Gemini CTRL-SIX

Gemini just released their second Digital DJ Controller and it looks like quite a versitile controller. It's got alot of buttons and a built-in soundcard like most controllers... The exciting thing is that you get all this for about $250 USD!

It's got big buttons and rotary buttons, but are missing two rotary knobs and som button placement to fully support the design of the effects section in Traktor. It's also got a led indicator on each channel, but that requires som heavy duty hardware to support. They have however a section that would support a very good workflow on jumping, moving and looping. The transport buttons are a bit small.

It's got alot of connections both XLR and RCA. The built-in Soundcard is said to have a frequency from 20 Hz-20kHz, but the specs doesn't say anything about the sample or bit rates... Probably not top notch, but it has to be atleast 16 bit... :)

I haven't thought about or looked on Gemini products since I started DJing. Then only reason why we used Gemini was because it was the cheapest products on the market and that also reflected the poor quality of their products, but that was back in the 1990's. :) Hopefully they've improved in the last 20 years and are now delivering reasonably good quality products. Who knows? :)

//EDITED 2011.03.25
Check out the comments...

Recommendation: Try it before you buy it!

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Pimp your controller

Are you tired of the way your controller looks? Do you have a custom layout for the controller, but the writing on the controller just doesn't match? I just came over this awsome site for making a custom layout for your DJ Equipment! They've got alot of other products like guitars, computers and midi controllers.

They've got an editor for creating your own design that you can put on a wide variaty of products. It's a neat editor where you can upload pictures, create text and much more. You can also call on the standard layout if you just want to get a new background or layout.

They've got both my main controllers in there, but I'm waiting for Traktor S4 and so I'm waiting untill that's arrived before I'll invest in a new design for my current units.

It's a sticker that you just add to the front of your controller.
The prices vary from 20 to 50 USD + shipping.

Check out more on their website http://www.styleflip.com/

Vestax VCI-100 MK II (Update)

I didn't have time to abbreviate about the new VCI100, so I just posted a quick post that it was launched.
Currently I'm using the VCI-100 because it's just a very good controller. I bought the black overlay from DJ Techtools and got the nice rubber knobs and I think it looks really nice. The only problem I have with the current one it that the effect section is way off from what Traktor needs and that looks to be fixed on the new one. This pro/con list is partly weighted on the upgrades from VCI-100 to VCI-100 MKII and info from DJ Techtools.

Price: $699 / €499 / £369
Available: November 2010

PROS

• Fancy new design
• Lighter than the previous version (2 kg)
• Effect section ala Traktor
• Dedicated buttons for Filter and Beatjump!
• C/D Deck toggle
• Big transport buttons and rotaryknobs
• Built-in Soundcard
• Shipped with Traktor LE

CONS

• Plastic casing (But this makes it lighter)
• Joystick for browsing and loading.
• Only two faders.

In my opinion has Vestax delivered among the best quality products on the market, but it looks like they did not keep up with their reputation on this one according to DJ Techtools. However the one they tried was a proto type, so it might improve with the finished products.
The best news is that it looks like Ean Golden and the DJ Techtools guys will make a special edition to this controller. Hopefully they will improve the quality according to their own review and make this a smashing product.

If the quality is according to the Vestax standard this will definitely be one of the best Traktor Controllers on the market and offcause the DJ Techtools edition will probably kick ass!

Check out the video from DJ Techtools here.

More info on djtechtools.com and Vestax Pro

New entry level controller from Hercules

It looks like every hardware producer is now warming up for the BPM show next weekend. Hercules is one of them and lauched the DJ Console 4-Mx.

Pros
The design of the controller is really nice. It's in the entry level and you will get alot of gear for the money if you buy this controller. With both balanced Jack and RCA outputs and alot of inputs (both for line and mic) the options are pretty good. It's got a 6 button cuepoint area for both decks and I like the layout for the trasport buttons. All the buttons are back lit and the jogwheels are pressure sensitive.

Cons
A two fader mixer designed for a four deck environment? In my mind this isn't a very good combo. I would need my faders for all decks to be available at all time, so clicking a button to access my other decks isn't really favorable. It hasn't got enough rotary faders to support the effect units (but you can re-map and create a effect mode or use the EQ for a dual purpose, but again you would loose the dedicated controls)

It's shipped with Virtual DJ LE and looks to be made for this software aswell.

More info:
hercules.com
djtechtools.com

Rumor: New DJ controllers from Pioneer!

According to digitaldjtips.com Pioneer is going to release two new controllers at the BPM show this october.

