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Mid Tier controller recs?

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  • September 22, 2015 at 9:20 am #2258601
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Yep, if you are used to Serato, moving to Traktor is a serious step. It’s clearly different software with an (increasingly) different angle on DJ-ing. If you were to got the Traktor route, taking Stems into account would be advisable, which would mean adding D2s to your setup or an S8 controller. No jogs, but the touch strips seem to do the job after some practice.

    As for Pioneer, the new series RX/RZ are both 4-channel. The 4-channel SX is in mk2 version. SR has been the same since it was brought out. I personally like my options, so 2-channel doesn’t appeal to me. It looks like Pioneer is keeping it’s 2-channels mostly to the lower end models and the top models all going 4 channel for maximum expandability and flexibility. There is the XDJ-RX of course as well. The SX2 is quite sizeable, but the difference with the SR isn’t mega big imho. I could probably go for RX instead of SX2 atm, but the jury is still out on that one.

    Finally, you can always look at other brands, Reloop Terminal mix 4 or 8 for example.

    My stance on modular is well known. But I am a mobile DJ and I need quick setup times and clean looking DJ booths, no time to muck about with all these cables and a messy booth. But again, YOUR workflow dictates what will work best for you.

    September 22, 2015 at 1:52 pm #2258661
    Dom James
    Participant

    Ill just add in for you the SR is not a 4 deck controller, capable yes, but you have two lines of EQ which means 3/4 will use same as 1/2. not ideal.

    Im an sx2 owner and love it, its future proof, it has everything youll need for the next 10 years atleast! however…

    decide if youre going to buy into rekordbox and if you are, go for the rx, colour fx(which i really want just because) otherwise theyre the same just one for serato one for rekordbox, ofcourse you can cross over, but dont think the rx will work with serato i havnt seen anything saying it will be supported?

    September 22, 2015 at 3:12 pm #2258771
    Luke Butzen
    Participant

    I know how it works. Hence why I said it’s like the VCI 100 which did the same thing just with a switch.

    I also feel like I need to clear a few things up. I’m not really looking to make a career out of this in any fashion. It’s a hobby & passion of mine to do this. I am Bi-polar like Benga, so I know I couldn’t do this as a career as I know I have a propensity for addiction & already have trouble telling what’s real & what’s not when I don’t get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep every day.

    Also, I MIGHT take this controller to a show as the crews I promote & work for have 2 CDJ/ 4 Channel Mixer setups as standard wherever we go unless the headliner requests turntables. In which case the set up is the same as before just with two Techs on the other two channels. So I really just want to have a controller to practice on & do mixes with at home & maybe take to a show if I wasn’t playing for my regular crews & don’t know what they have. That’s it.

    So, paying 1-2K for a controller when I know that if I dig around and such, could come up with an all used CDJ/mixer/Serato box set up at home for that price point makes the controller market really unappealing at that point because then I could add tables & do a DVS system as well in the future.

    Hopefully this helps as I want everyone to understand my situation a bit better so we can hopefully hone in on better recommendations.

    September 22, 2015 at 3:35 pm #2258831
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Nothing wrong with the recommendations, perhaps not tailored precisely enough for your situation.

    You asked specifically for controller advice in your OP, as I read it anyway.

    Now you are saying that a used CDJ/Mixer/Serato soundcard option appeals to you more than a DJ controller.
    Firstly, you can’t compare the two. Secondly, I doubt you can get a decent CDJ/DJM setup WITH Serato compatible (RANE) sound card for anywhere near 1k.

    A DDJ-SX2 costs 1K including a full version of the software. The latter only interesting if you don’t have the software yet.
    If you don’t need DVS and RGB Pads, the DDJ-SX is pretty much as good as the SX2 and can be had used for a lot less.
    Reloop Terminal Mix 8 (as used professionally by our own Terry_42) can be had on Amazon for around 700 bucks.

    If you have never done vinyl, you really need to consider some factors. Vinyl is harder to master (trust me, it’s what I started with and I am not going back to it now digital is around) and it has a monthly cost component. DVS will easily set you back 1k a year! in needles and vinyls if you are anywhere near serious in practicing (and I am not even talking serious scratching here).

    Hopefully this helps narrow down things a bit. Clearly you are getting advice from a DIGITAL DJ forum, so our answers will tend to be controller-centric. Why? Because we believe that even your Mixtrack Pro can be made to do a few things that most club gear at many times the cost can’t do. I’ve played on anything and everything in my 38 years behind the decks and I dare say that digital has really unlocked the full potential for DJs.

    September 25, 2015 at 6:12 am #2260211
    Todd Oddity
    Participant

    “Im an sx2 owner and love it, its future proof, it has everything youll need for the next 10 years atleast! however…”

    Careful there Dom – keep in mind 10 years ago the CDJ1000 was JUST finally starting to get traction in DJ booths, still a lot of “you aren’t a real DJ unless you spin vinyl” because CD’s were for cheaters, and the big new feature in technology was that you might be able to see the song title on the display of that new-shiny CD deck.

    Ten years is a LONG, LONG time in technology. Be happy if you get three or four years out of a controller. You have no idea what DJing will even look like in a decade.

    Take it from an old fart like me. 😉

    Side-note: It still totally amazes me how wildly DJing evolved in that window from about 2002 to 2012. It was crazy.

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