Best MIDI Controllers For VJs?
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- What Midi Controller should you buy to VJ? These are a few of my favorite midi controllers for VJing. They're the controllers that I use, and that my VJ friends use out on the road. They all have a lot of good control options so you can get creative and VJ any way you like.
MIDI CONTROLLERS:
APC40 MKii: amzn.to/3Us2nLN
Launch Control XL: amzn.to/3DzJv6v
Traktor F1: amzn.to/3WuXnI1
APC Mini: amzn.to/3FVZhek
AKAI MidiMix: amzn.to/3h8aEpG
NanoKontrol2: amzn.to/3E0JY3h
NanoKontrol Studio: amzn.to/3XxleqZ
MidiFighter: www.midifighter.com/#3D
MidiFighter Twister: www.midifighter.com/#Twister
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VJ GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
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Whats in my VJ KIT:
APC40 MKii: amzn.to/3Us2nLN
Decksaver: amzn.to/3ft4VdP
Alienware Area51m: amzn.to/3t0fms8
Pelican Case: amzn.to/3FJSvsH
Pelican Air Case: amzn.to/3sVLEEM
Magewell HDMI Capture Card: amzn.to/3sZmK7g
Magewell SDI Capture Card: amzn.to/3Ul6U2s
Focusrite Audio Interface: amzn.to/3FJgVSZ
Samsung T7 SSD: amzn.to/3hcnYJJ
Alpine Ear Protection: amzn.to/3Wp2eKR
Gaff Tape: amzn.to/3Wp2hX3
USB Hub: amzn.to/3DBp09B
USBC HDMI Adapter: amzn.to/3T44Hr2
MiniDP HDMI Adapter: amzn.to/3UkXNzn
VJ BACKPACKS:
Everki Backpack: amzn.to/3UkXNzn
Nomatic Backpack: amzn.to/3WsPHWL
MAGMA Backpack: amzn.to/3Uq2OpL
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What controller do you recommend? What do you love about it?
I come mostly from a lighting background, but I use an Elation Midicon. It's got a plethora of buttons which are like that of a computer keyboard so they have a longer throw and tactile feedback that I thoroughly enjoy. It also has 16 "touch" buttons which are great for flash and trash. the faders are 100mm with great action, a lot like an audio console, so they're very precise unlike the short throw "dj" style faders. On top of all that it has 16 pages!
That thing is a beast! lighting controllers are next level. 8 lbs is a lil chonky, but if you dont need to move it a lot thats a ton of functionality in a pretty compact package.
@@SeanBowes it's chunkiness is a love hate thing for me. I know it can handle abuse, and it's tilted back for a great viewing/attack angle, plus it has a port on the back for a desk lamp! However its just a bit too big to fit into any really portable case solutions. So as much as I love using it, I do often wish I was transporting an apc mini instead
if the shop was sinking and i could jump with one midi controller, or run a gig with one controller, it will be akai apc 40 mk2. i hav good number of controllers myself, but again, if its "one" then its mk2
Theres a reason its so popular! it has enough of everything to handle anything.
Awesome vid man!! Some absolute great shouts in here!! Love the idea to add the APC Mini and the MIDI Mix together!! Can really start some funky, and affordable builds with those 2!! : D
Thank you so much for your videos! They have been a great inspiration. Do you think you could do a video on projectors? Which ones would be good for smaller gigs? Thank you 🙏
Great idea I will add that to my list. In general, look for the best brightness and contrast ratio you can afford. Check out Projector Central for some reviews and calculators for screen size & distance & throw angle to make sure it will give you the right size image from your mounting postion. BenQ, Epson, Optoma, Panasonic have some good options that work well for small clubs.
important is the question what you want to do. If you go for mapping on mobile events also Ultra Short Throws could be an option. if its more "big stage stuff" then its all about output. Resolution is less important in general you can do great visuals with 720p projectors. also you could cascade several ones together that will give u amazing options on a small budget 2nd hand. I have for example 6 pieces of Sony VPL VW-SW631. they are pretty bright at 3300 Lumen and i got them for around 150 each and with 4 of them you already achieve native 4K resolution.... Think about it... Epson EB Series also intersting. for mobile events i like to use some mini projectors with integrated battery - good enough for a 2 hour show on business or private events. dont forget that these large LED Walls at Events mostly have a really really low resolution as it simply doesnt matter on distance and to get the visual effects. As they are for Colours and contrast Effects and not for an ultrasharp TV picture. (beside it reduces production cost and needed processor power.)
