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I'm wanting to graduate from manual mixing to digital mixing and looking at controllers. Been reading all kinds of reviews and decided I want balanced outs, 3+ channels, balanced mic input would be nice, and obviously nice platters. This will be controlling MIXXX. All the other flashy buttons and knobs will be fluff that I have to learn to utilize.
I missed a sweet deal on a Numark NS2. Now I'm realistically looking at the Mixtrack line. I can get a Mixtrack Pro 2 for the same as the 1 on Craigslist. Would it be a good starter but enough to keep me satisfied in the future if I get more serious?

What gear are you guys using/recommend?

Questions:
Would you like to use Control Vinyl?
Do you need platters?
Do you want to buy an all in one solution (like the Numark) or would you like to upgrade your system to Digital?
What have you been using until now?
What is the budget?

I am using Native Instrument's Traktor. My Mixer (Pioneer DJM 850) has an internal soundcard. To control the program, i am using the X1 also from NI. I still got turntables, but i am almost never using the Control vinyl. I am either playing real vinyl or only using the X1 & Mixer.
I think i wouldn't buy this Mixer again. It is logicly and neatly aranged, but the filter resonance is to harsh, the soundquality is, let's say, not highest quality, and most effects ar a little bit too "Disney Land". I think its good for Electrohouse, Bigroom, Hardstyle etc. where DJ's do excessive filtering/effects but its not very handy for smooth transitions.

Here you get an overview which controllers are supported by MIXX, or have mappings for this program:
http://mixxx.org/wiki/doku.php/hardware_compatibility

I like the American Audio VMS4 because it uses balanced XLR main outs, XLR/1/4" combo jack inputs, and seems to have all the functionality you should need, all while working perfectly with the program you are already familiar with. It's a little more than you budgeted, but the balanced XLR outputs are worth the extra $$$.

I guess the biggest question is what do you ultimately want to use this controller for?

If you're looking to be a mobile DJ that does parties, weddings, etc you'll need more than what the Mixtrack provides. The Mixtrack 2 you listed does not have the balanced outputs or mic inputs that you want.

If you are just looking to "bedroom" DJ or play the occasional house party or Frat party the entry level controllers like the mixtrack will work just fine. You only need one mic input and the RCA outputs will suffice even though they are not ideal.

I really like the look of the American Audio VMS4. It has everything a mobile DJ would need and it was a candidate when I was looking for a new controller but quality issues and poor customer support appeared to be common with American Audio. To be fair, I have no personal experience with their product, I'm just going on comments from fellow DJ's and product reviews. Phatman's experience may be different, and if that's the case that provides hope.

I use Denon products and have been very happy with them although they are at the higher end of the $$ scale. I'm not a full time DJ but I still do it enough that I need something sturdy and reliable. I use an MC2000 and a MC6000 MKII. The MC2000 is the "small party" solution and the MC6000 is my rackmount workhorse.

Another good option is Pioneer controllers. I have friends that use them and after spinning on them I really like the feel and functionality. If you're a performance DJ that scratches, the Pioneers are great. In comparison, my Denon is too "cramped" with the control surface layout, but it's a trade-off I was willing to accept for the ability to rack mount the controller in a standard case.

I'm more in the "bedroom dj" camp. I'll mainly play with it at home and take to a few parties. That and the price point is why I'm leaning towards the Mixtrack. If I get something, I want it to last and have all the features I'll want/need in the future (balanced outs, good jogwheels, ect).
Right now I'm learning to beatmatch and keep a good flow from song to song. I'm cheating by letting Mixxx sync the cue'd song of a similar BPM. Multiple cue points may be beneficial in the future. Not really interested in scratching at the moment.

The biggest requirement is the 3+ channels. There are two channel controllers and four channel controllers.

The Denon MC3000 and MC6000 would be my first choices for an "all in one" controller.

The Native Instruments S2 and S4 are great choices, but STRONGLY prefer Traktor over any other software.

A "modular" approach is another good option, as it will allow you to focus on the specific aspects of a controllerism workflow that appeal to you. The A&H Xone:K1; the Native Instruments X1,Z1, and F1; the Behringer CMD series...these are all reasonable choices.

In my opinion, hang around for a while and save some more cash as DJs are constantly buying new kit so another deal will pop up sooner or later. I ended up going with a DDJ-SX + laptop after selling off my CDJ setup as it offered a billion more options for messing about with music. I mean I do dearly love playing on a set of CDJ2k mkiiis and associated mixer but the price tag is just obscene and a controller and laptop can get you there for an awful lot less money.

