I want to start to DJ but I’m not sure on what equipment to buy. I was thinking to get a Midi Fighter Pro from DJ TechTools, which is about $350, and then a Traktor Kontrol S2, which is about $600-650 depending on where you order it, from to go along with it. They are both mid range priced so they’re not super expensive but there are cheaper options. the Kontrol S2 also comes with a copy of Traktor Pro 2 which is almost $300 by itself and is a great piece of software.
Hey, what’s your budget?
Would you like to use a Controller, Turntable, or CDJ?
Which software do you prefer, Serato, Traktor or?
I think the S2 would be a great option for beginners who want to use Traktor,
it sucks when you purchase a really cheap controller,
and have to buy a new one when you get better at it.
So it sounds like youre interested in using Traktor vs Serato Im not sure if you know the difference between the two software packages but thats one thing you should look at. All the Midi Fighters are $219 I didnt see the MFP listed. I started out with a modular setup first I got the Native Instruments F1 with a $50 voucher then I got the X1-MKII. I wanted to ditch the computer as much as I could so I could get that DJ feeling then I got a DJ Tech X10 usb mixer. I think my setup is pretty nice and compact and does what I want it to do.I wouldnt go too cheap you may pay for it later when you feel you want something better.
Would you recommend the X10? I bought a X-Session Pro for £10 as a stopgap but obviously will look to upgrade at some point. Looks like that also covers the sound card side of things…
S2 is the way to go for beginners - you can use sync and start mixing straight away or you can use the jogs and faders and learn to beat match manually.
Or a Pioneer DDJ SB but then you’ll probs end up spending money on the Serato DJ upgrade from Serato Intro… whicj i think is $129
My bad I misread the post, To tell you the truth I wouldnt reccomend the X10 not because its a bad product in fact its an awesome mixer but the support side of things is lacking in a bad way.
For what it’s worth, a cheap “toy” controller is still good for learning on. Yes, you’ll end up upgrading sooner rather than later, but I bought an 80 euro Hercules DJ Control Instinct, which is a very small thing, but it is more than sufficient for me to learn a lot of the things I need to learn and it got me into learning to DJ a lot sooner as I wouldn’t have been able to purchase a more expensive controller for a lot longer.
For what it’s worth, though, the cheaper your controller, the more beneficial it is for you to have strong technical skills - I have heavily modified my mapping to allow for a lot more functionality than the default mapping has.
S2 is a great starting controller - good quality and easy to get along with when first starting out. The other way to go would be modular which is great but I would recommend the s2 to start.
I have the S2 and it is a solid platform. I have been using a 2-deck controller for years (VCI-100 Arcade before the S2). There is a LOT that can be done with just two decks. The S2 will fit into a “big” 17 inch laptop bag. I use a rolling 17" bag for gigs.
I do use the “Jog FX” mapping for the S2 from DJTT. That is as good a place as any to start out. There are a lot of mappings available for the S2. But, don’t get too distracted looking for the “one true mapping.” Pick one, and start making sounds.
I have re-mapped the effects slots with some of these effects:
The sound for this video was removed (copyright challenge). That is a shame. Trust me, these effects chains are worth playing with!
Recently (well, the last two years or so) the techniques around using 4 decks have matured. I use a simple controller for decks 3&4. I am currently using the the Numark DJ 2 Go (as a secondary controller, I hate it less than I thought I might). These days, my go-to technique is similar to the “Mixing on a stage” concept that Ean presented in this video. I was trying to get this to work for about a year before he released this video…and in 9 minutes Ean not only solved all the issues I was having, he also did it better than I was imaging.
The step sequencer that is built into the MF Twister for use with a remix deck is the next thing I want to experiment with.
The S2 MK2 is only $400. Best place to start IMO. You may find that it’s all you need. When and if you get to a point that you feel you need more control, pick up a MidiFighter or an F1. If you haven’t already looked into it, check out some demo videos of mappings for the F1, it’s a lot more than just a remix deck controller! Best of luck!
I still can’t figure out what midifighters are good for, but I like the S2 as a basic controller. You can do a lot with it, so I guess calling it basic isn’t fair. I could easily play on one (with the default mapping) and be happy most of the time. The times I wouldn’t be happy are when I’m doing things like were in that ean golden video. Though I think he still tries to do too much, if you’re on a budget, things like that are a good argument toward jumping into something that can do 4 decks. Then again, when you get to that point, you can also add an F1 or two to the S2 and be able to accomplish more.
I keep going back and forth (over years) with how I like to play other people’s music on a glorified stereo system (jk…though I have used about everything), but if I were starting today, I’d want someone to point me at the S2, DDJ-SR or DDJ-SX depending on budget.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to go cheaper for the first couple, at least to try out software…Traktor and Serato are both very good, and you’ll have to play with both before you can say which you’ll like…but that comes after learning to mix…and if you’re like me, going back and forth every year or two.
