#ni controller

To create a DJ device that DJs will naturally feel drawn to, you will have a lot on your plate to compete with.  There are few creators out there who have actually designed a unique controller that appeals to a mass audience.  Most of the time a designer will have a good idea that will never be produced in factories, and therefore will require a high overhead to produce.  Other times, a manufacturer will design a rather generic controller that can be produced at low cost, but it has very little appeal to those who want something unique.  To put it bluntly, creating a basic controller is not as easy thing to do. Behringer has been smart in their decision to produce a line of modular controllers, each with the same form factor but with differing button arrangements.  They understand that a one size fits all controller is a tough deal for both the company and consumers, so the best route should be varied and looked at from all angles.  Allen & Heath has introduced their controller which looks close to both Behringer’s and Native Instrument’s offerings, but we can bet that the design will be more solid albeit not very pretty. http://www.musicradar.com/gear/tech/djing/dj-controllers/xonek2-571271  

A minor annoyance you may or may not have to deal with is finding a way to mount your devices in a sensible manner.  Often, the shape of a table does not adequately fulfill the needs of a DJ or producer and you wind up with a controller in a less than desirable position.  Even worse is when the controller or unit cannot support itself, or is too recessed into your setup – and this is what Native Instruments has been working on, a way to get your controllers up off the floor. Their Kontrol F1 units are sized to be placed next to a turntable or mixer, but they aren’t deep enough to fit flush with the rest of the setup, so they must be elevated in order to be useful.  NI has created the Kontrol Stand, which is really a protective casing for the controller that doubles over as a stand.  It is also somewhat modular and can be placed into a contraption with the z2 mixer placed right at its side.  It looks a bit like the S4 when you have all together, but rest assured, is not.  Might as well protect your investment right? http://djworx.com/traktor-kontrol-stand/  

If you’re looking for the latest and greatest products in the MIDI department, Native Instruments usually has the best selection to sort through.  It’s not because their products are built in Germany either, but it has to do with the fact that they’ve developed these products with software in mind as well.  While some controllers are useless on their own, most of the NI controllers you use were designed to use with some variant of Traktor; some even have music libraries and instrument racks included with them.  The one downside to NI is that newer products may cost you a pretty penny as well.  They might only be a midi controller, but the design and workflow has been well thought out as well. The Kontrol F1 is not a cheap purchase and will rival that of a DVS like Serato itself.  At first glance it may not seem like you are getting much since it is just a 16 pad controller – but the real beauty is in the aftermarket support.  There are many remix sets and other types of preloaded samples that can be had with little work at all.  It may cheapen the value of creating your own samples for some, but many will appreciate it.  http://www.djbooth.net/index/dj-equipment/entry/even-more-new-traktor-remix-sets-released

Native Instrument may have a loyal DJ following, with all of the DJ gear they produce for DJs and turntablists, as well as controllerists.  But they have not lost touch with their software production side, and all that they have worked to produce in the time that they have been around.  Their Maschine was sort of a tipping point on their controller side where they were able to blend both talents in a way that had not been explored by any other software or controller company.  Ableton was close behind on their tails, but they still have not achieved the same reception. Native Instrument is not the same powerhouse as Ableton, it is much simpler to use – but the amount of instruments that NI packs with their gears is nothing to be scoffed at either.  Their Raw Voltage Maschine Expansion adds packs of audio clips that are meant to replicate analog sounds, rather than the electronic packs that come with the original Maschine.  One thing that has to be said is that they really do make it easy for someone to get started right after buying the equipment.  Even without the sound packs and production settings, it doubles over as an awesome controller. http://www.musicradar.com/gear/tech/computers-software/virtual-instruments/raw-voltage-maschine-expansion-574194