SCS3 as a system? Or just SCS3d with a regular mixer?

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SCS3 as a system? Or just SCS3d with a regular mixer?
Posted on: 24.08.2010 by Susann Blachford
I've been looking to buy an Scs3d or two due to their portability and the amount I travel. I know a couple people here use them regularly, so I got a few questions.

Is it comfortable controlling 2 decks from one Scs.3d? Or should I invest in two?

Should I buy the whole system? Is the SCS.3m worth it/worth using? Or is it better to pair the two SCS.3ds with a regular mixer?
Kandra Fagler
27.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
Typically no. I'm more about layers and melody. The biggest compliment I could get as a DJ is for someone to come up and ask me where I bought that remix of song so and so.


I'm lucky because I get paid to be a gear whore. I have or have had just about every mainstream MIDI controller out there, with the exception of the new American Audio piece. I believe the kit I'm most looking forward to is the S4 and the new Pioneer controller. I also am a big fan of the iPad and regularly use one with the rest of my kit to "fill the gaps" left by other controllers. I've started using it to macro some controls together as well.


There are some cool things out there (I love my VCI-300), and some even more exciting stuff on the horizon. But all in one products aren't for me personally. Or at least I wouldn't use them as an all in one solution. I like having multiple components for many reasons. I still use turntables at the core of my setup, because they feel most natural for me. But I also regularly use the SCS.3, an effects processor, a massive mixer, and very recently I've also started working more with my SCS.1 controllers now that we've got the performance in better shape. I like the idea that if I have a failure of some kind, I can still DJ. I've always DJed in clubs, so the idea of always having backup gear has been important to me for over 20 years. Old habits are hard to break!
wait! the new pioneer controller? what controller? are they releasing their own midi controller anytime soon? or are you talking about the 850?
Irwin Ney
27.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
I currently run that setup be default at home. I use the 3m for FX control primarily, and I've remapped several of the controls to effects and filter duty. I use this with a traktor based DVS setup, and the 3ds are both mapped normally, except I have VINYL mode mapped to scroll the browser and load songs.
Really nice man, I believe I will go to that route to, but I will not use DVS as I play mainly Psytrance and Electro/Tech house.

And about cuepoint juggling, do you do it? Do you use the 3d to do it? Do you believe that a midi-fighter would be more interesting to juggle?

Thinking about the future, what piece of hardware would you put in your setup when we get a version of the software Traktor Pro with the advantages (samples, dedicated filter/volume, etc) of the Traktor Kontrol S4 package?
(PAD with Touch OSC? nanoKontrol? Keyboard? Nothing?)

Are you believeing about change to an all-in-one solution?

Thanks for sharing your thought about this
Karla Mcglashing
26.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
Or sometimes Chinese factories are being Chinese factories and providing lower than acceptable quality cables.
in my case, i used the enclosed cables...
Irwin Ney
31.08.2010		I had that problem with a old traktor 1.2.x version... After I upgraded to the last version I never had that problem anymore...
I'm using Windows XP SP3
Diogo Dj Dragão
31.08.2010		Right. Traktor is generally very well behaved, and doesn't crash because (for instance) a device gets disconnected. If you're getting freezes, and neither Traktor nor the DaRouter software produces an error, I'm going to guess a problem with the audio interface.
Giuseppina Wietfeldt
30.08.2010		hey! i'm currently using the SCS.3 system and trying to make it my main piece of gear. Only problem i've ever had with it is that (but nemonic and other folks at the stanton community say it's not from the SCS3 nor the Darouter app) at the most random moments (once or twice a evening ) music playback stops and there is no way or getting it to play unless i reboot Traktor and Darouter. Definately not a good problem to have.

Apart from that, setting it up to work with traktor took me a few hours and many many cusses, but once it was up and running i totally fell in love with it. I still believe it is one of the most complete controllers on the market because of it's versatility in different modes. I love being able to turn my ''platters'' into a sample pad that can control 5 cue points per deck, all with only the push of a button! Takes a bit of getting used to all the different modes because it IS very confusing at first, but once you've gotten a few hours on the thing you'll find that you rarely ever have to touch your computer.

