hey guys

im currently running my disco's form a laptop using itunes im looking for some sort of extrernal controller with a play pause button volume pitch etc

if any of you guys can understand what im after would you please make surgestions as to which equiptment ud get

thanks alot

A Behringer BCD 3000, sounds like it'd be perfect for you!

It's around £150, it comes with it'sown software too!

I'm using a Behringer BCD3000. Its a nice bit of kit for the price (~140), it's main downfall is the mic input is of no use for most DJ's and so you'll need to use a mixer to be able to talk over the music..
This isn't actually a problem, as it allows me to have an audio input for ipod (rather than plugging into the PC)
The Behringer comes with a cut-down version of Trakor.

I also have a Hercules MK2 thingy - this is pretty lightweight, but also has the buttons, wheels etc. I found the rubber cue/stutter buttons unreliable and would not always start (hence buying the Behringer), but the Mic input works as you would expect. I've kept it as a back-up.
This comes with a cut-down version of Virtual DJ (which can only be used with the Herc MK2)


Moving up the price band, Pioneer/Denon etc have their own offerings, many come as a bundle, so you'll get a workable bit of software with it (which may be more DJ originated than ITunes)


Unless ITunes has some kind of MIDI interface, you'll have problems using a controller with it. There is software to use a MIDI keyboard as a normal PC input device - so I guess that could be used.. However, some "proper" software would make your life easier.

Jason

sounds like Behringer BCD 3000 is the thing i need can you explain more about the mic input? and also has anyone got ne pics vids of the thing

thanks

I use a BCD3000 myself.....

Nice bit of kit, but the mic input is useless.
Basically the mic audio eitehr works off deck a or deck b so you cant talk over music......stupid idea if ever I have saw one, but they seemed to think it was a good idea to have it like that but I have no idea why.

I use mine with the full version of traktor 3, but Traktor LE is a good cut down version of it and as said before the BCD come bundled with it.

And it would get you out of DJing with itunes

You Tube Vids of the BCD3000

The main problem is that the Mic input is shared with the sound from Deck A.
To use the mic input, you'll need to press a button on the controller, which will then swap the input from Deck A, to the Mic input.
If you happen to be playing music on Deck A - it will be switched OFF.
If you're playing music on Deck B, its not so bad, just press the button, say your stuff, and press the button again to allow Deck A to play - a bit clunky.


I contacted Behringer support, who confirmed this via email. I'm not sure if its fixable in a software update.
I was considering returning the item, but after looking around, there wasn't much in the price range - and even more expensive units didn't have Mic input (so I'd need a mixer anyway)

A simple mixer with Mic input will work fine, so a cheap battle mixer will be all you need.

If you're near me (Waltham Cross/Enfield) etc, you're welcome to pop over and test is out.

Jason

this looks like the perfect thing for me!

shame about the mic input

does it work with vista?

Apparently "yes", it does work with XP.
My girlfriend can't get it working (the online info asks you to set the emulation to Win XP for the installer).
I must admit, I've not looked at the problem seriously.

Best bet is to check online...

Jason

unfortunatley this isnt compatable with vista atm does anyone have any surgestions of something compatable with vista?

no you dont. personally i think the above have been fairly lucky with their behringers - we were once shipped a container of 20 for retail purposes and 16 had faults!

want my advise. Numarks total control and DJiO (external sound card for mic/headphones and talk over) it comes with its own software (cue - which is very similar to virtual DJ) you can import plenty of different types of codec - including itunes media. you can pick up the TC,DJiO and software LE for under £250 and if you wish to update, there are free online upgrades and there is also a video mixing add on you can buy at a later date without having to update your midi controller

its all usb (both midi transfer and power) it has full scratch control, and best of all it gets along well with vista! source it. its definately infront of the behringer and for the price, its one of the best on the market!

thanks for that. i already have a mixer so would i need to buy the package or could i just get the total controll for the cheaper price of 250 ish

yes, you can get the total control for around £175. however, without the DJiO you dont get the full capabilities of mic and monitoring. it functions fully and properly with the DJiO - its a useful thing to have - it'll come in handy should you update any of your gear and need any modulation... and its recommended.

if a jobs worth doing, its worth doing right. spend the extra cash mate!

Gotta say the Total control looks a lot better than the BCD3000

Only thing is, Im a bit concerned with how well it would work with Traktor 3, I know the BCD3000 works fine with Traktor 3, is it the same for the total control, has anyone used it with Traktor?

Nick

I was having a look at the Dac 3 from PCDJ at Nadj and thought it was fantastic, looking at getting one, cheeapest I've seen them for is £200, might be worth lookin up yourself, thing you can download one of the pcdj's freeon their site.

Nick,

the total control is supplied with Cue (numarks mapped version of virtual DJ) and Traktor 3 LE FOC and in the box. it works fine. and for what its worth, the Total control its self is a midi cotroller, and it is mappable, very easily, to many other pieces of mixing software.

Sounds good then......because if I have one major gripe with the BCD its the look and feel of the jog wheels......and the numarks from the videos I have seen looked a lot better.

I asked about traktor 3.....becasue thats what I use at the moment, I dont want to use Traktor LE, it would be like downgrading.
I presume it works ok with Traktor 3.....

The other thing with the BCD3000 is it works Traktor 3 ok, everything works except for the BCD console buttons dont light up, but they do light up if I drop back to Traktor LE.
Im not against using other software, but I have everything organised how I like it in Traktor, BPMs analysed, gains normalised etc.....would take forever to switch to another program.

yes it will work with traktor full as well as LE. you even get a traktor map in the box, also FOC which slots over the TC so all the buttons are 'traktored'

fwiw, it will also work with a whole host of automix productions, VDJ, Trak, etc

HTH