New and need advice!!!

Between those two controllers, the Hercules DJ Control Instinct actually has more controls (and from what it looks like, better, though that’s not saying much). I started with the Instinct and was quite happy with it until I knew I was going to continue doing it and had figured out my workflow enough to buy a better controller.

However, one truly massive thing in the Mixtrack’s favor – it comes with Serato DJ Intro. That still means you’ll need to upgrade to the full version if you really want the full featured software, but you have the option… if you get the Hercules, Serato will flat out not work with it at all.

If you knew what kind of workflow you were going to want to go with, then that would help… but it’s hard to guess that up front. Serato is one of the big boys of DJ software, so having that option available to you is pretty awesome, but if you don’t end up wanting to use Serato, then the Edge looks inferior in terms of the actual controls.

Hrm… though, the Hercules does let you buy into Virtual DJ for only $50, which gives you something similar, only from a different perspective. VDJ lays claim to “most popular,” in terms of install base, but seems to be consider a distant third when compared to Serato and Traktor (though the new 8.1 release is supposed to fix a lot of why people feel that way).

If you’re an old school tracker (Protracker on Amiga, Screamtracker/Fastracker on Windows, etc.), then Traktor is the software for you, hands down, but that’s about the only relative certainty I can offer you – and neither of those controllers are good choices in the long term with Traktor (as Native Instruments is moving away from caring about controllers from other manufacturers).

Obviously, I am not you, so I can’t really make the decision for you, but I hope I’ve given you some things to think about. I have no use for Serato, but I am in a pretty unique position with regard to software (none of the existing packages worked quite the way I wanted, so I wrote my own), so that doesn’t help you.

Hi Andy, welcome to the forums.

My advise would be to look for a second hand starter controller:
* Pioneer DDJ-SB (mk1)
* Mixtrack Pro (1 or 2)
* Denon MC2000
to name the three most important ones, unless you want to go the Traktor route (read some articles on these forums to get an idea of what the strong suits are for the main DJ software platforms or get the software guide by Phil Morse), in which case a used S2 would do the trick.
Do be sure to get whatever software license it came with originally (usually an LE/Intro version of one of the main DJ softwares: Serato, VDJ or Traktor).

All these controllers have had upgraded/new models launched and/or have been around long enough for them to become available as used gear. As this is not the kind of gear that goes on the road usually, chances are you will find one that has been used by a bedroom DJ that either stopped the hobby because it wasn’t his thing or that wants to move on and bought an upgrade.

You may still spend slightly more than the two controllers you mentioned cost new, but they are more or less compact, in fact all these controllers will slide under your bed easily with a softcase or decksaver or sit on the high shelf in your closet.

But … it will give you so much more functionality and quality and if you decide you DO like DJ-ing, you don’t have to upgrade for a long time as these controllers will keep you happy for a long time in your bedroom and they can be used for house and garden parties as well.

Just my 2 cents as usual. Hope it helps some.