So I finally finished the long awaited Denon DJ MCX8000 review. And the very first comment on Facebook was this:
…which very neatly segues me into a question that I’ve been meaning to ask for ever and a day, and one that I’ve never seen asked anywhere else — do you prefer symmetrical or non-symmetrical (asymmetrical) controller layout?
What do I mean? This diagram should make it easy to understand:
I come from a turntable background, so you’d reasonably expect that I’d go with asymmetrical. But I’m really not bothered as far as controllers goes. It’s probably down to using an ever-changing variety of tech doing DJWORX. I’ve told the story a few times but once more won’t hurt — I was reviewing a Pioneer controller, and messed up more often than normal as I kept nudging the pitch fader on the left deck. My daughter, being a chip off the old block, shouted “I thought you could DJ?”. But generally speaking, I prefer asymmetrical.
I’m sure that there’s a heap of left/right brain coordination research (head patting and tummy rubbing)that I could dig into, as well as thinking that muscle memory has something to do with it too. And I also wonder how long manufacturers agonised about symmetry or asymmetry too.
So I made a poll, which I think will help get a clearer picture:
[poll id=”2″]
This is more out of personal interest, but it’s also useful information for the industry too. So if you use a controller, please add your vote. Ta very much.
From ttablism standpoint symetrical could be useful if things keep clean themselves (no pitch in the path of a juggling…) but for mixing sessions symetrical is more “logical”…
I have a feeling that a lot of us “older guys” prefer an asymmetrical set up due to conditioning and muscle memory… a lot of years of programming to break. A switch to a symmetrical set up would be an easy one, it would just take a while to reprogram muscle memory to a new set up… until then you’d be reaching for buttons that aren’t there.
I prefer asymmecrital when it comes to play / pause etc buttons, but nonetheless, PLEASE put the pitchfader on the outside away from EQs, Filter and Channelfaders if possible!!
I totally agree. Make it asymmetrical except for the pitchfade.
something that always drove me nuts. i want the pitch to go up, to i pull the pitch slider down, i want the pitch to go down, so i pull the pitch slider up. whoever started this nonsense needs a slap
It was meant to mimic the direction of the platter on a turntable. pulling it toward you is the same as puling the platter toward you in the same direction of rotation, pushing the platter away in the opposite direction of rotation. It sounds silly, but makes more sense to muscle memory.
It makes way more sense when you start mixing with turntables. It does feel ass backwards when starting on players or controllers without a spinning platter.
i started on turntables like 17 years ago, still doesnt make sense to me, i dont use the side of the platter the needles on, i use the side its not
I like it better with the turntables in battle position, that makes the speed go up by pushing the fader right and slows down by going left. Gets rid of the confusion.
Asymetrical all day. Why in the world would you ever want to venture away from industry standard.
Fair enough, but “industry standard” is always in a constant state of flux.
The placement of the start button has been on the left, and the pitch/tempo has been on the right, of every industry standard deck since day one of the 1200 MK2 in the late 1970’s though today with CD2000’s.
For 40 years there’s never been a hint of flux when it comes to this.
Making left and right turntables aren’t really doable. At least some turntables offer dual start/stops.
Making left and right tabletop players makes little sense. It’s every kind of nightmare from design to retail.
But with all-in-ones, you can offer choice. The decision of which is why I’m asking the question.
I prefer Asymmetrical but can use both. Seems to me the asymmetrical is much more natural. So even if some controls are too close, you have to deal with it.
Actually my Numark V7 pitch is very close to my DJM T1 locators on the left side and i never had issue with that…
I’m really not fussed. It’s pretty easy to pickup on the layout of a new controller/unit/layout/setup if you’ve been around DJ gear for a bit. I too come from the turntable background, but I have no issue with symmetrical layouts of many controllers – I’ve never even really noticed an issue.
I prefer the look of symmetrical, but having never used a controller (mainly due to not having ever purchased one since I keep spending money in other areas, or on other shiny things) I suspect that I could learn either.
Arguably, that’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with the STR8-150’s I use, because there’s two play/pause buttons and you can go for either one if they’re in the vertical orientation.
