DJ Equipment Reviews

 

Vestax VCI-100

Does the VCI-100 go all the way?

These days, most working DJs are taking the simple approach in deejaying, which is entirely understandable, as everyone can agree deejaying isn’t some walk in the park. This desire for ease in mixing, scratching, and even traveling, has turned controllers into a hot commodity. The hottest MIDI controller on the market is vastly debatable, but it seems like the Vestax VCI-300 is coming in first. (Check out workingDJ post on the Vestax VCI-300 here).

However, a lot of DJs are still favoring the VCI-100. So why hasn’t its successor blown it out of the water by now? Why are so many working DJs dying to buy the VCI-100 when the 300 is on the shelves and eagerly waiting to be purchased? I came up with a little theory: it’s because Vestax’s VCI-100 does go all the way, and it gets there for a much smaller price.

Working DJs are still going after this controller because of its many capabilities, such as its control with multiple options, which allows DJs to get more involved with their mixes. The versatility is incomparable, and that’s a major factor for most working DJs, if not all.

The Vestax VCI-100

Among the many reasons why working DJs are still loving the VCI-100 is:

• Moderate sized jog wheels built with sensor and control technology
• Curve generator that controls the crossfader curve
• Body built with high quality mechanical parts
• PCB technology for stable/accurate operation

A lot of MIDI controllers may look like they’re durably built, but aren’t. The VCI-100 isn’t built out of plastic, like Numark’s Total Control. As Vestax stated, this controller was built with high quality mechanical parts. Combine this fact with the fact that it’s one of the most versatile controllers on the market, the fact that it’s more affordable than the VCI-300 and also the fact that the software (Traktor LE) meshes beautifully with the hardware, into consideration, and it’s no wonder this bad boy’s still selling faster than girls raise their tops at Mardis Gras.

Although the VCI-100 seems to be built out of silver perfection, it still has its faults. For one, DJs have been complaining about the pitiful pitch (+/-4). I’ve seen some Gemini mixers providing more flexibility than that. It gives DJs little say when it comes to the pitch of their records. Another major problem with this controller is the fact that the jog wheels are "moderately sized", and not GIGANTIC, like most scratching DJs are looking for in their tables/CDJs/controllers. Vestax did improve the jog wheels with the VCI-300, as they’re very large, so scratching DJs may want to look into that controller instead.

Essentially, the VCI-300 was meant to trump its predecessor, but hasn’t done what Vestaxand every DJ assumed it would have done. After all, the VCI-100 is still one of the hottest controllers, forcing people to wonder whether they should get it over its successor. What a number of working DJs say is this; if you’re a more modern DJ, it’s likely that you’ll favor the VCI-100. If you’re more of a traditional DJ, than the Vestax VCI-300 is for you.

What I say is this: check out this youtube clip of the VCI-100. If you’re among the undecided, it may help you decide to buy it after all. In the clip, though, you really can get a grasp of how small the jog wheels are.

 

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