MIDI controllers for effects/DMX control

[DJ Jules]

Hi,

I've been thinking about adding a little something to the family discos I do (I do at least one a month) and wondering about using Jingles/Samples to add more structure to the shows. I'm using Virtual DJ which has a sample bank but none of the controllers I'm using at the moment have buttons to trigger samples (and most off the shelf controllers don't have enough buttons or enough control over the samples) so I was wondering about buying an additional MIDI controller specifically to control samples and possibly to control the DMX software as well for quick scene/sequence selection (if I have any spare channels).

I've been looking at
Korg nanoKontrol2 or nanoPad2 (http://www.korg.co.uk/products/software_controllers/nano2/sc_nano2.php)
Akai LPD8 (http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/akai-lpd8-laptop-pad-controller--66502)
Icon iStage controller (http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/icon-istage-usb-midi-controller-black--79114)
Icon iControls (http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/icon-icontrols-usb-midi-controller-white--79107)

Basically, I'd want the ability to trigger/stop samples and probably control the Sample volume/speed as well, so something like the iControls or the nanoKontrol seems ideal, but the number of buttons on the iStage controller is appealing to work with DMX scene selection as well.

Does anything else do something like this? What do you use (for both Hardware/Software?)

Julian

[katman]

By default Virtual DJ uses F1 to F12 on the keyboard to start/stop the samples.

[DJ Jules]

By default Virtual DJ uses F1 to F12 on the keyboard to start/stop the samples.

You learn something new every day ;)

By the way, I'm also interested to know who else uses Jingles, Sound effects, etc and where they get them from?

Julian

[WWDJ]

Personal choice of course, but I think many Jingles and Sound Effects are just so dated I would cringe even to hear them, let alone play them.

Samples are something you have to do well or not at all really.

If you're a scratch DJ playing hip hop, then a scratch or F-F-F-Fresh sample, scratched in can sound great.

If you're a mix DJ then vocal acappella over a beat can sound great for live mashups

If you just do the 'party dj' thing. personally i'd steer clear.

I'd like to see what you do with you DMX lights though :D

[DJ Jules]

Samples are something you have to do well or not at all really.

If you're a scratch DJ playing hip hop, then a scratch or F-F-F-Fresh sample, scratched in can sound great.

If you're a mix DJ then vocal acappella over a beat can sound great for live mashups

Yup, got this sorted already with decent samples and breaks :D


If you just do the 'party dj' thing. personally i'd steer clear.

I do a regular family night at a local community centre (and quite a few other nights along similar lines at other locations throughout the year) where I'm more entertainer and less DJ. On these nights I think it's possible that the whole performance thing would be improved by using samples, which is why I'm thinking of giving it a go. I know it's cheesy, and a bit butlins, but that's exactly how these nights pan out.

I definitely wouldn't use them for the usual family party/mobile disco night.


I'd like to see what you do with you DMX lights though :D

So would I :D I'm working on this part of it...

Btw, I'm surprised that no-one has suggested using a touch screen of some kind with some software to manage and play back sample banks...

Julian

[dehayco]

So would I :D I'm working on this part of it...

Btw, I'm surprised that no-one has suggested using a touch screen of some kind with some software to manage and play back sample banks...

Julian

Could be on the wrong lines here, but i have a background in radio and to fire such effects there, they are usually on whats called a cartwall. http://www.jinglepalette.com/ should do what you need, but if you want something a little more advanced and willing to pay a small amount try Charlie Davy's DAC Cartwall (http://charliedavy.co.uk/shop.php)

[DJ Jules]

Could be on the wrong lines here, but i have a background in radio and to fire such effects there, they are usually on whats called a cartwall. http://www.jinglepalette.com/ should do what you need, but if you want something a little more advanced and willing to pay a small amount try Charlie Davy's DAC Cartwall (http://charliedavy.co.uk/shop.php)

This goes back to the old days of having looped cartridges doesn't it?

I think this kind of stuff is a definite possibility. This looks quite and easy as well: http://charliedavy.co.uk/software.php#DACpad