Great video Sean. Thanks. I've got the Korgs Nanokontrol2 and Nanopad 2. They both do a great job together. Have you heard of nail polish tips to avoid nobs falling out but still being able to remove those nobs for cleaning purposes?
I have not but that sounds like an interesting idea to try
After plugging away on my APC40 for a few years now, I just bought the KontrolF1. I LOVE the build quality and the size. Because I come from old school concert media server world, I have always been super layer conscious, so I rarely go beyond 4 active layers in a show, and the small form factor is working for me. It hasn't been super straight forward to setup and map. You have to do configuring of the controller button/fader/knob behavior in a Native Instruments Controller Config app. It has definitely been taking some time to figure out how to get the MIDI setup right on the NI app side, and then working out the best mapping in Arena. Thinking about adding a MIDI FIghter just to also get another set of clip buttons to mash. OR was thinking I may get another F1 to easily double the control surfaces. I'm doing the mainstage at HipHop50 Live in NYC in a few weeks... I'll let you know how the F1 worked out
Thanks for the thorough review Bob! The F1 is really nice, but you are right about the mapping. A little awkward but you get used to it after a while. They are becoming very popular lately. A pair of them is great, as would be adding a midi fighter or something. Let us know how it goes!
I thought the midi mix was gonna be cheap af, but to my surprise it feels and works great for me. I may even get a 2nd one at that price.
Thanks for the firsthand review!
@@SeanBowes you welcome, the midi mix only has one issue, and that is the buttons don’t light up when activated or deactivated unless you use Ableton. I guess there’s some kind of coding workaround that a third party made, but I don’t got time to learn it. Unless there’s some kind of firmware update I’m unaware of, this is kinda a bummer as I use Reason. Other then that it’s pretty good. Like I mentioned. My favorite control surfaces are too expensive for my wallet…. The FaderFox brand
Something to note about the Novation XL - more than just 2 banks of midi channel options you can hold down the User/Factory button and the numbered buttons will light up. Selecting one of those numbers will give you up to 16 pages of midi channel options.
I’m sure some of the other controllers let you jump channels too. I just love Novation gear for the finite knobs and the rubber matte on the bottom so they aren’t sliding around everywhere.
Oh wow I didnt realize you could do 16, thats awesome. I need to play with that one more. Im not a big fan of finite knobs personally, especially when things are mapped to multiple things. I always forget to reset to 0 before switching and get a jump the next time i use that knob for something else. Nice for knowing where you're at without having to look down though, and they are super nice quality. Rubber back is a great high-quality detail too - little things that matter.
How do you add color to mapped buttons and knobs?
another great info-bank! salute! @seanbowes !
got new items for my wishlist- midi fighters and twisters! hope u get featured by them and can throw disount on them as well!
3:15 another downside of APC Mini is not having RGB buttons, like its bigger brother has.
also beside plasticy as you mentioned for APC mini and MIDImix, faders aren't anywhere near their elder brother, mk2 !
have you checked an experiemental wireless midi controller called Livid Guitar Wing? sadly my unit died before i started recording videos. aim was pretty insany, playing bass and doing visuals from stage at the same time!
Livid made the coolest controllers! I never tried the guitar wing but I always wanted one. There could be a whole video about weird controllers. The QuNeo, the Alpha Sphere.... so many fun ones!
That is true about the APC Mini buttons and faders. Definitely cutting some corners, but they are fun controllers and the price and portability are awesome. I usually throw mine in the bag as an emergency backup.
@@SeanBowes true great for the price and size!
