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Looking For A New And Young Controller

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  • January 22, 2016 at 9:52 pm #2343831
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    I am afraid you are suffering from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). It’s what happens when you feel you always need to have the latest and greatest.

    Chosing a controller is dependent on your workflow. Your workflow determines your choice of DJ Software. Your DJ Software and your budget determine your choice of controller (the one that works with your chosen software, fits your budget and – most importantly – MOST CLOSELY fits your workflow.

    Once you have a controller that fits those criteria, the ONLY reason to move to another controller is if the current one no longer fits your workflow. For example you started with a basic controller and now feel the need for performance pads that the first controller didn’t have.

    There are people still playing happily on early Vestax models. I am still using my SX while the SX2 has been out for years.
    This is a REALLY fast moving business. I can’t think of much gear that will last longer than 3 years or so. By then they will have been replaced by either mk2 versions or something completely new.

    The original Beatpad is still a totally valid controller, it just so happens that the current model is a mk2. I challenge you to tell me what significant changes have been made that are so shocking that they make your current Beatpad obsolete.

    So while I could answer your question, I am not going to. You are trying to win an unwinnable race.

    Follow the steps I suggested (workflow, DJ software, budget, most closely fitting controller) and be done with it. You should consider your current controller(s) as well and might just conclude that it does just fine for what you need.

    January 22, 2016 at 10:25 pm #2343891
    DJT
    Participant

    You are so right!! There is nothing wrong with any of the controllers I currently have. I just have this fear of them discontinuing a model, causing me to no longer update the drivers, or run out of replacement parts.

    The whole reason why I bought the Beatpad was so that I could use Spotify and Djay with it to be able to take more requests. When I bought the unit, I found it difficult working with Djay (I’m a Traktor user). I sat there sort of upset because I spent $600 on something I thought would work for me.

    As for the 4Trak, I still have yet to release it’s full potential. What I thought could only work on the Beatpad, works with the 4Trak (If only I found that sooner). I see the Beatpad as a great controller, just not for me. No matter how much research you do on something, you don’t know unless you try it! I read loads of reviews on the Beatpad, all glowingly positive, but I never saw it firsthand. I tend to rely on the Internet a lot because there are no DJ stores where I live. It is starting to get annoying because I spend a hefty amount of my own money, and want something else a year later. Maybe it’s because I’m 17 and I still have a LONG ways to go in learning. Looking at the S5, sure it’s expensive, but it could improve my workflow by looking only at the screens instead of my laptop. I know I sort of bashed it in a previous post, but I realized now I can turn the brightness down all the way and move it to the side.

    In conclusion, I thank you for your honesty! You just saved me a boatload of money down the road!

    January 23, 2016 at 8:49 pm #2344451
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    That’s what we are here for 😀

    And seriously, practice until you can work your current controller, THEN consider buying the S5 (or whatever is it’s successor by then LOL).

    In my humble opinion and experience, new hardware will never improve your workflow and skills if you haven’t reached the full potential of your current gear. It will only add more features and options you don’t quite master yet. Making you not quite good enough in even more things.

    If you feel you have some money left to burn and haven’t done so yet, spend some on the How To Digital DJ Fast course. Or on the iBook by our own Phil Morse on how to Digital DJ on your iPad (featuring … tatatatatataaaaa … DJay 2). The first will give you the right training regimen to follow to get the necessary level of technical skills, the second might just rekindle your love for the Beat Pad/DJay combination.

    You actually made my point when you said you couldn’t get things done using DJay with the Beat Pad. If you are fluent in the basics of DJ-ing, I promise you that you will be able to play on just about any gear and with just about any software. Sure you will have favorites, but nothing they throw in front of you will faze you anymore. At the end of the day they all do the same, bar a few software/hardware specific features – but the basics are always there, they might just look different or be in a different lay-out. 5-10 minutes should be enough to get a hang of the new gear/software.

    Granted, prepping your collection is a different thing altogether and the only reason, imho, it really pays to make a choice and stick with it.

    Also, might want to take a look at the new DJay Pro for iPad, looks a bit more mature (professional if you like) than DJay 2. It IS a bit more expensive though.

    Good luck on your journey.

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