"QUOTE"
The source – a product developer at a consumer electronics company – claims that “many of our customers at PLASA were shown them”, and that they are a Serato ITCH / Bridge DJ controller, and another controller for Traktor.
Read more: digitaldjtips.com

I hope they are introducing a product in the same format as the CDJ-2000 but with more buttons geared towards the Traktor controll format. We need a big platter deck controller!
Hopefully it won't be another four fader and dual jog wheel controller...

Single deck controller from Denon

Denon DN-SC2000

This new one deck controller from Denon looks to be one of the best suited for Traktor. The DN-SC2000 looks to be one of my next purchases... After the S4 offcauce... ;)

Why is this controller so great?

Layout
This controller contains all essential deck controls: Transport controls (duh), hot cues, loop, beatjump, effects, key, sync, browse and filter.

The buttons are mostly big and back lit with large clear fonts at high contrast. The rotary buttons have a indicator and looks very steady.

Effects, Hotcues and deck indicator has a great light feedback system where they switch colors to indicate what function or state they've got.

Transport
Big nice Denon Cue and Play buttons! It's missing Cue Play (CUP) but I seldom use it and one could probably just remap some shift function to make it work. The platter is touch sensitive, high resolution and it's got a looooooong (10 cm) pitch fader and nice pitch bend keys.

Hot Cues
I often use cuepoints 5-8 for quick cue point acces and 1-4 for solid markes like beatmarkers, in/out mixpoints and so in. So having the ability to switch from 1-4 and 5-8 available and the color indicates what range is available. Great! Just what I need.
Clicking Shift and a Cue button will delete it. :)

Loop / Beatjump
Alot of loop buttons which also by pressing shift work as Beatjump.
I always wonder why one would want to have in and out button when there is an autoloop feature. However... Quick remap and it's fixed. I prefer Set cue (Loop in) and Activate loop. The Auto loop should set a 4 bar loop. ;)

Effects
You can allocate the deck to effect bank 1 or 2. There are four rotary push knobs for effect controll. There is also a posibility to switch between controlling either effect bank 1 or 2 with a light feedback (green or orange). Super!

Key / Sync
Nice indicators and Sync + shift = Master. Great!

Browse
Big nice rotary knob for searching with puch to load function. Button for browser only mode, switching favorites (crates) and deck duplication.

Showing off it's colors. (RED vs. BLUE / GREEN vs. ORANGE)

Release: Fall 2010

Price: Around $300 USD

The Native Instruments Traktor S4 unvailed

Image from DJ Techtools

There are alot of buzz around the new S4 controller for Traktor and aswell there should be.
Based on what DJ Techtools wrote on this I'm realy excited, but also a bit dissapointed on some parts.
Read their article here...

There will be an EAN GOLDEN version for this controller aswell where the jogwheels will also have an effects functionality! Congratz Ean!



More information on Native Instruments webpage.

Upsides
1. HID CONTROLLER FOR TRAKTOR! Finally we can get a super tight controller! 30 times the accurassy of MIDI.
2. The controller looks awsome and the layout realy support a well organized DJ workflow.
3. The new loop section looks really powerfull. Like the recording features.
4. 24 bit/96 kHz soundcard included!
4. Pricepoint is excellent! A 4 channel controller of this magnetude with build in soundcard for $999? Yes!
5. Mixer section look beyond awsome!
6. The software layout and new colors look fantastic.
7. Flight case gives it mobility and the laptop stand feature was pretty cool.

Downsides
1. The software will be exclusive to the controller. =( So I just HAVE to buy the whole deal. (SO WHAT?!)
2. There are no inputs for controll vinyl/CD... Yet...
3. After watching the DJ Shifty video I thought the buttons looked a bit small. (around 3:00)
4. Looks like they removed effects bank 3 and 4.

Recap:

• Super tight
• Awsome
• Powefull
• Excellent
• Awsome
• Fantastic

Numark Total Control MIDI LED

For some reason the midi mapping for the LED on my Total Control different then the adjecent keys... There was no place to find an overview and I had to figure it out by my self. I thought that some of you might experience the same problem, so I wrote it all down and made a reference guide. Enjoy!

Native Instruments launches the X1

The X1 controller has hit the stores in Norway and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one of them.

The controller is in my perspective the PERFECT controller for DJ's using timecode for controling Traktor. It looks great and uses a new protocoll that is faster and more reliable then general MIDI.

I'm looking forward to getting the feel of the unit as I think it will be a great experience. This is offcause based on using Native Instruments equipment for a long time, and they never disapoint.

However I'm not sure that I would ever use it as a stand-alone controller which they used as a secondary function for the controller. That is not the basic idea of the controller and so it's not really good for that purpose.

Christian has ordered one allready. I'm going to Oslo this weekend to have a look at it.

Take a closer look

Demo videos from Ean Golden