favorite PORTABLE DJ controller, like Faderfox??

[SubFunk]

i wouldn't be surprised at all if NI was working on something more for the houseparty DJ.

me neither... their hardware is absolute great, you could nearly say better then the software, no just kiddin' but they indeed managed a quality level that can call it self professional gear.
and very clever not to rely on some shitty companies, they design, engineer and produce (they have exclusive attached production) all them selfs. with german quality assurance and standards.

[beats me]

My major gripe with the X1 from announcement to current is NI makes a fully functioning DJ application that doesn't need a DJ mixer and then they release a controller that you almost have to use a DJ mixer with. WTF are they thinking?

sorry to say, but it shows that you are not a professional DJ i mean not someone who plays often in clubs...

it is perfectly designed exactly like that! on total 100% purpose, it let's you use all none mix related functions via the controller. and then you plug in everything else into the DJ mixer in the club. as i said it's the combo traktor, x1, audio dj 8

if you don't like it fair enough, but that is exactly what it is designed for and it's perfect for professionals & club use, it is not for home party use, sure!

maschine is totally different and for a totally different target group!!!

You and I have gone through the same song and dance on this and I'm not responding towards you with hostility, but part of your argument is in line with "vinyl will never die!".

No I'm not a professional DJ that plays out in preset venues frequently but I'm willing to bet the majority of "DJs" aren't either. You probably couldn't throw a rock in most major cities without it bouncing off some level of DJ.

The X1 is a nice option, an add-on if you will, but I think it's a shame it's the only option offered by NI because nobody would be able to design a fully functioning DJ controller for Traktor better than NI and it would sell. Make all the controls MIDI mappable and you could use it for a lot of other DJ programs and DAWs as well.

I think it's kind of ridiculous to expect people to drop $800 (Traktor, X1, Audio8) and you still have to buy or use a traditional DJ mixer for the minimum requirements of DJing. Again, we're not all professionals out clubbing.

[beats me]

I posted this in another thread and apparently the quality is crap, but this would be ideal if NI made something like this, but obviously they would do a lot more if they attempted it.

[SubFunk]

I think it's kind of ridiculous to expect people to drop $800 (Traktor, X1, Audio8) and you still have to buy or use a traditional DJ mixer for the minimum requirements of DJing. Again, we're not all professionals out clubbing.

surely not!

but this product is designed for those that do / can...

and i like that, instead of making something they could sell to a wider market making more bucks, they have the balls to make something for smaller group of more professional oriented people around, it is not for everyone, sure.

still the demand and waiting times for the X1 speak for themselves that they do something right.

[rikhyray]

My major gripe with the X1 from announcement to current is NI makes a fully functioning DJ application that doesn't need a DJ mixer and then they release a controller that you almost have to use a DJ mixer with. WTF are they thinking?

If they can make a drum machine program and attached hardware controller that can almost completely take a DAW out of the equation then what's up with their half-assed DJ controller?

"WTF were they thinking?" Where is the highest demand of the moment, most to be cashed. There are at least 3 dozens do it all DJ controlers featuring jogs and mixer, while lots of pro DJs use Traktor Scratch with decks and regular mixer, nearly every Traktor DJ that I know owns one or more DX2- which was till NI came with their X the only product of the type.
NI obviously do good market research- hits first where the sales figures will be the highest. X1 does all what DX does - no need for midi interface, batteries,is cheaper, better visual feedback etc, dont know the numbers but can imagine killing the DX2 sales and forcing Faderfox Matthias to come up with something new. Already Novation killed the LX series- I had lX and LX2 and LP is 100x better.
I hope Faderfox survives, Matthias made some smart products in the past quality way better than any made in China NI, Akai, Novations

[beats me]

I think it's kind of ridiculous to expect people to drop $800 (Traktor, X1, Audio8) and you still have to buy or use a traditional DJ mixer for the minimum requirements of DJing. Again, we're not all professionals out clubbing.

surely not!

but this product is designed for those that do / can...

and i like that, instead of making something they could sell to a wider market making more bucks, they have the balls to make something for smaller group of more professional oriented people around, it is not for everyone, sure.

still the demand and waiting times for the X1 speak for themselves that they do something right.

Sounds like you're saying "Works great for my needs and professional level. Fuck everybody else!!"

Another punch in your Mac fanboy affiliate card.

[SubFunk]

Sounds like you're saying "Works great for my needs and professional level. Fuck everybody else!!"

to a certain extend YES!

otherwise we would not have porsches or yachts or other lovely things that make the world more colourful, i don't see them as bad only because some of it is not suited for me or out of financial reach for me...

[oblique strategies]

My fave dedicated DJ controller so far: Feena FMDJ9303.

Supremely functional, relatively small, high quality, feels great, & built like a tank (metal chassis).

Unfortunately no longer in production & hard to find. Highly recommended.


Here's an uber rare silver one to show you the size:

http://www.feena-electronics.com/

[beats me]

My major gripe with the X1 from announcement to current is NI makes a fully functioning DJ application that doesn't need a DJ mixer and then they release a controller that you almost have to use a DJ mixer with. WTF are they thinking?

If they can make a drum machine program and attached hardware controller that can almost completely take a DAW out of the equation then what's up with their half-assed DJ controller?

