll be able to do an arcade mod on the spin, those buttons take up a lot of space and the mic in and headphone out ports are right under the transport buttons (the front row). Best get a midifighter! As for anything else I’m not sure. There are probably some pretty funky mappings out there, possibly lurking on this forum somewhere so do a bit of a search. That said I always recommend experimenting with mapping yourself as it can be very rewarding.
At the end of the day you have a really nice piece of kit to start on so good luck, practice and enjoy!
P.S. out of interest, what software are you using at the moment?
Hey Global! Welcome to the community!
As for your question, I don’t think (I have not checked) that there are mods like the arcade mods available for the Spin due to it being such a tiny controller. However if you are looking for a arcade mod kind of a thing, I would suggest just pick up a MIDI-Fighter. You can’t go wrong with it. There’s actually a thread somewhere on the forums about what’s “not so good” about it, and last time I checked people were having trouble coming up with things that DJTT needs to fix / adjust / that suck with the MIDI-Fighter.
I hope I helped answer your question!
Thanks guys, I was looking at the MidiFighter just before and it looks excellent! Just wondering if its easy to use/customise I was going to get a LPD8 to play around with sampling, ect. But what would be better?
I’m currently using Djay 3 as it was bundled with my controller, Can the MF be used for that or should I go for other programs (Trakor, ect)
Thanks again.
I think if you ask most of the people on this forum they’ll tell you that the MF is pretty much the best 4x4 grid controller out there provided you don’t need velocity sensitive pads, most likely adding something like ‘those arcade buttons are just so damn playable!’. I’m actually very seriously considering getting one myself.
I haven’t tried Djay but from what I hear it’s not bad, however if you really want to get the most out of something like a midifighter you’ll want Traktor Pro. Hold fire on that for now though, cos the video teaser for the new version has just been released and we’re expecting a full announcement on features and pricing on feb 1st.
I agree completely with everything fullenglishpint just said, I suppose as i was typing my initial response to this thread he typed his at the same time and submitted his before mine, since they both say essentially the same thing.
I would suggest waiting as well (for a slightly different reason), on both the MIDI-Fighter, and Traktor till the Traktor update is announced. Especially since DJ’ing is a heavy investment, I just started in the beginning of November and since November I have spent about $2000 on DJ’ing equipment. Initially I was going to start off with the Spin as well but being the money spending whore that I am I decided to pick up an S4. I feel that I am extremely lucky to have found out I like to DJ as much as I thought I would.
Definitely play with your spin first for a while, and then if you really want to make a full commitment then pick up the new Traktor product and the MIDI-Fighter.
As for myself, i’m thinking of picking up one as well, although I may just opt to use my Maschine as one - the buttons look like so much fun to play with! Ohh and that interview with Ean and Richie on it, if Richie is getting one it definitely cannot be a bad investment at all 
.
Awesome! That Midi-Fighter does look pretty epic, Might play around with the Spin for a little bit to see if i really like it and scrape up some $$ and buy myself a Midi-Fighter.
Also are there any custom overlays for the spin at all?
With you all the way on that one brother. It really doesn’t take much to convince me to buy new gear!
The midifighter idea came from using my friend’s Akai MPD24 the other night, never realised so much was possible with just pads and how nice it is to have big tactile buttons! Then went off and watched the deckalized mapping video and read a few forum posts and now I’m in that terrible situation where the gearfreak devil on my right shoulder has decided to buy it, and the puny accountant angel on my other shoulder is putting up a pathetic fight.
That made me laugh, i’m the same exact way. Hell I have a Maschine and I am sure I can map it to do the same exact thing, but I want a sleek sexy new midi-fighter :[.
Glad to know i’m not alone!
I think there are probably a lot of people like us out there on the DJTT underground, surviving as soldiers of fortune… If we’ve got a problem, and the gear we have doesn’t do it exactly the way we want it to although there’s probably a workaround, and if we can find it… we will buy it.
I hope you picked up on that horribly misquoted mess of a TV reference.
