Vestax Spin might just be the USB-based DJ rig of your dreams, only shinier
By Donald Melanson 
posted Nov 12th 2009 11:25AM
posted Nov 12th 2009 11:25AM
Your USB-based DJ-ing options aren't exactly all that limited these days, but there's few rigs out there quite as eye-catching as this new Spin controller developed by Vestax and Algoriddim. Designed for Mac users only, this one packs two touch sensitive jog wheels front and center, along with a full multi-channel audio system complete with the requisite sliders, mic input (and included microphone), audio output, and of course that USB connection, which also eliminates the need for a power adapter. On the software side of things you'll get Algoriddim's djay 3 mixing application, plus some out-of-the-box integration with iTunes to let you easily pull tracks for your mix. Sold? Then you can snag this one right now for $250.
awesome! i was tired of the Hercules setup
I wasn't going to buy it, but since they photoshopped the reflective surface in, I'm sold.
Manufacturers: when you create products that actually look nice, as this does, you don't need stupid effects. Not even a lens flare blocking part of the system.
Sean O: "ooh look at me, I know photoshop jargon"
Only it's general imaging jargon. So trying to make him seem elitist makes you seem ... stupid?
Doesn't look too bad actually. I'm not sure I'm sold on EQ sliders vs more traditional twisties; but as far as a me-too setup is concerned, this looks like it has potential.
the spinning pates look like blender plates.
play this would be a bloody fun experience
When I first glanced at the headline I thought it said: ",only shittier."
When will they finally put replaceable crossfaders on these controllers standard?
your breaking your crossfader? really? its not like a traditional crossfader, on these MIDI ones its just a simple 0 to 1 slider.
a "real" dj crossfader burns out because of the audio cross-fading they do (start leaking, then they just go)...MidI crossfaders don't burn out
Benefit is a customized feel.
Seriously - Is there one that is windows based?
You could do what real dj's do, buy the much better Vestax VCI-100. It comes with Traktor Duo... far better software.
thats just it - i'm not a real dj....
yeah... windows please! still have my old numark controller...
The problem with this setup is the software. Djay is a humongous piece of crap. If this hardware uses MIDI, then maybe it'll be mappable to something better like Traktor or Torq, but as it stands, no thank you.
@Cuervo I've been asking that question too! I use an xponent, and really would love that option
Have you use the new version 3? Actually it’s pretty good. Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhZvGO-aAy8
I think version 3 is also the one in the bundle.
the spinning plates are supposed to look like disk brakes. Looks absolutely ghetto.
save for the vci-100
Wow, this doesn't look bad for a beginner. The price is really good too.
Not enough knobs! (she said)
really? $250?????? SOLD!!!
ditto!
If someone is looking for a Windows based option, I love my M-Audio Torq Xponent. Been DJing with it for a while.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/TorqXponent.html
torq sucks more with every update, but it makes for a great midi controller!
Does anybody have any suggestions on how to get started DJing? It is something I've always wanted to do but I have no idea how to learn, what equipment I need, et cetera. Thanks!
you will need 2 pioneer CDJ-2000's and a pioneer DJM-800 mixer. A Solid State Disk hard drive to store your music on and hook into the CDJ's. You will also need a pair of Pioneer HDJ-2000 headphones, as well as a large stereo system with a monitor speaker(s) for yourself. You can also add in various lighting effects such as strobes, lasers, and all sorts of flashy bulbs that dance to the music. And don't forget the all important fog machine.
And make sure to practice your Jesus pose for those huge breakdowns and buildups.
Hope that helps
Don't listen to this tool, CDJ and traditional Tech12s vary on the style you are desiring to spin.
Also, getting started, just buy simple cheap gear instead of top end pioneer. DJing doesn't have to break the bank.
Better yet, befriend a local DJ and see if you can try out his equipment some time. At least then you might get a feel for it before making a large investment in equipment.
One caveat to cake's comment about not needing to break the bank. Yes, you don't need to break the bank and you should only purchase equipment within your means. That being said, using higher end equipment will reduce the frustrations created by using shoddy equipment. Ask any vinyl-using DJ that has Technics at home but has been forced to play on lower end, low-torque turntables at an event.
A pair of 1200s, a 2ch Vestax or Rane mixer, and turntablelab.com for your tunes. don't buy the cheap gear - it's cheap for a reason. The brands I mentioned have extremely durable gear and high resale value - Gemini, behringer, and numark equipment may have more 'features' but don't get suckered (like I was - instead of buying 1200s, I thought I'd save 500$ by getting Geminis, ended up having to buy the 1200s within a year, along with a Vestax mixer wasting the money I spent on the unreliable Gemini decks and numark mixer).
For content, I highly recommend starting on Vinyl - get a few hip hop and few house tracks, and get a feel for beat counting and matching. Or, you can jump straight into Serato Scratch Live (Skip Final Scratch aka Final Crash - another 300 bucks I wasted going with the cheap option first), which will let you spin any track on your computer as if it were a 12" single. Turntablelab is the shiznit for finding anything and everything to do with DJing.
