Midi Controller

It also depends what program you are using - Traktor and VCI 100 are a marriage made in heaven. Ableton is an awesome program for djing, dropping loops on and live performance, but would render the vci 100 pretty useless...

Yep I agree. I use traktor 3.2. very stable.

I've got a vci 100 in very good nick you could buy from me. Just have to check with a mate who's been trying it out first.

Yep I agree. I use traktor 3.2. very stable.

Ableton Live8 + Apc 40 all the way bro

The lag is to do with how powerfull your laptop is, not the midi and also how good the sound card is.

It is always best to keep the midi and sound card separate.

Not entirely true...the mechanicals of the 300 are different....the feel of the platters can be altered on the 300 whereas they can't on the 100....anyway....try before you buy Erik.

Yeah I suppose that's the way to go, I'll see if I can track them down for a tryout and then make my mind up ;)

For DJing? Serato? Does no-one use Serato anymore?

The feel of the platters are adjusted exactly the same way on both. 2 screws on the back of the unit.

In my experience of both it is better to use the vci-100 with a good external sound card. (you can get both 2nd hand for a fraction of the price of the vci-300)

With the vci - 100 setup you can use the mixer that's already in the club/bar

For DJing? Serato? Does no-one use Serato anymore?

Serato Scratch Live + Decks + Mixer + Soundcard = $$$$

ahhhhh I see. Clubs usually provide decks and a basic mixer, no? Guess that doesn't help for home parties

Nope nor for practicing... Far too expensive for starting out anyway...

Bummer. Sucks that the hardware part is always the expensive part. I am looking into trigger surfaces myself - a fair bit cheaper, and there are some decent budget devices on the market. Just got hooked on ableton.

Ableton Live8 + Apc 40 all the way bro

You cunt! People keep reminding about these and I have no money to get one but it's all I've been thinking about since I found out about them :(

Right so following some further investigation I'm planning on ordering a DJ TechTools custom modified Vestax VCI100 SE

http://www.djtechtools.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/vci-100_overlay_se.jpg

Comes with 1.3 Firmware which is the dogs bollocks and specially programmed for Traktor Pro, it also means you can use DJ Techtools remaps which come out every month
DJTechTools VCI100SE

Although I'd love one of these but it's so frivolous to spend that much extra for just a redrilled faceplate and some different buttons...

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/10/vci100arcade.jpg

^ Jealous. I'm going to go and play with my sob X-Session Pro sob to make me feel better...

And that Ean Golden one is awesome, he modified it with arcade buttons so he could beat juggle and scratch more effectively...surprised to see its now being rolled out as a retail option!

Fat controller.

You cunt! People keep reminding about these and I have no money to get one but it's all I've been thinking about since I found out about them :(

Fucking awesome set up. I spent 2 very long months programming my mpd 32 and then this came out, and it blew me away.

Right so following some further investigation I'm planning on ordering a DJ TechTools custom modified Vestax VCI100 SE

http://www.djtechtools.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/vci-100_overlay_se.jpg

Comes with 1.3 Firmware which is the dogs bollocks and specially programmed for Traktor Pro, it also means you can use DJ Techtools remaps which come out every month
DJTechTools VCI100SE

Is that just a face plate for the vci 100? Wo'nt be a modified vci, just a mapping doc that you import into traktor?

It has arrived.

               ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/product-inset-1.png)

Dj Tech Tools proudly presents the �Ean Golden� special edition VCI-100. This is the culmination of over a year of testing, design and input from professional djs . All of the things Ean wanted to do with the original VCi-100 were simply not possible without re-engineering the unit. So in order to bring his vision to life, many of the knobs have cutting edge midi features and aspects you will only find on this limited edition version.

             These features were designed by Ean to make complex actions in programs like [Traktor 3.3](http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=traktor3_us) simple, straight forward and powerful. Just load the included TKS file into Traktor and both Windows or Macintosh users will be able to start playing right out of the box. Instead of spending years learning how to program midi translators and dj software, why not have the pro do it for you.
               This special edition has been designed in areas of specific work flows. Here are some of the important sections with their respective features.

                           **Controllerism?**

                 Controllerism is a concept that has been pioneered by Ean and his friend Moldover over the past few years. Here he has programmed his personal style of controllerism, cue point juggling, directly into the unit. You have the option of engaging 2 modes of beat juggling. Sample mode, which turns the jog wheel and the 4 buttons bellow it into sample pads triggering 5 cue points as long as they are held down. In juggle mode, those same controls now instantly jump to the 5 cue points and directly play. Turn off the mode switches and all the buttons go back to your normal transport controls. Although this model was built with controllerism in mind, every control has been layed out to facilitate basic mixing of all kinds. You can choose to take advantage of these hidden features or leave them alone and they will not impede the ability to mix music together as you would on any other vci-100.



