Should I upgrade?

If you haven’t switched to Traktor yet, DO IT. I tried out the major 3 software and Traktor was my favorite hands down. Download the demo of both Serato and Traktor and test them out. If you end up considering traktor, I think they still have a special where if you buy the X1, you get the full version of Traktor for FREE. That’s an unbeatable deal right there. The X1 will allow you to expand your DJ setup significantly (this little baby is a beast!) and you get the full version of a great software…all for $200.

Do it, Do it, Do it.

Forget the “more professional look”. In the end, it’s about a good sound. With this set-up, you will be extremely happy.

*This is just my personal opinion.

I’m a firm believer in upgrade when you need to upgrade…not for the sake of image or being ahead of the Jones’.

If your setup works ideally for you, then keep it. If you find yourself with limits that you believe Traktor, Serato, or even Torq would overcome, then move on. I agree that you should download demos and see what is ideal for you, but not to plop down $500-$1000 on new stuff if your current setup does the job you need.

I had one guy recently shocked because he found out I did a recent mix on just Torq 2.0 with an X-Session Pro. I heard the back and forth on how much a S4 or VCI-300 is packed with features, but I told him that when I have off-time at work it’s easier with a smaller controller I can lock away in a drawer, but also that in many cases, you just need the basics. I mapped it to control the basics and some of the effects in how I use them. It’s a great example of “less is more”.

Like I said, don’t upgrade or buy anything to fulfill an image. Get something because you know it will work best for you. I’ll gladly walk into events with my Xponent, Torq, and Windows Laptop…and shatter the stereotypes. I could use Traktor, and I’ve tried the recent versions, but Torq works ideally for my needs. You need to think the same way when you pick gear.

Emma Partnow, post: 7038 wrote: But with just 30 Effects I would Hardly call it the Best DJ Tool;

Yep, agreed on that one. I probably only use a third of the effects Traktor offers 😛

Clayton Weimers, post: 7016 wrote: Hi guys. I’m a relative beginner. I started playing around with VDJ Home last year and finally decided to buy a Numark Mixtrack Pro back in May. Well, I’ve been playing with it all summer, and even did a couple parties (with many more planned) and have been having a blast.

However, I’m starting to wonder if I should upgrade. I’ve been looking a lot at Kontrol S4 and Denon MC6000. Both seem really cool. People have been telling me that I should switch to Traktor anyway, though.

So…do I really want to upgrade? And if so, should I go with one of these? What do I get other than less plastic and a more professional build? Is sound quality dramatically better with the more expensive controllers? Or am I just letting myself get carried away, fantasizing about all the different equipment I could potentially own?

Since I don’t really have any DJ friends, I’ve come to you guys!

IMO you shuld go for the MC6000 because the swap would no be so drastic for you.
MC6000 works very well with VDJ as well as it works very well with Traktor.
That is not the case on the S4 that is dedicated to Traktor.
S4 will work with VDJ but the layout is not so good and you will have to map it yourself if you cannot find
a mapping from some other that has that setup wich I do not think.
The MC6000 has steelchassie and S4 has plastic. Also the MC6000 has better hardware and lower price:-)
So you can use the MC6000 with VDJ and then think about if you want to swift to Traktor
And if you do you can use either SW 🙂

I did a test on my MC6000 wich I had running on my computer on Traktor Scratch Pro.
A friend (that has Mixtrack Pro) took his computer with VDJ on and it took less than 5 min to get it running with the MC6000. He had never used the MC6000, it took him about 10min to say “I want this”

I know three persons who has the MC6000 + me and all four of us is very happy with them (running on Traktor)
But the thing is that all we all reacted on how very good they sound!

IMO You shoul get to a store that has Mixtrack pro, S4 and MC6000 and listen for yourself if you can hear a drastic difference in sound. You will most deffinetly feel the difference in quality between the three. But if you feel and hear no difference you should hold on to your Mixtrack Pro…..

//DJ Hessler

Don’t worry too much about gear, or software. A good DJ can make Virtual DJ running on a laptop sing; A bad DJ can’t make jack happen on any combination. I personally think of the three (Traktor, VDJ, Serato), Traktor is the least friendly to use and thus it is not my choice – I’d DJ with Serato, VDJ, Traktor in that order. But having said that, I’d also DJ with vinyl, CDJs, iPods, someone’s stereo with a pile of old cassettes – it’s really not about the gear.

Phil Morse, post: 7153 wrote: Don’t worry too much about gear, or software. A good DJ can make Virtual DJ running on a laptop sing; A bad DJ can’t make jack happen on any combination.

This: That is my new quote for 2011!

Phil Morse, post: 7153 wrote: I personally think of the three (Traktor, VDJ, Serato), Traktor is the least friendly to use and thus it is not my choice – I’d DJ with Serato, VDJ, Traktor in that order. But having said that, I’d also DJ with vinyl, CDJs, iPods, someone’s stereo with a pile of old cassettes – it’s really not about the gear.

I totally agree, i can use Traktor fairly competently but it isnt my main software of choice, when recently trying to nail down a warehouse rave type set i just couldn’t get it to sound “Oldskool” enough ( Yeah yeah i shoulda just trainwrecked every mix and drop just like i woulda back in the day 😉 ) and ended up turning off all the features that make Traktor, well, Traktor! I found the beatgrids were too rigid to achieve an authentic sound with synch enabled on that early rave and acid music.
This is not to say someone who understands Traktor to a greater degree then me would have had this problem.
I got thinking to myself, why am i using this and being a martyr to Traktor when i can nail it first hit in Virtual DJ?

Phil Morse, post: 7153 wrote: Don’t worry too much about gear, or software. A good DJ can make Virtual DJ running on a laptop sing; A bad DJ can’t make jack happen on any combination. I personally think of the three (Traktor, VDJ, Serato), Traktor is the least friendly to use and thus it is not my choice – I’d DJ with Serato, VDJ, Traktor in that order. But having said that, I’d also DJ with vinyl, CDJs, iPods, someone’s stereo with a pile of old cassettes – it’s really not about the gear.

I do not agree on this!
Equipment and soundquality is very important to me!
Sometimes I get to DJ on venues that has old equipment that does not work properly.
The DJ booth is so small that my S3700/X1700 does not fit……
In most cases it is the awful Pioneer double CD players that has broken buttons so you have to push start button a few times to get them starting. Or they have American Audio CDs that if you put two identical CDs in slots and has pitch to zero and push start at both players at the same time they does not match. (I really do not like American Audio CDs)
In those cases I get irritated and nervous and I cannot mix as I can with good equipment Therefore I do not mix as good as I can do on my S3700/X1700. I have to think about the shortcomming of the equipment instead of what tune to play next! Also it lacks spinning platter so I cannot scratch and I just has not as fun as with good equipment.
If I do not have fun when I DJ it will affect the dancefloor. And I do only DJ foor the fun of it I do have a 9-5job Mon-Fri.
This is the reason why I bought a MC6000, to use where my S3700/x1700 does not fit, because I have now turned down many giggs because of this. If I know they have broken Pioneer equipment or American Audio CDs I say No thank you!

//DJ Hessler