Sure, there are laptop-only setups, and laptop/controller setups, but if it looks like you're checking your email when you're DJing, you ain't a real DJ :P
"but if it looks like you're checking your email when you're DJing, you ain't a real DJ :P"
Controllerism is a new standard of DJing. People will condescend and say you're not DJing, but the fact of the matter is, new technology is marching along. I absolutely loathe it when people say if you're not spinning vinyl, you're not a DJ. First CDs came along, and now you can scratch MP3s just fine.
Vinyl is not the only way, get over it. It's still respected and it still has its benefits, but controllers have a strong offering now, and they're here to stay.
For a basic setup you're talking about Traktor, a MID controller (ask for one that works well with Traktor), a pair of DJ headphones (big pads, sturdy, comfy), a pair of good monitors (speakers), and a computer with two audio cards -- one for the speakers and one for headphones.
You also need some music to play with, and you probably want DJ remixes, not original tracks, since they're much easier to mix (they include lead-ins and lead-outs to connect with other tracks.)
*MIDI, not MID
How bout this then: If you can't beatmatch without looking at wave forms on a screen, then you ain't a real DJ :)
I think the bottom line of what makes a DJ is not technical skill, but rather getting in the crowd's head, finding new music, and ultimately being an entertainer.
Attaching a technical tag to hold over others sheds the meaning of a DJ; it becomes about skill and not purpose. A DJ is there to serve the dancefloor and the audience, not other DJs and not certain equipment allegiances and so forth.
Yes, I can beatmatch, in case you're wondering.
I agree, if the DJ is moving the crowd, they could be using a pair of walkmans for all I care. I just like taking the piss :)
Well played! I consider this match a tie. Spin on, fellow DJ.
Every DJ equipment story on Engadget is a disastrous car crash of error-ridden 'reporting' and a cringe-inducing cascade of clueless commenters. KUTGW
You should start a boycott and refuse to comment on any engadget article ever again.
I love my USB based Vestax VCI-100SE, running it with a Fast Track Pro and Traktor Pro and a Macbook Pro. Hah, lots of pros in there.
I think this is an amazing deal for $250, the only thing comparable in capability was the old Behringer BCD-2000/3000 when it comes to integrated sound and functionality.
The problem here is that, as I've read, Djay is a steaming pile of crap. YMMV as a new DJ, I've never personally used it, but from the layout I've seen it really doesn't have a lot to get you going... No waveform might please the purist, but not the newbie.
Get a copy of Traktor Duo for cheap and you'd be all set. Now we just need the guys at DJtechtools.com to make a TSI mapping for this controller and we'd have an explosion of DJ inductees.
Anyone else notice that a lot of the DJ lingo on this controller was "dumbed down?" Speed instead of tempo, new terminology for cue and WTF is up with calling it "needle drop?"
i do believe they have a mapping in the works... the only thing is you would need another controller to accompany this in order to fully take advantage of the feature set of traktor - or mix externally :)
The impressive thing about this (for the price) is that it includes the sound card crap inside that you need to use headphone monitors. Most beginner setups make you purchase an external sound card with multiple inputs so you can map one to your headphones. Very impressed.
This came at a perfect time for me. I already bought a Torq Mixlab off Woot for $65, but it requires a sound card to use headphone monitors. I have been tempted by the $350 Hercules and Numark OmniControl while waiting for delivery of the Mixlab, but I'll just throw it on eBay and go for this instead.
Yeah, I forgot to emphasize that: having an integrated sound card (like the VCI-300) is a godsend for something this price. My SE was $550 and I had to get a card on top of it.. and the cheapest solid offering is like $100 (one of this NI DJ cards I keep hearing about).
Let's just hope the drivers for this thing are good enough that it's not like the fiddly BCD range that requires a huge fan-based driver writing community.
At least it's not HID too, which means that you could use it with other programs without -too- much trouble...
yeah, for $50 more you can get the Hercules RMX unit, which supports Windows & Mac, has EQ twisties and kill switches (faders are useless), buttons to trigger effects, and comes with Virtual DJ, which is certainly better than dJay. It's also supported by Traktor, Serato, Live, MixMeister... and it comes with a $150 coupon for VDJ Pro
I think if this was a little bit better, it could compete
So the 'real' cost of this controller is about $2500, since you'll have to buy a Mac to run it with, find ways to take all the PC-only equipment you've invested in, and convert it all over to Mac just to use a shiny controller that looks like the Hercules RMX, but is admittedly $100 cheaper.
And shinier.
http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=879
It's a standard MIDI controller which means you will be able to use it on a PC with any program that lets you map MIDI. Only issue I could see is the jog wheels not responding as you want them to in another program. But I am sure this can be overcome as well since it has been done for the VCI-100.
O_O
Is shinny.
You spin me round round baby right round like a record baby right round round round...
Where is the feeling?
Give me this for PC with dedicated support with Virtual DJ 6.0 and I'm sold. Vestax is solid, and their VCI-300 with Serato Itch is the shit. I would definitely drop $250 on this if the right support was there.
No kill switches? :(