smoez
Hi,
Be for warned this post will be a little long!
So basicly, I've always want to try DJing and recently before christmas decided I would try it, and decided to buy the ION Audio Discover DJ midi controller. I tried it and liked it alot, for the first couple weeks. However, if you've ever seen the Discover DJ you'd know its a very limitted controller as well as the software, Mixvibes LE, its packaged with. So, bored with the program I decided to search for a new one and came across Virtual DJ, which is a pretty great program, but what I was looking for was a program which would allow me to sample and use effects and then stumbled upon Traktor Demo version which I've become very found of!
SO onto the question!
I've recently been searching for a new Midi Controller to play around with, I like to mix the Danceish genre and have a price range capped at about $400. I'd like a controller that's packaged with Traktor LE hopefully but I could settle for VDJ as well. I'd also hopefully like the controller to have a built in Audio Interface & Touch Sensitive Jog Wheels. Also I'd like it to be brand new hopefully. If you have or have tried any of the controllers in the list below that I'm thinking about, could you please tell me, is the controller diverse (i.e lots of knobs faders buttons), rate the controller on a scale of 1-10, problems with the controller/support, etc. I dont plan to do gigs as I'm not that great but your help is much appreciated! :D
List of Controllers:
MixTrack Pro
Reloop Digital Jockey 2 Interface Edition
I-Mix Reload: MKII
Gemini Ctrl-Six
AND Possiably
Vestax Vci-100 MKII
THANKS
Be for warned this post will be a little long!
So basicly, I've always want to try DJing and recently before christmas decided I would try it, and decided to buy the ION Audio Discover DJ midi controller. I tried it and liked it alot, for the first couple weeks. However, if you've ever seen the Discover DJ you'd know its a very limitted controller as well as the software, Mixvibes LE, its packaged with. So, bored with the program I decided to search for a new one and came across Virtual DJ, which is a pretty great program, but what I was looking for was a program which would allow me to sample and use effects and then stumbled upon Traktor Demo version which I've become very found of!
SO onto the question!
I've recently been searching for a new Midi Controller to play around with, I like to mix the Danceish genre and have a price range capped at about $400. I'd like a controller that's packaged with Traktor LE hopefully but I could settle for VDJ as well. I'd also hopefully like the controller to have a built in Audio Interface & Touch Sensitive Jog Wheels. Also I'd like it to be brand new hopefully. If you have or have tried any of the controllers in the list below that I'm thinking about, could you please tell me, is the controller diverse (i.e lots of knobs faders buttons), rate the controller on a scale of 1-10, problems with the controller/support, etc. I dont plan to do gigs as I'm not that great but your help is much appreciated! :D
List of Controllers:
MixTrack Pro
Reloop Digital Jockey 2 Interface Edition
I-Mix Reload: MKII
Gemini Ctrl-Six
AND Possiably
Vestax Vci-100 MKII
THANKS
geposted Thu 10 Mar 11 @ 6:16 pm
Zamooda
I'm no expert on midi controllers as I have only used Denons 4500 and MC6k. I think the issue u may have on this particular forum is the fact that you will "settle" for VDJ. Lots of peeps here are willing to help out and much more knowledgeable in the controller realm than I, but the question your going to get is, why would u be asking for help from members of inferior software? (asked in Sarcastic fashion of course).
geposted Thu 10 Mar 11 @ 8:30 pm
jbart19
mixtrack pro works pretty well
geposted Thu 10 Mar 11 @ 11:17 pm
Tim Bennett
I enjoy the Numark MixTrack Pro, great controller at a very good price.
Trust me, you are not "settling" when you choose VDJ. I have been very happy with the program.
Good luck,
T
Trust me, you are not "settling" when you choose VDJ. I have been very happy with the program.
Good luck,
T
geposted Fri 11 Mar 11 @ 8:23 am
MAGAGAR80
I use both VDJ and Traktors but VDJ is my #1 choice, I hop on Traktor when I feel like going effects crazy LOL
Anyway, I have owned a few of these units so here's my opinion.
