Replacement controller for Novation Twitch

Hello,
I’m still pretty new, I spent about a year playing around with Serato Intro and a Mixtrack Pro 2, along with some analog toys I was using for recording stuff and just playing vinyl. For the last few months I’ve been playing with Serato DJ and the Terminal Mix 8, also still using the MTP2 with the full Serato a good bit. I’d say the TM8 is a great controller. I ended up choosing it over the DDJ-SR, was wanting something with/for the full version of Serato, and just managed to squeeze the TM8 into the startup budget. I liked the jogs, 4ch mixer section, RGB pads, long pitch faders, etc.
At the time the Denon MC6000 Mk2 or DDJ-SX2 weren’t around yet. I’m already looking to upgrade in another year or so, to a controller with the standalone mixer feature. I like that the TM8 has the aux thru, and I’ve used it for a couple things already, such as recording a cassette demo tape into digital. Someday I’d like to be able to try DVS though, and having the ability to have a mixer still, with a pair of backup media players would be optimal. Hoping a couple more options similar to the SX2 come along, and definitely going to look into the SX2,and MC6000 Mk2 further while my finances recover… 🙂 Hoping in the meantime Reloop makes Terminal Mix with a standalone mixer built in, as I really love the TM8, for reasons above and similar to something Terry mentioned in another thread. Layout. It’s similar to what I started on, with pads above jogs. You mentioned not knowing if you’d prefer jogs or not, coming from the Twitch. With that in mind, preference might be toward the layout like the SX/SX2. I’m not sure I could go back to not having the RGB pads, but will still give the Denon another look to be fair and thorough.
If you can squeeze it in your budget, and not figuring in headphones and other bits, I’d say you should seriously consider the SX2. I’d also say that if you’re squeezing other bits into the budget, or just not needing the analog mixer function, that you should not overlook the TM8 either. It is mains powered with an aux, so you have that backup when needed. It will run the analog input source through software, so it is recorded. I haven’t checked on the mic being in recordings. Terry might be able to chime in on that. As Phil stated in the DDJT review, it really does give outstanding control of the functions in Serato DJ, the views, SP6, etc… Well thought out. It did come out before Flip though, so if that matters to you, it doesn’t have buttons specific to that.
I’m sure others will chime in, let us know how your thoughts progress. Especially if you’re able to check them out at a retailer. Thought I’d chime in though, as a TM8 user who loves it, but is already thinking about a future upgrade and drooling over the SX2, while praying for a standalone Terminal Mix to come along before I do enough gigs to end up buying the SX2. Surely the TM12 or whatever it would be called would come out soon after, Murphy’s law. I hope Pioneer DJ keeps it together, having just been sold, same for Denon although that’s a little different. And I say again, I’m still a NOOB, so my .02 may only be worth the USD equivalent… 🙂 Sorry for the book, best of luck!

Not much help but just a quick note for you, the SX2 is the same price as the SX. I have one due either this week or next month(there’s been a monumental mess up with pioneer shipping to the uk) so will hopefully be able to report back on the SX2 soon for you!

If you don’t need the mixer functionality, and the difference in layout isn’t a biggie to you, I’d say you really can’t go wrong with the Reloop TM8. The pads over or under the jogs can be a biggie for some folks. Also, the leds in the jogs may be a factor for some folks, having that spinning indication of where the track is at. Another difference is that the SX/SX2 can be used with a pair of mics, the TM8 has only one mic input. Not an issue for me, yet. Honestly, with the aux input, if I would set my iPod up to be an at the ready backup I’d be pretty set, for now…. I really like the TM8, and it seems to be built well, and really was well thought out in the implementation of controls over Serato, minus the newly added features like Flip. I’ve not been able to get SLIP MODE to activate from the hardware, but Reloop told me to update my firmware and that should fix it. I haven’t done that yet so cannot comment on whether or not it worked. Maybe Terry or another Terminal Mix 8 user can chime in and give you more feedback.

I have also noticed that Reloop is showing a hard case for it now on their site. My retailer/supplier cannot get them just yet in the states, but I’m sure it’s on the slow boat and will be here eventually. Deciding if I should wait for the hard case of get an Odyssey Redling BRLDIGITALXL as it seems like it would just fit the TM8. For the price and what you get that bag looks like a good deal. Another plus for the Pioneer is that it seems their products have almost immediate support as far as cases and decksavers. Flip does look like fun, but I’ve been working on learning to use Maschine(have the Mikro), and also Audacity, for making mashups and edits. I’m still getting to grips with the full Serato DJ, so it will be a while before I’m ready to start experimenting with additions to my workflow such as Flip. The Reloop NEON looks nice, and is priced nicely. I could see that being a great add on for people wanting the newest functions, such as Flip, or MC6000 users or others wanting some pads and the updated functions. Just my .02, and that’s US currency so probably only worth about .01….. 🙂 Glad my long winded post was somewhat helpful. Keep shining and keep us posted.