Looking for a CDJ Style Midi Controller

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Looking for a CDJ Style Midi Controller
Posted on: 15.09.2011 by Nick Kingsley
Hey guys,

I've been believeing recently that it would be right up my alley if I could find a pair of really simple CDJ style midi controllers.

Basically this is all I need, but I'm not going to waste money on this brand.



These denon's look pretty amazing, but the price tag doesn't really make sense to me. I might as well pick up some used 400/800's.



I've also been looking into a DIY option as well. All I want is a jog wheel, a pitch slider, and maybe 4/5 arcade buttons along the bottom for play/cup and cue points. Doesn't really seem all that far fetched, it's really just the jog wheel that intimidates me.


Any input? This would be for a more portable rig, when I don't want to lug my TT's around. The reason for wanting to do this is that I personally can't stand the eq in most stand alone controllers.
Audrey Pinda
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by ajrindy
why's that?

yeah, it only works with Itch but integrates wonderfully, plus it features SPINNING PLATTERS HOLY SHIT MOTORIZED PLATTERS ON A CONTROLLER.
as far as I know, and I believe this has been confirmed to be official, NI and Numark are working together to make motorized platters function with Traktor
I also wouldn't be surprised that when Numark and NI make motorized platters for Traktor, they come out with a different controller to utilize it. Just saying it'll follow the business model of creating a new controller for every change, to make money from people upgrading to the newest and shiniest.
Brock Ricapito
23.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
I've developed a burning hatred for all things numark, sorry!
why's that?

yeah, it only works with Itch but integrates wonderfully, plus it features SPINNING PLATTERS HOLY SHIT MOTORIZED PLATTERS ON A CONTROLLER.
as far as I know, and I believe this has been confirmed to be official, NI and Numark are working together to make motorized platters function with Traktor
Chasidy Heckenbach
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
<$200

It looks and works brand new. I lucked out. It came in yesterday.
"lucked out" means out of luck? i hope not - but then it doesn't make much sense never quite sure what americans mean when they say that...
Nick Kingsley
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by djshemeck
can you say how much ?
<$200

It looks and works brand new. I lucked out. It came in yesterday.

22.09.2011
Originally Posted by mostapha
CDJ-200s don't scratch. And they don't hold their value. I owned a pair, and they were the worst purchase of DJ gear I've ever made. I can't warn people enough about them. They suck.
agree, confirm. I've had to spin on them a couple of times back when I used CDs and it was a horrible experience each time around. stay the fuck away from them. they would find a way to fail on you even if you used them as paperweights.
Lacey Volkert
22.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
Thanks for all the ideas guys, I ended up scoring a dirt cheap cdj 800 from ebay. I'll just snatch another one up when I have a bit more cash.
can you say how much ?
Yelena Lesure
22.09.2011
Originally Posted by zimfella
you can get those half price from eks diretly on sale at the mo
ooo thanks for that i just might check this out to control a deck 3
Audrey Pinda
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by ajrindy
why's that?

yeah, it only works with Itch but integrates wonderfully, plus it features SPINNING PLATTERS HOLY SHIT MOTORIZED PLATTERS ON A CONTROLLER.
as far as I know, and I believe this has been confirmed to be official, NI and Numark are working together to make motorized platters function with Traktor
I also wouldn't be surprised that when Numark and NI make motorized platters for Traktor, they come out with a different controller to utilize it. Just saying it'll follow the business model of creating a new controller for every change, to make money from people upgrading to the newest and shiniest.
Audrey Pinda
24.09.2011		Apparently the EKS Otus line also has mapping for platter control in SSL. Which was news to me (as I just looked into it). Pretty cool if that's your thing, I haven't seen another controller that would allow for "vinyl" control with a platter over SSL.

[youtube]GujJSaW6Jto[/youtube]
Brock Ricapito
23.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
I've developed a burning hatred for all things numark, sorry!
why's that?

yeah, it only works with Itch but integrates wonderfully, plus it features SPINNING PLATTERS HOLY SHIT MOTORIZED PLATTERS ON A CONTROLLER.
as far as I know, and I believe this has been confirmed to be official, NI and Numark are working together to make motorized platters function with Traktor
Hanna Ridenbaugh
23.09.2011		does'nt the v7 only works with itch right?
Nick Kingsley
23.09.2011		I've developed a burning hatred for all things numark, sorry!
Brock Ricapito
23.09.2011		SERIOUSLY?!
NO ONE ITT has mentioned the Numark V7?
if you want controller to act as a replacement for a single deck, you wont find anything more suitable.
Nick Kingsley
24.09.2011		lol, yeah i guess it doesn't make much sense literally.
Chasidy Heckenbach
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
<$200

It looks and works brand new. I lucked out. It came in yesterday.
"lucked out" means out of luck? i hope not - but then it doesn't make much sense never quite sure what americans mean when they say that...
Nick Kingsley
24.09.2011
Originally Posted by djshemeck
can you say how much ?
<$200

It looks and works brand new. I lucked out. It came in yesterday.

