The DDJ-ERGO-K, announced today, sports a new black colour scheme, and comes with Traktor LE instead of Virtual DJ.
Following the success of its DDJ-ERGO-V controller, Pioneer has today announced a new version, the DDJ-ERGO-K, which ships with a version of Traktor LE. Apart from the new colour (black), and the fact that it’s got Traktor rather than Virtual DJ in the box, it’s business as usual, with the same CDJ-esque jogwheels and other features inherited from Pioneer’s pro DJ equipment.
The controller keeps the “pulse control” light show on the jogwheels, the ability to tuck your laptop underneath it (with removable feet if you choose not to) and USB plug-and-play functionality.
Like the DDJ-ERGO-V, this will also work with Serato DJ Intro, which is also in the box alongside the aforementioned Traktor LE. It is also compatible with other DJ software including Virtual DJ and djay.
We’ve got a full DDJ-ERGO-K photo gallery for you over on our Facebook Page, and Pioneer has posted a DDJ-ERGO-K video on its YouTube channel too.
Price in Europe is £429/€499 and it will be available from late August 2012.
How do you like the smart new colour scheme? Do you think it’s good that you can now get a version of this for Traktor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Now go to:
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Tags: Pioneer DDJ-ERGO-K, Traktor
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I’m a proud satisfied owner of the DDJ-ERGO V and I must say that its a very niche and very well build up controller for beginners/pros and for Pioneer lovers. Of course there are rivals like Numark 4Trak Pro which I personally feel is more or less close to the ERGO (not counting in Hercules, Stanton, American audio etc).But compared to 4TRAK, ERGO is very well priced. Now, back to DDJ-ERGO K, Pioneer has come out with a strategy just like Numark used for its NS6 (serato) and 4TRAK (NS6 with effects panel mapped to Traktor)..I don’t do club gigs cos im a bedroom dj enjoying mixing music or sometimes just chilling out with my mates in private small gigs but still having hands on experience on the CDJ 1000s and 2000s, DDJ-T1 and Numark 4Trak, the only trouble i feel on ERGO is its tempo fader…it doesnt give me much room, though it’s precise. I believe it’s preciseness is really good n bad sometimes. Meaning that if i need to match the BPM exactly, i literally have to tap it very softly to come upto same BPM of the Live track or just turn sync ON and then OFF. but then I dont feel that I’m doing justice to the tempo faders.I wish if ERGO K had much longer Tempo faders, to give more room. (These are my own views about the tempo faders). Looking at its video on the pioneer youtube page, DDJ-ERGO K has some different features like white LEDs unlike Red LEDs in ERGO V, rubbber knobs for the EQs, some LED light changes in the buttons (sample, Loops IN/OUT and headphone CUE buttons are yellow now instead of RED unlike in ERGO-V),the shift, CUE and PLAY/PAUSE buttons are metallic finish or may be real metal buttons. I’m sure that ERGO K will sell out HOT just like ERGO V did and its equally priced too for 429£ which is perfect.
I really don’t know though how a TRAKTOR version of DDJ-ERGO would be like bcos i’m using Traktor Pro 2 with my ERGO-V and really don’t feel anything different in using it. I use lots of effects, HPFs/LPFs and crossfader for my track transitions and the traktor.tsi file setting is very precise. Now I know that why Pioneer support website is not giving any Traktor setting/mapping files for download bcos they have come out with the Traktor version itself.
Now getting back to the new “black shiny finished plate and the colour schemes”, its a very good step but i wish Pioneer had brought out some plate style kind of like Numark N4, in which u can stick up the labels for the softwares one would want to use. One more thing, I realise that this might not make the ERGO K and ERGO V Siamese twins but this time ERGO K could have had “mirrored” controls rather than “2 CDJs kept together” feeling. To end up now, I know this might sound absurd, but being an ERGO fan, i’m gonna miss out the new stylish piece,(though its not so materialistic from a mixing point of view).. But if u got something to show, why not flash it then?
Vikramjit (Dj VikramB)
Over n out..
[ link ]On juno.co.uk you can get the vci 380 for £499, why would you pay £429 for such an entry level controller?
[ link ]I can’t see it listed on there. Maybe they’ve all sold out at that price, I was gonna get one
[ link ]You can’t find the VCI-380 in the US. EVERYONE is out-of-stock. I’m not sure what the deal is, but Vestax isn’t sending new units to its dealers. Sweetwater (one of the biggest music retailers in the US) hasn’t the slightest idea when they’re getting more stock. It’s more than a little frustrating to say the least.
[ link ]I guess it’s a victim of its own success…
[ link ]I thought most, if not all NI products now shipped with a copy of Traktor Pro. So why hasn’t pioneer jumped on this?
