Numark DJ2GO Traktor Mapping TSI

A while back i wrote a review for the Numark DJ2GO and originally i put up some midi mapping TSI files.  I eventually took them down in favor of Numark’s TSI, however i eventually found out that it only works for Traktor 2.  So i remade the original TSI files for people who still use Traktor 1, you can download them below.

These TSI files have support for output feedback to the controller LED’s.  Most “toggle” type buttons will stay lit when activated, and the play button flashes using the beat phase monitor when a track is actively playing or being cued.

DJ2GO TSI Mapping Alone – download

DJ2GO TSI Mapping with mapping support for Akai LPD8 - download

*In some browsers you may have to right click then “save as”

**The map with the Akai LPD8 uses Program3 (CH3) for looping & eq, and Program4 (CH4) for FX

Midi mapping for Akai LPD8 (in order from upper left to lower right)

Program 3

Pad 1 – Deck A Auto Loop (Toggle)
Pad 2 -Deck A Loop Size Decrease
Pad 3 – Deck A Loop Size Increase
Pad 4 – NOT USED
Pad 5 – Deck B Auto Loop (Toggle)
Pad 6 – Deck B Loop Size Decrease
Pad 7 – Deck B Loop Size Increase
Pad 8 – NOT USED
Rotary 1 – Deck A Gain
Rotary 2 – Deck A High EQ
Rotary 3 – Deck A Mid EQ
Rotary 4- Deck A Low EQ
Rotary 5 – Deck B Gain
Rotary 6 – Deck B High EQ
Rotary 7 – Deck B Mid EQ
Rotary 8 – Deck B Low EQ

Program4

Pad 1 – Effect 1 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 2 – Effect 2 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 3 – Effect 3 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 4- Dual Deck Filter On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 5 – Deck A FX 1 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 6 – Deck A FX 2 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 7 – Deck B FX 1 On/Off (Toggle)
Pad 8 – Deck B FX 2 On/Off (Toggle)
Rotary 1 – Effect 1 Select
Rotary 2 – Effect 2 Select
Rotary 3 – Effect 3 Select
Rotary 4 – Deck A Filter Amount
Rotary 5 – Effect 1 Amount
Rotary 6 – Effect 2 Amount
Rotary 7 – Effect 3 Amount
Rotary 8 – Deck B Filter Amount

Numark DJ2GO Review

Nine years ago I moved from being a complete vinyl DJ to taking somewhat of a digital leap and moved to Stanton’s Final Scratch. It was far from perfect, it took me 6 months to get it up and running to a point where I could count on it for a gig, it ran Linux, and still required you to lug around turntables to gigs. More importantly, what it meant for me, was that I didn’t have to carry crates of vinyl anymore.

Fast forward 7 years and I decided that while Final Scratch seemed to meet a bit of my needs, i still hated carrying turntables, buying needles & control vinyl every so often…I needed a better solution and technology was finally (rapidly) catching up. I needed a solution that kept the traditional vinyl feel as I never learned to DJ with CDJ’s (nor did i like the feel), i tried the Stanton SCS.3D and we all know how that went, so I purchased the Numark NS7. While i got rid of having to buy control vinyl & needles, I would soon find out that the NS7 still had one little flaw, it doesn’t travel well due to it’s weight. With a flight case the NS7 clocks in at about 75lbs, making air travel with it quite pricey. I needed a small, lightweight, compact solution that I could travel with, enter the Numark DJ2GO.

I recently found myself traveling and asked to do a couple gigs when I didn’t have any equipment on me except for an Akai LPD8. I busted out Traktor and tried every which way to map the minimum controls I needed to the LPD8, but it just didnt feel natural or right, and there were too many “mode” buttons to push to get to the controls I needed (similar to the problem with the SCS.3D). I ventured online to look at other small Midi controllers, still fearful of things that didnt have a full vinyl control platter. The faderfox series of controllers looked great, were small, and had great reviews, but were a bit more than I wanted to spend for a secondary travel controller considering they don’t have a built in sound card. I then looked at the Hercules DJ Console Mk4, a backpack size Midi controller that comes with a built in soundcard, and a cover for travel, all for a low price of $169. I then found the Numark DJ2GO, a small essentials only controller with the same profile & footprint of my Akai LPD8 (in face, they’re so similar, i wouldn’t be suprised if Akai was in on the engineering). For only $50 at Guitar Center, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. Along with the LPD8 I would have my transport controls, and either Looping & EQ or FX Controls.

