Vestax vci 100 or Traktor S4
Forgive me if this has already been discussed, I done a search on the forum and couldn’t find anything.
I am looking to get a new controller, but can not decide between the VCI 100 or the S4. I already have an Akai LPD8 and a X1.
Anyone got any advice.
Thanks in advance.
i had a vestax vci-100, i had a pair of X1’s and i opted to sell all and get the S4 as i wanted to just have 1 controller. If you come from a cdj background you will appreciate the jogs on the s4 more than the vci in my opinion anyway, i know i prefer the s4 ones all day long. I also found that the mapping that DJTT had done for the vci amazing, i also found it sometimes awkward with lots of buttons doing different things with the shift key, whereas the S4 is i think very straight forward. Also i now have one usb to plug in whereas i had 4 when i had the vci as there was the 2 x1’s the vci and then the soundcard too. Im glad i made the change but i dont think id have got the s4 if i hadnt have got the vci and x1’s 1st, just made me realise that the s4 was what i needed 
plus its made for tp2 and tsp2 with the sample banks etc, the loop recorder everything is just there in front of you, if i was to buy anything else it would be a midi-fighter to sit along side my S4…
yeah what I want is one thing that does everything, pressing shift all the time gets frustrating. The akais a neat little midi, but the way you have to change from one preset to another gets really confusing.
The S4 looks the better of the two, but it’s a lot more expensive.
it is, but in my opinion its a far better solution than the vci. And i found mixing 4 decks a right pain in the arse on the vci with it only actually being 2 channel, whereas the s4 is 4 channel and have no probs with that. My set up now is like the most simple its been ever, my macbook and my s4 and that it haha.. sometimes less is more 
so say if i was just playing two decks would the vci suffice. I like the look of the sample deck on the s4. im running traktor scratch pro, i dont think that has the sample deck function does it ?
no its tsp2 that has the sample decks. The vci is great for running 2 decks, like i said just depends on if your going to be syncing or manually beat matching, i found the jog wheels shit for manual beat matching on the vci whereas the ones on the s4 are a hell of a lot better and more like cdjs, so depends on where u come from i suppose and what u wanna do
Its just for playing round with loops an editing on the fly at home, so using sync doesnt bother me. Ive done all me beatmatching when I was playing vinyls, want to leave that behind and do something a bit more creative. However I could always set up dvs, and if i did that I would just need a midi mixer instead of a full set up, wouldn’t I. Any ideas on a good mixer.
I would get the S4. The VCI is nearly at the end of its life cycle : ( However there’s gonna be a tremendous amount of support/mappings for the S4 on DJTT and from NI. I would personally get the S4, but both are great pieces of gear (:
I have to politely disagree, VCI has a big following, and is still supported by DJTT
I sold my VCI to get the S4, just saying.
Pretty much same boat here. I have a VCI-100SE and LPD8 (with TP1) and considering S4.
I gave up trying to play with 4 decks, I was making too many mistakes with all the mode-switching and fader/knob resetting. And I still struggle with all the shifts and mode switching to get easy access to everything I want.
I’m sure with a lot of time and patience I could tweak the midi mappings between the two controllers get them working pretty tight… and then with more time and patience I could memorize this new custom mapping and train myself to use it without mistakes – since there will be no docs and no labels to help me.
So having everything easily accessible and ready to go as with the S4 is much more appealing at this point.
Personally I’m yet to hear a set incorporating 4 decks and samples on an s4 that doesn’t sound like a mess.
I’m old fashioned and just like two good tunes mixed and blended, maybe a bit of echo and beatmasher and a few other choice fx
I don’t crave an s4, I love my vci 100 se arcade and wouldn’t swap.
I think I’m in a minority though I think
Q
^ you speak many truths.
I have both. The S4 “feels” better, but there is something about the VCI that has personality. It’s also much easier to toss the VCI in a book bag and play anywhere.
I like them both for what they each are.
Think I will just have to wait and see, but I think am going for the VCI.
Quite amusing, if you ever do go into VCI breeding let me know. i’ll have one of those puppies of yeah.
register your interest in the thread and one of advisers will ring you with donation info
Sounds good will do.
good good, those could do with a necro bump 
