Need advices on a cheap 4 channels mixer

Home :: Reviews of DJ equipment :: Need advices on a cheap 4 channels mixerReply
Need advices on a cheap 4 channels mixer
Posted on: 26.08.2010 by Dia Hahs
Hi, i'm new to djing and I want an analogue mixer at around 400$. I mix house/trance.

I find that Traktor's internal mixing lack of warmth. I don't want a emulated mixer, I need a real one.

So what do guys recommend? I want the best bang for the buck.

I was believeing of getting a Vestax VMC-004.
Mac Fly
02.09.2010
Originally Posted by DennisHuiberts
And if you go with firewire, make sure you have a Texas Instruments firewire chip in your laptop. If not, you'll probably run into trouble getting it glitch-free...
Firewire connectors are the worst invention known to man! Go USB. I use a firewire interface and had numerous problems time and time again, not because of the card itself but the shitty build of the mini firewire port on my laptop.
Dia Hahs
31.08.2010
Originally Posted by Robin Raydon
DDM-4000 (and also the Profire 610) is a good choice... The Behringer is a very sturdy piece of gear ... In this german Forum you can read an updated review. The owner of this DDM started to write it in 2008 and uses it every week. Look at the pictures: http://www.deejaycommunity .de/19-testgel...dm-4000-a.html
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
Check the Behringer DDM 4000 reviews, people who own it says that it's the best bang of the buck of the market right now...

And for an audio interface with 4 stereo outs, check M-Audio Profire 610 (firewire)

I will buy both when I get the cash...
Why do you guys recommend me that sound card. The audio 8, is not good enough? Is it because firewire is better then usb??
Dia Hahs
31.08.2010
Originally Posted by Robin Raydon
DDM-4000 (and also the Profire 610) is a good choice... The Behringer is a very sturdy piece of gear ... In this german Forum you can read an updated review. The owner of this DDM started to write it in 2008 and uses it every week. Look at the pictures: http://www.deejaycommunity .de/19-testgel...dm-4000-a.html
I have a Bcd-3000 and I can't say its really reliable. But for 400$ I believe it's worth the try. And I hear a lot of good feedback on that mixer. And it's for practice not for club use. So I will consider this option. Thanks everyone.
Dia Hahs
28.08.2010
Originally Posted by knaumov
I have Vestax PMC-280. I believe it's about $499 in US. Have it for about 2 years now.

It's an OK mixer and there is a nice review on Skratchworx: http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/pmc280.php

I like that it's a 10'' mixer (compact), it has integrated effects (not the best, but still..) and it feels nice.

Quality wise, it's a budget mixer, not a top quality one. Feel wise, it's good and solid. I like it.
... there is a defect which irritates me a bit: assigning the effects processor to any of the channels results in about 3db deduction from the level of that channel (could be assigned to CF A, CF B or Master busses). It's fine if you keep them on Master bus only and not changing it back and forth.

Wouldn't be my mixer of choice in 2010, considering that there are mixers like the DN-X1600 these days. Still the PMC-280 has good price for the bundled features.
Vestax mixers look really basic.

I believe of getting a djm-700. (1000) Its not cheap but not that expensive, and its quite a good mixer. the djm-800 is way too expensive for me but I really like the DJM layout.
Dia Hahs
26.08.2010		Hi, i'm new to djing and I want an analogue mixer at around 400$. I mix house/trance.

I find that Traktor's internal mixing lack of warmth. I don't want a emulated mixer, I need a real one.

So what do guys recommend? I want the best bang for the buck.

I was believeing of getting a Vestax VMC-004.
Mac Fly
02.09.2010
Originally Posted by DennisHuiberts
And if you go with firewire, make sure you have a Texas Instruments firewire chip in your laptop. If not, you'll probably run into trouble getting it glitch-free...
Firewire connectors are the worst invention known to man! Go USB. I use a firewire interface and had numerous problems time and time again, not because of the card itself but the shitty build of the mini firewire port on my laptop.
Margo Gilb
02.09.2010		And when you buy a firewire expresscard for your Notebook - please be careful with the Logilink PC0036A which is recommended in many online portals because of its Texas Instruments XIO 2200 Chipset. The fact is - there is no Texas Instruments chipset in it. I believe they discontinued the one with that kind of chip. Nowadays it is a VIA chipset in it. And also be careful with cobined expresscard Firewire-USB adaptors. Mine used to cause sudden freezes in Ableton Live and Deckadance. Now with the PC0036A "only-Firewire adaptor" which I bought because of the Texas Instruments Chipset, what isn't in it it works fine, although the built in VIA in this adaptor isn't supported officially by the manufacturer.
Neal Rayome
01.09.2010		And if you go with firewire, make sure you have a Texas Instruments firewire chip in your laptop. If not, you'll probably run into trouble getting it glitch-free...
Graham Frazier
01.09.2010		Does the M-Audio have Cirrus-Logic DAC's though. This is a huge selling point of the NI interfaces for me.
Dia Hahs
01.09.2010		The specs really seems better, but I wannna try timecode.
Irwin Ney
01.09.2010		But it's not firewire, doesn't accept two headphones, doesn't have two mic inputs and so on...
there are plenty of topics and blog posts about the benefit of using firewire instead of USB, and the best benefit is that you will save a USB to other controllers...

