Is it better to go with a digital mixer and use that as the MIDI controller for running apps off of a laptop or a non-mixer external controller, assuming I have the RAM and HD space for optimal performance?
I need to upgrade my setup, and would like to incorporate Ableton either solely by itself or complementary with a traditional CDJ setup. Any thoughts?

there's been a lot of discussion on this already actually. but i guess it just comes down to mainly what youre going for. you mention going soley with ableton (or other DAW's) but you also mention going for a hybrid setup so which is it? if its purely ableton i dont think its worth it to shell out for a djm800 or xone 3d...better to go straight for a decent controller or combination of controllers (highly reocmmend the novation remote sl zero btw).
if you do want to go with cdj's + ableton (or other software) then i think its worth it to invest in a djm800/xone3d or even wait for a korg zero4/8.

___________________
http://www.djandrewgarcia.com

DJM-800 isn't ideal for ableton...

There just aren't enough knobs and buttons, nor inputs. Think about it: If you have 2 cdj's, that takes up 2 channels on the mixer.

Then you have the audio coming from your PC from ableton, that has to go to another channel. HOWEVER, that channel can no longer be used for MIDI control, as the EQ's and volume faders will affect the audio, when really all you want it to do is transmit MIDI.

That leaves only one channel to use for pure MIDI control.

You could connected things up to 2 channels and use the "line/phono" switch to switch between them, but that really limits you.

Something like the Xone:3D solves this by separating out the controller from the mixer, but it costs $2500.

You might want to just get a MIDI controller for now and wait until the situation improves.

another way to solve this (which is what ive done) is in addition to being able to witch between line/phone you can also switch between line/digital. so i have my cdj's running through digital coax to ch.1/2 and you can run 4 additional output into all the djm800 channels from your soundcard and just switch between digital to line as needed on 1/2 and the 3/4 would be straightup audio signal. ofcourse honestly i would wait for the korg zero4 if i was you so as not to have to deal with the audio vs midi limitations of the 800.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryan0751 DJM-800 isn't ideal for ableton... There just aren't enough knobs and buttons, nor inputs. Think about it: If you have 2 cdj's, that takes up 2 channels on the mixer. Then you have the audio coming from your PC from ableton, that has to go to another channel. HOWEVER, that channel can no longer be used for MIDI control, as the EQ's and volume faders will affect the audio, when really all you want it to do is transmit MIDI. That leaves only one channel to use for pure MIDI control. You could connected things up to 2 channels and use the "line/phono" switch to switch between them, but that really limits you. Something like the Xone:3D solves this by separating out the controller from the mixer, but it costs $2500. You might want to just get a MIDI controller for now and wait until the situation improves.

___________________
http://www.djandrewgarcia.com

Yeah, I have my Xone 92 connected up like that. The thing is, at that point you really aren't using much of the MIDI capability of the 800! You still need an external MIDI controller for triggering clips and controlling effects.

As for the Korg, it's a wait and see kinda thing. We don't know how they feel or sound or whatnot. They also don't seem to be completely ideal for ableton either, lots of controls, but a layout which isn't overly friendly.

I don't like these integrated controller/mixer ideas. The Xone:3D is the closest thing I've seen so far, as the mixer and controller (though in the same box) are really separate.

The Xone:2D looks nice to me, but we have to see what the final US retail price is. It's MSRP is 499 pounds, which is like $970. That is just too much! And ideally you'd want 2 of them (I'm not sure why they didn't just make it bigger, they probably just reused 3D parts with a new chassis).

Even so, someone needs to just copy Sasha's design of the Maven and make it around $1000 with integreated sound card. We need something that can just jack into an installation mixer and is portable, as no club is going to install all this crap for digital DJ's.

quote:

Originally posted by SPAWNmaster another way to solve this (which is what ive done) is in addition to being able to witch between line/phone you can also switch between line/digital. so i have my cdj's running through digital coax to ch.1/2 and you can run 4 additional output into all the djm800 channels from your soundcard and just switch between digital to line as needed on 1/2 and the 3/4 would be straightup audio signal. ofcourse honestly i would wait for the korg zero4 if i was you so as not to have to deal with the audio vs midi limitations of the 800.