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Forum: General Discussion

Tópico: Controller Wars - Page: 1

Esta parte del tópico es antigua y puede contener información incorrecta para la nueva versión.

Cue star was music.

Lets look in the pro's an cons of the many controllers on the market, I want to hear from you, and what you think of them. Now you purist vinyl guys don't get offended just hit the back button on your browser and take a deep breath, its going to be ok. I'm not here to force my opinions on you, so I'll reserve any opinions I have about them.


Here are some images of some popular controllers out there now.






















So here are a few, now you guys decide which ones are better and way. Have fun...

 
Mensajes Wed 14 May 08 @ 1:32 pm
HC-4500 all the way!

PROS:
- Its a Denon! Top brand name
- Included ASIO soundcard, unnoticiable the diference between a CD same .WAV file.
- Feels like a pro gear.... because its a pro gear!
- Support from Denon is fantastic
- Has Display of track name and time elapsed/remain, so you dont have to keep viewing the monitor.
- If you are used to CD-Djing, you cant go wrong.
- Lots of buttons... you have all you need in same unit.
- Works flawless with X500 and X900 denons mixers for video crossfading.
- You can add an aditional cd-player to be atached to the controller (BU-4500), and play Audio CDs/MP3 cds at same time as VDJ!

CONS:
- ..... Errr...dont find yet.
 
I have the DAC 3, but don't know where it is. I am using the DMC 2 right now, and it kicks ass. I would buy the HC-4500 today, if it had a third sound card in it. VDJ utilizes 3 outputs, it would be a waste to get a controller, that only has 2 outputs. So, VDJ, Numark, Denon whoever, give me a rack mount controller with 3 stereo outs, and we have a deal. I am using the Gigaport AG, and Waveterminal 192 sound cards at the moment.
 
I have a DMC2 as well as an Older DAC2 controller.

Had a hercules HDCv1 - got rid of it.
Had a Berhinger BCD200 - got rid of it.

Both serve very well and control VDJ very well. The only reason I got the DMC2 over the DAC2 was the video crossfade Buttons

Otherwise I like them just fine.

I use soundblaster cards and Numark/ vestax/ American Audio mixers
 
You forgot one Cyder ;-)



The CDJ-400 at this time is very disappointing. That is because it is not natively mapped yet. I am hopeful once it is it will be as good or better than my iCDXs. As of this time the iCDX is my favorite..and I own a Total Control and a BCD2K also.
 
Love my DMC2

I use it along side my CDN95 hardware player and a Pioneer DJM600. It all just works great.
Pros It matches my hardware player
Cons Not to keen on that silly level meter thing in the center instead of having the
beatkeeper display of the hardware player. (minor gripe)

Daz
 
The winner goes to the one that has a deck one and deck two plus a built in sound card. HC4500... is the best one that has alot of features plus a back plan feature. One usb being used up is better. Dac 3 works but i dont consider it good because you need to buy a sound card and it doesnt power up on its own with a power cord. The Denon has its own sound card and it poweres up on its own. The Hc4500 is not usb powered like the Dac 3 or the DMC 2
 
Caliente123 wrote :
The Hc4500 is not usb powered like the Dac 3 or the DMC 2


The DAC3 is usb bus powered


The DMC2 has it's own power supply

 
Let's Explore the early leaders in the "polls"




This candidate is very electable in this battle of controllers. Its conservative values of not coming with a bulky wallwart and being usb bus powered may win the hearts and minds of those space conscious dj's. With its ulta low latency 4 channel sound card it may have those liberal dj's up in arms with their higher priced more output soundcards in their current rigs one might argue the need for such an animal. The next subject on this candidate is a bit touchy. Thats right touch sensitive jogs may have those right wingers crying foul some may argue the true scratchabilty of such a small wheel. Also VDJ endorses this controller, and blesses it with full native support (on pc). Insuring many hours of visual DJ pornography though its brightly lit displays and flashy lights. Early exit polls show that the HC4500 could be your next dj controller. The 4500 is one of the younger controllers that will give those older setups a run from their money. This controller is not without its traditional roots. It needs a rack case and a mixer, some of those conservative dj's will find them selfs forking out some more of that hard earned cash on these items to fully use the kit.


The Comeback Kid?



This candidate is also very electable in this battle of controllers. Much like its opponent this is also a deeply rooted controller, holding strong to the core values that simpler is better. What sets the controller apart from the pack, is the fact its not using midi as its command interface. Now this might set some liberal dj's off as its locked to those Atomix products. All isn't lost there no fancy sound card means a more acessable price point for the working class dj's. Being a ful 100 dollars cheaper then its closest contender. It also is blessed with full native support for VDJ and even comes with a limited version of cue, one up MR 4500. Almost showing off its all about its internal video&audio faders it would even have the hearts and minds of many conservate DJ's. Also using a external power supply for less strain on the usb hub can also be it its favor. All in all the dmc-2 is impressive and rich in features which will make those in both camps hard to come to a decision.


