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December 5th, 2012 News & Opinion

DJ Controller Buyer’s Guide 2013 Now Online

by Phil Morse
DJ Controller

Whether you’re DJing in your bedroom or a pro DJ booth, nowadays there are digital DJ controllers that fit the bill. This new guide rounds up all of them…

Want to buy a DJ controller? Want to upgrade the controller you already have? Looking to add a second controller to your set-up? If so, stop! Don’t go any further until you’ve looked at the new Digital DJ Tips online DJ controllers guide, launched today.

DJ Controllers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2013 is our third annual online DJ controllers round-up. It now features a staggering 142 controllers, with 61 full reviews and 56 talkthrough videos. It’s the most complete and authoritative online DJ controller guide anywhere on the web.

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August 13th, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Denon DJ SC2900 Digital Controller & Media Player

by Phil Morse
Denon DJ SC2900 review

Denon takes its biggest swipe yet at Pioneer, with a fully featured, non-motorised platter cross media player that aims to offer something to all types of DJ, digital or otherwise.

Like its bigger brother the SC3900, Denon DJ’s SC2900, which we review here today, is a pro media player and DJ control deck that not only covers the basics, but has a host of added extras designed to entice all types of DJ.

It comes in at below the price of the Pioneer CDJ-900, but with a lot of equivalent features to the much more expensive Pioneer CDJ-2000. And as we’re about to see, it’s more of a direct competitor to Pioneer’s CDJs than the SC3900 is. This means that if you can see past the Pioneer dominance of the pro DJ booth, the SC2900 may well appeal to you.

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July 23rd, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Hercules DJ Control Instinct With DJUCED Software

by Phil Morse
Hercules DJ Control Instinct Review

Everything you need to learn to DJ, for a bargain-basement price? In today's review we find out if the stripped-down Hercules DJ Control Instinct has got enough to get you past go...

Back in 2004, I was asked to review the very first Hercules DJ controller – one of the first DJ controllers ever made – which was a tiny device not dissimilar in looks to the Hercules DJ Control Instinct, which we look at today.

Despite having no sound card (so no headphones) and some pretty serious design misgivings, that little controller was what got me hooked on digital DJing. Now nearly a decade later, we have the latest little baby in the company’s range to look at. How does it shape up in a very different world? In today’s Hercules DJ Control Instinct review, we find out…

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July 7th, 2012 Training

Controller Clinic #13: Best Controller For Mixing Older Music?

by Phil Morse
Vestax VCI-300 Mk II

Vestax VCI-300 Mk II: No effects, only two decks... but great for the DJ who wants to mix older music and doesn't need any more than this.

Digital DJ Tips reader Gabriel from California writes. “I want to get back into small clubs, and find a crowd that appreciates my track selection. Mainly Motown, Northern Soul, Stax… so a lot of drops, less overlapping mixing, but If I do 80s then I’d need a good beatmatch.

“I currently have the Vestax Spin, but I feel it is arm wrestling me at getting my DJing done. I want to spend around US$800-900. Can you recommend a two-channel controller, with a safety input channel for an iPod (in case my Macbook Pro gets a glitch)?

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May 30th, 2012 News & Opinion

Hercules Announces Bargain Basement DJControl Instinct

by Phil Morse
Hercules DJControl Instinct

The Hercules DJControl Instinct: Not likely to win over any professional DJs, but will appeal to impulse buyers.

Hercules today announced the DJControl Instinct, the second controller to use the DJUCED software, which the company has licensed from an unnamed developer and skinned for its purposes. It is priced competitively for a controller with software and a built-in sound card.

A rudimentary plastic-cased controller with what looks like the same form factor as some of company’s more professional units, the DJControl Instinct features distinctive paddle-type pitch controls and another take on Hercules’ quasi-mechanical jogwheel design.

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May 21st, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Reloop Terminal Mix 4 Serato Controller

by Phil Morse
Reloop Terminal Mix 4 Serato

A beautifully made controller, with great jogwheels and wonderful sound. Let's find out how it shapes up...

