Beginner Controller or go all out?
Beginner Controller or go all out? Posted on: 09.02.2012 by Francesca Reeley i have been obsessed with playing music and even delve into music production but i have no controller or gear ! my friends convinced me not to get the Ns6 and just start out with something to see if this is really what i want to do. so i need advice. after more research of instead of the 800$ something more manegable like 350-450 $USD range. and i just want to ask about the Kontrol S2. i wanted the s4 but i believe the s2 will be fine for someone genuinely intrested in this field. right now this website has a pack with the s2 and some little goodies added along. do you guys find the s2 with a 70$ bundle package for 399$ worth it? or should i stick really simply to something like the numark mixtrack pro? those 2 are the ones i got the best feedback from and someone did throw out the pioneer ergo. the highest price controler was denon mc3000 but that on amazon is 560. 160$ more than id like to spend. does the s2 have a nice soundcard? can i listen to music in the headphones before its out? and does it have a booth output. will the s2 offered here come with traktor? haha im open to all suggestions like i said im starting out did serveral parties with virtual DJ and im in love with the field trying to add my own flavor to the mix. thanks a lot guys | |
| Clinton Voran 09.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by synthet1c
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| Francesca Reeley 09.02.2012 | i have been obsessed with playing music and even delve into music production but i have no controller or gear ! my friends convinced me not to get the Ns6 and just start out with something to see if this is really what i want to do. so i need advice. after more research of instead of the 800$ something more manegable like 350-450 $USD range. and i just want to ask about the Kontrol S2. i wanted the s4 but i believe the s2 will be fine for someone genuinely intrested in this field. right now this website has a pack with the s2 and some little goodies added along. do you guys find the s2 with a 70$ bundle package for 399$ worth it? or should i stick really simply to something like the numark mixtrack pro? those 2 are the ones i got the best feedback from and someone did throw out the pioneer ergo. the highest price controler was denon mc3000 but that on amazon is 560. 160$ more than id like to spend. does the s2 have a nice soundcard? can i listen to music in the headphones before its out? and does it have a booth output. will the s2 offered here come with traktor? haha im open to all suggestions like i said im starting out did serveral parties with virtual DJ and im in love with the field trying to add my own flavor to the mix. thanks a lot guys |
| Clinton Voran 09.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by synthet1c
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| Jonathan Chiuchiolo 09.02.2012 | apparently its a bad driver that causes it, I don't use it anymore so don't know from first hand experience http://es.virtualdj.com/community s/15957...ftware%29.html |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 09.02.2012 |
if you have torq installed it will conflict with other dj software.
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| Jacqulyn Erbst 09.02.2012 | vci 300 mk2 with serato itch and free vfx1 controller rebate atm |
| Jonathan Chiuchiolo 09.02.2012 | if you have torq installed it will conflict with other dj software. |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 09.02.2012 | Congrats and well done on getting an extra 5% ... thats one hell of a deal I can't see why you'd need to uninstall VDJ to use Traktor ... but you won't really be using it now anyhow |
| Francesca Reeley 08.02.2012 | okay so i am a PC user i do appreciate all the s2 feedback i went to guitar center today and they all raved about how nice the s2 is going to be at 399 for the rest of this month. for the one guy posting about the vci-100 upgradable to SE i did look into that but i would have to get another soundcard and alladat so i just believe its so much less hasle to get an all in one solution because caruoing the vci100 plus soundcard and external storage and the cables would get messy. i def need a mic out and a booth so i did review things extensively to decide on the s2. i always second guess myself lol i make choices very slowly. even deciding between ableton and fruityloops on which one to learn took me weeks to decide lmao. anyway im just wondering why you said a vci100 blows it out of the water. is it the build quality? i dont believe many people know how nice the plastic feels metalish on the s2 i held it in my hands for the first time and it felt great. nothing compared to the xone xd or numark stuff. the ns6 looked sexy tho ;] but in 2 years from now after i finish this rocket crash course all my dj friends are getting me into i will be able to upgrade to something past the s4 past the vci 400 and be completely fine with paying a grand AT THAT time. it was a good upgrade path this way and for 399 minus a 5% discount its such a good deal including traktor pro 2 thank you for all the help and suggestions i really did need this thread tho because of the mapping the one guy posted which will help a lot since i only ever used virtual DJ i herd i have to unsintall or else the 2 programs will conflict with each other? |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 08.02.2012 |
However im not sure that someone who is looking to start needs all of those things. When i started i listened to the mix from my headphone going out from my comp..... really only need a sound card for clubs (which im not sure the original poster is at this point yet)
No card means no instrument or midi or mic inputs, which again i dont believe th user will need.... if hes just getting into DJ'ing im betting hes not a producer so all those inputs that aren't there on the card he doesn't have should be fine.