22.09.2011
Originally Posted by mostapha
CDJ-200s don't scratch. And they don't hold their value. I owned a pair, and they were the worst purchase of DJ gear I've ever made. I can't warn people enough about them. They suck.
agree, confirm. I've had to spin on them a couple of times back when I used CDs and it was a horrible experience each time around. stay the fuck away from them. they would find a way to fail on you even if you used them as paperweights.
Lacey Volkert
22.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
Thanks for all the ideas guys, I ended up scoring a dirt cheap cdj 800 from ebay. I'll just snatch another one up when I have a bit more cash.
can you say how much ?
Hanna Ridenbaugh
22.09.2011		nice
Nick Kingsley
22.09.2011		Thanks for all the ideas guys, I ended up scoring a dirt cheap cdj 800 from ebay. I'll just snatch another one up when I have a bit more cash.
Yelena Lesure
22.09.2011		the Pioneer DDJ-T1 looks amazing but it is pretty damn expensive

would rather go for the vci for just control the jogs are touch sensitive too inc ase your looking to scratch
Arline Receveur
22.09.2011		Why not take a look at the VCI-100 or Pioneer DDJ-T1?

Good kit of unit which combines everything in one. I know you might only want cdj's but maybe its worth a look?
Hanna Ridenbaugh
22.09.2011		just posted the link
Yelena Lesure
22.09.2011
Originally Posted by zimfella
you can get those half price from eks diretly on sale at the mo
ooo thanks for that i just might check this out to control a deck 3
Hanna Ridenbaugh
22.09.2011		you can get those half price from eks diretly on sale at the mo

http://eks.fi/shop.php?p=purchase&o=Campaign
Yelena Lesure
22.09.2011		from what it says in your first post this looks like it could be perfect
http://www.getinthemix.co.uk/eks-xp5...dj-controller/
Chasidy Heckenbach
22.09.2011
Originally Posted by ImmY
correct me if am mistaken but if you got cdj 400s cant you connect them with usb and use them as a midi controller ?
cdj400 sure... but why would you drop about 400quid for a second hand cdj400 to then only use it as a midi controller?

not that i wouldn't mind a pair of cdj's but pretty sure i'd be wanting to just use them as standalone players mostly... be a waste to only use them as midi controllers anyway
Yelena Lesure
22.09.2011		correct me if am mistaken but if you got cdj 400s cant you connect them with usb and use them as a midi controller ?
Chasidy Heckenbach
21.09.2011		cdj-200's don't look exactly awesome and around 200quid each 2nd hand? if i had some and had no other option then i'm sure i'd use them - but they don't exactly seem like a tempting purchase

those denon sc2000's seem like way more value for use with traktor etc and around the same price or cheaper (tho i only had a quick scan for both on ebay)
Dino Hapgood
21.09.2011		Glad you buy into the hype.
Celine Surico
21.09.2011		Yes, I talked about used CDJ-200s. I would not expect the features, effects, looping and so on, be that robust. But compared with spending similar amounts of money on something non-Pioneer built in China/Vietnam et rest, at least Pioneer has some kind of quality control in place.
Dorie Scelzo
21.09.2011
Originally Posted by ksandvik
If you really want/need simple CDJs, get a set of used Pioneer CDJ-200. Most of the other cheap CDJs have very bad build quality (price != quality) so don't expect them to work properly for a decent time period. Plus you can't re-sell those others for any decent price, either.
CDJ-200s don't scratch.
And they don't hold their value.

I owned a pair, and they were the worst purchase of DJ gear I've ever made.

I can't warn people enough about them. They suck. You're paying like $400 a piece for a pitch fader, cue, and play buttons that require time code to be used with Traktor
Charlyn Glazik
22.09.2011		The SC2000's have a very very solid build quality and are less than half the size of CDJs, plus they are absolutely packed full of features and you can control 2 decks at once with a single unit. Definitely solid machines, worth the price tag...especially if you're looking for a portable setup.
Nick Kingsley
16.09.2011		Thanks for all the input, I might look into a diy route a bit. Ill also keep an eye out for used denons. If I had the money id just get cdjs, but I can't really justify them since I have techs already.
Hanna Ridenbaugh
16.09.2011		I love my eks otus

you can find them for a really good price on ebay now. also got a studio quality sound card in them.
Celine Surico
16.09.2011		If you really want/need simple CDJs, get a set of used Pioneer CDJ-200. Most of the other cheap CDJs have very bad build quality (price != quality) so don't expect them to work properly for a decent time period. Plus you can't re-sell those others for any decent price, either.
Chasidy Heckenbach
15.09.2011
Originally Posted by Synec
I have a pair of Denon Sc2000s that I got for $340 altogether. They are set up exactly like cdjs and work great. Super compact and portable, I recommend them if you can find some used.
that's a cool price... i guess even new they could be worth it - just that so far i've only bought cheap controllers so anything over 100quid seems expensive to me
Emeline Coraggio
15.09.2011		I have a pair of Denon Sc2000s that I got for $340 altogether. They are set up exactly like cdjs and work great. Super compact and portable, I recommend them if you can find some used.
Chasidy Heckenbach
15.09.2011
Originally Posted by turbo
Yeah those seem pretty sweet, but I don't know why you'd pick that over cdj 350's or something
if only for the "turntable look" to them i guess

and only if i had money to burn... if cdj350's were the same price then i'd probably want those. both would be even better
Nick Kingsley
15.09.2011
Originally Posted by zestoi
now that does look like a very cool controller - and the build shows where the money has gone into. if i had the money and space i'd def get a pair of those
Yeah those seem pretty sweet, but I don't know why you'd pick that over cdj 350's or something

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