I just upgraded my VCI-300 with effects to a NS6 and couldn’t be happier. When I was shopping for a new controller about a month ago, I played with a few of the market players. Here’s why I made the choice I did.
S4 vs NS6
Pros – Smaller footprint, Traktor has sampler module and slightly better effects
Cons – Plasticky feel, jog wheels are in the wrong place compared to pictch controls, cramped if you have big hands, no booth out, No strip search, can’t be used as a standalone mixer
Pioneer DDJ T1 vs NS6
Pros – Familiar ergos if you are used to playing on CDJs, also has strip search
Cons – even bigger than the NS6, too expensive for what you get, feels plasticky, no booth out
Denon MC6000 vs NS6
Pros – also built like a tank, video ready, priced right, booth out, also usable as a standalone mixer
Cons – really small and cramped feeling.
The biggest plus for the NS6 for me was the scratch response, it can be used as a standalone mixer and the fact that it has a booth out, which means it’s not confined to mobile gigs like my VCI-300. I’ve used it at a major nightclub gig and it performed flawlessly.
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