Club testing
After playing with the VCI-100 for a couple of days, it was time to test how the VCI-100 works in a real life club situation. I brought the VCI-100 with me on video and music DJ gigs for several weeks. The VCI-100 performed solidly and reliably the entire time, and we are talking six-hour nightly shifts, not quick one-hour guest spots. A machine that can handle that kind of abuse is pretty solid. What was quite impressive was the response to the unit. The VCI-100 looks like an expensive piece of Mac gear. Its solid, heavy metal with flashing lights that respond to your touch. When on stage with a crowd watching, they can tell you are really performing and see the controller responding as well. As a laptop DJ fighting the perception that the computer is doing all the work, the VCI-100 helps the DJ prove they are actively controlling the music just as someone else would control a CD (or piece of vinyl).
Critiques
There are only a few critiques that I could find. First, it would be even better if the sound card was included as part of the controller - preventing the need to carry an extra piece of gear (Note: Vestax is working on a new controller which has a sound card incorporated into the unit). Second, the pitch control is absolute rather than relative, i.e. if a track is synced down 3% using the sync button, when the pitch slider (starting at 0) is moved, it reacts as if it's starting at 0% rather than 3%. So if a 130 bpm track is synced down to 127 bpm, when you use the pitch slider it goes up to 131 bpm causing a noticeable jump. Third, the black writing on a silver background is hard to read in a nightclub situation. Granted the lights help and you will start to intuitively feel where things are, but this is a bump in the early road. Fourth, the CrossFade (CF) curve knob can be adjusted if it rubs up against something in your bag without you knowing. At a gig, my crossfader quit working how I expected and after a few minutes of troubleshooting, I found that the knob on the back had moved without me realizing. Speaking of portability, the VCI-100 is heavy and I would recommend a specially cushioned bag if you travel as there have been reports of the acrylic wheels (especially the left side) going out of alignment with heavy jostling over time.
Conclusion
As with some of this review, I am going to borrow some of the text from the Total Control review since it applies here. The Vestax VCI-100 is essential to any laptop DJ looking for a way to control their music files like they would CDs with a DJ CD player. Compressing the controls for both track and volume manipulation onto one controller is both logical and liberating. Rather than having one hand on the CD player and the other hand on the mixer, both of your hands can be one unit with all the knobs you need right in front of you. As a MIDI controller, the VCI-100 can be set up to control any music software - so you are not limited to Traktor LE which is included.
Its hard to review the Vestax VCI-100 without referencing previous controllers I have used. Here's an analogy, if the Shuttle Pro was like a bicycle, the Numark Total Control is a Ford Escort and Vestax VCI-100 is a Mercedes. The Numark Total Control gets the job done but it has the feel that if you dropped it, the mostly plastic/rubber unit might shatter.
If you are a bedroom DJ or just starting out in the DJ world, the Numark Total Control with its lower price point and software packages is a good bargain and will serve your purpose. If you are a professional DJ looking for premium quality equipment and able to afford a few extra hundred dollars, the Vestax VCI-100 is the way to go.
Bullet points
What is it: a hardware controller with bonus software for DJing
Who is it for: Professional DJs who want to play computer music files with complete control of playback
How long does it take to set up: about 20 minutes
What is required for its use: a PC or MAC
Difficulty level: 3/5 (1 is easy, 5 is difficult)
Are there any limitations of the included software: Traktor LE is limited to two decks and 4 beat loops. The full version of Traktor allows for four decks, more looping options, and more beatmatching control. Traktor LE is fully functional and can be used in the club. The only annoyance is a reminder to buy the full version whenever you open or close the program.
Posted February 11, 2008
Ranking: 4.5 / 5
