Controller Dilemma - Advice
Controller Dilemma - Advice Posted on: 13.02.2011 by Bao Dright Hi All,I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit | |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Desiree Logie 13.02.2011 |
Originally Posted by deco
In any case, you gotta come clear about what's important to you. Personally, I find effects relatively boring and I'm perfectly content with just one or two effects slots. On the other hand, I really like to have all eight of Traktors hotcues at my disposal without needing shift/modifiers. Which means I want a bunch of buttons. But your preferences may be entirely different |
| Bao Dright 13.02.2011 | Hi All, I want to add a second controller to my existing setup. I already have a Faderfox DJ3 (http://goo.gl/Evnnx) which is perfect for mixing internally in Traktor but too small to use exclusively... an inevitable trade-off between size and ease of use. As a result, I make less use of cue points and FX, which is a shame. I've now narrowed my choices down to these three controllers: 1. Maschine 2. Custom Midi Fighter 3. Faderfox FX3 The large pads and extra buttons/knobs of the Maschine are appealing but it is not as portable as the other two options (nor as cheap). I'd probably use it to make my own beats/loops but it's main function would be as a MIDI controller for Traktor. How well-suited is it to this purpose? Opinion seems divided on this. The Midi Fighter, on the other hand, would be great for jumping around a track. Not only are the buttons ergonomic and fast, they can also take a real pounding. I'd opt for a custom unit |
| Stephan Denigris 14.02.2011 | word man that looks sick |
| Bao Dright 14.02.2011 | The trigger finger does have a good selection of pads, knobs and faders. However, it needs a driver and I have only ever had problems with M-Audio and their drivers. It's also not very compact (roughly same size as a Maschine). For the money, I'd be better off getting an Akai MPD26, I believe. Thanks for the suggestion all the same. |
| Stephan Denigris 14.02.2011 | the trigger finger is literally like a less expensive midi-fighter with both faders and potentiometers .....but you lack those fun buttons |
| Jacki Agrillo 14.02.2011 |
Originally Posted by inov8
but hey... Fader's & Knob's |
| Bao Dright 14.02.2011 | Thanks guys. OK, I'm sold on the Midi Fighter. The only remaining question I have is whether it is worth the extra $$$ getting a custom one. I guess I should devise some possible mappings and see. What do you believe? |
| Jacki Agrillo 14.02.2011 | go for the midifighter (custom) i believe this is the best solution for you, maschine is cool (but just as MidiController ???) |
| Irene Larner 15.02.2011 | If it's maschine vs. midi fighter, go for the midi fighter. Maschine is great and all, in fact I had one. Sold it again though, because as a production helper, it was fun but didn't meet my personal workflow, and as an extra midi controller, it is HUGE, and also hugely expensive for that purpose. |
| Bao Dright 15.02.2011 | Thanks all. I've taken your advice and looked at my needs. I believe cue-points are my main priority. FX are fine when used sparingly. I don't use them too much. You have to be really creative with them otherwise I question the DJ's mixing skills. OK, so I'll forget about the FX3. I hear good things about the X1. It isn't on my list simply because it replicates too many features of my DJ3. In fact, if it had line faders, I would have chosen it over the DJ3. Now, I need a controller which does something the Faderfox is no good for. A lot of people swear by the Trigger Finger. It doesn't look like they're made any more. How would an Akai MPD compare? If I'm not going to use a Maschine for audio, a dumb controller would save money. That said, the Maschine gives me a load of mapping options. I just wonder how different it is from the the Midi Fighter for triggering cue points. Does anyone have experience of both? Midi Fighter vs Maschine is the choice now. I suspect either would work well. I wish I could have a hands-on with a MF before choosing. Never mind. Thanks again everyone for the useful pointers |
| Desiree Logie 13.02.2011 |
Originally Posted by deco
In any case, you gotta come clear about what's important to you. Personally, I find effects relatively boring and I'm perfectly content with just one or two effects slots. On the other hand, I really like to have all eight of Traktors hotcues at my disposal without needing shift/modifiers. Which means I want a bunch of buttons. But your preferences may be entirely different |
| Franklin Momany 13.02.2011 | It sucks you have to make life decisions just adding a new controller. THE RENT IT TOO DAMN HIGH! |
| Stephan Denigris 13.02.2011 | this wasnt on your list.....but for what you want, i recommend the M-audio trigger finger. Most underrated controller ever |
| Wayne Washko 13.02.2011 | hmm, make a list of what you want to control with this new controller, then have a look at each unit and see how you'd map each one. which one will provide the best workflow for you? maschine - by far the most expensive but you get to make beats and it comes with a HUGE library of dope sounds. midifighter - looks dope, fun to use and one of a kind if you get a custom dealy. lots of control and mappings from Ean himself. FX3 - same size as your other faderfox unit, looks good together, built to work with Traktors effects, most portable. Wildcard - Kontrol X1. unsure why it's not on your list - would give you FX and cue points - as well as browse/load and looping. lots of potential and very good quality. |
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