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Which controller?

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  • November 11, 2014 at 8:41 am #2086751
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Well if you are on a budget spinning platters will not happen.

    Also no there is no way to get the experience of a real good DJ software on mobile devices (yet).

    So you will want to bring your laptop.

    Not the minimum required is a DJ controller, for low cost these are the entry controllers we like to recommend:
    – reloop Beatmix 2 or 4
    – Numark Mixtrack Pro I or II
    – Pioneer DDJ-SB
    – Denon MC 2000

    If you are more serious these controllers will have better performance and come already with full DJ software packages:
    – reloop Terminal Mix 8
    – Pioneer DDJ-SR or SX2
    – Denon MC6000 Mk II

    You will need some sort of audio speakers to practice, but a pair of M-Audio AV 40 will do in the beginning. For more serious use check out the KRK Rockit series.

    And of course some headphones. For cheap ones check out the Sennheiser 201s they should be 20 bucks.

    November 11, 2014 at 11:50 am #2086811
    Stephen Davies
    Participant

    Hi Terry. Thanks for your reply. It looks like I may be able to pick up a Reloop Beatmix 2 for under £100 which is pretty good.

    I also saw this: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/behringer-cmd-micro-dj-controller-with-image/551390-01/?currency=GBP&flt=1&gclid=CjwKEAiAhIejBRCKm_fTxIWyyXcSJABXY0XYn7AaiESG_8OfNbHXzqfkavJ8LtM5qa0Y8ebbnEzeSRoCXJPw_wcB

    Would this do as a start? Is there anything else I’d need, bar the laptop and a bunch of mp3s?

    I still have my old vinyl rig, in fact I’ll be mounting any digital solution alongside to play with at home so I have speakers, headphones etc.

    November 11, 2014 at 12:20 pm #2086831
    deathy
    Participant

    I was looking at a Micro DJ when I wanted to get into DJing cheap, it is a VERY tiny controller. I ended up going with a Hercules DJ Control Instinct instead, because it has a built in sound-card so I can cue on headphones while another track is playing. The DJ Control Instinct generally has more functionality than the Micro DJ, except it doesn’t have pitch faders for beatmatching, whereas the Micro DJ does.

    November 11, 2014 at 4:15 pm #2086981
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Stay away from that Behringer.

    As I said if you have headphones and speakers, then no you are set.

    November 19, 2014 at 10:52 am #2092231
    Stephen Davies
    Participant

    So, after trawling the internet for reviews and managing to actually handle a couple of controllers in Maplins, I settled on a Numark controller. I really liked the Mixtrack but then I managed to find a DJ2GO on ebay, brand new and unused for £25!

    I figure that it’s cheap enough at that price to be worth the gamble and if I hate it, there’s still time to ask Santa for something more “pro”.

    Eventually, I would like to pair it with a 7″ Android tablet, which I already own, using Cross DJ. Does anyone use this?

    Then I can use the Sony srs-btm8 we have in the kitchen and one of these:

    And I’ll surely have the smallest DJ setup ever. Coming to a phone box near you soon!

    December 8, 2014 at 4:17 pm #2103961
    Stephen Davies
    Participant

    So, I had a 3 hour train journey to keep myself occupied on so dug out my new, ultra portable Dj setup to play with. It took about 30 mins for me to get used to the controls but how much fun once it clicks!

    I had intended to ignore the “sync” button and the bpm counter, etc but they’re so tempting. No wonder everyone has effects loops and stuff these days. Otherwise, what would you do while you’re waiting for a track to play out?

    I know this will be news to no-one but it even tells you the BPM of the track before you load it, then updates not only the pitch % but the BPM as you move the faders. Being used to vinyl, this is an absolute revelation. You lot don’t know you’re born, get off my lawn, etc. 🙂

    I think I can live without the pitch + and – buttons and just use the jog wheels. So, I think I might look into using different software and re-mapping to bass kills or something (unless someone can convince me otherwise). Which software would make this easy? What’s Mixx like?

    December 10, 2014 at 11:05 am #2104941
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Frankly, I have a hard enough time keeping up with the big 4 (just my opinion as always). As NI felt no shame in pulling my Traktor 2 Pro upgrade when I sold my controller with the LE license that goes with it, I took that off my PC and it’s now off my radar (other than keeping abreast of feature developments). I have Serato and toy around with it. No big fan of VDJ (never have been, frankly. My software of choice is Mixvibes Cross. The DJ2Go is natively supported if I am not mistaken and it has a reasonably comprehensive mapping feature. The forum community at Mixvibes has some really good mapping guys how seem to always willing to help out those struggling with a mapping.

    I can’t tell you about Mixx or any of the other “2nd tier” software unfortunately. But I am sure there are Mixx users amongst our reader base. So no doubt you’ll be getting some reactions there.

    December 10, 2014 at 1:31 pm #2104991
    DJ 2-Easy
    Participant

    Same story with me really, had decks/mixer in my youth. Went digital about a year ago with a Reloop Terminal Mix 2 running Serato. Nice big jog wheels for scratching etc, loving every minute of it. Hip Hop & D&B are my genres of choice but I love all music really.

    If you like ya D&B Stephen, check me out on Liquid D&B http://www.liquiddnb.com/mix/db-select-vol4
    Or Mixcloud http://www.mixcloud.com/seanavery71/

    December 12, 2014 at 5:56 pm #2106811
    Stephen Davies
    Participant

    @DJ Vintage – I’m on a budget though so for me, it’s got to be cheap or free. I want to record my mixes too so Mixxx is probably where I’ll start. Looking at the website, the midi file for the DJ2GO is already set up with high and low filters on the pitch + and – anyway. Happy days.


    @DJ     2-Easy – I’ve never really done any scratching so the tiny jog wheels and super portable nature of the DJ2GO suit me pretty well though, as others have noted it’s *very* easy to nudge them while mixing. I only ever play out for friends though and they’re always pissed by the time I come on. Last time I played out I got about a minute into a Merz track before realising I had it on the wrong speed. So I nudged it up to 45rpm during a 2 or three beat drop and the only person in the tent that noticed was my DJ buddy whose record it was!

    I’ll definitely check out the link. It will be a welcome change from the Christmas songs in my house! Cheers.

    December 16, 2014 at 7:47 am #2107991
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Hi Stephen,

    A full-blown version of Cross comes to 34 USD/Euro (don’t ask) if you don’t need DVS, video or CDJ HID capability. I’d say it’s the cheapest full version software out there and it’s not very picky (there is no need for anything “certified”).

    But yeah, can’t beat free if it gives you the features you need.

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