[ link ]Seems like a missed opportunity to me.
Stack this up against the Kontrol S2, that’d be an interesting, if not predictable showdown.
Presumably because it would add €80 to the price of it. At least it’s not such an additional fee to upgrade to TPPro from LE if you decide it’s for you.
[ link ]Shame its only got 2 deck control. That’s all well and good for Traktor LE. But Controllers at this price point are aimed at DJ’s running Traktor Pro. and that begs another question… LE doesn’t have cue points. So what are they gonna use the buttons on the hardware for???
[ link ]When I last checked you couldn’t save cue points in LE, but you could use them.
[ link ]I think that everyone who bought DDJ-ERGO-V have already switched from virtual dj le to full version of VDJ or Traktor, so there is no point in releasing new version with Traktor Le included.
[ link ]What about for people who haven’t bought a controller yet?
[ link ]I think that DDJ-Ergo is a bit too expensive to be beginners first choice. I’m not saying it’s bad controller and I think that when you are searching for a controller to buy it’s good to have as many options as possible. I just don’t understand why they are advertising it as a “new controller”, when only difference is color and bundled software.
[ link ]the very same thing… but BLACK!!! all the changes are purely cosmetic! There is absolutely no advantage in buying as a Traktor controller when there’s no evolution from the previous model asside from the knobs and faders, wich anyone can replace!!! with the S2 and the VCI-380 in the market… hell even the new Reelop controllers wich all the reviews say they’re great, who is even interested in buying this? NOT a Pioneer hater but this is just FAIL!!!
[ link ]What is this garbage????
I love pioneer gear…i love the DJM and CDJ series…and i use them religiously….but come on…another garbage controller from Pioneer?? I mean really…to go from amazing construction of the HDJ2000s, the quality of the DJM800s and CDJ900s…then produce junk like this?
There are so many better controllers with more options…more decks and less price.
Pioneer really needs to step up their game in the controller market if you ask me
[ link ]I love my Pioneers DJMs and CDJs, but in my humble opinion, they haven’t released a DJ controller really has that Pioneer standard. For a high asking price on a beginner controller, it doesn’t even compare to the quality of others at the same price range. You got the Denon MC3000, Reloop Jockey 3 ME, Novation Twitch, Stanton DJC.4, etc it seems every controller at the same price range is better than what Pioneer can offer. Even the Reloop Mixage has better quality than this. Pioneer should step up their game, and lower their price
[ link ]Covering the keyboard so you can’t type in search options is not… good. This layout obstructs the computer from entering search terms or even use the built-in mouse. While it may be an interesting idea, I think it’s still better to get a laptop stand.
While Pioneer may have made some really good turntables, mixing a turntable-centric mindset was a lifetime ago. This isn’t the only area they miss the mark. Most DJs have learned to embrace computers and the strengths that computers can bring to the art instead of reluctantly shoehorning a laptop screen behind the decks and being forced to use files from a digital library.
I’ve tried a controller like this at Guitar Center and I can’t shake the feeling that someone designed this controller to fit into a 1970s sci-fi movie about sex, drugs and DJ dancing in the year 2050. C’mon, the platters blink like a disco. The DJ doesn’t need the lights, this feature was made for people on the dancefloor. The play and cue buttons have a very hard detent. To be blunt, these are not your father’s Pioneers (those at least commanded respect), this seems to be a very tricked-out Hercules controller with substandard software and the Pioneer stamp on it. Frankly, I find Pioneer striving for anything less than Top-of-the-Line a total let down… this SHOULD come with Traktor Pro 2, this SHOULD be a 4 Track controller rivaling or besting the Kontrol S4… but it doesn’t.
[ link ]Crikey. There is some serious bashing going on against the ergo in particular and pioneer in general .
I upgraded from a mixage to an ergo ( They were running an £80 off summer rebate ) and it is brilliant to have more functions at your finger tips and also the size . No complaints here. It also works brilliantly in Traktor .
But I guess my point is that it seems that people are getting really snobby over Home / consumer controllers , controllers designed for the bedroom / the occasional house party against stuff you would take into a dj booth.
Kind of reminds me of the turntables are best , cdjs are king and all midi controllers / laptops are s**t argument !
How far we have come !
[ link ]Hey I´m a DJ “Beginner” from Germany and i have some questions…
Do you think it is a good choice to buy the DDJ-ERGO-K as my first controller?
Is there a better and cheaper controller?
Do you think I can play music with this controller in a club or is this a to easy controller?
Thanks and sorry for my bad English!
[ link ]We’ve reviewed the “other” ERGO. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them over on the forum.
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