#pad controller

Picture source

The Reloop Beatmix 4 is a performance-oriented 4-channel pad controller for Serato. Both companies have teamed up, to develop a 'fun to use' 4-Channel controller for the worldwide popular DJ software Serato to work seamlessly plug 'n' play: Connect and start mixing.

These Midi Controllers, whilst cheap, pack a stack of features.

I look at controllers like the Kontrol F1, and all I can see are the many ways people might find themselves using this technology.  When I see sixteen pads in a perfect square, I think that maybe a drummer might be able to switch from his MPC to something that will line up better with his live mixing sets.  I also see the non-DJ who might have a reason or two to need such a pad.  Those sample banks could easily be used to trigger effects during production, or they could be used for something silly like clips of sounds that need to be played on a radio station.  Although its use is intended to be open ended – this leaves some DJs with bigger problems. On certain NI units, the function of each button is clearly labeled, meaning it can only perform a task or two.  While this is limiting, it is also defining.  When you have no labels for your buttons and they need to be mapped, DJs have the task of figuring how they want to create their own navigation.  Some are better at this than others, and some are downright terrible at it.  It takes time to figure this out. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/12/kontrol-f1-how-to-use/

Just when you thought there was nothing left for Pioneer to invent, they have chosen the careful route of taking something old and making it new again.  This time, they have found a way to combine the best of their products.  They have taken the jog wheels from a CDJ and have basically implanted them with their newest DDJ-SX controller.  Looking at the two of them from a close glance makes it hard to tell them apart, but if you look carefully you will notice that the jog wheels are actually an upgrade from it.  The pads are colored this time; and I suppose this was to make it easily differentiable from the rest of the controller. The real question is how much does it cost? When compared to what Pioneer usually sells products for, there is nothing cheap on their menu.  It will cost the average buyer around two grand, and this includes both A and B decks as well as the mixer attached in the middle.  The costs are pretty steep, but still much cheaper than buying a pair of CDJs and trying to afford a good mixer in the middle of it.  As an all in one unit, it ranks up there in terms of looks. http://www.djtechtools.com/2014/01/23/pioneer-ddj-sz-serato-dj-controller/

The visual feedback is an excellent tool, even just for creating things like this.

Looks like i just bought that but I did get a really good price