This is anyones race folks, be sure and cast your votes for your favorite DJ controller and be sure to tell us why you think your candidate should win this race.
 
My mistake about the DMC2 not being usb powered. My thumbs are up for the Hc4500 due to the fact that it has its own Audio interface.
 
The new kid, Might open some eyes




Heres on for those in both the pc and mac camps. A new all in one that promises to find that special special spot in any dj's bag o tricks. Now for the longest time the folks over at Hercules have been labeled as a toy or toyish. I dunno folks, sitting here next to one might change your mind from the pastic mk-1 and mk-2 series. Lets take a look inside we have a nice sound with 4 in and out not bad if you ask me. We also have a full mixer with the option to mix in 2 more stereo sources. Its heavy, and made of metal with plastic inserts. Feels pretty solid to me. Its got mac support its got pc support but does it have your support? You decide.
 
For me, a couple of things that a controller SHOULDN'T have on board:

1) A mixer of any kind...

Every DJ has their own idea of their ideal mixer - it's different strokes for different folks, and personally, I don't want to fiddle around with tiny little faders bunched tightly together amongst all the other controls. The mixers built into controllers tend to be rather basic - only 2 channel faders? No good for me. I use a deck controller to control decks, and a mixer for mixing. That new NS7 controller looks exciting.... but hang on, the mixer's built in. I hope Numark will make the controllers available as seperate units!

2) A sound card...

Great idea in theory, but the manufacturers never quite get it right. The Denon for example only has two sets of outputs - I need a third set for the sampler! And what if I want to run timecode as well? Ah, no inputs. Yes, I could use a different soundcard, but I resent paying for features that aren't going to be used.

In conclusion....

Can't stand these "do everything in one box" systems. I can see how they'd appeal to the dj who needs to travel light, or the beginner who wants to save some money, but there's plenty of fussy nitpicking so-and-so's like myself who don't like compromise! I'm still running on a DAC-2 - it's solid and reliable, does what it needs to do and only takes up 2U of rack space. I don't have room in my box for a 3U controller...
 
One of the strengths of the iCDX is you only need one to control both "decks" in VDJ. The browser tool works well, and the effects controller is excellent. Coupled with a DJ i/o it is a very solid controller.
 
DJ Cyder wrote :
It needs a rack case and a mixer, some of those conservative dj's will find them selfs forking out some more of that hard earned cash on these items to fully use the kit.

Its not a "need" for the rack. All the conections are at 1 side so you can use it on a table.


As for the mixer, it will help a lot, but there isnt a way to combine both outputs in only one output? (for those DJ who doesnt do beatmatch or mixing, just playing songs)


PS. Don forget the Pioneer's MEP-7000, soon will be relased.
 
Hey Cyder, is that supposed to be "Cue Star Wars Music"?? *&^%$$#@*&^^(*&@!$%$^&*& spell checker $#%^&*($#@!*&^((*^$#.
 
RicardoM wrote :
As for the mixer, it will help a lot, but there isnt a way to combine both outputs in only one output? (for those DJ who doesnt do beatmatch or mixing, just playing songs)


If a DJ isn't going to be beatmatching or mixing with this thing... why buy one?
 
Not all wedding DJs beat match. Some just do a radio transition. Some do not even do that.
 
Hercules MK2 all the way! Its cheap, effective, has built in Time code control, which rocks, and is very useable without turntables. They have a button that automatically gets one song in sycrination with the other, which helps a LOT with beat mixing and such, if you cant do it on your own lol. The only downside in my eyes is there is only one main output, i wish it had two, so i could send one to like an amp and the other to a dj monitor, or to my computer and to my speakers or something.
 
Your buying the HC4500 because its quality..... It has its own audio interface and it sounds good too. You can add a dual cd player as a backup. The design and the features are good too. Dac 2 or 3 is not quality like the Denon. The Numark DMC is a good controller but the denon is a better one and has more options. Pioneer is coming out with a new controller based on the Denon... Denon and pioneer make club standard equipment...

I dont see Beat matching DJ ying.....
 
Don't get me wrong - I'm not knocking anybody who doesn't do fancy mixing tricks, I was just pointing out that if you don't, and only require one stereo output, why spend all that money on a piece of kit thats full of features that will never be used... If it's just fades and radio transitions, it's hardly worth buying a controller at all surely? I used to run PCDJ Red years ago, and just worked it off the keyboard shortcuts. Just my two cents anyway! :-)
 
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