xone 42 vs x1600

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xone 42 vs x1600
Posted on: 10.12.2012 by Cole Maroto
i know this has been discussed a bit in the past but i didn't want to resurrect old threads from the grave. i'm soon to be in the market for a mixer so i can have a more modular setup. the allen & heath xone 42 and denon x1600 are at the top of my short list at my desired price point. unfortunately, i am unable to test either of these as they aren't around locally. let me share my current gear and let me know what you believe.

-traktor scratch pro 2.5
-audio 8
-2x x1
-2x technics 1200 mk3d
-2x cdjs (1 cdj100 and 1 cdj200)
-maschine mk1 (which i may or may not add to my djing at some point)
-hp dv6 i5 running windows 7 64 bit

i'm currently leaning towards the 42 because i like the look, simple layout, i already have the audio 8, you can add an external effects unit, the filters are supposed to be amazing, and it's slightly cheaper since i can get it for about $730 brand new. i can get the denon for $800 brand new.

the x1600 would be cool if i ever wanted to play with vinyl or cds outside of software because of the built in effects, but that is something i would do very rarely. i'd be more prone to just use control vinyl if i wanted the old school feeling. the midi layer seems ok to me, but with 2 x1s i question how much i would really use it. also, in part because i don't want to rely on specific mixer functions that i will not find in a venue i may gig at. i've seen various mixers in a few places i want to play (djm 700 and some kind of rane mixer). in those cases, i would be bringing my audio 8 with x1s and just use the basic functions of the mixer to play, or i may bring my vci400 ege.

i do have a question about the x1600 soundcard though. would i be able to route the 4 traktor decks into individual tracks in ableton to record my sets? i'm having a hard time finding this out. i don't believe i really need ableton to be synced to traktor, i just want the songs to record into ableton the way i play them. is that possible without having to use software like jack?

if i went with the xone and the audio 8 would i be able to use something like jack to accomplish this as well? it's not too big of a deal, but it would be nice to have extra control to fix any minor errors in my live sessions. then i could stop letting the little things keep me from posting an otherwise solid mixing session.

sorry this is a bit long winded, but i'm trying to be as detailed as possible to get the best responses. thanks all!
Cole Maroto
10.12.2012
Originally Posted by Jester
I would go with the Xone, only because you already have an audio 8 and have answered your own question already, just needed some positive affirmation
i love positive affirmation, but i just wanted to see if there was something i may be missing with the x1600.

since you own one, do you know if it's possible to do the ableton routing i was asking about? can you have each of traktor's decks record into it's own ableton track without using something like jack?
Cole Maroto
10.12.2012
i know this has been discussed a bit in the past but i didn't want to resurrect old threads from the grave. i'm soon to be in the market for a mixer so i can have a more modular setup. the allen & heath xone 42 and denon x1600 are at the top of my short list at my desired price point. unfortunately, i am unable to test either of these as they aren't around locally. let me share my current gear and let me know what you believe.

-traktor scratch pro 2.5
-audio 8
-2x x1
-2x technics 1200 mk3d
-2x cdjs (1 cdj100 and 1 cdj200)
-maschine mk1 (which i may or may not add to my djing at some point)
-hp dv6 i5 running windows 7 64 bit

i'm currently leaning towards the 42 because i like the look, simple layout, i already have the audio 8, you can add an external effects unit, the filters are supposed to be amazing, and it's slightly cheaper since i can get it for about $730 brand new. i can get the denon for $800 brand new.

the x1600 would be cool if i ever wanted to play with vinyl or cds outside of software because of the built in effects, but that is something i would do very rarely. i'd be more prone to just use control vinyl if i wanted the old school feeling. the midi layer seems ok to me, but with 2 x1s i question how much i would really use it. also, in part because i don't want to rely on specific mixer functions that i will not find in a venue i may gig at. i've seen various mixers in a few places i want to play (djm 700 and some kind of rane mixer). in those cases, i would be bringing my audio 8 with x1s and just use the basic functions of the mixer to play, or i may bring my vci400 ege.

i do have a question about the x1600 soundcard though. would i be able to route the 4 traktor decks into individual tracks in ableton to record my sets? i'm having a hard time finding this out. i don't believe i really need ableton to be synced to traktor, i just want the songs to record into ableton the way i play them. is that possible without having to use software like jack?

if i went with the xone and the audio 8 would i be able to use something like jack to accomplish this as well? it's not too big of a deal, but it would be nice to have extra control to fix any minor errors in my live sessions. then i could stop letting the little things keep me from posting an otherwise solid mixing session.

sorry this is a bit long winded, but i'm trying to be as detailed as possible to get the best responses. thanks all!
Latoria Kavulich
10.12.2012
Well you can set the routings out however you like so i would say so? not an ableton expert so that may need to be confirmed. It is one badass beast of a mixer but i bet the '42 is as well
Cole Maroto
10.12.2012
Originally Posted by Jester
I would go with the Xone, only because you already have an audio 8 and have answered your own question already, just needed some positive affirmation
i love positive affirmation, but i just wanted to see if there was something i may be missing with the x1600.

since you own one, do you know if it's possible to do the ableton routing i was asking about? can you have each of traktor's decks record into it's own ableton track without using something like jack?
Latoria Kavulich
10.12.2012
I would go with the Xone, only because you already have an audio 8 and have answered your own question already, just needed some positive affirmation

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