Equipment with an S4

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Equipment with an S4
Posted on: 03.10.2010 by Nobuko Seleen
So when the S4 comes out I am upgrading to that over my RMX. Right now I am just using the RMX, Korg nanoPad, and Kontrol.

My question is, is replacing the RMX with the S4 enough? Is there any other thing you would add to that set up, definitely keeping the Kontrol for extra knobs. Was believeing about ditching the nanoPad for a Midifighter.

What are your thoughts?
Tina Sereal
26.02.2011
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
It certainly is. An X1 is plenty to control cue points and sample slots.
you may need to use it in nhl mode for the sample slots and in Midi mode for the cue points just so you have full control unless you wanna fanny about with shift functions and modifiers.

The X1 is fun to midi program as well.
Karlos Santos, or Photojojo (Since you're both awesome by response and knowledge),

Setting up an X1 next to the S4 for use of a sample controller would be awesome! Would that, however, disable me from using the third and fourth decks as track decks? And if so, does it work the same way if I were to use the X1 as a cuepoint controller instead of a sample controller?


Thanks guys.
nayit ruiz jaramillo
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by photojojo
That's exactly what he's saying.
It certainly is. An X1 is plenty to control cue points and sample slots.
you may need to use it in nhl mode for the sample slots and in Midi mode for the cue points just so you have full control unless you wanna fanny about with shift functions and modifiers.

The X1 is fun to midi program as well.
Leeanna Ayla
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by victoryrisen
Karlos Santos, I just want to make sure to understand what you're saying, as I'm look to add some playful depth to accompany my new S4.

You're saying that using the X1 is perfect to be able to use to solely control the sampling? And if so, this means that you, in essence, have the ability to control the samples plus you get 8 cuepoints for all four decks?

If this is the case, I'll be running out to buy an X1 when you respond :]
That's exactly what he's saying.
Tina Sereal
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
I agree... The S4 offers enough to use it on its own for sure.

Incorporating an X1 or MF would be to taste... Depends on the direction you take with the S4.

Adding A Midifighter:
If you use a MF now and you need the lightening fast buttons then the S4 buttons are not gonna cut it. They need a lot more pressure than the MF buttons and an Ean style routine would be hard (not impossible) so adding a MF would be best if you need to access all the HotCues and do some serious juggling.




Adding An X1:
The X1 is perfect for hotcue juggling as weve seen Shiftee and Ean do so the X1 is more versatile in this respect. This would free the S4 buttons to do all the Sampler stuff BUT i believe the best scenario would be to use the X1 as a dedicated Sample controller.
Switch the X1 to Midi mode and with the right tsi you can get right in the Sampler and have control over the Load/Play/trigger functions and the sample length with the buttons, You can use the encoders to control slot volumes and FX D/W.
If your gonna use all 8 slots and really work them hard the X1 is really intuitively laid out for Sample use.
I can see a lot of people doing this.

Something i know a few peeps will hear loudly is that if you do use an X1 for sample functions you can then opt to use all the S4 sample buttons to access Hotcues 5-8 thus having 8 Hot Cue buttons..!!!

Saying all that you can do it all on the S4. You dont need anything else and its possible to do it without a million modifiers and double functions.
Karlos Santos, I just want to make sure to understand what you're saying, as I'm look to add some playful depth to accompany my new S4.

You're saying that using the X1 is perfect to be able to use to solely control the sampling? And if so, this means that you, in essence, have the ability to control the samples plus you get 8 cuepoints for all four decks?

If this is the case, I'll be running out to buy an X1 when you respond :]
Danae Dumler
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by WilmDJ
I don't know if I trust an iPad, what would you use it for?
Any damn thing you please -- believe of it as a programmable touchscreen midi controller and program it as you like. I don't particularly like using touch screens myself but I would definitely love to add one to my set just for that extra control here or there that doesn't fit into one of my controllers. It's nice to have a few extra faders or knobs to try out an effects combo on or whatever....

One thing I believe is missing with the S4 is FX 3 and 4 slots -- not sure if that's integrated in somehow but my sense from the demos I've seen is only FX 1+2 are engaged. So it would be nice to have 8 more buttons and knobs to control the other two FX slots. Then again if you do your homework beforehand, you can program any FX combination you want and control it with a single midifighter button (or slider or whatever). The ipad would give you the flexibility to try any of these things out without investing in a separate hardware controller.

