I 've had both and liked them for different reasons.

The 68 sounds more analogue than the 800 and the mic section is also far better on the 68.
It was great not having to wire up my SL3 box every gig too.

The drawbacks on the 68 are the effects and infamous cue buttons for me. Having played on an 800 for 4 years, the effects are very gig friendly and quick easy to apply, i could do it without thinking.

On the 68 the effects are not instant enough. you have to select the channel, make sure the flex fx knob is maxed (I don't know why this knob is there as it has to be maxed all the time), know that some effects cause the overall volume level to drop and compensate for this, and then hit the button to finally apply the effect. This was all too much for me really (probably says more about me than the mixer lol!), but my workflow slowed down a lot. the effects are great if you're in the studio though, especially the flexability of send and return via usb!
It also annoyed me that the effects were tied to the BPM within serato, so if I played a vinyl or CD, i would have to manually tap the BPM in.

The cue buttons reminded me of the X-Keys stick I used to use, sorta functional but would often misfire.

Needless to say, I sold my 68 and am back to using my pioneer + dicers again. the 68 was a great idea, just not quite there yet.

Thanks for the reply Alixx. Do you know if I get the 900 and an sl4 if I can run the bridge smoothly and midi map the 900 to control the bridge. I feel like the 68 would be far superior in this aspect.

Well I use my djm800 and an sl3 with the bridge. I use the third deck (aux) as my bridge output and it works nicely. Id say that the 68 will have better 'control' as it has the cue buttons which can double up as midi triggers for Ableton, but I have a xone 1D for ableton, so never needed to try this.

Oh nice. Or I can just use an apc 40 for ableton with the al4 and pioneer.

The effects on the 68 are so simple...leave the flex effects knob all the way at all times ...choose effect then activate using the channel effect button works just the 800 minus the the flex effects knob! Plus you have the ability to use software effects from serato in the same manner! Sick mixer in IMO

Ace tell me more about your experience. I've read so much negative commentary on the 68 that in my mind it's tainted. Rane is number 1 to me. The sound is amazingly warm on my 57 best mixer I've used. I've never been comfortable mixing on the pioneer 800 even though I own it, and the sound quality from it seems choked. Coming from vinyl and as a DJ that still buys vinyl, the ranes sound out put when playing vinyl is 100000000 times warmer. But people keep complaining about the 68. I just need to here some positive stuff on it and I'll be sold lol. How bad can the cue buttons really be for example.

For one a lot of people don't know that you go into system preferences on computer and alter the sound of the built in filter knobs! It makes the filters sound super sweet. Also being able to use the software on any channel on the mixer is nice. A lot of people have been upset about the cue point buttons but they are functional once you get used to them. I will upload a video of me using them...The mixer is off the chain! DJ sways are nice...if you use the bridge or/and the sp-6 you can have them on the own individual channel works great if you only use 2 decks. Plus the bridge mix tape functionality is awesome. You get the fader automation and prefader on every channel including the sp6! The sound quality is really amazing especially on a high end system... Is it perfect? IMO pretty close...

....typo...

meant to say the software effects on each channel is nice...

I'm with Ace on this... I love the Sixty-Eight. If you care about sound quality and it seems like you do, Rane is the hands down choice as a brand. The FX are really simple and like Ace said, you can also use the DJ FX in the SSL software through the Sixty-Eight and have the post fader. Also, there is an FX loop so you can route external fx in the signal as well.
The major problem people have is with the cue buttons. Could they be better? Sure. Do they work? Yes, they do. I personally don't have any major issue with them. I press them and they work. I have other pieces of gear that have nicer feeling buttons and ones that you don't have to make sure you press as accurately or solidly but if making sure you firmly press a button is a major issue for you or if they hurt your finger tips then I think you have more pressing matters to be concerned with. If you're in the market for a 4 channel mixer. I think it's the clear choice. You are al;so getting Rane's famous support and quality... there's a lot to be said for that.

Awesome guys thank you, it sounds amazing. I don't think the cue buttons will be an issue at all fOr me. I'm also planning on picking up some dicers anyway. I know that the sound quality is miles beyond pioneer, at least to me. I love the sound of my 57 and yea I'm planning on getting into the bridge. I'll be picking up one on black Friday. Thanks!

Well, Looks like you made up your mind, but I like the mixer as well. Sound quality is awesome, as is the fact that is has two sound cards, is fully midi-mappable, etc etc etc.
I also had gotten used to the effects on pioneer mixers and found the 68 to actually be easier to use—i'd prefer to hit a button than try to find which channel the dial was on in the dark. The effects sound a little less hit-you-over-the-head style than the pioneer effects, which took some getting used to but sounds great in the studio.
Like many, I would prefer cue buttons of a softer material, but i've never had one of these misfire. (I also use dicers since most places I play I don't get to use a 68)
There is an incredible amount of computer based features as well that I cannot even really imagine using on the regular, but to be honest I am happy with just this mixer and some vinyl!

it also has a lot of input options :)

@ mick swell, wonder how your purchase went and if you are happy and satisfied with it

@chrischip, I actually never ended up buying the 68, I picked up 2 sixty twos today though! I love them, they are absolutely amazing.

really, well i hope to see a 2nd gen 68 soon

I actually just sold my 800 with an Innofader this past weekend and picked up a 62. It's definitely taking a little getting used to because after using the 800 for 4 years, everything was second nature. The sound quality on the 62 is definitely warmer, but I think I liked my Innofader better. It was MUCH looser. I wish I could loosen up the Rane fader the same way.
All in all, so far I'm happy with the switch.

If you want a looser fade you can always take off the brass torsion spring.

It's ok to just remove it? It won't void any warrantees?

No.. you can take off the bottom part of the top plate to adjust the faders without voiding any warranty.
The torsion spring is easy to take off if you want.
Just pull the fader out of the chassis, unscrew the two screws on one end of the fader, detach it from the rails, and slide the torsion spring off.

Definitely make sure the mixer is turned off when accessing the faders.
Also.. don't disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the faders to the main board.

I think I'll give it a try. Thanks Zach.