A) I use a VCI-100 (firmware 1.1)(in windows XP and now 7) for Hip-Hop scratching and live control.
B) I use VDJ, because i experienced several crashes with traktor in any version of it (3 and pro). At first i thought it was a firmware issue, but it is not (because i solved it by swithching off/on and restarting traktor) the crashes came while scratching (+ FX + CUE jumping + … )
C) since I moved to VDJ 6 I’ve had no crash.
D) VDJ is lighter.
E) It is true that EQ and FX are far better in Traktor.
F) In Traktor you are able to use Boolean variables to Expand you mapping possibilities.
G) In VDJ you map according to VDJ own programing language in which i’m getting into. By now i have infinite cue points, very useful for me.
H) In VDJ you can use 2 sound cards, this is essential.
I know nobody read long posts..neither do i hehehe, but this is my experience,
with VDJ i improved in stability a lot, no crashes no bullshit just flow.
i can only think of one reason to use 2 sound cards: 2 cheap 1 master out sound cards in order to make a total of 2 master outs, if you cant get a better sound card
true. but why not, cheap entry djs are a huge market. once they get to know that it takes more than cheap gear, VDJ comes in handy:
native support for every midicontroller out there. Also every soundcard. If a controller is not supported natively its totally easy to map with a simple wrapper inside vdj. Get any good soundcard out there and it works. If something gets broken during a gig i just replace it with a backup unit.
-Its stable as hell without much configuration.VDJ is laid out to work with everything out there
-No limit to audio only. Karaoke, Video, Slideshows, VJing. All in one unit. Without the need to get a 200 dollar upgrade.
free upgrades
mapping abilities supperior to traktor imho
one can create a own skin/ GUI
quantized cuejumps was introduced in 6.0
-4 decks through multi instances are no problem, even 3 times or 4
Traktor (Scratch) Pro only has tighter sync, waaaaay better fx and 0.5 db more output
But i hope things will get even when V7 arrives. But you all didnt know this from me…
Nice to see some love for VDJ. I never really understood its bad reputation, although if you really think about it, it most likely came from its butt ugly skin pre V5 (The blue with the turntables), that Hercules controllers* came always with outdated and restricted versions that made many people think it’s what the full version is like and of course the lack of big names who endorse the product. I mean Traktor, Serato & Co advertise with names like Carl Cox, while all VDJ has to offer are Coldcut, who are without a doubt legends, but not a household name for da kids.
But y’know, even with a torrented Version 3 I never had any stability or performance problems. Meanwhile I use a bought Version 6.1 and I still don’t have any problems. I tried Traktor once for a while and I’m not saying it’s a bad program, but I switched back to VDJ pretty quick.
*Which are also much better than their reputation, although I can see why many DJs refuse to take something with such a cheap plastic case out of the bedroom. At least since RMX/Steel they ditched the plastic.
Really enjoying the balance in this debate, when I saw the title I thought VDJ would get a slating!
It was my first digital DJ program too and I loved it, DJed professionally with it for years. I never took to Traktor because I want the simple things doing with no fuss, and when I first used Serato ITCH I knew I had my program - it’s all about the waveforms for me, and in that field both Serato ITCH and VDJ beat Traktor.
I have to admit though, the second that new Traktor controller comes out I am shelling out for one because it looks the business, and I’ll put up with any shortcomings in software to have a go on some of what it seems to offer.
It’s seriously misleading, because some skins (even the official ones) have only buttons for 3 or 5, but pushing alt & a number on your keyboard sets a new one. (At least 9. Don’t know if the 0 key gives you a 10th and you can maybe do something with other keys too. Like I said, I never needed more than 9.)
Ive tried DVS both in Traktor and VDJ. Perhaps VDJ wasn’t properly set-up but it lacked definitely “tightness”… can’t be explained. You can tell just by using your hands.
Guys. Take a seat. Everyones sitting? How about drinks and popcorn, cause now its getting interesting… ready? Here we go:
VDJ has infinite number of cue points! Not 5. Not 8. Not 99. Infinite. Like, as much as you want. I myself have some tracks that got like 24 cue points. Its the skins that are misleading cause they only show up to 5 cues or the keyboard that only goes to 9. With the right mapping possibilities are endless.
IMHO Traktor only beats VDJ and Serato because of the effects, beatgrid and most importantly in my case, midi sync with ableton or maschine. But on the other hand i can rock serious video shit with VDJ without getting VSL for the price of a controller/ software.
Pitch drifting/ fluctuating was a serious issue in some updates of VDJ. But now everythings cool i think. And the sync just isnt as stable. With this i mean that the bpm sync is sometimes 0.1 off. I dont talk about the beatlock function, where vdj tries to keep the beats alligned by itself. Thats just a completely useless function if you ask me. This and automix are for me the main reasons for vdj´s bad rep.
My new favorite thing is running a live video feed through VDJ to mix crowd shots into my video shows. Also, I just got firetext, which allows the audience to send text messages that get displayed on the club’s screens. Kinda cheesy imho, but people love it in top 40 clubs.
Awesome
