Yes PC controller such as that one, personally im a huge fan of numarks ns stuff but thats more because i like the feel of vinyl and the spinning high torque platters. However in terms of what a cdj can do vs something like traktor - you will be able to do much more with traktor - you produce right? getting your songs from your DAW to traktor i bet will be much quicker than to a cdj. I personally have not used
traktor, Ive only used serato but I bet most music controlling software will have more features than cdjs.
For some people those hot cues and effect stuff is really important, in terms of learning to mix not soo much - you will have less
effects to use with mixing but in the same token you wont need to rely on
effects to mix great.
My first CDJ's were pio 100's - it got me into the flow of cueing every track on the fly - also beatmatching by ear on the fly - eventually got cdj800s as you might know they had no
effects and then i lost my jet, flange and wah or whatever
the effects were on the 100's. This forced me to take a different approach to mixing - although i was still cueing on the fly (i had
the original 800's so they didnt save cues lol) i was forced to look at how i can manipulate eq more - because essentially with effects although they are doing something very specific, inherently the eq curve gets changed in a way that could help with mixing songs in or out.
What you want to look for in a cdj is the following:
1. When you push play does it play instantly? or is there a touch of delay (you do not want to have to compensate, in some ways this simulates a cheap vinyl TT with crappy torque lol )
2. Also have a feel of the button is it a fast clicky button or a soft numarky rubbery slow button (i cue as if its vinyl on the ns7's anyway)
3. How easy it is to cue - different brands seem to tackle this in different ways
4. Make sure there is a mechanism that can adjust speed (not the master pitch/speed controller) but something that can simulate a slow down or speed up of the vinyl to put it back on beat if need be.
5. Does it have some sort of lock to avoid ejecting the wrong side (soo embarrassing) my 800's didnt have a lock so i always forced myself to pause rather than push eject first. Although not so important if ur not playing in the clubs
6. Shock resistance !
Points 1,2,3 and 4 are all you need to mix - I can guarantee that pioneers cdjs do those just fine. -
I hope this helps
