Sign In:     


Forum: VirtualDJ Technical Support

Topic: HID Supported Controllers
can we get an updated list of dj controllers that utilize the newer faster HID protocol with vdj
 

Posted 5 days ago @ 2:16 am
Why does it matter which protocol the controller uses?
 

a quick google ai search

HID (Human Interface Device) protocol is generally considered superior to MIDI for certain types of DJ controllers, particularly those with jog wheels or other high-resolution control elements, because it offers lower latency and higher data bandwidth. MIDI, while versatile, has limitations in terms of data transmission speed and resolution, which can lead to noticeable lag or imprecise control with complex elements.
 

Without sources it's not very meaningful of course.
MIDI has a fixed low speed when using it through a physical MIDI port, but I haven't seen any controllers that need to be connected with a MIDI port.
When using MIDI over USB the limit for latency mostly comes from USB packets, and should be very similar for HID and MIDI.
It's probably true that MIDI is a bit less efficient when it comes to speed, but with the little data that needs to be sent/received any way that doesn't matter much either. (Manufacturers have used both MIDI and HID even for waveforms, which is the only thing that does require a bit more data)

Furthermore, many controllers use both HID and MIDI, so providing a list would be even more complicated.
 

in terms of specific controller features...jogwheels probably benefit the most from HID integration...
ok let me. re-phrase,
a list of controllers that vdj can use hid protocol with... regardless of also supporting midi...i got a list a long time ago from here...but those controllers are mainly outdated in that list
 

Jog Wheels send very little data, so that's unlikely to make a difference.
Also, it's not about also supporting hid, it's sometimes both used, with hid for displays and perhaps midi for jog wheel or various other combinations, so depending on the specific control you think would perform better that still doesn't say anything
 

There's several much more important variables that might be useful to know such as how many values per rotation of the jog the controller can detect, and how frequently it will send those changes back to the software. This will be largely independent of the protocol used though, and especially the update frequency would require tedious experimental work as it's not really publicized by the manufacturer