I have must of the controllers you put in the list
Akais= fragile, the faders and crossfaders start to fail because of dust or outdoor expossure. Not trustable for intense work. Sadly the better design but the fail alot.
Korg NanoKontrolStudio controllers are useful but pure plastic (be careful)... they work and you can travel with 2 or 3 units.
Novation, solid and good build quality ... they work, the Launchpad its perfect for big bright RGB grids...
In UMF RESISTANCE I use the "Traktor F1" during Adam Beyer show, The controller its very simple, solid and trustable... like it.
Im still searching and buying controllers for music production and Arena control. The new STREAMDECK + looks very nice with infinite pages of buttons, slider and knobs ...
Thanks for your insight! Very valuable firsthand impressions, thanks for sharing!
i agree 100% great layout. sadly not editable and quality for the price of the 40MKII is bad. while the APC Mini for the price is great. its low quality but you could carry 1or2 of each as backup :D obvously not a very sustainable solution.... LIVID controllers if its about durability.
Any thoughts on midicraft controllers? Seem pretty solid and sort of like an upgraded F1 in a way
Havent tried one yet but they look sweet!
I got korg at 2014, Apc40 and Encore too heavy for small gigs, So I turned to 40 mini daily. For big event, most clients prefer using D3 sort of media servicer than having a VJ 哈哈哈:D
Very true, D3 is popular for big shows, pop and rock shows especially. Have you tried the new Mini yet?
what do you think about the Arturia BeatStep Controller and Sequencer? :)
I havent tried either personally. The Beat Step Controller looks like a cool little compact controller. Depending on what you do it could work well with resolume. The Pro sequencer version probably has a lot of features you wont be able to utilize inside resolume, so I'm not sure if paying for that is justified in this use case. Looks like fun for music though! In general I like Arturias quality. Their pads have a nice feel and they generally feel pretty well built and look nice. I have a Minilab 3 I use for making terrible music sometimes.
where can I find or where/how to look for free or affordible price , content for vjing ? I saw many good bundles, like 30-40 scenes but it is for 100 usd. Thanks for advice !
VJ content can be expensive! Thats actually quite reasonable. Bespoke content might cost 10, 100, or 1000 times more than that. But there is plenty of free stuff available online. search youtube, vimeo, and gumroad for Free VJ Loop. Or check out seanbowes.com/vj-content-guide for a list of my favorite free and paid vj loop packs
Good info thanks
Thanks! Thanks for watching
Have you tried the inTech moduler controllers ?
I have not yet, but they look cool. Working on getting my hands on some to play with
What about a Novation Launchpad MK2. I’m trying to dive a deeper into VJing and came upon one of these as a gift. Is this something worth really using for resolume?
Solid controller. Its a bit limited just because it only has buttons. Some functions of Resolume are better controlled with knobs or faders, so If you pair it with something that has some of those, or adapt your play style to work within the limitations of only buttons, its great!
@@SeanBowes awesome thank you I saw some videos of someone using this controller along side another one with faders and knobs thank you very much
I use an Akai APC mini. I love it (it has a bigger 8x8 grid than the APC 40) but the build quality is meh, at best...I've already had the faders on one unit crap out, and the second one I got is showing its wear and tear.
Alright! APC Mini squad. So many buttons! I agree the faders and overall build feel cheap. But it is cheap, so it makes sense lol. Still a super fun little controller
@@SeanBowes Yeah, I want to move up to the APC 40 but my main clients often required both lots of visual content AND sometimes deviate from their setlists on the fly, very quickly, so I need LOTS of button for all the options. Also, it's not unusual for the management (most of the bands I work with are under the same management/booking umbrella) to give me last minute ad content they want up, ASAP, so I have to have slots available. Even a simple, short show requires an 8x8 grid, and even THEN I have another 6x6 grid often nested within the pack in Remix Video, just in case.
Hello my friend ... I'm starting in the field of VJ I'm looking for a controller for me to start, I would like to know if you can tell me if this controller model that is already discontinued by the manufacturer is worth it for beginners?
Which one?