Reloop’s new Terminal Mix 4 in its smart black livery is big, weighty and pro-looking. Being the size of the Kontrol S4 but with distinctly larger and superior jogwheels, it certainly gives the impression of meaning business.

It comes with Serato Intro (more on this later), but it also comes with Virtual DJ LE, and there are Traktor mappings available too (ditto the four decks, although you’ll have to buy Traktor separately). Confused? Fear not – we’ll do our best to unravel the mysteries in this, our full Reloop Terminal Mix 4 review.

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April 17th, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: Reloop Terminal Mix 2 Serato Controller

by Phil Morse

The Reloop Terminal Mix 2 was announced a few weeks ago but was only on show for the first time at Musikmesse 2012. The Reloop Terminal Mix 2 is a two-channel version of the previously announced Terminal Mix 4.

In today’s exclusive video from the show floor, we get to take a first look at it upfront and close.

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April 9th, 2012 News & Opinion

The One Big Mistake Nearly Every New Digital DJ Makes

by Phil Morse
VCI-100 real vinyl

You can DJ on any old controller, but the software you choose will probably stay with you for life. Pic: Peter Kirn, courtesy of Create Digital Music

There’s one mistake that nearly every new digital DJ makes. Sometimes, there’s not much harm done. Sometimes (by fluke rather than by design), the DJ gets it right without realising it. But too often, this mistake adds a big delay to the new DJ actually starting to enjoy their DJing – or worse, it costs them a lot of money.

It all starts innocently enough. The number one question we get asked here at Digital DJ Tips is this: “What DJ controller should I buy?” Crazily, though, most times the hapless new DJ has, at this point, already made the mistake! So what the hell is it?

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March 29th, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: Stanton DJC.4 DJ Controller for Virtual DJ

by Phil Morse

Today we bring you a talkthrough of a new controller from Musikmesse 2012, namely the Stanton DJC.4, a controller that packs a lot in for your money – if you’re a fan of Virtual DJ, that is.

Considering Stanton says it will be priced in the “mid 300s” – around US$100 more than the cheap and cheerful Reloop Beatmix which is another new Virtual DJ controller but has considerably less in the way of features – it’s easy to see what your extra money will buy for you.

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March 17th, 2012 News & Opinion

Vestax’s New VCI-380: The Ultimate 2-Deck ITCH DJ Controller

by Phil Morse
Vestax VCI-380 DJ controller

The Vestax VCI-380: Compact, powerful and pro-quality. Looks like the ultimate two-deck ITCH controller to date. (Click to enlarge.)

Vestax has today announced its latest DJ controller, the Vestax VCI-380 – a two-deck, Serato ITCH-powered performance Midi controller and audio interface.

It takes some of the best features of Vestax’s popular but ageing VCI-300 ITCH controller, incorporates elements of the spec of the company’s flagship VCI-400 model, and adds a healthy dose of the innovative Novation Twitch to boot. In doing so, Vestax seems to have created the ultimate two-deck Serato controller. Read on for full spec, video, press release and photo gallery.

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March 14th, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Allen & Heath Xone:K2 DJ Midi Controller

by Phil Morse
Allen & Heath Xone:K2 Review

The Allen & Heath Xone:K2. Our review finds out if it's the ultimate 'slimline' DJ controller.

In the sea of me-too twin jogwheeled DJ controllers, just occasionally someone does something different. When Allen & Heath showed the prototype Xone:K2 back at October 2011′s BPM show, the company did just that.

With many DJs seeing the benefits of slimline DJ controllers that fit easily in DJ booths (proven by the runaway success of the Traktor Kontrol X1 and the recent launch of the Traktor Kontrol F1), and Allen & Heath already established in this field with its bigger, heavier but essentially similar Xone:1D and Xone:2D controllers, the Xone:K2 seemed a logical updating of the concept. As we’ll see, though, it throws in a few innovative features of its own. Let’s take a closer look…

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March 9th, 2012 Reviews

Review: Hercules DJ Control AIR DJ Controller

by Phil Morse
The Hercules DJ Control Air

The Hercules DJ Control Air: On paper, lots of innovation for little cash.

