Before I dove head first into the DJ scene, I did a few weeks of research on what gadget would be a cost-effective way to test the water. Eventually I decided on the Hercules DJ Console RMX, which runs for about $329:
Now there are a couple reasons I choose the DJ Console RMX over other MIDI controllers. The first is the price. It isn’t dirt cheap, but it won’t break the bank either. And the second is that the RMX is one of the few MIDI controllers out there that is also an external sound card. I knew that if I pursued DJ’ing that it would be crucial for my MIDI controller to have analog inputs and outputs. There are four RCA inputs (channels 1-4). There are also two ground outlets so you can hook up vinyl turntables (time coded vinyl is also supported). And there are two types of output for all four channels, RCA and 1/4”.
The RMX comes packaged with Virtual DJ 5 OEM which is a stripped down version of Virtual DJ built to work exclusively with the RMX. While this is OK for plug and play, it becomes apparent that you will need more control over Virtual DJ and how it interacts with your RMX. For this you will need to bust out your credit card to buy Virtual DJ Pro. Fortunately, if you purchased the RMX (and held on to your Virtual DJ 5 OEM cd-key) you will be eligible to get 50% off the retail price of Virtual DJ Pro ($299).
The RMX ended up being a great way to see if I enjoyed DJ’ing enough to pursue it. Coincidentally, the RMX is what made DJ’ing enjoyable for me. I highly recommend it to anyone who is just starting out or even veterans looking for a new mixer. Once you get serious you can purchase some rack-ears and mount your RMX alongside the rest of your DJ gear.
Practice and enjoy!