Shishdisma

Here’s the train of thought I’m not totally following. To the people really hoping for an SSL/Itch combination, or an upgrade path from DJI to Itch: why are either of these things really significant, and have you ever extensively used the 3 Serato products?

Because I really can’t imagine the Hellspawn that would be SSL and Itch combining, there’s just no reason to have both in one, and the code would become so bloated and layered it wouldn’t be anywhere close to stable for quite a while. They’re two distinct products for two distinct purposes.

And concerning DJ Intro, I really don’t understand the stigma around it, and why its perceived as so needed to get Itch on the Intro controllers. Have any of you actually used Intro? It’s pretty much Itch, sans a few effects… And…. 4 decks? It’s pretty much everything you could want out of a DJ software, Itch is really just icing at that point, the beating heart of Serato, it’s main feature, is still there.

I think it could be useful, but not in the way people are thinking of. A CDJ-2000 and DJM-2000 setup is not a complicated thing to use in any way, shape, or form, and most people could easily get to grips with the overwhelming majority of useable options in a few seconds. CDJs aren’t hard to use, you dont have to beatmatch by instinct or ear or whatever, there aren’t any massive rituals you have to go through to play on them, and there are no secret modes or options you have to go through to do the extent of their ability. Literally every single useful feature, from deck to master out, is very clearly labeled on the unit.

The problem most “out of water” DJs have is thinking that it’s going to be a task to switch over, that they’re going to have to beatmatch blind and read a manual while they’re playing. Thus, a very simple explanation that transport and browse controls are universal, a basic run-through of the 2 different CDJ screens (“HOW I GO BACK TO TRACK?!” “Press the button that was glowing before…”), and a massive banner that reads “DOWNLOAD REKORDBOX AND USE IT OR STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAVEFORMS,” accompanied by a high resolution picture of a CDJ-2000/900 and DJM-2000/900, would be quite a comprehensive guide.

If you dont mind external mixing, the Numark V7(s) is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s got a stupidly high res and sensitive pitch fader, and a motorized platter for fun. It’s also an Itch controller, so software issues are pretty much nonexistent.

It’s really the same motion, just on a different surface. I’d go with the Twitch, because Itch is just as “creative” as Traktor, but without the massive pain in the ass that is Traktor’s browsing and file system. You won’t miss the 4-5 emulated effects or the tape delay. You will miss Serato’s browser.

I don’t know why you’d need the Bridge to use Ableton, just use the NS7, an APC40, and something like an Audio 2 for ableton’s sound. Plug everything (with a hub if you don’t have 3 USB ports), and open up Itch and Ableton. If you route Ableton’s output to the Aux in on the NS7, congratz, you’re now running a much more stable version of the Bridge. There’s absolutely no reason you’d need 2 laptops, just an audio interface for Ableton (if you’re getting an Ableton license, you’re going to want a powerful sound card anyways.)

IIRC, the Numark Serato controllers, (V7, NS7/6, etc) have stupidly sensitive pitch faders, with probably the nicest fader body/cap in existence (even better than CDJ faders). I remember wondering why I had so many 127.93 tunes, when I realized my fader was a miniscule amount off centre.

Unfortunately, the S4 faders are horrendous abominations of hardware, with weird caps and a ton of sticktion (gets “sticky” when it stops moving). So the Trakor options are somewhat limited.

You would just need something like a Traktor Audio 2 to run two output channels into the channel inputs on the mixer, and then just use the mixer like your normally would. It’s a USB connection to two 1/4″ stereo jacks. Which you then split into the 4 RCA ins on the mixer.