Need to find a good first controller

[vani]

Hello there!
Ive recently started vjing and I'm feeling that I need a controller to make things easier. I'm just not sure what should I look for when buying one.
Plus it doesn't need to be super complete since I'm starting, but I wanted one that I won't have to change in three months or so! :P
Thanks!

[many2]

Go for something cheap that has a wide array of different buttons, faders, dials, keys, pad, etc.

Many years ago I would have recommended a keyboard like the Edirol PCR-30. I am convinced there are better solution available nowadays, I am just not familiar with them. But you should still look for a wide arrays of controls, since this will be your first keyboard you want to test everything and to learn the pluses and minuses of each interface type.

By buying cheap, you will get cheap. It WILL break. You will break a button, lose a fader, or bend a plug. But since this is your learning device, at least you will know what you need next time you buy one, and you'll be able to make a real investment.

[XedMada]

The little Korg Nano controllers and their Akai brethren are cheap, small, and actually survive gigs better than one would expect. Pairing the nanoKontrol with the Akai LPD8 gives you a reasonable number of knobs, sliders, and pads to start out. From there you can move on to bigger and better controllers, as you learn what you do and do not like, but thanks to the size of these little guys you can continue to use them in your setup as extra controllers.