Symmetrical is more pleasing to the eyes however asymmetrical makes more sense. However even back in the day when turntables were the only option, there was no universal standard either, just a perceived one based on what the pros did.
When using standalone units i got more space so asymmetrical isn’t a problem. But on a conroller space is at a premium so symmetrical makes more sense to me.
Neither one uses any more or less space than the other.
I always thought it wouldn’t matter to me. However changing from the SX2 to the MCX8000, I’ve really struggled adjusting to the new layout. My biggest issue was going all the way to the left to press play/cue, only to discover it wasn’t there!! It’s a learning curve that I’d rather not have to do. That being said, if I’d initially become used to the symmetrical layout first, I’d probably be moaning in the opposite direction. I honestly would just prefer one standard layout (asymmetrical preferably).
Same for me. I came from the SX1 and still don’t like the layout nearly two months after getting the MCX8000.
I’m still getting looping and syncing issues. I’m constantly hitting the wrong buttons.
I hate both. I don’t want my mixer so close to my pitch i prefer room between my deck and mixer. I don’t like all in ones at all and still don’t get why they are so popular. You have to control 4 decks whit 2 decks. That makes it really easy to make mistakes. Perhaps the poll need a new option i can use neither. Nice picture on the article by the way.
I’ve always has asymmetrical controllers (Pio) and used CDJs TTs constantly.
I have switched to the MCX8000 and it’s still driving me nuts two months later.
Some controls are mirrored where as some aren’t (like the ones around the screen) so a SHIFT + VIEW button on either side means the shift button is mirrored but the VIEW button isn’t. It’s a different finger combinatio.
Also, I loop the first 16 beats of each intro as I mix in the next track. That means the auto loop button on one side and then switches sides with the sync… which is the second button I press! So my work flow is loops then sync but this position is in reverse depending on which song is playing. It’s just rubbish for consistency.
The fact it looks so much like the SX I’d be using 5 nights a week for teachers last 2 years means it’s identical but in one side only!
Honestly… Denon… on a controller of this side they don’t have to be simmetrical. There’s people online sating the keep hitting the pitch when scratching in a simmetrical controller too. I’m not a scratcher so can’t comment.
Oh and I’m not sure if my vote counted but when I pressed for my vote it said “Failed To Verify Referrer”.
I don’t think the vote is working. I just get “Failed To Verify Referrer”.
The votes go through, but I can’t work out why it’s hit and miss with displaying the results.
Ahhh. I’ll keep checking to try and catch the results as I will find it interesting.
At the time of writing:
Symmetrical: 16%
Asymmetrical: 48%
No preference: 36%
Thanks Mark. I hope manufacturers are watching closely.
My super specfic vote would be either (1) asymmetrical with lots of space between the pitch fader and mixer *or* (2) asymmetrical but with the pitch faders symmetrical.
This is actually the main reason why I’m still waiting for Pioneer to make a controller with screens: I know they’ll keep it asymmetrical.
Mirrored is the worst! I’ve made it this far without every owning an all-in-one anyways but if I did ever buy one it’d be like the Pioneer above, not like the Denon.
But even with the Pioneer it’d be nice if they would push the tempo slider back down where it should be. Not sure why they think it’s good to put it half way up the deck.
I hate symmetrical.
Finding the correlating button on the other deck with a asymmetrical lay out is so much quicker for my brain to get…. and feels more like a natural (traditional) set-up.
Wasn’t able to vote due to ‘failed to verify referral’ thing. I’m also interested in how other dj’s feel about this but can’t see the results.
Votes so far:
Symmetrical: 15%
Asymmetrical: 46%
No preference: 39%
There are many ways to interpret results. For example, 85% (A+NP) would be happy with asymmetrical, or 54% (S+NP aka still a majority) are happy with symmetrical. But it would appear that the symmetrical group are in the minority.
Poll don’t seem to work on Safari? Anyway, asymmetrical is the only way a work flow can work for me, just like I can only ride motorcycles properly with race shift gearing. What works works and mirroring makes no sense to me. I wouldn’t buy gear with a symmetrical set up, but I’m modular anyway so unlikely to buy an all in one.