The mixTrack pro looks pretty solid for the price, but its plastic and I don't like plastic toys. But the control surface itself works great and you cant complain about the price.
The Reloop Digital Jockey is a good unit for Traktor DJs, the layout if made more for Traktor than for Virtual DJ. I didn't like the jogs on this unit and the controller was also plastic. This unit actually reminded me of a Numark Total Control, I'm willing to be the same Asian manufacture makes both units because they felt very similar to me except that the Digital Jockey had a lot more bells and whistles than a Total Control. My main reason for getting rid of it was the layout, I just didn't lake the layout for use with VDJ.
I have never tried an I-Mix or any DJ tech product so I can't comments on their products.
Gemini Ctrl-Six provides a good control layout for Virtual DJ but the sound card was not ASIO compatible, also made out of plastic. oh I also found the buttons were not quick to respond in some cases.
Vestax Vci-100 MKII - The Vestax controller are great! I would definitely save a little more money for the upgrade, the jog wheels on Vestax controllers feel solid. If your not willing to spend that much on a Vestax VCI-100 MKII then I would suggest you look at a Vestax Typhoon controller, its basically has the same jog wheel technology but a different layout (Less buttons than a VCI-100) but at a cheaper price and comes bundled with Traktor LE. There's also the Apple Version of this controller called the Vestax Spin and that looks a lot nicer, now that one is only meant for MAC computers but if you do your research there's a way to get the sound card to work on a PC. The Spin however does not come bundled with Traktor LE or Virtual DJ LE.
Also have you looked at the Hercules 4-mx ($499 US) or the soon to be released 4set (Approx $250 US)?
Hercules has built some solid controllers so these should be great also. Both of their newer controllers have full CDJ size jog wheels and built in sound cards. The major differences are 1) Price 2) layout 3) color 4) 4-mx has aluminum case and the 4set has a plastic case and 5) the 4-mx has sound card inputs so you can connect DJs or turntables to it and the 4set only has outputs to get your mix out to your sound system.
Anyway, I have owned a few of these units so here's my opinion.
The mixTrack pro looks pretty solid for the price, but its plastic and I don't like plastic toys. But the control surface itself works great and you cant complain about the price.
The Reloop Digital Jockey is a good unit for Traktor DJs, the layout if made more for Traktor than for Virtual DJ. I didn't like the jogs on this unit and the controller was also plastic. This unit actually reminded me of a Numark Total Control, I'm willing to be the same Asian manufacture makes both units because they felt very similar to me except that the Digital Jockey had a lot more bells and whistles than a Total Control. My main reason for getting rid of it was the layout, I just didn't lake the layout for use with VDJ.
I have never tried an I-Mix or any DJ tech product so I can't comments on their products.
Gemini Ctrl-Six provides a good control layout for Virtual DJ but the sound card was not ASIO compatible, also made out of plastic. oh I also found the buttons were not quick to respond in some cases.
Vestax Vci-100 MKII - The Vestax controller are great! I would definitely save a little more money for the upgrade, the jog wheels on Vestax controllers feel solid. If your not willing to spend that much on a Vestax VCI-100 MKII then I would suggest you look at a Vestax Typhoon controller, its basically has the same jog wheel technology but a different layout (Less buttons than a VCI-100) but at a cheaper price and comes bundled with Traktor LE. There's also the Apple Version of this controller called the Vestax Spin and that looks a lot nicer, now that one is only meant for MAC computers but if you do your research there's a way to get the sound card to work on a PC. The Spin however does not come bundled with Traktor LE or Virtual DJ LE.
Also have you looked at the Hercules 4-mx ($499 US) or the soon to be released 4set (Approx $250 US)?
Hercules has built some solid controllers so these should be great also. Both of their newer controllers have full CDJ size jog wheels and built in sound cards. The major differences are 1) Price 2) layout 3) color 4) 4-mx has aluminum case and the 4set has a plastic case and 5) the 4-mx has sound card inputs so you can connect DJs or turntables to it and the 4set only has outputs to get your mix out to your sound system.
geposted Fri 11 Mar 11 @ 11:55 am
smoez
thanks for the posts!