Indeed you could map your maschine to do it, but you wouldn’t be able to close your eyes and imagine you’re playing space invaders while you DJ.
Soz man we’re totally hijacking your thread lol, I don’t think you can get specific overlays for the Spin.
That has always been the great advantage of the VCI-100, the support available from DJTT for that specific unit. However, I’m sure you can make something work with little stickers!
Yeah, sorry for stealing your thread.
The thing with the custom overlays is that it’s “custom”. The reason there is one for the VCI is due to the fact that Ean has been a huge fan and someone who boasted the abilities of the VCI, along with customizing it himself to showcase it. Since he did that, and created custom mappings for it, he then produced custom overlays just so that it could show everything he had re-mapped.
I highly doubt that there is one for the Spin, but i’m sure if you create your own mapping for it you can make one on a site like 12-inch skins. However, I have not Google’d it, but you can:
Good luck though on the search 
, if you choose to create one, that’d be really awesome and you should put up pictures as well :].
Hahahaha, exactly my thoughts! I’m just stuck debating whether I want to pick up a MIDI-Fighter first or a pair of production cans like the K702’s, and I still am looking for a new Mac as well. Ugh, so many choices and so many things to buy!
Duh, get all of them 
Oh I most definitely will, the question is - which one should I pick up first!
Go for the new mac.
the spin was my first controller after i ditched my shitty old 1200’s (they were from a yard sale and were in shit condition) before i graduated highschool.
its a awesome piece of equipment for what it is, and my advice is learn djay inside and out and how to mix (IMO its a little ass backwards in the way cues/the track is represented – but they went for a “traditional deck” layout). once youre comfortable mixing songs and what not with that check out oldfashioned’s tsi for traktor for the spin. thats waht i currently use (in conjunction wiht an x1–loops,cues,effects (i found oldfashioneds mapping of effects gets confusing… it felt like he was going for a vci100-esqe mapping feel for the spin)-- and apc 40 for ableton–oneshots, live remixes, beats, effects).
EDIT – The only issue with the tsi is the lack of LED feedback in some areas – no VU meters (messed with the midi being sent or somethin) and when effects mode is engaged you have to guess to see if you are or not, cause some of the other fucntions wont work if your in a certain mode or whatnot. i know that sounds confusing but if you play with it youll know what i mean.
check that out and if you got any more questions about the spin gimme a holler, ill try my best to help you out. i thought of ditching it for the s4, and im glad i didnt for the moment because of the spins portablity.
oh and as for your original question, there are no mods that i can think of, the spin is a compact little device and i wouldnt risk trying to take it apart and mess with it. aka why i bought the X1 to expand my set up to do hotcues/loops/effects – the x1s buttons are pretty responsive too… not as much as an arcade button but close IMHO
me - “its got cool lights? dials? pads? shit i can push and it makes sounds? thats wicked sweet”
GC sales - “yes it does sir”
me - “how much is it?”
GC sales - “400”
me - “eh, thats kinda alot… (five min later) fuck it, ill take it”
Girlfriend- “but now that means youre gonna spend less money on meeeeeeeee”
typically what one weekend a month of my life consists of since oct. lolz
oh my god. that IS me. You and I should meet up and get a beer, i’m thinking somewhere mid atlantic.
haha sounds like a plan. my aunt and her family live in oxford, and i get over there from time to time, but prob not for a little while as i went 2 yrs ago. im trying to see if its possible for me to get to either spain (ibiza for sure)or amsterdam cause my brother is studying abroad in rome right now but moneys kinda tight.
yeah but right now tho im a little cash poor. im hoping that this “self destructive habit” my girlfriend says im developing is gonna pay for itself, cause i cant keep blowing money like that. thank god i talked myself outta the s4. gotta love being able to mix and match hardware/software. because when i saw the apc’s dials, i instantly fell in love. i think i spend more time staring at it and turning dials than actually using it in ableton.
and with all this cool new stuff thats coming out, theres no chance that im NOT gonna be spending a ton of money (new traktor – god i hope they do something like the bridge soon)