"WTF were they thinking?" Where is the highest demand of the moment, most to be cashed. There are at least 3 dozens do it all DJ controlers featuring jogs and mixer, while lots of pro DJs use Traktor Scratch with decks and regular mixer, nearly every Traktor DJ that I know owns one or more DX2- which was till NI came with their X the only product of the type.
NI obviously do good market research- hits first where the sales figures will be the highest. X1 does all what DX does - no need for midi interface, batteries,is cheaper, better visual feedback etc, dont know the numbers but can imagine killing the DX2 sales and forcing Faderfox Matthias to come up with something new. Already Novation killed the LX series- I had lX and LX2 and LP is 100x better.
I hope Faderfox survives, Matthias made some smart products in the past quality way better than any made in China NI, Akai, Novations

Perhaps "WTF" was a little too harsh to be used in the context of what I am saying. I see it's purpose. I just think they had a little round table discussion with a handful of their flagship rock star user base DJs on what they wanted to see to which rock star DJs said "Don't need a mixer, mate. Have that covered." They wouldn't be the only company to do that sort of thing but that's hardly representative proof of what the masses want.

Show me anywhere where NI posted the question to the public if they would want a full DJ mixer emulation controller with added functionality for Traktor that would make a house DJ mixer and per track audio interface unnecessary and the overwhelming response was "Fuck all that. Just give us a little side bar thingy".

[dum]

Well my FaderFox DJ2 controller finally died on me

what happened to it ?
I find myself not taking my faderfox with me as often as I'd like to, since it's so expensive to replace.
Still it has it's niche at home.


I'm not so sure I'm keen on the new faderfoxes being USB. Would that mean they are more difficult/expensive to repair ? They're already pricey enough so if they're easier/cheaper to repair being midi based I would hope mathias keeps that in mind...

[beats me]

Sounds like you're saying "Works great for my needs and professional level. Fuck everybody else!!"

to a certain extend YES!

otherwise we would not have porsches or yachts or other lovely things that make the world more colourful, i don't see them as bad only because some of it is not suited for me or out of financial reach for me...

Sorta. Part of my disappointment is that while DJ software is moving towards a 4 deck standard most of the controllers out there are still working with the 2 deck standard (shift options are bullshit) other than that Allan & Heath which is a monstrosity in size, weight, and price, and that Stanton mixer which I guess is crap. So I was hoping NI would step up to the plate and design a controller that matches their software fully.

[rikhyray]

Have you ever see that Stanton? It is huge and heavy. The best 4 decks controllers that I know of are Vestax TR and what I use- 2 x SCS3d. I normally hate banks/setups switching on stage, like to have maximum clarity but with SCS3d switching to C and D is very clear, at least works for me (I dont do drugs). I know some people use 4 x SCS3d sets. If space allows I use LP along for sample hits, cues and some other tricks, so I can reduce switching the SCS3ds which are clear but less of switching live, better.
Vestax TR was made with 4 decks in mind, specially for Traktor. I am just waiting to check new faderfox,or perhaps NI will surprise with something otherwise I might get TR
I could use all SCS3 sets (with one or 2 SCS3M) but there is no browsing soltuion to my liking. I find Faderfox rotaries -scroll/browse , push to load most efficient.

[beats me]

I forgot about the size and weight issue with the Stanton that was also reported.

Really I'm looking for a controller that gives you access to 4 decks at once. Having to A/B stuff would just confuse me and I'd end up doing the wrong thing to the wrong track. I don't know why this seems like such a hard or odd thing to make. If you had a traditional DJ using 4 vinyl decks he'd be frustrated as fuck too if you stuck him on a mixer that only had access to 2 tracks, but hey you can A/B, C/D the mixer!

[SubFunk]

^^^ fair point, use two X1s

i kinda like that it is for two and you can chain them... first of all still most people use two decks and second 4 decks naturally always have a fairly large footprint, at least as long as it is not designed for mickey mouse hands.

but yeah a proper 4 deck control would also be great, i agree... we will see the X1 is the first product from NI in that direction and i am sure not the last one...

the thing for me is i use 3 decks only, two for playing tracks and one for loops and stuff... and i found my perfect controller, i use maschine and have built template that allows me to do everything without a sublayer (only one for the knobs switching from fx to things like my fave crates, recording and other more or less unimportant stuff, if i really need it) without touching the computer once during a performance (the only time i would nee to touch it is if i type something into the search engine, which i hardly ever need)

i do all, controlling all 3 decks, looping, efx, loading, cueing, browsing, etc., etc. etc. to me personally it is the perfect traktor controller i was always looking for... and as a maschine owner and lover it's the cheapest solution on top of it
and it is also fairly light has a good footprint for a backpack and the magic hole so you can place it onto a 1210 platter without it moving even a millimetre... (hello ableton and APC40 design, good morning!) and therefor i find always space for it in any dj booth in the world, no matter how small... and it's buspowered, i personally could not ask for more!!! for me absolute purrfect

ahhh... and the whole lot with complete visual feedback of everything.

[SubFunk]

did i mentioned that it is set up so i can manually pitch if i want to like in the old days, and play anytime a good old back to back set with a vinyl or CDJ freak

p.s. for that i have to obviously give up the 1210 platter space in case of the vinyl dude.