The controller was remarkably easy to setup and I had it mapped to Traktor in less than 15 minutes. There are still some controls that escape me, such as navigating back & forth between playlists and other navigation issues, this is probably due to my lack of experience with Traktor, not anything with the controller. I was able to pop the controller into my backpack with my laptop and easily take public transportation to all 3 of my gigs this past weekend.

Everything works just as you would expect, the transport controls are smooth, the jog wheel isn’t touch sensitive, but it gets the job done for setting cue points and pitch bending ( you can also use the built in pitch bend buttons). I haven’t tried to scratch with them yet, but if you’re intent on scratching i’d say this controller isn’t for you. Everything else works as labeled, from volume faders to pitch bend controls, to headphone assigments. The only thing that I can remotely complain about is that I wish the tempo faders were a bit longer (seems a bit tough to dial in the correct BPM).

Now I hear alot of people on the boards and review sites snickering at this unit because of it’s simplicity and price. They call it “entry level”, “a toy”, “fisher price DJ gear”. Call it what you will, but the Numark DJ2GO is rather handy, solidly manufactured (well, at least as solid as the Akai LPD8), and easy to use & setup. Midi controllers are just buttons & faders, so the difference in midi controllers is really personal preference, some buttons are more expensive than others. The Numark DJ2GO fit my needs and my budget, I see no reason to go out and drop $1000 on a Traktor Kontrol S4, while it’s a nice piece of equipment, it was overkill for what I needed.

Overall, kudos to Numark for filling a niche in the controller market, portability, affordability & reliability are probably the top 3 things any DJ looks for in a controller and the DJ2GO nails it.

I have forgone my version of the .tsi in favor of the official Numark TSI which you can download here

Best Buy Extended Warranty (Product Replacement Plan)

There is one thing across the board that cripples businesses across the globe, consistency.  It’s true for all big businesses.  Have you ever tried getting a straight answer from Verizon, Comcast, or some other national company?  It’s impossible, and it’s impossible with Best Buy as well.

It’s a fact of the trade, most DJ’s use headphones, including me; and, like most DJ’s, I put my headphones through hell.  When I first start DJ’ing I found myself going through headphones like water.  Either blowing out drivers, or ripping the cords, or breaking the jack.  About 12 years ago another DJ turned me on to Radio Shack’s extended warranty program.  He told me that eventhough radio shack didn’t carry the best headphones, for $12-15 he could buy a 3 yr warranty and have them replaced any time, without question.  So, naturally, I went to Radio Shack and bought some headphones (with the warranty), and had no problem swapping those headphones out for a new pair when needed.

In 2008 Radio Shack amended their extended warranty so that you can only swap your broken product 1 time, thus eliminating the value that the extended warranty once provided.  Although $15 was much cheaper than paying $45-50 for a new pair of headphones, I wasn’t getting the mileage of swapping them 10 times that made it such a deal.  So when my last pair of Radio Shack headphones went down, I set out to find a company that had something similar to Radio Shack’s old extended warranty.

In November of 2009 I ventured into a Best Buy in Chicago, IL to see how the prices faired and what the warranties were like on a new pair of headphones.  Prices were fair on a pair of Sony MDR-V150 headphones, so I asked for the manager to clarify the warranty.  I spoke to the manager at length and made sure to ask him the very important details

• Most importantly, does the warranty allow for multiple replacements within the warranty period? (he answered yes)
• Does the warranty cover accidental damage such as rolling over the headphones with my desk chair (he answered yes, further going on to state that i could pretty much run over them with my car and they would still give me a new pair)
• Are there any other fees/costs associated with obtaining a replacement (he answered no, just make sure you have your original reciept)

At this point, I thought I was golden, so I completed my purchase of the headphones & warranty and left.