I notice a lot of controllers these days can manage 4 deck control with 2 strips/faders and I'm still not 100% how that'll work if you need stuff at different levels. That said, my SX has 4 complete channels and it's a real rarity I use more than 2 (usually when running vinyl decks through it).

Hello there,

Came across this thread 3 months too late, hopefully I can get my 2cents in before you've made a purchase.

Ive used the Behringer DDM4000 for 5 years now and its honestly a really amazing and under rated mixer. because of its midi function it can be used as a stand alone mixer without turntables to control your programs via MIDI.

although the build is Behringer quality, the features on this mixer is packed and the sound quality is quite nice.

for weddings and smaller gigs I bring the mixer alone and Ive midi mapped all the buttons to certain functions in serato and can mix my set easily.

for gigs that I need to "show off" I bring my turntables.

if you are unsure of what type of DJ you will grow into, I feel this is a good investment as it can be used as a standalone if you are a DJ/producer type. Or you can hook in turntables if you get into turntablism. you can easily find one for under 200 these days. it is not at all a piece of equipment you can grow out of easily like a numark mixtrak

ofcourse if you are using it as a standalone you will be missing the jogwheels. but from my experience the jogwheels are really only useful for navigating through a song. which can also be done from a mouse click or from cue points. i guess you can use them to do some minor scratches but id rather use turntables if u are into scratching

as long as the software you are using accepts MIDI, I believe this mixer is compatible. take a look. hope this helps

scornil01 wrote:ofcourse if you are using it as a standalone you will be missing the jogwheels. but from my experience the jogwheels are really only useful for navigating through a song. which can also be done from a mouse click or from cue points.

The lack of jogwheels really limits you to having to pre-program a set with immaculately arranged cue points otherwise how do you push a track on/drag it back a little? It's a fairly essential part of mixing.

88h88 wrote:The lack of jogwheels really limits you to having to pre-program a set with immaculately arranged cue points otherwise how do you push a track on/drag it back a little? It's a fairly essential part of mixing.

There is a trend away from jog wheels in favor of "touch strips" for searching through a track, and for "nudging" a track in the style of jog wheels. The only "loss" is the ability to "scratch" with jog wheels, which has been a bit iffy on most controllers. The touch strip is a change in usage, but no more or less functional than jog wheels for beatmixing, bending, or nudging.

SoundInMotionDJ wrote:
There is a trend away from jog wheels in favor of "touch strips" for searching through a track, and for "nudging" a track in the style of jog wheels. The only "loss" is the ability to "scratch" with jog wheels, which has been a bit iffy on most controllers. The touch strip is a change in usage, but no more or less functional than jog wheels for beatmixing, bending, or nudging.

I'd beg to differ, touch strips are far more vague and as such, far shittier than a pair of high resolution jogwheels. How do I know? I have both on my DDJ-SX and the touch strips get you kinda where you want to be but with no finesse at all. It's harder to control exactly where you want to be in a track, when you have your finger on the strip it's fine but when you remove it, the track will often skip back or forward a little bit so that lack of accuracy isn't a great way to be able to beatmatch something.

It's fine if you're a jukebox DJ but if you actually mix then you need a set of jogwheels or a fader you can assign to use as a tempo adjust instead.

88h88 wrote:I'd beg to differ, touch strips are far more vague and as such, far shittier than a pair of high resolution jogwheels. How do I know? I have both on my DDJ-SX and the touch strips get you kinda where you want to be but with no finesse at all.

Fair enough.

I started with a Numark dual CD player (CDN-34S). Those did have "wheels" but NOTHING like the jog wheels on anything from Pioneer. So, I did get rather good at using the "pitch bend" options when beatmixing.

I have used the Native Instruments X1 Mk2 touchstrips. Those touch strips are used to "pitch bend" the playing track not to "move" the track (they can move a track...but that's not the mode I use them). This I will say that it is not an "intuitive" transition from jog wheels to a touch strip...it is certainly a case when drinking the kool-aid helps considerably.

I started out using pitch bend and became somewhat of a master at it but then went to jogwheels for some reason. Wish I knew why. I'd always take a physical control over a touch one though, it just feels better.

I'll have to give something like the NI X1 a go in future when I can get my hands on one. Ta.