(Sigh)... The list of toys I want to buy when I have enough money just gets longer and longer....
Nobuko Seleen
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by Duttylectric
midi fighter or ipad
I don't know if I trust an iPad, what would you use it for?
Leeanna Ayla
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
I You dont need anything else and its possible to do it without a million modifiers and double functions.
!!
Tina Sereal
26.02.2011
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
It certainly is. An X1 is plenty to control cue points and sample slots.
you may need to use it in nhl mode for the sample slots and in Midi mode for the cue points just so you have full control unless you wanna fanny about with shift functions and modifiers.

The X1 is fun to midi program as well.
Karlos Santos, or Photojojo (Since you're both awesome by response and knowledge),

Setting up an X1 next to the S4 for use of a sample controller would be awesome! Would that, however, disable me from using the third and fourth decks as track decks? And if so, does it work the same way if I were to use the X1 as a cuepoint controller instead of a sample controller?


Thanks guys.
nayit ruiz jaramillo
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by photojojo
That's exactly what he's saying.
It certainly is. An X1 is plenty to control cue points and sample slots.
you may need to use it in nhl mode for the sample slots and in Midi mode for the cue points just so you have full control unless you wanna fanny about with shift functions and modifiers.

The X1 is fun to midi program as well.
Leeanna Ayla
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by victoryrisen
Karlos Santos, I just want to make sure to understand what you're saying, as I'm look to add some playful depth to accompany my new S4.

You're saying that using the X1 is perfect to be able to use to solely control the sampling? And if so, this means that you, in essence, have the ability to control the samples plus you get 8 cuepoints for all four decks?

If this is the case, I'll be running out to buy an X1 when you respond :]
That's exactly what he's saying.
Tina Sereal
25.02.2011
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
I agree... The S4 offers enough to use it on its own for sure.

Incorporating an X1 or MF would be to taste... Depends on the direction you take with the S4.

Adding A Midifighter:
If you use a MF now and you need the lightening fast buttons then the S4 buttons are not gonna cut it. They need a lot more pressure than the MF buttons and an Ean style routine would be hard (not impossible) so adding a MF would be best if you need to access all the HotCues and do some serious juggling.




Adding An X1:
The X1 is perfect for hotcue juggling as weve seen Shiftee and Ean do so the X1 is more versatile in this respect. This would free the S4 buttons to do all the Sampler stuff BUT i believe the best scenario would be to use the X1 as a dedicated Sample controller.
Switch the X1 to Midi mode and with the right tsi you can get right in the Sampler and have control over the Load/Play/trigger functions and the sample length with the buttons, You can use the encoders to control slot volumes and FX D/W.
If your gonna use all 8 slots and really work them hard the X1 is really intuitively laid out for Sample use.
I can see a lot of people doing this.

Something i know a few peeps will hear loudly is that if you do use an X1 for sample functions you can then opt to use all the S4 sample buttons to access Hotcues 5-8 thus having 8 Hot Cue buttons..!!!

Saying all that you can do it all on the S4. You dont need anything else and its possible to do it without a million modifiers and double functions.
Karlos Santos, I just want to make sure to understand what you're saying, as I'm look to add some playful depth to accompany my new S4.

You're saying that using the X1 is perfect to be able to use to solely control the sampling? And if so, this means that you, in essence, have the ability to control the samples plus you get 8 cuepoints for all four decks?

If this is the case, I'll be running out to buy an X1 when you respond :]
Kristian Buneta
05.10.2010		Foot pedal. 2x the potential.
Danae Dumler
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by WilmDJ
I don't know if I trust an iPad, what would you use it for?
Any damn thing you please -- believe of it as a programmable touchscreen midi controller and program it as you like. I don't particularly like using touch screens myself but I would definitely love to add one to my set just for that extra control here or there that doesn't fit into one of my controllers. It's nice to have a few extra faders or knobs to try out an effects combo on or whatever....

One thing I believe is missing with the S4 is FX 3 and 4 slots -- not sure if that's integrated in somehow but my sense from the demos I've seen is only FX 1+2 are engaged. So it would be nice to have 8 more buttons and knobs to control the other two FX slots. Then again if you do your homework beforehand, you can program any FX combination you want and control it with a single midifighter button (or slider or whatever). The ipad would give you the flexibility to try any of these things out without investing in a separate hardware controller.

