Just wondering -

The mixer seems great - I dont have Serato yet as well - so getting this mixer would kill 2 birds with one stone.

However - I dont scratch at all - this mixer seems more geared to turntablist's and scratchers - I basically mix techno and trance.

I'm concerned more with being able to make smooth mixes than scratching / cutting tracks up. The price tag is steep - I'd like to make sure I would like this mixer primarily for straight mixing.

Currently I own a Rane MP 24 mixer.

Any opinions ?

I'd like to hear from other djs who mix house / trance / techno who do a bit more blended mixing.

Thanks all.

well if you use the eq's properly I don't see why you wouldn't be able to pull off "smooth" mixes

The only thing, IMO, that maybe lends itself towards calling the 57 a scratch mixer is the scratch-quality cross/up faders. It is otherwise a nice mixer with a bunch of Scratch Live integration. From the mixer panel, you can control SL features like the cue points, loops, loading songs into decks, SP6 sampler, etc that are useful regardless of what genre you spin. That said, given you already have a mixer, getting an SL3 with a Denon HC-1000S will give you SL with a control surface for less total money than the 57, and the SL3 is a higher quality soundcard than the one built into the 57.

Another thing to consider is that if you are gigging out, it's a lot easier to bring along an SL3 and hook the clubs' TTs/CDJs to it than bring your own mixer and pull the clubs' mixer out. You'd most likely end up running your 57 into a channel on the clubs' mixer anyway. Although depending on what area you are in, some clubs already have 57s installed...

But again, we are two weeks away from NAMM now, so it would be foolish to buy anything at this time. Wait to see what gets announced at NAMM and then make a decision.

I actually use my as a scratch mixer at home (some events/showcases) but normally use it at clubs for electro, house, top 40, rap/hip hop & any other genre I may need to play.

To be honest, it's the crossfader isn't the greatest "cut" fader.....

Sure its a great house mixer, I bought it for that reason as well...my only put offs are the feel of the EQ knobs, I always feel like Ill tear them off when tweaking fast, you also cant flick it like DJM mixers, and the placement is so close together, I always find myself in uncomfortable positions.

As for the faders, they are so smooth and you can pretty much abuse them without ever worrying about breakage, just apply a bit of faderlube when they start sticking and there like brand new again.

The best part imo is the customizations of the mixer itself, you have 6 buttons, 2-8 directional switches that you can assign to suit your needs from cue points to auto loops, loop roll, etc... you also have channel swap button for easy clicks, defineable EQ kills wether you want them to hold or to stick.

And the interface is pretty slick as well, its very pleasant to look at, simple design (although its starting to irritate me with all these addons, but thats just my opinion, I like it clean and simple) Library management is also very strong, lots of customization there too.

Oh and theres the play modes, ABS is pretty much useless, REL is amazing, I mean it cuts down those precious seconds wasted from cueing the next track, It lets you cue your next track without having to reposition your needle, you also have 2 jog wheels on the mixer to control your files and if you do run out of groove, it automatically changes the mode to INT, and all you have to do is reposition your needle and it switches back to REL. as for cons, the keylock isnt that great, it tends to chop basslines, the sampler is more for name drops and those annoying horns, the effects are great but they arent user friendly.

And thats it for me

Oh and its only a 2 channel mixer

I've been using 57 to record mixes in techno, electro, house in my studio and it works great... Usually I work in clubs with Pioneer mixers and SSL1 boxes set-up in the clubs. Eq's are a bit different from the club standard smoother Pioneer ones because they are Eq kills... but once you get used to them long blends are achieved easily.. The future added bonus for Ableton and Serato partnership is also a major point in general for choosing SSL for mixing electronic music... The 57 preamps on the mixer are on the lower output level and can distort easier than most.. Don't get too much into reds or it will sound like crap... So if needed a super loud output I would choose something else.. And the EQ knobs are a bit too close for those long blends but I'm used to it so it dun matter anymore really....

I find the limiter to be superb, as long as you arent in solid reds it sounds fine. Have you tried using the auto gain to the lowest setting possible and turning up your mains? I do agree with the amount of head room youre given tho, more would be great.

you should never go into the reds on any mixer anyway. what makes this any different?

Yes

? lol

my exactly complaint about the 57. not enough output sometimes (and split cue, but thats a whole other thread)

You know something at the end of the day the 57 is a hot mixer. I see in this forum that the 57 sound quality is this and that.......... Lets be real here THE 57 is all over the place! Hot 97 uses it (The heavy hitters Funkmaster Flex, Mister Cee shit look up COCO Channnel www.youtube.com view, DJ Kast One at Summer Jam www.youtube.com view) ok ok wait look at the crowd here www.youtube.com view so tell me is it the quality is bad or dudes don't know how to string up their set so it sounds good the damn mixer is hot shit I just picked mine up this weekend shit mixes real nice..... Remember its just a tool at the end of the day its all about what you do with it!

nice vido from coco channel, using abs live on the air!!! no waveform watching there hehe kewl!!