Which controller - Herc Rmx/A&H 1D/2d/VCI100/VCI300/VCI400/Akai APC 40

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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Which controller - Herc Rmx/A&H 1D/2d/VCI100/VCI300/VCI400/Akai APC 40

Hello,

I’m new to this forum. I’m looking at buying a raft of new kit including an xone 92 and two technics SKL1210 mk5gs. I want to still be able to play anlogue, but also want to go digital too. I want to get traktor as it has the 4 decks, the scratch pro kitincludes the audio 8 interface, how does this compare with the firebox? I quite like the idea of using the turntables to control mp3 files, so that would limit my choice to the Audio 8 anyway I guess.

I’m also wanting to get a midi controller, perhaps to supplement to the digital vinyl control ie 2 tt controling traktor decks A and B, and the midi controller looking after C and D - Though is that actually possible? To do this I’m looking at the Hercules RMX, VCI 100, soon to be released VCI 400 for use with traktor pro. Though how well does the 300 work with Ableton?

Another alternative is either a Allen and Heath 1d or 2, they would look good with the Xone 92. I’m thinking of two 1ds as that would give me more control options for use with Ableton. As the 2d has a soundcard does that mean I could use it without having to buy traktor with the Audio 8?

My final option is Akai APC 40 which obviosuly will work as a dream for ableton, though how well does it work with traktor pro?

I guess I want all round flexibility, get on and use anologu vinyl for my old records, have the touch and feel of vinyl with digital vinyl, the experimentaional of using 4 decks, then improvisational re-mixing and performance.

My inital feelings was to go with the hawtin set-up of two 1ds, which would allow me to use the 4 decks with tracktor and with the 4 sets of 3 small buttonson it I would have an 8x3 scene in ableton.

But then the AKai APC caught my eye but how can this be set up with traktor I wonder? Its not out in UK until May.

Coming to this site here you all seem to love the VCI 100 even though at £330 its more pricey than allen heath 1d £200, whilst the 2d is £520 as it has a sound card it should be compared to the VCI 300 which is £585. I guess people like Ean need the touch platter for controllerism.

What are your suggestions folks?

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Apologies if this should have been posted in general forum

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Those of you that have voted, for vci 100, I’m intrested to know how you have used the controller with Ableton.

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Generally mate you either have a controller designed for ableton or one designed for traktor, I’m guessing that it’s mostly Traktor users that have responded thus far.

That’s not to say that you can’t use them with either, but they tend to be specialised to one or the other.

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if you gonna use the dvs get the audio 8 an traktor pro, also if you plan on using tts in the setup the 1d will be perfect next to the xone 92. use the 1d to controll 2 of the decks in tracktor and then you can use your tts, and use the second 1d to control ableton.

thats what i would do if i was gonna run that type of setup.

now how are you gonna integrate ableton into your traktor set up

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If i was gonna integrate Ableton in my Traktor setup(…which hopefully i will do soon…) i would prob have 2 laptop: 1 running Traktor and 1 running Abe.
I would route the 4 decks from Traktor via my soundcard( A8 dj ) into the 4 in of another A8 (or any other soundcard with 4 in and out) plugged 2 the second laptop.Now I would route the 4 out of the second souncard into a 4 channel mixer and the magic happens :slight_smile:
My only concern about this setup would b ‘‘latency’’…I wonder if anyone is using a similar setup…

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or just do it all on the one computer… read my signiture

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I know I read your article… Good stuff!!
But I’m not sure if my laptop is gonna handle the 2 software at the same time :confused: and also i’d like to have 2 screen at the same time without have 2 switch between the 2 software all the time…

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Has anyone got their hands on the Akai APC 40 yet and given it a good bashin’?

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Will have it in June! :smiley:

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I dont see how something like the apc40 can be compared to the vcis which have platters?

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It depends on how you’re mixing basically.

But… You should also put the Xone:1D, 2D and VCI-400 in the same stack as the APC. :wink:

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Well if you don’t scartch then you don’t need platters. The APC instead offers plenty of buttons forcue point juggling. The thing is I want a controller for use with traktor for DJing 4 decks, but also a controller for ableton to do live remix and production work. I’mnot too into scatching and controllerism yet. Soi think either a 1D or APCmight suitme best. BUT i need to know whether you can use APC in traktor - will it utilise fulll midi control or is it a unique akai/ableton protocol?

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I love my Hercules RMX controller. The VCI 100 definatelty has some nifty awesome features, but I like the layout on the Hercules better. My hercules doesnt function as normal its been remapped to hell. The beauty of controllerism is that you can bend the rules, hell you can break them and redesign them if you fancy. If somehow the RMX and VCI could be joined into the mega controller of doom then Id be happy, the next step for me is to build a custom controller to supplement my RMX and Nanopad.