                                      **Ready to buy?**

                 Sold Out - but there will be more available at the end of June. [Sign up on our email list](http://list-manage.com/subscribe.phtml?id=640a04474a) and we will let you know when one becomes available. 


                                                     **Deck copy**

                 ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/deck-copy.png)The deck copy section makes it easy to quickly move songs around between decks. Just hold down the deck copy button and you can move songs to opposite decks or down to deck C for layered playback. When deck copy is not engaged those same buttons scroll through your play list and load songs into each deck.

                     **Loop section**

     ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/loop.png)The loop section gives you clear visual feedback of when a loop is engaged on all 4 decks. the black button turns loops on or off and the red LED lights up whenever a loop becomes active. Once a loop is running its very easy to then shorten it into infinity creating exciting buildups and edits with the shorten buttons on the left.


         **HI Performance Midi**

     ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/filters.png)Above each fader you can directly access dual filters per deck. Turn them on by pushing the filter button and the knob on the left is both a hi-pass and lo-pass filter making wild dual frequencies sweeps very powerful. This midi functionality and the examples bellow are completely unique to this edition and will not be found on any other digital dj product out there. You can also take these hi performance controls and re-map them to other functions in any dj software that supports MIDI.
   ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/FX.png)Selecting FX inside Traktor can be a tedious experience. There is no way to directly select the desired effect and then you must dial in up to 4 settings to get it ready to play. This layout does all that for you by making each button in the FX section a super button. Not only does it directly select an effect but then sends out a series of messages to put all the knobs and buttons in the right state. One click and each effect is instantly ready to go.
   To work with the effects further this edition also takes the knobs a step further. Each mix knob serves 3 functions. Any knob movement engages the effect, turning it up brings in the effected signal and turning the knob all the way on engages a freeze action which completely cuts out the sound leaving an effect trail behind.
   There is also a very special �fader fx�mode which turns the input faders into the same effects super knobs. Now you have 2 long hi performance faders to create effect, sweeps, builds and cuts. Disengage the fader fx mode and they go back to controlling volume.

        **Scratch Mode**

   When Scratch mode is not engaged the jog wheels become drum triggers, instantly jumping to the first cue point in a song when touched. Juggle a pair of songs back and forth just like a pair of records with this unique function.
   ![](http://www.djtechtools.com/store_html/images/third-deck-juggle.png)
   To get hands on control of a third deck with only 2 sets of controls. Just hold down the Deck C button and the right jog wheel, tempo fader and EQ controls are now driving Deck C. Let go of the button and they go back to controlling deck B.

What makes the SE so valuable that they always sell out?

1. It comes with [1.3 firmware installed,](http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1457) which fixes critical bugs on the controller and adds completely unique performance features.
2. Its one of a kind! This is the only controller on the market specifically designed to get the most out of Traktor. Only a few have the SE, making it a rare and special version of the 100.
3. The legendary Dj TechTools support. We have a huge community of users that support each other and constantly come up with great new ways of using the SE.
4. Beautiful one piece overlays that feel and look better than the original VCI-100 plates.
5. Straight from Japan, the SE is all black with performance knobs and faders + improved green and blue lighting.
6. Finally, the most valuable feature is [our mappings.](http://www.djtechtools.com/midi-map/) As an SE owner you can use specially designed mappings for Traktor pro that blow the stock mappings away. Custom designed by Ean Golden, each month we release a new version of the VCI-100 mapping that introduces completely original performance features and ideas. While everyone can freely download and try them for free, there are always special features designed for the 1.3 firmware.

buy more vinyl geeks!

Ableton Live8 + Apc 40 all the way bro

+1 on this

buy more vinyl geeks!

Give me the money you'd need to get an analog system that does everything you can do with a Midi Controller and laptop and we'll talk ;)

Vinyl is waaaay too expensive and it's only a matter of time until cheap Midi controllers will be better than analog... The expensive stuff already is...

Vinyl is waaaay too expensive and it's only a matter of time until cheap Midi controllers will be better than analog... The expensive stuff already is...

If you think about it, all the dance music we play is made digitally, mastered digitally and so should really be played digitally...

If you think about it, all the dance music we play is made digitally, mastered digitally and so should really be played digitally...

Hmmm, I don't necessarily agree with that line of logic personally. Out of a club sound system/party rig I doubt many people are really concerned with the subtle nuances in sound that vinyl brings whilst skanking out to a dirty bassline though, so imo it's down to what the dj likes playing. The way I see it is with vinyl you get a much more tactile experience and with digital you get a lot more convenience.

Check out the new kenton line of controllers on: http://www.kentonuk.com/#
Some series stuff worth waiting for...