Beginner Dj Console Under 300Euros

I am sure you will find quite a few happy Gemini users here. There is plenty of options in that price range. Be sure to check Phil’s excellent Controller Buyer Guide 2014!

Greetinx.

MIDI is not outdated.

If the driver support is provided, you will be fine.

MIDI can be mapped to anything, even if the Software like Traktor got a lot of new stuff – you can map the controller to use all this functions.

The MC-3000 and the smaller one MC-2000 are great units – metal body, nice soundcard – but i dont like the size (too small for me, i have a huge Numark N4) and the small jogwheels.

And there is no “too cheap”-things out there. Controllers like Numark Mixtrack Pro II are great – and can take a beating. If you can save some money, put it into a good case or better headphones. Or get a full version of the software (Traktor, Serato DJ).

Pioneer is fine, i have here a german user review (Thomann shop):

http://www.thomann.de/de/pioneer_ddj_sb.htm

Just translate the review. Its goot. The main point:

Nice hardware and works good with Serato Intro, an upgrade to Serato DJ is optional (Intro has no internal recording and some other things are missing).

First of all … when does stuff get “outdated”. Controllers have had jogwheels and play/cue buttons and faders and EQ knobs and filter knobs and cue/loop buttons since day one. Sure, the shape, color, material and lay-out might change. But in effect, if the controller has the features you need/want, it’s not gonna get outdated. I have had my MC6000 (big brother to the 3000) for a few years now. I love it. Sizewise it’s what I wanted, it’s a standalone mixer too which is good for me. It’s built like a tank, really! I have it in a flightcase and it doesn’t have a scratch on it yet (does anybody realize that to protect and carry your gear around in such a way that it doesn’t get damaged even when the quality is slightly less you need at the very least a good transport bag but preferably a hard shell case or flightcase? And that this can cost upwards of 50 bucks – and as much as 150+?).

Denon just released the Mk II of the 6000 (I am guessing we might see a mk II for the 3000 as well shortly). And the difference is so small I probably won’t upgrade.

My personal advice to all of you that think that flashing light, fancy buttons and a zillion features (most of which you might never or hardly ever use) make the controller is: think again!

Find out what you really need, what you can spend and then get the controller that feels best to YOU. Never mind what others say. I am pretty sure that whatever you buy today will last you at least three years. Especially when you are not taking your gear on the road 2-3 nights a week every week of the year. And by the time you DO go out that much, you can afford some other gear without having to watch the price tag.

I just read an article again on digital DJs (laptop-starers, facebook-checkers, we all know the arguments) and I think that is partially because of the fact that digital DJs seem to have a bigger interest in the actual gear.

Especially us old folks that never had money, we made do with what was there. And you learned the trade the “hard way”. And you were happy for someone that managed to squeeze a pair of SL1200s and a Dateq mixer out of his (paid) hobby.

So please stop worrying too much about gear. Make sure whatever you get suits your needs/wants and it appeals to you personally. Quality is not gonna be an issue. Sure, some faders will wear sooner than others, some jogs are tighter than others, some printing on the front might rub off with intensive use, but there really isn’t bad gear out there anymore. Once you have gear, learn how to be the best DJ you can be (and I promise you you can get really good with only HALF the features even the simpler controllers have) and have FUN doing it!

As far as windows 8 goes, I haven’t heard of the MC3000 not working with Windows 8. But since I refuse to use windows 8 on my DJ machines (actually moved to MacBook Pro, but that’s a different story) I am not inclined to test it. It’s just plain midi and midi should work with windows 8. The only thing could be the (audio)drivers for it of course, but Denon is usually ok in getting their (Asio) drivers out.

Good luck with your choice. Let us know which controller you finally picked!

Greetinx.

Thats why you should visit a shop with all this stuff if you can.

Choosing a controller is pretty hard. Not only functions (specially not if MIDI only because this is just the mapping), other things like size, built quality, weight and layout are important. I decided to get a Numark N4 over MC3000 and NI S2 (500€ budget) because i like it. I took a 100km ride to the shop to check it out, my controller was just released (no test or review at all) and i`m happy with it.

Yeah its not a tank, its has some weak spots – but working well all the time without problems.

You should fine gear that you really like and you should be happy about it after years. There is so much good and affordable stuff out there – just go and test it.

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Software is not the point, specially traktor pro – it works with almost anything out there. If there is a downloadable mapping for the controller, it will work.

Pioneer makes good stuff, but you pay for the name too. But it doesnt matter, if you like the unit and you can afford it – get one.

P.S. depends on your shop, you will have some time to bring it back. I have 30 days moneyback service here in germany – more than enough time to test the gear and decide later.

And i love older gear and “outdated” stuff. Got the Novation Launchpad after the release of Launchpad S – because the old unit is still great and i dont need the brighter LEDs and better response time – i saved some money. And a lot of people got NI S2 & S4 when the MKII versions came out.

Don’t worry about your english 🙂

Gemini und Behringer do not have the best reputation in the world.

But in the end: you always get what you pay for… there are no miracle controllers that do anything for less than others in the entry segment. Above 500 bucks the world becomes less black and white, but in an entry level… there is just so much you can do for 200 bucks…