I’ll support the Mixtrack Pro vote. On a more general note, in the past when I started something new I would usually buy good quality (mostly used) gear. If I ended up not liking the new activity I had some pretty decent gear that I could sell to someone who was either starting to and making the step from beginner gear to something better. Plus, while discovering if this new things was something I’d like to continue doing, I’d have really good gear to try it out with, which helps to enhance the experience.
On the other hand, on the one or two occassions that I bought new low end gear, the quality of the gear or the limited options would put me off and I could never resell the gear for any serious money.
So, if budget allows, look into quality used gear, often if you use it for 2 months and don’t like it, you can probably sell it for almost the same amount you got it for.
Here in Holland we have a company where you can rent/lease gear (not sure they have controllers, they are more into studio stuff and such) for a longer period of time. This is also an option as prices are really sharp. You could rent/short lease some pro gear for 1-2 months. Fully guaranteed, fully serviced, properly flightcased and if you don’t like it you give it back at the end of the term. If you do like it, you can extend the lease til you find something you want to buy for yourself.
Greetinx,
C.
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