The ONLY other controller i see giving me as many options as this is the new Denon controller which i might end up getting because of its integrated sound card. The denon controller lets you control 4 decks like the SCS.3, it has dedicated sample or cue buttons for each deck, is cheaper in price than the new S4, and looks very solid and durable!

Even though, if i do make the switch to the denon controller, i might keep my two 3d's to control the two additional decks in traktor so i can have 4 physical decks sitting in front of me.

Oh, and i forgot, i don't believe any single controller beats the SCS.3 in the dark...

This pic was taken with my cell phone, with absolutely no lights on, no prolonged exposure and no photoshopping. I wasn't using any of the controls in the upper section of the mixer which is why there are no LED's shinning.

Lacey Westergreen
30.08.2010		congrats! that really is a killer deal, considering the 400eur i paid were already cheap for european price levels
Susann Blachford
29.08.2010		Woohoo!
I got a killer deal on ebay for the whole system brand new for less than $250!

Can't wait to get messing around on it!
Diogo Dj Dragão
28.08.2010		That's what I hear.
Kandra Fagler
27.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
Typically no. I'm more about layers and melody. The biggest compliment I could get as a DJ is for someone to come up and ask me where I bought that remix of song so and so.


I'm lucky because I get paid to be a gear whore. I have or have had just about every mainstream MIDI controller out there, with the exception of the new American Audio piece. I believe the kit I'm most looking forward to is the S4 and the new Pioneer controller. I also am a big fan of the iPad and regularly use one with the rest of my kit to "fill the gaps" left by other controllers. I've started using it to macro some controls together as well.


There are some cool things out there (I love my VCI-300), and some even more exciting stuff on the horizon. But all in one products aren't for me personally. Or at least I wouldn't use them as an all in one solution. I like having multiple components for many reasons. I still use turntables at the core of my setup, because they feel most natural for me. But I also regularly use the SCS.3, an effects processor, a massive mixer, and very recently I've also started working more with my SCS.1 controllers now that we've got the performance in better shape. I like the idea that if I have a failure of some kind, I can still DJ. I've always DJed in clubs, so the idea of always having backup gear has been important to me for over 20 years. Old habits are hard to break!
wait! the new pioneer controller? what controller? are they releasing their own midi controller anytime soon? or are you talking about the 850?
Diogo Dj Dragão
27.08.2010
And about cuepoint juggling, do you do it?
Typically no. I'm more about layers and melody. The biggest compliment I could get as a DJ is for someone to come up and ask me where I bought that remix of song so and so.

Thinking about the future, what piece of hardware would you put in your setup...
I'm lucky because I get paid to be a gear whore. I have or have had just about every mainstream MIDI controller out there, with the exception of the new American Audio piece. I believe the kit I'm most looking forward to is the S4 and the new Pioneer controller. I also am a big fan of the iPad and regularly use one with the rest of my kit to "fill the gaps" left by other controllers. I've started using it to macro some controls together as well.

Are you believeing about change to an all-in-one solution?
There are some cool things out there (I love my VCI-300), and some even more exciting stuff on the horizon. But all in one products aren't for me personally. Or at least I wouldn't use them as an all in one solution. I like having multiple components for many reasons. I still use turntables at the core of my setup, because they feel most natural for me. But I also regularly use the SCS.3, an effects processor, a massive mixer, and very recently I've also started working more with my SCS.1 controllers now that we've got the performance in better shape. I like the idea that if I have a failure of some kind, I can still DJ. I've always DJed in clubs, so the idea of always having backup gear has been important to me for over 20 years. Old habits are hard to break!
Irwin Ney
27.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
I currently run that setup be default at home. I use the 3m for FX control primarily, and I've remapped several of the controls to effects and filter duty. I use this with a traktor based DVS setup, and the 3ds are both mapped normally, except I have VINYL mode mapped to scroll the browser and load songs.
Really nice man, I believe I will go to that route to, but I will not use DVS as I play mainly Psytrance and Electro/Tech house.

And about cuepoint juggling, do you do it? Do you use the 3d to do it? Do you believe that a midi-fighter would be more interesting to juggle?