I have the midifighter cue master how would that work for resolume
It should work fine! I havent used one personally but it looks fun. I love my midifighter, and having a couple of faders and knobs attached to it would be pretty cool. Part of the fun is playing with the limitations of your gear to discover unique workflows as you 'build your instrument'. Looks like it would be fun to try a drumpad + crossfader situation with that controller, kind of an oldschool way of VJing.
i dont feel that the Build quality of the APC 40MKII is soooo much better then the APC mini - sadly the APC40 is also pretty plasticy. i love the 40 Mk1 Version more but ofc the Design is a minus to transportability but if it doesnt matter to someone i would put the MK1 over the MK2 for the "console feel".... also i like small drumpads like the Nanopad or with light the LPD8 especially for triggering effects where u hammer buttons ins real time. and the controller will survive longer time. The Novation Remote Zero SL also another nice 2nd hand quality option as primary controller. and if Size is less important and you love nice haptics the Behringer X Touch compact is an great option and in opposite to the APC40 - which is mb the biggest minus of the 40 - all midi channels and control modes are freely editable on the x-touch wich is the succesor of the legendary but poorly built BCF and BCR2000. Regarding that that many of professionals use the APC40MKII i would love to see an APC40 PRO all Metal with high end components. Nobody at Pro level would care to pay the double price of an standard APC40MKII if it leads to Pro Grade quality. mb the best recommendation about quality and still great layout is the Livid OhmRGB but you pay for it a fair upgrade fee and mostly they are sold out. an option i always wanted to test but didnt yet is the maschine jam if you dont mind touch faders. a lot of great options out there just make the best out of the one you use and find the one fitting your personal taste! buy and try!
Lots of great info here, thanks for sharing. I would love a pro version of the apc40, that would be great. I hesitated to recommend livid controllers since they are not being made anymore but they were great. I’ll have to check out some of your other recommendations!
Please Sean is the arturia minilab too a good vj midi controller?
It is, but it doesn’t have the sliders like the v3 version. I think that makes v3 better for VJing but both can work depending on how you like to play
@@SeanBowes thank you am from Nigeria by the way your tutorials are super helpful
Amazing! Shoutout to Nigeria. Thank you so much for watching, I am glad the videos are helping you!
How about the Push 2? Got Live 11 Suite so would be a shame not to use it!
I'm sure it would work with resolume and other VJ software, but theres probably a lot of functionality that programs out side of ableton wont take advantage of, so I wouldnt recommend it just for that
@@SeanBowes nice one will look into it as I already have the push 2 , cheers 🙏
Hi! I want to buy the korg nanokontroler2, but Im not sure if it's compatible with Mac Ventura on M1 Pro. I haven't been able to find any answers on google. Does anyone know?
It should be compatible, but you may need a usb to usbc adapter or USB hub to plug it into the mac's thunderbolt ports with the included USB cable - as you will with most midi controllers that come with standard usb cables.
@@SeanBowes Thanks so much for your reply Sam! And thank you for all your great content, it's incredibly useful.
Dear sir i want need your little help
Sir resalume arena shortcut keyboard
How to use nd how to fix in key
Pls help bro ....
Check out my controller mapping video, it might help. Use Shortcut>Keyboard to map the keyboard.
does anybody know if resolume6 supports launchpad x?
I believe that it should
I have thought about buying a Native Instruments Maschine Jam, anyone got experience on that one?
I havent tried it myself, but it looks pretty cool! lots of buttons and the touch trips could be fun to use.
@@SeanBowes Just bought one, let's see where it goes :)
apc 20?
Solid choice if you can find one in good shape! The first gen APCs are pretty THICC, but that one is a little more reasonable than the old APC40. Still plenty of buttons, knobs, and sliders, so it would be a great choice. I started with the original APC40 but did not include those because they are older and harder to find.
@@SeanBowes What do you think of it compared to the v2? is bus power + colors + size worth the upgrade?
The APC40 MkII is now rarer than the pope's shit. :(
I'm sure he poops just as much as the rest of us. But yes, I know what you mean lol its a bummer!
First