What's everyone's views on the Novation Twitch in early 2013?

I’ve been using the Twitch since August, and I love it.
I used a DDJ-S1 for a bit, but it was just too big to carry around.
The Twitch is super light, and can take a lot of abuse.
Personally, to get the most out of it, I think you should learn the ins and outs of Traktor’s mapping system, and customise it so it works perfectly with your workflow – everyone can use it differently.

In my personal opinion, the things that makes a control “professional” are having a decent soundcard, being able to withstand the road, and being light enough to facilitate transport; however, what’s more important than any of those is whether or not you can customise it to suit your own workflow.

95% of “professional” DJ’s – I use this to mean those who are playing clubs/venues, mobile & wedding DJ-ing is something I know absolutely nothing about – use CDJ’s that are already at the club.

Just because a control is built to professional grade (the DDJ-SX) does not make it a controller that you can viably use as professional DJ (big doesn’t always equal good.)

Some artists (Zedd and Porter Robinson are the first that come to mind) use big controllers live (they both use the S4), but both regularly do gigs on plain ‘ol CDJ’s as well.

I’ve had no issues using the Twitch in venues ranging from college parties to 2,000 person clubs.
It’s small, it’s insanely customisable, and it’s perfect for me.

If you want to be a professional DJ, the choice of whether or not you use a controller entirely depends on what style of workflow you’ll be using – there’s no best controller for professional use.

I say, do a lot of research, figure out what you need the controller for, and use it.

I’ve got a close friend who’s been playing shoes to 700+ people, and they’ve only ever used a Mixtrack – hardly a “professional” controller, but it works for them, so it kind of is.

tl;dr – It’s professional enough for me, but gigging with a controller depends completely on what kind of DJ you are and if you can find one that works.

The twitch is a tool for DJing. It can be used professionally and I think it is one of the best controllers without jogs.
I am a fan of Itch (and now Serato DJ) and love the software.

I used to do the same as Hardly wrote and played home and mobile with my controller (sold the turntables and CDJs a few years ago) and many times use the CDJs in clubs, because it made no real difference (the only difference was the sync button and I rarely use it anyways).
However nowadays I find I more and more DJ with the controller. Like tomorrow I play a big gig in the largest club in my home town and I know they have just bought the new Nexus stuff. But I am more and more using the fancy iZotope effects, advanced looping functions, filters and samples and I am so comfy with Serato DJ that I know I will bring my controller. Even though hooking up my laptop to the Nexus Mixer and run Traktor (which I own too) would work fine. But I just like the workflow and hassle free operation I get with my setup as I do more controllerist stuff.

This used to be a pain here 2 years ago, as club owners etc. would look down on you if you used a controller. Nowadays you even get respected looks and most club owners identify you more “pro” if you bring your controller and they more treat you like a performer. Now in some parts of the world it may still be the other way around, but I think it is an evolution, not a digital revolution and both sides will co-exist for quite some time.

I bought myself a Twitch for christmas as an upgrade from the Mixtrack pro and moving from VDJ Pro 7 to ITCH. I personally HATE Itch’s search capablility (VDJ just rocks with the search function). The view of “pro” grade material in my opinion is totally based on your workflow. are you a club dj that wants to use the house kit? maybe the ns7 II or DDJ-SX is more “pro” for your world of DJ-ing. I myself am a mobile dj first and a club dj second. I would laugh at someone who did the gigs i did with an NS7 (carrying that lugging thing around? no thanks). the Twitch is “pro” for me because if its incredible small-ness and surprising durability. All i have to do is throw my laptop and Twitch in my (plug) UDG bag and BOOM off i go to my gig, with NO hassle. Plus, once i get to the gig, the Twitch is small enough that i can literally fit it almost anywhere (or right beside the house kit in a club’s booth). In terms of value (recent price slash), durability, and function, the Twitch still is sitting comfortably in it’s own niche – no other “pro-sumer” controller can touch it. sure, it isnt as ‘ballin’ as a ddj-sx or ns 7II, but it fills it’srole perfectly and fits many mobile dj’s workflow better than any other controller. Plus, with Serato DJ coming to Twitch soon, it’s value will rise again. I dont see the Twitch going anywhere untill a big reveal in the summer shakes things up.