Good mixer to sit between two X1s?
Good mixer to sit between two X1s? Posted on: 12.08.2012 by Madelene Witek I'll soon be getting the X1's for this set, and using a mixtrack as the mixer, but that's only temporary.What is a good Mixer, that doesn't cost like 3 grand, doesn't have to be a djm, something just good and hopefully isn't too expensive. If you suggest something, please say why! I use Traktor. And mix mostly electronic music. Preferably 4 channel, so this can last me a long time. (If there is another thread for this, I must have missed it, link me! sorry in advance). | |
| Maricruz Felter 17.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by DJ G-REG
If you're really trying to make the jump to prograde gear , you should sell the S2, and put that money towards buying an A&H, Denon, or Pioneer mixer and use the X1 for cues, transport, and FX. If you're playing out at clubs a lot, maybe buy an A&H 42 with the NI Audio 4 card so that you can plug into the club mixer while you're playing out and use the X1 as your controller... probably the most portable setup around. That is literally my entire setup. I use just an X1 for controlling Traktor, and the Denon DN-X1600 mixer... this setup works like a charm and I actually prefer this to my roommates S4 because my mixer is just way way WAY nicer than the mixer section on his NI S4. Getting a traktor certified mixer also lets you have expansion possibility as well. For example, I just added a Technics 1210 to have DVS control and it works perfectly. |
| Madelene Witek 17.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Shishdisma
But maybe you're right, at my level i might not need 4 channel mixer... Well, with all the feedback on a 4-channel, I believe I now what I should go for. Any suggestions on just a 2-channel? |
| Margie Pavell 16.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Cybertrash
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| Cole Maroto 16.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by photojojo
edit: musicians friend has a used one for $765 with their current 10% off used gear sale (it's regularly $850). guitar center also has one that looks a little beat up for $700 and i'm sure they will match musicians friend 10% off used gear sale bringing it down to $630 (+tax if applicable to your state). |
| Maricruz Felter 17.08.2012 | ah, I see what you're saying now... Totally makes sense. I have an Audio2DJ as well and use that for 2 outputs if you're mixing with only 2 decks its perfect and use the mixer for cue functionality... brain is functioning slowly today... Friday! |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 17.08.2012 | Still don't really like the audio 6 for that task. Inputs go to waste, you only want to pay for outputs really. I'd probably go for and audio 2 or a numark DJ iO or something similar if I wanted two channels, not sure about if I wanted 3 or 4. There's not really any good cards that fit the role at the moment. :/ |
| Maricruz Felter 17.08.2012 | sorry, I meant the Audio 6... been out of the interface game for awhile... Anything that will give you enough inputs into a club installed mixer really |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 17.08.2012 | Why the audio 4? It has completely pointless inputs that won't be used here, it's not in production and it costs more than an audio 2 which will do the job just the same. |
| Maricruz Felter 17.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by DJ G-REG
If you're really trying to make the jump to prograde gear , you should sell the S2, and put that money towards buying an A&H, Denon, or Pioneer mixer and use the X1 for cues, transport, and FX. If you're playing out at clubs a lot, maybe buy an A&H 42 with the NI Audio 4 card so that you can plug into the club mixer while you're playing out and use the X1 as your controller... probably the most portable setup around. That is literally my entire setup. I use just an X1 for controlling Traktor, and the Denon DN-X1600 mixer... this setup works like a charm and I actually prefer this to my roommates S4 because my mixer is just way way WAY nicer than the mixer section on his NI S4. Getting a traktor certified mixer also lets you have expansion possibility as well. For example, I just added a Technics 1210 to have DVS control and it works perfectly. |
| Wilson Durrum 17.08.2012 | What about a Behringer NOX303? I am using a s2 with an x1 right now but have been believeing of adding a mixer just to use with the x1. Does anyone have any experience with the Behringer NOX303? http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/NOX303.aspx |
| Mimi Mahaffee 17.08.2012 | 99% in my area* (once stumbled upon a numark in a bar) |
| Mimi Mahaffee 17.08.2012 | i got the djm 850 which im atm using with ipad touch osc and traktor. waiting for the new behringer cmd series for better transport controls but in my opinion its worth to have the pioneer since 99% of the clubs have pioneer mixer installed. the 850 is also alot cheaper than 900 and fine for home use, the new "beat" effects is actually quite nice. the spiral is for sure worth alot just on its own but i believe the denon is a nice mixer aswell and if you dont need to learn pioneer workflow of ther mixers i would go for the denon. |
| Madelene Witek 17.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Shishdisma
But maybe you're right, at my level i might not need 4 channel mixer... Well, with all the feedback on a 4-channel, I believe I now what I should go for. Any suggestions on just a 2-channel? |
| Margie Pavell 16.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Cybertrash
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| Cole Maroto 16.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by photojojo
