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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Why a controller..? - Page: 1

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Hey, All.

New to this mixing lark, almost by accident, as the then-girlfriend claimed she was a DJ, but couldn't mix for toffee, not CD's, vinyls, not nothing at all...

She managed to blag a gig for Pride in Brighton, so helpfully, I trawled the net, found VDJ, downloaded the demo, then upgraded a week later, and I've not looked back.

Anyway, to the point, then - why do I need a controller, if at all? The whole point of VDJ is... it does it all for you..? Surely, its like sitting behind the wheel of a car, then driving it by remote control?

Being a tech-geek anyway, and loving all things computer, I fell in love with the software, and bought a Numark 101 mixer, external USB soundcard, and frankly, I'm as happy as a pig in the proverbial. Need I fork out the extra?

Your thoughts?
 
geposted Mon 01 Oct 12 @ 12:16 pm
You don't need to by a controller but I think you'd find the level of control you have with one is much better. Also, there is something to be said for looking like a DJ rather than just being slumped over a laptop... just my opinion though. Me and my DJ friends have a name for DJs who solely use a laptop... we call them "point and click" DJs... and yes the term is used in derogatory way.
 
PnC - I like that! So, really it IS about looking like a DJ... :)

Having scoured the forums, I notice the rage of the debate over the SYNC button, too.

Again, its the difference between a SatNav, and your local AtoZ roadmap - both work, but one more efficiently and quickly than the other!
 
I used nothing but a mouse and keyboard when I started with a laptop in 1999 (PCDJ Red) and then with BPM Studio for quite a while until I could afford their RCP controller.

Once I got the controller it definitely made a difference. That was followed by the DN-HC4500 with VDJ and now the DN-MC6000.

I couldn't go back the way now!

Keith
 
Funny Keith. Your DJ path was almost exactly like mine except I never used PCDJ and could never afford the BPM controller. I still have their software and USB dongle!
 
Like I say, I bought a mixer, albeit a very simple, inexpensive mixer, but it makes me 'feel' a bit more like a DJ, chopping about is considerably easier, and as far as adjusting the levels (to a degree), and the crossfading doesn't sound quite so mechanical and clinical as the software fader makes it...
 
Ha Ha...... I have the little silver dongle too, but BPM Studio never got developed further and the version I have now only runs on XP. Alcatech wanted stupid money to make it run on Vista/Win7 so that's when I moved over to VDJ.

Only one pitch slider works on the RCP but I may set it up on one of my spare machines for a bit of a memory jog one day :)
 
I'm a "point & click dj" and this is what i and my partner in crime do with it:



and that pretty much says it all - not always the equipment is it?

controllers are great, and i've seen dj's work serious magic with them and VDJ but honestly in this club, we just don't have the time for them. we even bought a hercules controller back when we first got VDJ but eventually decided it was just in the way with what we were doing.

the geek in me says "go for it" for anyone wanting to use a controller, but the "it ain't broke - don't fix it!" guy says just that.

'circumstances are different when it comes to gear and gigs - use what works best for youto put on the show.
 
I wrote a long reply to this and then deleted it.

 
I've been a DJ since 1996, a digital DJ since 2004 (AtomixMp3) and a "VJ" since 2006. I "point and click" my way 3-5 nights a week (48 weeks) a year. I've never used a controller. Other than occasionally needing one for AIR TRAFFIC
I don't have a need for one. :-O <---OMG Face
 
Charlie Wilson wrote :
I wrote a long reply to this and then deleted it.



right there with ya. done that many many many times in these here forums and sometimes i've actually regreted it and wished i'd kept and posted it.


was it a good rant or a bad rant?
 
At my residency here in the states (at a gentlemens club) I can get away with point and click but at mobiles for corporate events that I book they want more "Entertainment" and straight up bveat mixing. Tried PnC but was a disater I felt like a total noob. Got a MTP and what a difference. Busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Might have to give up my "Regular" job.

You might be playing a track that may not be well know at the time but acting like it is the hottest track out there gets people moving. Gangnam style is a great example. It broke on youtube about 10 days before a LARGE event I had I downloaded it figured what would be a good KNOWN song to mix with it got to the gig dropped it and the crowd went NUTS. hasrd to do with beatmixcing via point and click.

go with as controller u wont be sorry
 
Keith like you I started with PCDJ back in 97, I had a lunchbox system. I was still using CD at the time and I didn't like the BPM controllers when they came out. I could never do a party without a controller.

WildCOUNTRY - I don't understand this comment " we just don't have the time for them" Out of just plain curiosity, how do you not have time for a controller?
 
really mikey... got another question to put in ur thread???
 
Mikey_With wrote :
Hey, All.
, I trawled the net, found VDJ, downloaded the demo, then upgraded a week later, and I've not looked back?


Upgraded to what?
 
Mikey_With wrote :
I trawled the net, found VDJ, downloaded the demo, then upgraded a week later, and I've not looked back.


thats why ur still a NLU
 
A Man and His Music wrote :
Mikey_With wrote :
Hey, All.
, I trawled the net, found VDJ, downloaded the demo, then upgraded a week later, and I've not looked back?


Upgraded to what?


LOL
 
waltworek wrote :
hasrd to do with beatmixcing via point and click.



sorry, but i don't get that. and no, i don't use the sync button at work for mixing. i might use the keyboard to nudge, or use mouse to click up a loop and then ease the pitch to match, but no sync button - it doesnt always work.

but not understanding how its hard to beat match/mix with point n click. if anything its easier as long as you still use the mark I mod I ear.
 
I have Pro Basic, but can I find the key to put it into in my profile? Can I toffee... And the technical support just seems to go round and round and round...
 
@Mikey - did you check your spam folder for an email from atomix/VDJ? maybe it got lost in the shuffle? and a bit of patience with tech support: with millions of downloads, even if only 1% of users had problems, thats still ALOT of people all trying to get attention at once.

@zamooda - we have a limited time for mixing with the main focus in the club being on the country music. during the time when its not country we're going full tilt at them. we did experiment to see which was faster and the point n click worked MUCH faster and easier for us.


almost as bad as the software vs vinyl debate ain't it?

same answer from me: use whats best for you.
 
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