Compare and see what will fit your needs:

M-Audio ProFire 610 Firewire Audio Interface US$359
6 x 10 simultaneous analog/digital I/O. High-definition, 24-bit/192kHz audio.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFW610

Native Instruments Audio 8 DJ Audio Interface US$399
8 inputs, 8 outputs, MIDI I/O, 1/4 in. headphone connector, and 20 status LEDs for full visual control.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--NINAUDIO8DJ


Leeanna Ayla
31.08.2010		Audio 8 is good definitely enough, if not better IMO.
Dia Hahs
31.08.2010
Originally Posted by Robin Raydon
DDM-4000 (and also the Profire 610) is a good choice... The Behringer is a very sturdy piece of gear ... In this german Forum you can read an updated review. The owner of this DDM started to write it in 2008 and uses it every week. Look at the pictures: http://www.deejaycommunity .de/19-testgel...dm-4000-a.html
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
Check the Behringer DDM 4000 reviews, people who own it says that it's the best bang of the buck of the market right now...

And for an audio interface with 4 stereo outs, check M-Audio Profire 610 (firewire)

I will buy both when I get the cash...
Why do you guys recommend me that sound card. The audio 8, is not good enough? Is it because firewire is better then usb??
Dia Hahs
31.08.2010
Originally Posted by Robin Raydon
DDM-4000 (and also the Profire 610) is a good choice... The Behringer is a very sturdy piece of gear ... In this german Forum you can read an updated review. The owner of this DDM started to write it in 2008 and uses it every week. Look at the pictures: http://www.deejaycommunity .de/19-testgel...dm-4000-a.html
I have a Bcd-3000 and I can't say its really reliable. But for 400$ I believe it's worth the try. And I hear a lot of good feedback on that mixer. And it's for practice not for club use. So I will consider this option. Thanks everyone.
Brunilda Kora
31.08.2010		Buy a DDM-4000. Best money I ever spent.
Margo Gilb
30.08.2010		DDM-4000 (and also the Profire 610) is a good choice... The Behringer is a very sturdy piece of gear ... In this german Forum you can read an updated review. The owner of this DDM started to write it in 2008 and uses it every week. Look at the pictures: http://www.deejaycommunity .de/19-testgel...dm-4000-a.html
Irwin Ney
30.08.2010		If you are looking for some practice at home the DDM4000 will probably fit your needs
Ralph Alderette
29.08.2010		check out the ddm4000, even though you want external channels, you can still choose which parts of the mixer you want to control midi (like track load or cue points).
i got mine new for $300 w 2 year warranty..
Dia Hahs
28.08.2010
Originally Posted by knaumov
I have Vestax PMC-280. I believe it's about $499 in US. Have it for about 2 years now.

It's an OK mixer and there is a nice review on Skratchworx: http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/pmc280.php

I like that it's a 10'' mixer (compact), it has integrated effects (not the best, but still..) and it feels nice.

Quality wise, it's a budget mixer, not a top quality one. Feel wise, it's good and solid. I like it.
... there is a defect which irritates me a bit: assigning the effects processor to any of the channels results in about 3db deduction from the level of that channel (could be assigned to CF A, CF B or Master busses). It's fine if you keep them on Master bus only and not changing it back and forth.

Wouldn't be my mixer of choice in 2010, considering that there are mixers like the DN-X1600 these days. Still the PMC-280 has good price for the bundled features.
Vestax mixers look really basic.

I believe of getting a djm-700. (1000) Its not cheap but not that expensive, and its quite a good mixer. the djm-800 is way too expensive for me but I really like the DJM layout.
Alta Corea
28.08.2010		DJM 600, 800 or Allen & Heath Xone 92 or 464
Francina Decosse
28.08.2010		I have Vestax PMC-280. I believe it's about $499 in US. Have it for about 2 years now.

It's an OK mixer and there is a nice review on Skratchworx: http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/pmc280.php

I like that it's a 10'' mixer (compact), it has integrated effects (not the best, but still..) and it feels nice.

Quality wise, it's a budget mixer, not a top quality one. Feel wise, it's good and solid. I like it.
... there is a defect which irritates me a bit: assigning the effects processor to any of the channels results in about 3db deduction from the level of that channel (could be assigned to CF A, CF B or Master busses). It's fine if you keep them on Master bus only and not changing it back and forth.

Wouldn't be my mixer of choice in 2010, considering that there are mixers like the DN-X1600 these days. Still the PMC-280 has good price for the bundled features.
Irwin Ney
27.08.2010		Check the Behringer DDM 4000 reviews, people who own it says that it's the best bang of the buck of the market right now...

And for an audio interface with 4 stereo outs, check M-Audio Profire 610 (firewire)

I will buy both when I get the cash...

<< Back to Reviews of DJ equipment Reply

Copyright 2012-2023
DJRANKINGS.ORG n.g.o.
Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Created by Ajaxel CMS

Terms & Privacy