Thinking about the future, what piece of hardware would you put in your setup when we get a version of the software Traktor Pro with the advantages (samples, dedicated filter/volume, etc) of the Traktor Kontrol S4 package?
(PAD with Touch OSC? nanoKontrol? Keyboard? Nothing?)

Are you believeing about change to an all-in-one solution?

Thanks for sharing your thought about this
Diogo Dj Dragão
26.08.2010		I currently run that setup be default at home. I use the 3m for FX control primarily, and I've remapped several of the controls to effects and filter duty. I use this with a traktor based DVS setup, and the 3ds are both mapped normally, except I have VINYL mode mapped to scroll the browser and load songs.
Irwin Ney
26.08.2010		@nemo
What do you believe about using 4 tracks external mixing and the scs3 system?
Would you use the scs.3m for what?
Karla Mcglashing
26.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
Or sometimes Chinese factories are being Chinese factories and providing lower than acceptable quality cables.
in my case, i used the enclosed cables...
Karla Mcglashing
26.08.2010
Originally Posted by nem0nic
No it doesn't. Not sure where you're getting that, but it's not from Stanton engineering.
sorry for mis-translations: not engineers but distributor
Susann Blachford
25.08.2010		For $350 I would just get the whole damn system! Thats a steal!
The lowest I've seen is $400 so far, and that was a second hand seller on Amazon.
Diogo Dj Dragão
25.08.2010
...some computers play with the power they send to usb ports.
Or sometimes Chinese factories are being Chinese factories and providing lower than acceptable quality cables.

As for deals, you might look for B stock from a Guitar Center or Best Buy. I've seen the SCS.3 pack sell for $350, which would give you the whole deal and cost you less than 2 single SCS.3ds. That will also get you a legit LE license (always good for upgrading even if you already own Traktor), and a real warranty (1 year).
Herma Buschelman
25.08.2010		If you do decide to use an external mixer, you can mapp the 3m for other things like browsing.

btw, they ain't no stability problems. as nemonic said, some computers play with the power they send to usb ports.
Susann Blachford
25.08.2010		Yea right now I'm leaning more towards not getting the scs3m....because I do like the feel of the knobs and faders on a regular mixer...I just need some portable deck/fx controls I can take anywhere with me.

Any idea where I can get the best deal on one of these?
Diogo Dj Dragão
25.08.2010
The only thing it's that it seems to me a little bit unstable in certain conditions, i believe that Stanton will change one of the units because it seems buggy to their engineers.
No it doesn't. Not sure where you're getting that, but it's not from Stanton engineering. The only hardware based problem we are seeing with the 3 series is that they require a computer to provide solid power to attached USB devices. This is a problem that LOTS of USB hardware shares. There was also a problem with a small number of SCS.3m controllers that would have a stuck A/C button, but that was fixed via a firmware patch.

Other than that, the hardware has been amazing. The BIGGEST problem with the SCS.3 series is that people don't bother to read any of the setup instructions before using it. The data needed to get a solid working system is not only in the manual, but online on our website, on our community s, and built in to our DaRouter software (press the "?" button).
Karla Mcglashing
25.08.2010		Hi,
i've got an SCS3 "pack" so 1 SCS3m and 2 SCS3D from one month. The system is conceptually perfect for traktor and i enjoyed a lot.
The only thing it's that it seems to me a little bit unstable in certain conditions, i believe that Stanton will change one of the units because it seems buggy to their engineers.
Lacey Westergreen
25.08.2010		controlling two decks on one scs3d is no problem at all for me. only if you want to apply effects to both decks at once you need at least a second 3d or a 3m.
i often find myself using a regular mixer instead of the 3m since it's kinda hard to make tiny adjustments to the volume or EQs on the touch strips (sometimes i also make these adjustments on the 3d pads which is easier due to their longer travel touch strips).

so my suggestion would be 2x scs3d plus a regular mixer (mind you need a soundcard supporting multiple channels for this setup!).
Diogo Dj Dragão
24.08.2010		If you're using it with Traktor it makes sense to get the whole pack. If you're primarily a DVS user, it might be a better deal to just get 2 SCS.3ds.

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