(Sigh)... The list of toys I want to buy when I have enough money just gets longer and longer....
Nobuko Seleen
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by Duttylectric
midi fighter or ipad
I don't know if I trust an iPad, what would you use it for?
Charline Dunch
04.10.2010		midi fighter or ipad
Annalisa Shogren
04.10.2010		I'd get a CDJ-400 as I've always wanted one and would like to try out the timecode support. Even if it does work without it in TPRO anyway..!
Nobuko Seleen
04.10.2010		I believe I am going to just get the MF, putting the RMX up on eBay in the next couple weeks.
Mac Fly
04.10.2010		You would probally find it hard to add much more gear in alot of crowded DJ booths. But I will probally modify my mapping to my LPD8.
Leeanna Ayla
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
I You dont need anything else and its possible to do it without a million modifiers and double functions.
!!
Leontine Lyder
04.10.2010		I would add 2 akai LPD8 and use this for the sample decks.

the I could use the 4 buttons on the S4 as cue point 5-8
nayit ruiz jaramillo
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by BigC
I'm banking on testing it out and playing with it before any additional upgrades are needed. Sounds like a lot of stuff is built into it, and when you need more, that's when you should be getting something "in addition to" not just because it be fun.

Form follows function as they say. If you don't have a need for a piece of a gear , even if it's really really cool, you don't want to try and force it in where it's not needed.
I agree... The S4 offers enough to use it on its own for sure.

Incorporating an X1 or MF would be to taste... Depends on the direction you take with the S4.

Adding A Midifighter:
If you use a MF now and you need the lightening fast buttons then the S4 buttons are not gonna cut it. They need a lot more pressure than the MF buttons and an Ean style routine would be hard (not impossible) so adding a MF would be best if you need to access all the HotCues and do some serious juggling.




Adding An X1:
The X1 is perfect for hotcue juggling as weve seen Shiftee and Ean do so the X1 is more versatile in this respect. This would free the S4 buttons to do all the Sampler stuff BUT i believe the best scenario would be to use the X1 as a dedicated Sample controller.
Switch the X1 to Midi mode and with the right tsi you can get right in the Sampler and have control over the Load/Play/trigger functions and the sample length with the buttons, You can use the encoders to control slot volumes and FX D/W.
If your gonna use all 8 slots and really work them hard the X1 is really intuitively laid out for Sample use.
I can see a lot of people doing this.

Something i know a few peeps will hear loudly is that if you do use an X1 for sample functions you can then opt to use all the S4 sample buttons to access Hotcues 5-8 thus having 8 Hot Cue buttons..!!!

Saying all that you can do it all on the S4. You dont need anything else and its possible to do it without a million modifiers and double functions.
Jacque Divinity
04.10.2010
Originally Posted by JesterNZDJ
At the very most i would add an X1 to the S4.
you'd recon NI have you on the X1 promo payroll!! haha
Audrey Pinda
04.10.2010		I'm banking on testing it out and playing with it before any additional upgrades are needed. Sounds like a lot of stuff is built into it, and when you need more, that's when you should be getting something "in addition to" not just because it be fun.

Form follows function as they say. If you don't have a need for a piece of a gear , even if it's really really cool, you don't want to try and force it in where it's not needed.
Treasa Maffucci
04.10.2010		a TT and a midifighter
Johnsie Kingrea
04.10.2010		In this case midifighter for sure. Having those 8 cue points per deck is key. The X1 is dope since it's so easy to make cue points on the fly and delete them quickly to, but i'm sure you could make your own controller assignment that works for you. Plus the midifighter is a great bang for your buck and I believe it's cool for people to see something that looks seemingly simple and ordinary and using it for music. Who would have thought you could do a crazy set with just buttons until Ean did his 10 minute set with it.
Danae Dumler
04.10.2010		midifighter! midifighter!! Even if the S4 has all the buttons you need, mashing arcade buttons is just too damn fun. Throw your cue points or your sampler on there, have some preconfigured effects, or whatnot....
Nobuko Seleen
03.10.2010		I feel like a midifigher will be fun with it, Kontrol obv is good for the extra knobs and whatnot.

I know the S4 has the cue pts on it, but I'd rather them not be so tight.
Marshall Aby
03.10.2010		Use it, find out what the limitations are and take it from there
Latoria Kavulich
03.10.2010		At the very most i would add an X1 to the S4.

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