In early February 2010, I needed my first replacement, so I headed to Best Buy to have the swapped and I was in and out in 10 minutes, no questions asked.  ”Great”, I thought.  I’ve since swapped by headphones another 4 times, in various locations throughout the Chicago area and in Connecticut, therefore when I went to swap my headphones again the morning of February 5, 2011, I wasn’t expecting any problems.

I walked into the Best Buy in Meriden, CT around 2:45 and searched for the pair of headphones I needed, but I wasn’t able to find them on the shelf, there were none there, nor was there a space on the shelf for them.  I approached the customer service desk, explained my situation, and the employee behind the counter looked up the item and said he had them in stock in back.  He called for a manager, and about 5 minutes later a new pair of headphones appeared.  At this point I thought all was going well, little did I know it was about to go WAY downhill.

Four(4) Best Buy employees tried figure out how to do a PRP (Product Replacement Plan) exchange in their computer system, all of them failing at some point in the process.  Now 30 minutes have elapsed in a process that has never taken more than 10 at any other Best Buy, and I’m dealing with a 5th employee while the manager (Bob) looks on offering no help to his fledgling employees.  The 5th employee enters some information into the computer, including asking for my drivers license for the 19th time, then turns to me and says…

The Product Replacement Plan does not cover accidental damage.

I called bullshit on that one, citing what the previous manager had told me, and also citing my past experiences.  He left his post and went to discuss this with his manager and he comes back to tell me that it’s going to be $6.00 to replace my headphones, at this point I lost it.  I screamed at him, “for what??”, and again reminded him of my prior experiences.  He then told me that the product replacement agreement stipulates that after they replace the product once, their obligation under the agreement has been fulfilled.  So all 3 of my original questions when buying the plan were negated in 1 trip to Best Buy…nice.  After 45 minutes of dealing with complete incompetency, I really didn’t care to ever set foot in a Best Buy again.  I told the clerk and the manager that I had enough and I was going to take the new headphones and walk out, they told me they would have to call mall security to taze me if I did that, so I left without anything (including my license).

After leaving I called up a guy that I deal with at Guitar Center and told him my story, he said to bring in the receipts, the broken headphones, and he would honor what Best Buy wouldn’t.  I called the store manager (Bob) later that night, had a lengthy conversation with him about the PRP process, and told him that I would be coming back in the morning for what I left there, and Guitar Center, unlike Best Buy, actually cares about how they treat their customers.

I arrived back at Best Buy about 10 minutes before they opened their doors (11AM). Once they opened up, I walked in and was greeted by the same staff of imbeciles I dealt with the day before. I promptly asked for the store manager on duty, unfortunately Bob wasn’t working. The manager on duty told me that everything I needed was at mall security (YAY!), so I left Best Buy and headed through the mall.

Upon arriving at mall security, I informed the rent-a-cop at the window who I was, and asked for my things. He promptly retrieved a bag of items that contained my license, receipts, and a shiny box with a new pair of headphones, but before he handed them over he asked what happened in Best Buy the day before. A little taken back, I asked if he didn’t have access to the security tapes. He then said, “Don’t get smart with me.” So naturally, I did, and responded, “Listen Blart… Are you going to give me my stuff, or do I have to call a real cop to straighten things out?” I was soon walking out with my stuff in hand.

I looked carefully at the receipts after getting them back, along with a new exchange receipt, there was a ripped page from part of the PRP agreement stapled to it, with a part circled in pen that outlines that Best Buy’s obligation ends once they replace the item.  At the top of the page above the circled area, the agreement lists the items for which that agreement applies, and nowhere are “headphones” listed.

OK, I admin, a pretty long story with a melodramatic ending… we have learned a few things

• DJ’s should never buy headphones from Best Buy (Lesson learned)
• Mall Security Guards will take every opportunity to exert a power trip
• You can’t get a consistent answer from anybody in a large company

I’d love for Best Buy to elaborate on that last point….because there are still questions left unanswered.

• Would still love to see the policy that applies to “headphones” in writing…
• If Best Buy fulfills their obligation with the first replacement, why was it done a 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th time?
• Why did it take 5-6 employees, and well over 45 minutes to do a simple PRP?
• Why was there such a hassle, particularly over the replacement, if Best Buy was going to issue me a new set of headphones anyway.