My, how things have moved on. Sat on our workbench is the Hercules DJ Control AIR, a DJ controller with built-in audio, touch-sensitive jogwheels, eight velocity-sensitive performance pads, integrated software that includes sampling, effects, looping and recording, on-board library management, and an “air” sensor for altering the mix using your hand through the air.

Despite being plainly 100% aimed at the consumer (or the curious, or the plain strapped for cash), the US$169 Hercules DJ Control Air has, on paper, got everything you need to DJ – and about ten times more stuff as well. Despite this little plastic unit’s price and appearance, it appears to be capable of the lot. As always, though, let’s see how it shapes up in practice…

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January 20th, 2012 News & Opinion

Behringer Is Back With 7 New DJ Controllers

by Phil Morse
Behringer CMD Studio 4A

The Behringer CMD Studio 4A: One of seven new controllers announced and on show at NAMM 2012.

Behringer has made a statement of intent to return to the forefront of digital DJing, with the announcement at NAMM 2012 of seven new Midi controllers due summer 2012.

There’s an entry-level compact controller and a Mixtrack-style all-in-one DJ device, plus an innovative modular DJ system with five possible components – and more planned. Let’s take a closer look (click photos to enlarge). Video at end.

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January 20th, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: Reloop Terminal Mix 4 DJ Controller For Serato

by Phil Morse
Reloop Terminal Mix 4

Big six-inch low-slung jogwheels give the new Reloop Terminal Mix 4 a professional look.

As covered here last week, European pro audio manufacturer Reloop has just announced its latest controller, the Terminal Mix 4, which it is displaying here at NAMM 2012.

It’s the first controller the company has made to work with Serato software, although it is currently only supplied with Serato DJ Intro, which means you can only currently use two of its four channels (as Intro is a two-channel package).

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January 20th, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: New American Audio VMS Touch

by Phil Morse
American Audio VMS Touch

The American Audio VMS touch is a small DJ controller with a built-in audio interface and a novel control area.

American Audio has come up with something a little bit different for the latest DJ controller to be added to its range, the VMS Touch, which is being shown here at NAMM 2012.

The VMS Touch is a metal-chassised, two-deck, two-channel DJ controller with lit, touch-sensitive jogwheels, and a large control area that comprises almost entirely of touch-sensitive controls, similar to the Stanton SCS.3.

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January 20th, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: DJ-Tech Dragon 2 DJ Controller & Standalone Mixer

by Phil Morse
DJ-Tech Dragon 2

The DJ-Tech Dragon, as teased a couple of months ago. Now we have the full video...

DJ-Tech announced and had on display its latest product, the flagship Dragon 2 DJ controller, at its stand in NAMM 2012.

The controller offers four deck control of Virtual DJ; touch-sensitive platters with ring rotation lighting; and hardware filters that work with both analogue and digital input.

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January 13th, 2012 News & Opinion

Serato Gets A Brand New Controller: Reloop Terminal Mix 4

by Phil Morse
Reloop Terminal Mix 4

The Reloop Terminal Mix 4: New controller, with new Serato too? (Click to enlarge.)

Reloop has today officially announced the Terminal Mix 4, a controller for Serato. It represents the European company’s first foray into Serato controllers, and pretty much gives the game away as to where Serato is going with its software at the same time.

The unit seems very similar in build and appearance to the company’s Jockey 3 controller for Traktor, but in packing in a full four-channel mixer and lots of extra buttons, shares a little in common with the Vestax VCI-400 too.

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January 5th, 2012 News & Opinion

Richie Hawtin & Livid Announce CNTRL-R Performance Surface

by Phil Morse

Take a look at this. This video surfaced in the last day on Livid’s YouTube channel, and shows the CNTRL-R, a button-fest of a controller mapped to Traktor Pro 2.

The video is intriguing because the controller is patently being used to about 1% of its potential, but with all those controls there’s obviously a lot of potential in this thing. It certainly takes our prediction for 2012 of more controllers without jogwheels and runs with it!

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