Excellent answers but I'm still looking!
I'm not specificly looking to scratch but touch sensititve jog wheels are always a +!
Excellent answers but I'm still looking!
I'm not specificly looking to scratch but touch sensititve jog wheels are always a +!
geposted Fri 11 Mar 11 @ 2:18 pm
smoez
Hey forgot to mention!
I also did a comparison chart here to help my desicion!
http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m509/dobo1/?action=view¤t=MidiMixer.jpg
thoughts?
I also did a comparison chart here to help my desicion!
http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m509/dobo1/?action=view¤t=MidiMixer.jpg
thoughts?
geposted Fri 11 Mar 11 @ 3:52 pm
Doomtb
Cool comparison chart, I'm trying to decide on a midi controller in the < $500 range as well.
I thought the Reloop DJ2 was made out of metal and plastic, it looks nice and solid in the photos. Unfortunately there is no where local that I can go to check it out.
Hercules RMX, 4set, and 4-MX I recommend you look at too. It all depends on your needs but here's how I would recommend them:
Numark Mixtrack Pro if you are a beginner and like you said, you won't be doing any gigs so plastic will be okay without being damaged.
Hercules RMX if you want something sturdier and don't wanna scratch.
Hercules 4-MX if you are serious and want to do gigs.
Reloop looks good to me but I haven't held one and it does work for Traktor.
Vestax is another solid choice if you have the money for it.
I would stay away from Gemini because they usually make cheap crap. I haven't heard of i-Mix.
American Audio VMS4 is solid but I have heard of a lot of issues with them.
I thought the Reloop DJ2 was made out of metal and plastic, it looks nice and solid in the photos. Unfortunately there is no where local that I can go to check it out.
Hercules RMX, 4set, and 4-MX I recommend you look at too. It all depends on your needs but here's how I would recommend them:
Numark Mixtrack Pro if you are a beginner and like you said, you won't be doing any gigs so plastic will be okay without being damaged.
Hercules RMX if you want something sturdier and don't wanna scratch.
Hercules 4-MX if you are serious and want to do gigs.
Reloop looks good to me but I haven't held one and it does work for Traktor.
Vestax is another solid choice if you have the money for it.
I would stay away from Gemini because they usually make cheap crap. I haven't heard of i-Mix.
American Audio VMS4 is solid but I have heard of a lot of issues with them.
geposted Fri 11 Mar 11 @ 6:45 pm
jbart19
If your price range goes up to $500 like Doomtb may i suggest the Numark mixdeck - kinda the big brother to the mixtrack pro - definite step up! While you may not see it listed online in the $500 range my local GC was recently selling them for $519
geposted Sat 12 Mar 11 @ 12:10 am
MAGAGAR80
Yeah the Numark Mixdeck is definitely a nice unit, it will also allow you to play CDs and your IPOD....not to mention that you can connect other external sources.
geposted Sat 12 Mar 11 @ 12:03 pm
smoez
Thanks for more feedback guys!
i'll take a look at the mixdeck!
And for the post 2 above mine, do you live in canada or usa?
Thanks :D!
edit: and btw is the mixdeck able to be used like a controller?(ie plug in and play?)
And does it have a headphone jack?
Thanks!
i'll take a look at the mixdeck!
And for the post 2 above mine, do you live in canada or usa?
Thanks :D!
edit: and btw is the mixdeck able to be used like a controller?(ie plug in and play?)
And does it have a headphone jack?
Thanks!
geposted Sat 12 Mar 11 @ 3:06 pm
the SOUND INSURGENT
My review of the Micdeck,
Happy shopping
Huey
I love my Mixdeck
geposted Sat 12 Mar 11 @ 3:16 pm
jbart19
IF you meant me USA -Cincinnnati OH area - Got my mixderck for $525 at sweetwater on sale about a month ago and it is great - also have the mixtrack pro - really no comparison since the mixdeck has cd players and an ipod dock.
geposted Sat 12 Mar 11 @ 5:44 pm