more KNOBS - not too expensive, not too cheap

[filter_7]

Hi, do you know a good alternative between the cheap Korg nanokontrol and the expensive Faderfox fx3?

i need at least 8 knobs to more

[Nick Shepherd]

Behringer BCR2000 for plenty of knobs

M-Audio UC-33e for knobs & faders

[mauronedj]

Novation Zero SL

[stoersignal]

an almost forgotten controller (but i love it since i got it):

waveidea bitstream3x

36 knobs, 8 faders, 1 joystick, 1 x-fader, 1 ribbon control, arpeggiator, motion sampler, lfo

very solid except the faders, they are pretty bad

[filter_7]

they are good, but the Novation zero sl and the Bitstream are high priced like the Faderfox

so no more controllers?

[andydes]

Notation nocturn. Cheap and small, endless rotaries with LEDs and automap.

[hoffman2k]

Notation nocturn. Cheap and small, endless rotaries with LEDs and automap.

And light enough to turn the whole controller if the encoders are a bit too tight.

The Steinberg CMC controllers dropped to 99€, so they're worth checking out.
Though Akai really nailed it. The encoders on the APC/MPD/MPK (not mini) controllers kick ass! But no rings except for the APC.
The Doepfer PocketDial is king. Also no rings. No USB. Presets are with DIP switches. But the best ALPS encoders you could get 10 years ago. Which still beat the encoders of current cheapo controllers.
Wait out for the new Behringer DJ line...

[tigali]

Behringer BCR2000 for plenty of knobs

+1000
Amazing controller with more knobs than you'll ever need. Used by such lords of awesomeness as Daft Punk and me

[23kon]

BCR2000 is a wealth of knobs with LED feedback.
It's built like a tank but unfortunately weighs the same as one and needs an AC power supply.
Both major downsides for me and why I got rid of mine.

I've also owned a Novation Zero SL MkII.
You've said that it's "expensive" but it's not that rediculous for what you get! Plus you could pick one up on eBay for a very decent price these days.
Automap is great and you get lots of hands-on controls with this controller.
It's not rediculously heavy but does have some weight and is a decent size too.
I got rid because of the size - not small enough.

I own a Novation Nocturn which is a great little controller and you can pick these up for next to nothing these days on eBay!!! It has Automap, knobs, xfader and it's tiny!

I only use it for working in the studio to quickly assign knobs when composing.
Other than that I use iPad running TouchOSC or apps like that where I can create my own control surfaces.
In my opinion an ipad is very much worth every penny as a designable midi controller, as an instrument (lots to buy), dj tool (lots of dj apps), plus stuff like Griid/TouchAble/Kapture Pad for control of Ableton Live.

Best investment you'll make!

[oblique strategies]

The Doepfer PocketDial is king. Also no rings. No USB. Presets are with DIP switches. But the best ALPS encoders you could get 10 years ago. Which still beat the encoders of current cheapo controllers.

Highly recommended. I use two Pocket Dials. You can switch them to Relative or Absolute mode with an editor.

Since they are no longer being made you have to find them used, but this also means that you can pick them up for a relatively low amount of money.

Doepfer also made the Pocket Control: 8 potentiometers (not encoders) that you can find selling for even less than the Pocket Dial. There is even a Pocket Fader with 16 faders. Nice!