I was also given a new receipt, which means when these headphones shit the bed, I can go back to Best Buy and exchange them again since my warranty contract doesnt expire until November of 2011. Please, somebody tell me why big corporations CANT get their shit together?

June 2009 – Great Month Ahead

Posted over 400 New Songs in the Catalog this month.  

I have 3 bookings coming up this month, 2 graduation parties and a 30th birthday party.  

Just uploaded new Hip-Hop Charts & Crossover Dance Charts for June 2009.

As you all know the Stanton SCS.3d controllers did not work out, so next i tried Numark’s CDX turntables which was an EPIC FAILURE!

So, Monday I am going to pick a new MP3 deck from Cortex, the HDTT-5000.  Hopefully I will finally find a deck that is easy to use, and works like charm.  Stay tuned for updates

Stanton SCS.3d Review

I recently purchased and got a chance to play around with Stanton’s new Midi Controller and “Touch Surface” DJ Controller, the SCS.3d, otherwise known as “DaScratch”.

I’ve only had a chance to play with them for 2 weeks, so in contrast some may say that I’m not giving it a fair shot, but for being a DJ for 16 years, and seeing all the technology come and go, I have to say that Stanton has done the exact same thing with the SCS.3d that they did with the Final Scratch.  Stanton is always on the cutting edge of DJ Technology and probably will continue to be well into the future, their ideas are technological masterpieces, however their execution is usually a complete SNAFU.

Eight years ago when I purchased Stanton’s Final Scratch (yes, I had version 1.0), i had a hell of a time getting it setup, and virtually nobody was using it because laptop computers were so expensive at the time.  I was acutally lugging my desktop and monitor around with me to gigs, which may sound extreme, but I was able to get my musical digitally, and was always on the cutting edge with my music.  With Final Scratch I spent months on the phone with the only guy that had any knowledge of troubleshooting it, I even had his cell phone number, I am a daytime web developer and I get pissed when I have to troubleshoot with clients… I can imagine how this guy felt.  After about 3-4 months I was finally able to grasp the technology enough to troubleshoot it myself and run it smoothly enough to rely upon it for a gig.

I am afraid Stanton has run the same course with the SCS.3d, while the Tech Support has come a long way (there is actually a whole department, and they answer pretty quickly), it still seems like its going to take 4-6 months to be able to rely upon this technology for a gig, which is time I really dont have.  Also, I’m not just saying this because I’m not really an experienced MIDI DJ, it’s because the software (DaRouter) is buggy and seems to be incapable of being solid for long periods of time.  I haven’t been able to play for more than 45 minutes without the controllers completely locking up.

Stanton also released MIDI mapping pre-sets for Traktor Pro, while good, there doesn’t seem to be a rotary or jog-style pitch bend function similar to most “vinyl” style CD Decks (ala Pioneer’s CDJ-1000MK3) which makes beat-matching on the fly very difficult.  Bundling all the features into a nice neat little package is great, 2 units fit into my record bag with ease, and only weigh about a pound each, however, this means that you much switch “modes” to access different functions, which didn’t seem like a bad thing at first, but eventually proved to be very cumbersome while in the mix.

So, while great in theory, anybody who has an upcoming booking will still get the same vinyl / final scratch setup.

**UPDATE**

On 6/2/09 I was contacted by nem0nic @ Stanton and I wanted to clear up the fact that the SCS.3d DOES HAVE jog/pitch-bend mode, however you must access a seperate mode by pressing “vinyl” twice to use it:

On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 1:16 PM, Craig Reeves <nem0nic@stantondj.com> wrote:

It was brought to my attention that you were having issues with your SCS.3d controller(s).  If you have any questions regarding its performance, please feel free to contact me.  Without knowing the specifics of your setup, I would recommend that you use the latest version of the DaRouter software, which is available on our forums.  If you are using an older version of DaRouter and OSX, this is especially true, and would explain your stability issues.

And the pitch bend functionality you mention is indeed in the Traktor Pro presets.  Vinyl Mode 2 (press the VINYL button twice – it will light purple to indicate the proper mode) not only gives you fine “jog style” pitch bending, but also ties the SCS.3d’s LED feedback to the phase meter in Traktor Pro to give a visual guide without needing to look at the computer screen.

Craig