Onelove221

I’m of two minds on this,

As a working DJ, I don’t have time to futz around trying to implement and troubleshoot a workng solution for a piece of $1000 hardware. I need something that just plain works and no, I’m not interested in LE or ‘lite’ versions of software. I’m a grownup. I do my research, weigh any tradeoffs or comprimises and make my decision.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.

I can accept that.

The way I see it, there is a market for both proprietary controllers and a more open approach. Both have a place in the current landscape.

For gear like the S4 or NS6, both pieces would be comprimised considerably if they weren’t mapped 1:1 to a piece of highly functional software – for various reasons. Jog wheel response for one thing.

The layouts, ergonomics and functionality of those devices are designed to create the best workflow possible for a DJ using a specific piece of software. That is what makes them great products. Doing away with the tight integration of these products would make them less functional for a DJ who has to get on with the business of playing the music.

For DIYers and Hackers who prefer the flexibility of a more open-source approach, there are options out there. And of course, most new controlers can be mapped to just about any software. Just don’t expect the implementations to be as usable as those originally intended by the manufacturers.

The bottom line is this: There may come a time when companies like Rane, NI, Numark etc. offer ‘bare bones’ MIDI controllers without the price burden of proprietary software, but that day is a long, long way off.

@ Phil

Exactly.

I can imagine circumstances where Traktor’s more powerful effects and its egde in flexibility (oh how nice it would be if ITCH could do vinyl emulation!) would come in handy, but for the kind of music I play, SSL and Itch do the job just fine.

Plus I love the free upgrades for life for both SSL and ITCH.

In the end, everyone should just use what feels good. DJing at the end of the day, is a creative experience and the artist should use the tool that best allows them to bring their voice and artistic expression into the world.

I just upgraded my VCI-300 with effects to a NS6 and couldn’t be happier. When I was shopping for a new controller about a month ago, I played with a few of the market players. Here’s why I made the choice I did.

S4 vs NS6
Pros – Smaller footprint, Traktor has sampler module and slightly better effects
Cons – Plasticky feel, jog wheels are in the wrong place compared to pictch controls, cramped if you have big hands, no booth out, No strip search, can’t be used as a standalone mixer

Pioneer DDJ T1 vs NS6
Pros – Familiar ergos if you are used to playing on CDJs, also has strip search
Cons – even bigger than the NS6, too expensive for what you get, feels plasticky, no booth out

Denon MC6000 vs NS6
Pros – also built like a tank, video ready, priced right, booth out, also usable as a standalone mixer
Cons – really small and cramped feeling.

The biggest plus for the NS6 for me was the scratch response, it can be used as a standalone mixer and the fact that it has a booth out, which means it’s not confined to mobile gigs like my VCI-300. I’ve used it at a major nightclub gig and it performed flawlessly.