edit: musicians friend has a used one for $765 with their current 10% off used gear sale (it's regularly $850). guitar center also has one that looks a little beat up for $700 and i'm sure they will match musicians friend 10% off used gear sale bringing it down to $630 (+tax if applicable to your state). |
| Leeanna Ayla 16.08.2012 | Pro Audio star had a DNX1100 for $699 the other day, |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 16.08.2012 | Well the Xone:22 is hardly the finest A&H mixer |
| Evelyn Navarijo 16.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by keithace
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| Latoria Kavulich 16.08.2012 | Wow. After reading that i'd definitely consider picking one up. I haven't used a DJM800 for comparison, But the X1600 is far superior to the DJM700 in all regards. |
| Random X 16.08.2012 | Excellent review! |
| Maricruz Felter 15.08.2012 | highly recommend the DN-X1600... Been using it for over a year and it's superb across the board, and about half the cost of a comparable pioneer mixer. I personally find the build quality on the Denon to be better than Pioneer. I posted a review of the mixer on abletonlivedj.com a while back, I've pasted it here for your reference. I should mention, since I wrote this review, I've added a Technics 1200 turntable and DVS works flawlessly with this mixer Overview This mixer serves as my introduction to hardware mixers so I apologize if I missed anything or my terminology is off. If there's anything I don't touch on that you are curious about, please let me know and I will address it individually for you. I purchased it because I found myself not really using too many effects while mixing, and instead focusing on proper EQ and volume-fader mixing. As such, I wanted to buy a nice piece of hardware that felt like it had a degree of finesse to the pots and faders. Compared against the Pioneer DJM-800, I feel that the knobs and faders on the Denon are much stiffer (which I prefer). The crossfader is nice and loose, but I don't use this so I can't attest to it. The volume and crossfader curves have individual settings and can be adjusted however you like. This mixer is likely to be compared against the Pioneer DJM-800. The mixer has an internal 4 in / 4 out 24 bit 96kHz USB 2.0 audio interface. At the top of each channel strip, you will see an input selector. From there you can select which line-in you want for each strip, or alternatively, you can choose which USB channels you would like to use as your inputs. With Traktor (or Ableton), I can have the software set up in external mixer mode, select each USB channel for all 4 channel strips, and have a full on external mixer connected with only a USB cable, the audio cables out to my monitors, and a power cable. No other line-in cables or anything. Obviously, CDJs turn-tables, or whatever can be plugged into any of these, and the channel strips can be a combination of line-in, USB, or whatever you want. What's also cool is, I can have a 2-deck set up in Traktor, controlled by 2 channel strips, and then 2 audio channels in Ableton controlled by the other strips on the mixer. The mixer also has a built in effects unit and BPM-gauge. The effects sound very high quality and I actually find myself using these more than those built into Traktor. In the effects bank, the parameters knob can also act as a single-knob high-pass/low-pass filter and has a very nice resonance to it that sounds great. There are also some tempo-synced effects. The automatic BPM detector does a pretty solid job of nailing it right on the head, though ti can sometimes run into issues with downtempo tracks. Typical 4/4 EDM it has no issues with. Effects are selected with little effort, and you can adjust parameters within the effects for a longer or shorter delay, or change the flanger, etc. MIDI This mixer also has phenominal MIDI integration. Each channel strip can be switched to control MIDI functions, and the FX bank can also be switched to control MIDI functions. Just click the blue MIDI button at the top of each channel strip, and the 3 EQ buttons, the FX send and cue button, and the channel fader are all switched over to control any MIDI function you map them to. Switched to control some MIDI effects and then switched out of MIDI mode and your EQ's are all off from where you left them? No problem! The mixer disables the EQ or volume controls until you return every knob/fader to exactly where it was before you entered MIDI mode. The LCD will tell you how much up or down you need to turn it. The MIDI button will flash until you have it correct. Once it's correct, the EQ and volume faders work as expected once more. Additionally, the mixer has a strip of 4 endless encoders and 4 buttons. There are four pages for these controls, which means you really have 16 endless encoders and 16 buttons. These become very useful, for example, I have a page of these controls set up to browse tracks, load into decks, scrub through tracks. I have another page set up to control looping for every deck (the encoders can be pushed in also, perfect for s4 style looping). You can set up the FX in ableton/traktor to be controlled via the rotaries, but I have found that the accuracy of the knobs is not good enough for effects in this regard and have been considering getting an X1. I absolutely love the MIDI implementation on this mixer and it was one of the driving reasons I purchased it. You could ultimately send each strip into MIDI mode, have them set to control Ableton and mix entirely within the box, but have the nice feeling Denon mixer controls rather than an APC40 or something that feels less precise. Or you have the option to mix externally, it's up to you with this thing. Set Up & Sound Quality Set-up was a