DJ Controller Hacks: 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your DJ Gear
Get creative with your DJ rig.
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Turn your controller into a turntable or MIDI controller, make the most of your iPad DJ set, DJ with MIDI controllers you already have even add a custom screen with these fun DJ controller hacks.
DJ Controller Hacks
One of the benefits of modern DJing is all the technology that’s available to us. Whereas 20 years ago you felt like you were living in the future with a basic CDJ, now you can get as wildly hybrid as you want. Want to combine a laptop with turntables and a modular setup? That’s no problem at all.
However, there may come a time when you want to push the limits of what even modern DJ controllers can do. Or maybe you’d like to add functionality to what you have rather than upgrade to something much more expensive. If that sounds like you, check out these DJ controller hacks for inspiration.
DJ Controller Hack: Turn Your Controller Into a Turntable
Modern DJing is generally divided into two camps: modern digital DJing and old-school turntable DJing. If you’re in the former category and have considered getting into the latter but don’t want to splash out on expensive DJ turntables like Technics SL-1200s, there may be a solution: Skratch Attach.
Skratch Attach X10 from company Retro Bionic is a tonearm that magnetically attaches to your motorized DJ controller to provide vinyl playback capabilities. The tonearm itself is extendable, meaning that you can use it with 7”, 10” and 12”-size controllers. There’s also Skratch Attach software that interfaces with the controller.
Skratch Attach is currently compatible with Rane One, Rane Twelve, Technics DZ-1200 (after doing a mod) and Hercules T7, although the software isn’t ready for this last one just yet.
Skratch Attach X10 tonearms sell for $225 each from Retro Bionic. See the link below for more information.
- Retro Bionic Skratch Attach X10 product page
DJ Controller Hack: Use it as a MIDI Controller
At their core, DJ controllers are really just MIDI controllers. Sure, they’re extremely specialized and some have things like screens and audio interfaces but all those knobs and faders? They transmit MIDI.
Don’t believe me? Connect your DJ controller to your computer via USB, open up a DAW like Ableton Live and turn on MIDI mapping. Wiggle a few pots and you’re in business. You can now use your DJ controller to move on-screen DAW faders, parameters like cutoff and resonance in soft synths or effects plugin dials. DJ controller hacked.
In the market for a DJ controller that can double as a decent MIDI controller? Look for one with plenty of hands-on control, like a Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 or Roland DJ-505.
DJ Controller Hack: DJ with MIDI Controllers Instead
In the same way that you can make music with DJ controllers, you can also DJ with MIDI controllers. Granted, there won’t be a one-to-one relationship between the controller’s knobs and your DJ software but with a little planning, experimenting, and back and forth with the MIDI learn function in your DJ app, you’ll soon be rocking the decks without actual decks.
Some possible MIDI controllers to consider are the Korg nanoKONTROL 2 or nanoKONTROL Studio, Novation Launch Control XL MK2 and Akai Professional midimix. Of course, any MIDI controller you have lying around is worth trying, as are MIDI controllers with keys or even synthesizers. Get creative.
DJ Controller Hack: Raspberry Pi Brain and Screen for Your Controller
Unless you’ve got deep pockets and can afford a large, all-in-one DJ controller like a Denon DJ Prime 4+, you’re going to be stuck using your controller with a computer. If that computer doesn’t happen to be a laptop, your opportunities for DJing outside your bedroom are going to be rather limited. That’s where this clever Raspberry Pi DJ controller hack comes in. There are lots of synths that have a Raspberry Pi inside now. Why not a DJ rig too?
DJ Dennis Debel hit upon the idea of using a Raspberry Pi to run the free and open-source DJ software, Mixxx. His setup consists of a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, screen, Raspberry Pi OS, Micro SD card to house the OS and a DJ controller.
You can follow along on his Github page (link below). The guide assumes that you’re familiar with Linux and Mixxx.
- pi_dj Github page
- Mixxx product page
DJ Controller Hack: Use Multiple Controllers When iPad DJing
There are as many ways to DJ as there are DJs. While one DJ may want a full-on, all-singing all-dancing DJ controller with built-in software, another may want to pair an inexpensive DJ controller with their iPad for some no-muss-no-fuss DJing on the go.
YouTuber DJ Justin Spiegel is one of the latter and he’s demonstrated a way to get more from iPad DJing by connecting two DJ controllers at the same time. In the video below, he’s using a Reloop Buddy and Numark DJ2GO2 Touch with Algoriddim Djay Pro on an iPad to create a custom four-deck system.
To make it work, you need an adapter for the iPad with multiple USB ports. As both controllers are natively mapped to the application, you’ll also need to do some custom mapping to assign each controller its own functions.
- Algoriddim home page
More Information
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