softcore

1. FULLY customisable Midi messages.
By fully I mean things such as:
a. what midi message a button transmits (type: CC value/note/program change/stepped Midi CC parameter mode/custom message, maximum value, minimum value (for stepped too), ability to invert min-max, toggle or push-button behaviour)
b. what midi message a knob/fader transmits (type: CC value/note/program change/custom message, maximum value, minimum value, ability to invert min-max, ability to change sensitivity according to acceleration, ability to send pre-defined messages according to position). Also ability to change behaviour of led-rings (typical, inverted, pan, spread, 2 leds lit when value in middle of two leds)

2. FULLY update-able controls
If its a button, feature a led to show current status even when changing the related software parameter
If its a knob, led rings to show current status even when changing the related software parameter
If its a fader, motorised to show current status even when changing the related software parameter

3. Ability to have endless or typical knobs
Providing two sets of replaceable caps for knobs where one set’s caps will feature a “tooth” so that these caps provide typical knobs (with end points, and a litle “tick” in the middle position) and the other set of caps to provide endless rotary knobs (no tooth to stop at the end points)

4.Dedicated software for SETTING THE ABOVE
To edit all the options above – using the hardware device to set all these things is cumbersome, a dedicated software which connects with the hardware and presents all the above settings and options in a clean, intuitive “WYSIWYG” editor
– click button A on the dedicated editor, type Midi CC no and other options and voila, the button A on the hardware does what you set it to)

5. Presets of transmitting messages
To change on the fly, the above settings, thus multiplying the actual parameters you can control in your software. Ability to receive changed parameters of one preset even when another one is active so that when you return to that first preset, the controls are updated with the new parameters in the software. Mackie emulation mode would also be a plus.

6. Generic layout approach
Fed by todays leading DJing-live performance software not so much visually but more like the amount of controls available matching the amount of controls needed for a typical-advanced DJ-live performance set up.
example: I dont care if the faders are placed according to where they are in the software, Im more concerned if the amount of faders available on the hardware can cover all my decks/tracks needs in my software.

My “utopic” hardware layout
Main section
Top section: 8 motorised faders
middle section: 3 rows of 8 buttons
lowest section: 3 rows of 8 knobs with push-button

sideways section: a group of 4-8 buttons for general operations, two buttons to change presets of what the “main section” and sideways section group controls do
(presets being what you can set in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 via dedicated software of paragraph 4)

Generally speaking I’d prefer a more “studio mixer”-look-alike than a typical “DJ mixer”-look-alike controller.

7. Price
With the above features, no soundcard built-in Id buy it for 300 – 350 euros.

8. Build Quality

I own a pair of AKG 141 STUDIO and a pair of Pioneer HDJ-1000

I had bought the AKGs for listening to my productions during late night hours and I was very very pleased with their general sound but never had any other “studio-targeted” headphones to compare them with.
When i started DJing, I tried to use them but, as mentioned, they were not designed to isolate external noise.

That’s when I bought the Pioneers and Im satisfied with them but again, Im not particularly demanding and have never used any other “DJ-targeted” headphones to compare them with. (well I used to have a pair of Technics which I cant even recall the model right now, but that was a loooong time ago, so I really can’t tell).

I can tell this though, the AKGs have far more “detailed” sound and their stereo-image is wider, things that I instantly recognised only after I acquired the Pioneers and compared. Still though, for DJing the Pioneers are way more suitable.

Judging from the sources of this very blog, I’d go for the S2 too.

Hey there, D-Jam…..Moschopoylos….sensing Greek roots?
Those advices are definitely well thought out!

I started producing some 10 years ago using only software, so I thought of naming myself “Softcore”…..It didn’t occur to me that it would give me a litle bit of trouble when trying to register on various websites which have chosen to ban this word (usually because it defines a specific category of porn)…Too late for that now, I guess! It did give me a lot of random visits on my website though! lol

I still wonder what Beatport would think of an LP named “Audioporn” – imagine that….. “Softcore – Audioporn” :p

Im using Ableton Live because of the capability to create custom effect chains and using a bit of real-time performance/sampling.
To give some examples:
– Using Live’s Looper, a few controller buttons and apropriate channel rooting, I had the loop-recorder/sampler Traktor now has before it was in there. I could also choose on the fly if i want to loop-record deck A, deck B or both dekcs (master) and I also had a, guess what, a low-high cut filter on that.
*To be sincere, when I saw Traktor implementing those sample decks with the filters beneath, I remember bragging secretly to myself that I had come up with an idea that later on a huge djing software company thought – kinda gave me a self-confidence boost lol.*
– Imagine Traktor’s reverb followed by a sidechain compressor (driven from a non-audible kick drum) – for those not into production techniques this creates the effect of a “pumping” reverb effect, so commonly used you might even think what you just heard wasnt the DJ’s FX but a sound from the originally played track. Not doable in any DJ software (even those with VST support) because you need an extra channel for the compressor input). Yup, its doable in Live, imagination is your limit.
– In my typical, well – prepared DJ set for a club, I’ll usually accompany the classic two decks with a drum synthesizer, usually using hi-hats, toms or snares of it, a sampler with some swooshes and wooooashes and well you know what I mean, sound effects categorised in drops, rises, explotions all mapped to my keys and one synthesizer for a bit of electro-bleepy sequenced noises.

Of course, I have to add the fact that being primarly a producer and wanting to “inject” live-performance (playing synths and samplers) to my DJ sets played a big part in choosing Live. I must say it must seem a very awkward program for a guy coming from vinyls or cds and despite the custom effects and whatnot I wouldnt recommend it to an experienced Vinly or CD DJ who wants to just go digital – Traktor should feel more apropriate to him.