Turntables Vs. Dj Controllers: Which Is Better In 2023?

Do you use controllers, turntables or CDJ's at your gigs? Comment below and let me know what you use, and if you are curious about making the switch to some other types of gear.

For me versatility is the name of the game. Nearly 40yrs ago I started out with turntables because that's all we had, but times have changed and you gotta change with the times or get left behind. So now I dj on all 3 formats turntables, cdjs and controllers. Turntables are still my favorite but that's just a preference not the only way to go. All those dj's saying you're not a real dj if you use a controller are just scared of what they're not use to, and I get it, they put years of practice into DJing with turntables and here comes some kid with a controller and a few months of experience doing the same thing. Yo get over it and master it all!!! The great ones aren't limited by the gear.

Watched the whole video (at x2 speed). Liked and subscribed.

I've been d j here in chicago since 1984 On turntables, and believe it or not. A tape deck with a Pitch control.
Fast forward to today. I'm using the DDj flx10 with two turntables For me that's the best of both worlds. I have the familiar of the turntables and the flexibility of the controller But I used the turntables, about 95% of the time

Just!!! Thank you
Good analysis.

I was a vinyl DJ most of my time playing gigs. Even after I went digital I was playing live on a timecode vinyl traktor scratch setup. Eventually I was forced to switch to CDJs because the decks in so many clubs were crap & not being maintained

I haven’t played live gigs in a while now. I’m perfectly happy playing at home on my XDJ-RX3

Absolutely can underline the fact that people get blown away when they realise there are TT's in use.

Got two guys on a gig standing right in front of the decks for quite some time talking about and analysing the hand movements on the record. They were absolutely amazed to see this in action.

One mate returned to university on a monday morning totally freaking out about a hip hop and r'n'b party he were on that weekend because a the DJ used TT. Absolutely flashed him and took him some time to get over it 😅

I started off on a rain one and then switched to a rain 70 and two rain 12s. I’m never going back to controllers.lol

RESPECT! ✊🏾

Well, that might be right that some guys saying "A DJ without playing on turntables / vinyl isn't a real DJ", but it's not about turntables. It's more about listening instead of simply reading wave forms. I agree that DJ's should learn or should use their ears to beat match instead starring at a screen. And yeah, I'd mentor those guys, I love the DJ community!

I started completely digital with a plain midi controller (no soundcard) and a laptop back in the days where everyone hated controllers. With a long delay, in 2021, I started over with the NuMark MixTrack Platinum FX controller: Integrated sound card, space between the knobs, a large fader, 8 switchable pads and a display on each deck. I had to learn soon, that cheap controllers and mixers are cheating at sound quality and / or output volume of master, because it's usually only 41.1 kHz on low budget controllers like my NuMark one instead of 48 kHz which is industry standard. Then, I've worked for vinyl record retailer and I couldn't hold me long back to start my journey at vinyl. Now I have much vinyls and different songs on each (mostly Eurodance on vinyl), so I enjoy both worlds. At the end, I ended up with Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12 and the Pioneer DJ-SM 7 mixer. I decided to go with a such a hybrid turntable, because at the beginning of some gigs I play mixes and on DVS vinyls you can't play 60 minutes, they typically have only 15 minutes available. Great thing, it's fun to play with it, but the turntable is very unstable at staying at a speed especially for this high-price-class, which makes it sometimes hard to beatmatch. I also bought this setup to be fully Rekordbox compatible, but never used so far since November 2023. I'm lazy when it comes to changes in gear or software...

Great video, I used controllers before and was not fun as turntables… sold it a now saving to buy used turntables

Well said ! Im into breakbeats esp rare 60s rock some funk . Im not a dj but i used to pause mix tapes . I got techs SL 1200s & likely get the rane reloop for my techs . Once ive mastered the techs ill move onto a controller probably a Rane controller . See i was told by friends my pause mixing on tapes are off the hook even classic breakbeat mixes are not as hardcore or abstract sounding .So if get a decent controller i hope to replicate those tape mixes & go for the off beat. Peace .

The argument over what is proper dj'ing and what is fake marketing bullshit, analog vs. digital, or any of the arguments out there, all just an argument over something that is already controlled by the Music Industry. It is as Toffler predicted... "the wider any culture is spread, the thinner it gets" - The Law of Raspberry Jam