2. He'd also still needs to buy software.
I dont agree with you when you say the controller is not intuitive. The only part of the controller which may be considered non-intuitive is the FX section and that only because you have to press a button to get from FX unti A to B.
Just seems like really bad advice to me. |
| Shante Lemense 08.02.2012 | @Deevey You make some good points. However im not sure that someone who is looking to start needs all of those things. When i started i listened to the mix from my headphone going out from my comp..... really only need a sound card for clubs (which im not sure the original poster is at this point yet) No card means no instrument or midi or mic inputs, which again i dont believe th user will need.... if hes just getting into DJ'ing im betting hes not a producer so all those inputs that aren't there on the card he doesn't have should be fine. Its old..... but who gives a fuck!!!! You dont see DJTT making specialized overlays and mappings for other newer models. I dont agree with you when you say the controller is not intuitive. The only part of the controller which may be considered non-intuitive is the FX section and that only because you have to press a button to get from FX unti A to B. EQis where it should be, crossfader, jog wheels, pitch faders... yada yada yada In the end if you buy a controller because someone tells you its the best and you havent done any research on what your spending your money on, you probably should have done some more homework in finding what you want to do with traktor and your controller. @original poster ------ go find a friend who mixes and try using their shit... if its not what you want grab your laptop and head over to guitar center for an afternoon and try every unit u believe will be good. Those dudes at GC are dope except if you try and sell them something they will offer your abour 5% of what its worth, then you will hate them PC..... good luck..... may the force be with you all. |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 08.02.2012 |
just going to go ahead and disagree with everyone here and suggest the best controller for you price range would be VCI-100SE.
*Decent software bundled If the VCI100 Mk2 had the same features as the SE I'd say its a runner, but the SE = $150-200 - For the Unit Secondhand with no warranty $100 - Decent Soundcard (Audio 2) which won't have a mic input. $40 - SE Upgrade $200 - Software Errrrrrrrrr $440 - $490 for a secondhand unit with no warranty and still no mic input, with a non-intuitive layout, hmmm let me ponder this. |
| Shante Lemense 08.02.2012 | just going to go ahead and disagree with everyone here and suggest the best controller for you price range would be VCI-100SE. This controller can do basically all that the s2 can, and has been completely remapped by DJTT, allowing it to do some pretty cool stuff. Just google the "VCI-100SE" and start watching the videos. IF and i repeat IF you are a PC you can buy a normal VCI-100 for cheap (got mine for $150), along with a firmware upgrade chip from DJTT (i believe its like 40$) which will turn the normal VCI-100 into the VCI-100SE.......... Can you say "fuck'n A" So thats my opinion. At least worth looking at. If you own the PC and go that route your looking at a controler for about $200-250 that IMO blows the s2 out of the water...... Now if you are on mac and want to do the VCI-100 you cannot get the firmware upgrade chip and must buy the VCI-100SE from DJTT which is around $550 so..... if you want the VCI-100SE and are on a mac it is way more expensive, but still way cool. Im getting the VCI-400 ean golden edition when its out later this month which is going to be around $1000, pry out of your price range. But its is basically the best things from the VCI-100SE, S4 DJTT mapping, and the midi fighter all bundled together. BALLLLLUUUUHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! |
| Nereida Kaminsky 08.02.2012 | As everyone else said, go for the S2, I had the mixtrack pro, and its great and all, but nothing compared to the quality and price combo of the S2. Not sure if you are used to using traktor, but its easy to pick up ! |
| Arlinda Finazzo 08.02.2012 | Yeah it comes with Traktor Pro 2... that makes it a complete steal of a deal, considering full version of Traktor Pro 2 (not upgrade) is $229. Great deal, and it's not just a good starting point, it's something you should be able to grow in to as you learn more features (loops, samples, hot cues, efx, etc). |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 08.02.2012 | At the current price of $399 you won't get any better build quality/soundcard/software combo out there - its solid! At the regular price mind you its a bit "meh!" |
| Lashay Walchak 08.02.2012 | VERY solid controller. It will also complement the new Kontrol F1 coming in April or any of the Behringer CMD series also coming soon. It's a great controller, and for that price it's a steal considering it comes with a copy of Traktor 2. I've got a custom map here that you should check out. |
| Yong Aptekar 08.02.2012 | Use the search button, a very high percentage of people on here will suggest the S2. The package deal with it is great, and its a pretty solid controller. |
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