Clearly at this time Stems = Traktor/NI gear.
Next question = modular or not. Remember at raves and clubs and such you will most often be sharing the booth with other that come before and after you. Modular usually means more setting up time, more cables in an already crowded booth. More room for mistakes.
My personal choice would never be modular for live stuff, but that is just me.
The S8 would be the best current controller for Stems, although the S5 could be an option, albeit with a “trick” to have volume control and FX control on the Stems decks (check the video on the blog). I think the S5 would work best if you occasionally want to incorporate some stems stuff in your sets. If you plan on being a big Stems user, I think having faders for Stem volume control makes your workflow a lot easier. Again, just my two cents.
As far as control vinyl goes, are you an old vinyl DJ? If you are not, then I would seriously suggest reconsidering. Here is why:
1) Cost. Already a touchy issue if I read your post correctly. Going vinyl will give you something you don’t have with controllers: monthly costs! These can run as high as 100 bucks a month.
2) Learning curve. Higher than with controllers, imho. It’s a new skill set, certain features you may have gotten used to with a controller might not be available and require you to do different stuff.
3) Heavy, chunky equipment. Can’t transport your TTs in a bag or backpack. You are going to add flightcases to already heavy stuff. I can promise you, toting TTs around to gigs is NOT fun!
And frankly, I don’t see too much added “profit” from going vinyl in your case. Old vinyl DJs, maybe. Because they have the gear already, for nostalgic reasons, because they are used to the workflow and the recurring costs. But to start now on vinyl, unless you have very strong reasons to go there, I wouldn’t.
FYI: I started in 1977 when the only option was vinyl. So I CAN use vinyl and on a few occasions (and only when gear is set up already) I will do a bit of nostalgia vinyl, but I would never go back to vinyl as my primary control. Newer and better things have come along which allow me to do more.
You are talking Stems AND vinyl. Both going to need time and effort to master. Gotta ask yourself will this enhance your performance in such a way that it enhances the experience of your crowd? They really don’t care if you spin vinyl or use jogwheels to manipulate tracks. They only care about the result of that manipulation.
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