little bit difficult to be honest. I can't even describe what was happening with it, but basically you need to navigate some menus within the LCD on the mixer to enable mac mode if you're on mac, or windows if you're on windows. Once it was set up, it's super easy to use. Just turn it on, and my iMac detects it automatically and switches the soundcards over from the internal one to the Denon with no hassle. Sound quality wise, it sounds incredible. My basis for comparison is the Audio 2 DJ. I personally believe this mixer and its interface sound much more full. The EQ's are 100% kill, meaning if you turn them down fully, the audio will cut out completely. Each strip also has dedicated gain and X-Fader assignment capability. I got the thing for $850 cash in downtown Los Angeles at Six Star DJ. You could probably get it for even less, I'm not the best of negotiators. For $850 I believe this thing is an absolute steal. I wouldn't even consider getting Pioneer after having given this thing a go. The build quality is absolutely superb and I can see this thing lasting me many years providing the audio interface doesn't give out, and I have no reason to believe that it would. Anyone in the market for a DJ mixer that wants some MIDI capability, I would strongly consider giving this bad boy a look, I have 0 regrets on it and I really enjoy having the feel of a professional grade mixer for all my EQ'ing and volume adjustments. I feel like it's significantly more precise than using the APC40, though I believe the APC40 would be a fantastic companion controller to this mixer. Currently I'm using an iPad as my companion controller, with a Touch OSC mapping for traktor. I have many of the functions in my mapping duplicated also to my mixer which provides me with multiple ways to complete one task which is nice. |
| Loreta Altema 15.08.2012 | I'd say the DNX1600 if you can afford it, otherwise go with the DDM4000. The DDM was the second mixer I ever bought and it served me well. Its a tough little beast, priced great, and IMO, still one of the best "bang-for-your-buck" mixers out there... I actually sold mine to a buddy who has been using it on his houseboat for the past year now.. |
| Leeanna Ayla 14.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by GeorgeJD
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| Corrin Penney 14.08.2012 | ecler EVO4 if you can find one. the added midi capability is cool. If not, the NUO 4. I saw one of them second hand, flight cased, mint condition for |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 13.08.2012 | DNX1600, very similar to a DJM, much cheaper and has an internal 8x8 soundcard so you just plug in your laptop and go |
| Evelin Merworth 14.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Otacon
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| Evelin Merworth 14.08.2012 | eBay if you keep an eye out they're not too hard to snag |
| Emilia Dielmann 13.08.2012 | The x1600 built in sound card and traktor certified , best bang for the buck , I own one and it takes abuse |
| Erich Vallabhaneni 13.08.2012 | cheap, retro and cool. http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store...&cagpspn=pla&= |
| Kasandra Kreindler 13.08.2012 | you'll be hard pressed to find em that cheap... but you could find 42's around the 650-700 mark pretty easily |
| Erich Vallabhaneni 13.08.2012 | i say xone 42 or X1600, the same as advised by about 75% of everyone on this thread. lol |
| Sharie Bentancur 13.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by GeorgeJD
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| Evelin Merworth 13.08.2012 | I would go for the Xone 42. I picked mine up for around $520 and there is nothing I don't love about it |
| Random X 13.08.2012 | Denon X1600, if I wouldn't be having the setup I have now, I would probably dish out for one as well... Or a A&H XoneB2. |
| Latoria Kavulich 13.08.2012 | +1 on the X1600 if you can pick one up. Have a look at photojojo's & mine setup threads. Built in audio 8 and everything being midi is a bonus. |
| Ciara Cuttill 12.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Santos10
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| Leeanna Ayla 12.08.2012 | I would search for a used 42 or DNX1600. Don't skimp on the mixer. The DDM4000 is great bang for the buck, but I would never be happy with it because of it's little quirks. I will say the Behringer NOX606 has intrigued me, but I've never touched one. |
| Armando Chrystal 12.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by LoopCat
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| Random X 12.08.2012 | I would see if I could test these out for under US$750: http://www.tonecontrol.eu/denon-dn-x600 http://www.tonecontrol.eu/allen--heath-xone-42-black http://www.tonecontrol.eu/behringer-nox606-pro-mixer http://www.tonecontrol.nl/numark-x5-...digitale-mixer And decide from there on. It would probably end up a choice between the dn-x-600 and the xone:42. Though with the xone you would need a soundcard, as that the denon has got an excellent soundcard built in already! |
| Nancey Inderlied 12.08.2012 | Snag a DJM-250 and an Audio 2. The 250 should be around $340, and the Audio 2 will set you back like $80. There are 3 types of mixer: professional, expensive mixers, stripped down professional mixers, and cheap, feature loaded crap. You don't need 4 channels to "grow in to," because odds are you're going to either scrap the old one when you get a high end mixer, or you'll keep it as a backup and need it to be solid. The Xone 22 and the 250 are pretty close in features (pretty bare, with some tricks), but the 250 has a slight edge in quality and usability, if only because it's newer. |
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