Need help with a hybrid setup…

Hi Cheeku,

Another idea would be to look at the novation twitch.
It will give you serato (you can map also to vdj) and is supported by Ableton live.
Maybe just check that one, I have the feeling it will match with what you want to do…

Show your passion to your dad, he will understand…

Depending on what you need the jogwheels for (and you don’t need the mixer bit), I’d say this is a very good bet:

http://www.bax-shop.nl/digitale-dj-controller/denon-dj-dn-sc2000-digitale-dj-midi-controller?gclid=CIS3pcbP7b8CFXDKtAodMloAew

It’t like one controller part of an aio. You can get two if you need them, but one unit will let you swap between controlling two decks. It has all the bits and pieces to it, including dedicated filter knob, browser button, 2x FX channel, loop buttons, cue buttons (4+4), long pitch fader and the same jogwheel as the MC6000.

It would fit great in a modular setup depending on your needs and goals. Worth checking out. I have one (use it next to my computer keyboard for quick practice sessions or when beatgridding track) and I can vouch for the quality. Built like the proverbial and usual Denon tank. Obviously there is no soundcard in it, but that isn’t a problem in a modular setup.

Modular means consisting of modules. So where a typical AIO has the following components in one box: 2x controls/decks, 1x mixer and usually 1x built-in soundcard, a typical modular setup will have 2x control module (or 1 module, the Native Instruments X1 for example has two channels of control in one box, just no jogs) and 1 mixer module (most likely with a soundcard built in). So in essence there isn’t all that much difference, especially since recently most AIO controllers also have a number of performance pads. If you have modules, it’s obviously easier to place things where they feel best to you, whereas with an AIO you can only pick the spot for the entire unit, everything else is fixed in place.

One example is that I know a few DJs (me for a while too) that enjoyed having both turntables (I am old, hence vinyl experience) on the same side of the mixer. So not TT-MIXER-TT, but TT-TT-MIXER (or the mixer on the other side). Controllers ALL have deck-mixer-deck. Let’s say I’d really want the old setup, then I would have to get modules. I could opt for two of the Denon’s I showed and a modular midi-mixer.

The flip side of the modular coin is lot’s of extra cabling (you need to connect up every single module seperately) and lot’s of small boxes to carry around if you want to play out. So, in a fixed situation, like home studio, I’d say modular is easy if you want to do more than you can do with an AIO controller (like more production-like environment), for working gigs a AIO is easiest. Carry one case, set it down, plug in one or two cables and presto!

At the end of the day, your purpose and workflow determine what will work best for you. That’s why we will usually advise on here to make gear the last part of your decision, not your first 😀