So, here is my issue:
Looking between the DDJ RZ and DDJ RZX. I tried the DDJ SZ2 but since there's no full 1:1 map for RB (except DJ Chris Damon's map), I was looking at other possibilities that more naturally match RB layout and functions.
At first I loved the DDJ RZX. Coming from Traktor with a decent set up (4Trak, F1 Kontrol, Midi Fighter 3D), things that were important to me were large waveforms, depth of FX, customization, and track flexibility with samples (i.e. Remix Decks). The RZX seemed to be perfect with large panels, multi level FX options, and RB's mapping capability.
However, then I started seeing LOTS of people complaining that RB's "minimum requirements" and their "recommended requirements" made a big difference. I have a Macbook Pro 2012 with i5 and 8 GB RAM. I can raise my RAM to 16, but moving the processor up to i7 (recommended) can't be done unless I buy a new $2000 Macbook Pro. They say with RB and the RZX, it consumes too much power, and won't work properly unless you have the top of the line laptop. I really won't use the video part yet, but REALLY want to take advantage of the waveforms on the display, and huge FX options.
I tried to deep dive into the RZ online, but can't find much on the depth of the FX vs the RZX. There's no display, so I need to rely on the laptop, and unfortunately you really can't enlarge the waveforms too much in RB DJ Performance Mode (for some reason your track listing takes up 50% of your screen, whereas Traktor allowed you to max the waveform view and minimize the track listings). The power consumption is much less, so that helps, but then I lose my waveform view.
Lastly, unless I missed something, I don't know how RB can capture loops of a track I'm playing and allow me to put them in banks like my F1 Kontrol did. I thought the Sampler section would do that (16 banks I think), but it seems all it does is records a section, and you can use kind of a slicer mode on it. What I want is to capture a section of a track (controlling how many bars to capture (4, 8, 16, 32, etc), then have it loop for depth of mixing. Is this even possible in RB?
Ultimately before buying either of them, I wanted to see if anyone has the DDJ RZX and is using a Mac that is an i5 with 16 GB RAM, and if so, is it working properly? Should I spend the money to get the RZX and new laptop, or save some cash, get the RZ with my current laptop, and wait for the software to not eat so much power, or a true stand alone RZX version comes out that would make it really worth the money?
Again, for RB DJ, I really want to have depth and flexibility in FX's, and want to capture loops and use them to lead in and out of tracks, or just add depth.
Any thoughts? Thank you for your patience reading all that!
