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Recommendation for a backup controller (smaller the better)

Learn To DJ With Digital DJ Tips › Forums › Digital DJ Gear › Recommendation for a backup controller (smaller the better)

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • May 19, 2014 at 7:53 pm #2032497
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Mixtrack Pro should do the trick and be really inexpensive to get used.

    May 19, 2014 at 8:02 pm #2032500
    George Dilks
    Participant

    mixtrack edge, i know a lad with one and you’d think it is an ipad or something its so small, not 100% sure on the connections etc but im sure it is loaded with the basics

    May 20, 2014 at 12:29 am #2032558
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    LOL … The Control Instinct keeps popping up. Sorry mates, it’s a toy in my opinion, not a controller. Not even pitch knob/fader.

    You could consider something like the Denon SC2000. It switches decks (so you can control two decks with one controller), has a knob of track selection, knobs for filter and fx … a very complete controller. Use it with a Z1 mixer and you can do both decks with one controller and one mixer. Both of which take up relatively little space (for sure less than a mixtrack.

    Just a thought.

    Greetinx.

    May 20, 2014 at 7:20 am #2032636
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    He also said he has a travelling gig. Which leads me to assume he is playing out live for an audience, most likely paid. He also never mentioned he wanted a cheap solution, just a portable one. The solution I suggested offers both portability, modularity and still enough features to finish a set on a professional note should your main controller die.

    The Denon is also fully road ready (it’s a full metal unit and built like a tank).

    Greetinx.

    May 20, 2014 at 12:30 pm #2032689
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    LOL. It’s not about winning. I respect whatever works for somebody.

    I have to give my professional opinion about things and that is what I do. At the end of the day it’s still just my opinion of course.

    Greetinx.

    May 20, 2014 at 1:52 pm #2032699
    DJ Neon the Glowgobear
    Participant

    Thanks for all the advice guys! I do have a Gemini G2V that I love and works GRRRREAT! As you know, sometimes gear has issues. I’m not a fancy DJ yet, still honing my skills, but I am a “prepare for the worst” kind of guy so I carry two hard drives around, multiple cables, second laptop, etc. but the central piece is my controller/audio output. This is just as a failsafe in case my primary controller fails and I may just need something to make it through three hours or so 🙂

    May 20, 2014 at 6:59 pm #2032736
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    One of the reasons the sc2000 is a nice piece of gear also, is that it sits nicely next to your keyboard when you are working on your computer. I use it for stuff like beatgridding. Much easier to move the track using a controller than using a mouse, but you still have the mouse and full keyboard there too.

    May 20, 2014 at 11:26 pm #2032771
    Michael Risola
    Participant

    I would recommend the Numark Mixtrack Edge. It is portable and can fit inside any computer bag. It is about the size of a iPad. It has RCA out and headphone out. You can nudge the platters and adjust the BPM’s of a song. If you are looking for something with a small footprint and inexpensive (about $150.00 or less) it works great with Virtual DJ.

    May 21, 2014 at 7:09 am #2032830
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    The Edge is definitely compact (and looks a lot sturdier than the Control Instinct imho). It suffers from the same problem though, no pitch faders. I can’t imagine living without those. Can’t be reliant on only the sync button.

    May 22, 2014 at 12:31 am #2033036
    Michael Risola
    Participant

    With the Mixtrack Edge you can adjust the pitch by pressing the pitch button and moving the jogwheel. It may not have pitch faders but you still can beatmatch manually instead of using sync. It actually works pretty good with Virtual DJ. For what this unit is it actually functions pretty well as a backup. It is also fun to mix on this thing sitting in front of my desktop when I don’t feel like pulling out my Macbook Pro and Pioneer DDJ SX.

    May 22, 2014 at 7:07 am #2033083
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    I guess that would work (although with a little more hassle than when you have faders, if only because the visual feedback will be missing).

    Well, looks to me like enough tips for the OP 😀

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