DJM-900 or DJM-400+RMX-500 with Traktor Scratch (+other musings!)

Hi guys,

First time on the Pioneer boards here, just seeing if anyone's got any advice / pointers that my help me choose how to upgrade my home setup.

At  home, I'm currently using a pair of SL-1210s to play either Traktor Scratch or vinyl.  I also have a Vestax VCI-100 which I'm using as a mixer, so all the sound has to be routed through my Traktor Audio 6 and then out to the amp.  This works ok, but I have to max out the gain levels on vinyl to get anywhere near the sound level I get from digital tracks in Traktor which is not ideal.  The VCI gives good control of stuff going on in Traktor, but any FX when the vinyl is coming through are not properly beat synced.  So I really need a mixer.

Currently when I play out I play as a duo and what we use very much depends on the set up in the venue. We're producing and getting a decent amount of gigs, but at this stage certainly can't dictate what gear will be in the venue on a rider yet!  So I have played around with playing off CDs, USB sticks, Traktor using CDJ HID control and Traktor Scratch using CD or vinyl timecode.  Changing between all the setups is frankly a massive headache, as I'm always finding new ways why something won't work properly!

I like using the CDJ-2000's in venues mainly for the fact I can just turn up with USB sticks and don't have to worry about the macbook getting covered in beer, but still love the feel of vinyl and all the track info I can store and see in Traktor so am a bit torn.  Buying a pair of CDJs whether that's 900nexus or 2000nexus would help with familiarity with the decks and allow me to practice some more advanced stuff, but just seems too expensive to be honest.

I'd definitely like to get a mixer though, would make the vinyl to digital switch far better, and would mean I could play vinyl at home without needing to get the laptop plugged in.  Having played out on many a DJM mixer I have got to know a number of the effects, but would love to know them better, so getting a DJM-900nexus or DJM-850 seems attractive as they are becoming pretty common in clubs.  That would also mean no Audio 6 needed.

But then I just saw all the announcements and video about the RMX-500, so now I'm wondering whether to focus my effects on one of those rather than those built into the mixer.  I could then get a cheap mixer such as a 2nd hand DJM-400, and whatever mixer was in the club and whatever source we're playing from, I'd have the same effects unit.  Oh and I could use the AU plugin to mess about with ideas before arranging tunes, which would be cool.

So really I'm wondering how big is the difference between the effects on the DJM-900nexus and the RMX-500?  And any other advice / pointers that might help!

Thanks

Andy