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 DJing Discussion
Out with the old, in with the new...suggestions?
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Out with the old, in with the new...suggestions?

Thundercat 9:50 PM - 26 September, 2004
After a decade and a half of work put in by my current personal mixer, it is time to retire the thing. I have less than a handful of possible replacements in mind (all under $2000) and I would like to get some opinions from other DJ’s. Below is a list of things I feel are important in my selection.

1. Durability / craftsmanship. I expect any mixer I purchase to last me another decade. I do not want my faders giving off any noise EVER, much like my old Numark does. Nor do I want the knobs flying off when I am backspinning.
2. Sound quality. I want accurate reproduction of whatever signal I throw at the mixer.
3. Turntablist friendly. This is important. I want the ability to adjust for short throw scratching and nice gradual fades, both on the crossfader.
4. 19” rack mountable. Just about everything I own, with the exception of my TT’s, mounts in a rack. I rarely do mobile work any more, but when I actually do lug around the whole setup I still want it to look “clean”.
5. It must have at least 4 independent channels and the ability to assign any input to the crossfader. It must be able to accommodate Two TT’s, SSL and CD mixer.
6. Having a booth level control on the mixer would be nice, but not necessary.

My mind is pretty much made up, but I am still wide open to any input. Any suggestions based on the above criteria?
bartaug 9:54 PM - 26 September, 2004
DJM600? High sound quality desk with enough channels and send/return. Might be not very 'club proof'.
SpinThis! 9:55 PM - 26 September, 2004
how about an xone 92...
DJ 3pm 10:07 PM - 26 September, 2004
Which Numark were you using before? I had good luck with my first Numark mixer (DM2000X) a couple of years ago, but am dissapointed with my current Numark (PPD01). I'm about to install a 2nd replacement crossfader (1 original + 2 replacements) and I've only had the damn thing 6 months. Of course, I also didn't drop $2k on it.
rubidj 10:22 PM - 26 September, 2004
Have you seen Gemini UMX-SE?
Or... Rane MP-22z
Thundercat 12:05 AM - 27 September, 2004
The mixers I have on my short list (prior to this thread) are the Rane MP44, Vestax PMC-500 and the A&H Xone 92. Having only used the Rane, I am leaning that way because of familiarity. Can the crossfaders on the other two units be set up with similar contours for the ‘tablist in me? Is there anything I should know about any of these units that should make me automatically take them off the list?
J-BRAVO 12:12 AM - 27 September, 2004
i think the vestax is the worst in terms of audio and component quality.
DJ Dynamight 12:58 AM - 27 September, 2004
I've loved the MP44 since it was released...I've never mixed on one though.

I was gonna suggest the Numark PPD9000, I'm gonna order it one of these days...
feniks 2:10 AM - 27 September, 2004
Quote:
how about an xone 92...


great mixer....prob one of the best i've used....although sorta pricey.
Thundercat 4:53 AM - 27 September, 2004
My price cap is $2000 USD so the Xone 92 is definitely an option. Looks like it's coming down to the Xone 92 vs the MP44. All I have to do now is get out and find a place to play with one for a bit.
Alexander 5:52 AM - 27 September, 2004
both are sweet mixers this is a close one! I would have a tough time selecting between the MP44 and the Xone92 also...the stability and quality is there for both mixers.....but I think i would go with the Xone92 because of the extra features it has!
SpinThis! 6:49 AM - 27 September, 2004
if you want to do turntablism, imho the mp44 is geared more towards the mix DJ. since it doesn't use rane's magnetic faders, i'm not sure how long the x-fader is going to last. i think the rane would give you better sound and build quality; the xone more features. the xone kinda reminds me of a djm-600 but in a good way--much better sound and build quality.
DJ 3pm 2:50 PM - 27 September, 2004
thundercat- did your old mixer finally crap out or what? you keeping it or ebaying it?
chubbsta 10:49 PM - 27 September, 2004
Quote:
i think the vestax is the worst in terms of audio and component quality.

Don't forget about the shitty sound quality...
Thundercat 10:53 PM - 27 September, 2004
I'll be keeping my old mixer around. I have a few friends that still like to borrow my equipment from time to time for family functions. They get to use my old stuff. :)
SpinThis! 1:33 AM - 28 September, 2004
Quote:
have a few friends that still like to borrow my equipment from time to time

not to metion at least having a backup mixer.

Quote:
Don't forget about the shitty sound quality...

hard to say. i think i'd put vestax's higher-end stuff over numark, gemini, stanton and pioneer.

from where i see it, i'd go with the xone 92. best features and build quality for the $$ imho. the mp44 and pmc500 are def geared more towards mix DJs.
J-BRAVO 8:22 PM - 28 September, 2004
audio=sound ??!!
Lord Kaseem 8:36 PM - 28 September, 2004
Cant' resist..THUNDERCATS....HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Thundercat 9:00 PM - 28 September, 2004
Everybody gets one freebie at that Kas. No prob...Let's never speak of it again. ;-)
Serato
Josh 11:33 PM - 28 September, 2004
I met Battlecat at NAMM this year... he tore up some back to backs with SSL!

no relation I assume ^_^
Rane, Support
Shaun W 11:51 PM - 28 September, 2004
Do the Snarf scratch ;)
Lord Kaseem 1:56 AM - 29 September, 2004
Yo, People don't know but Battle cat was a dj before he became a producer. He was pretty good at it too, I got him on a early dmc tape.
Lord Kaseem 1:58 AM - 29 September, 2004
Josh, I just read the post again, I assume he still a good dj.
Thundercat 2:09 AM - 29 September, 2004
If I actually went by Thundercat when I DJ, I might actually try to pull something odd out of my bag-o-trix to call a Snarf scratch. I came up with Thundercat about 8 yrs ago strictly as an online avatar. Although I have toyed with the idea of crossing it over to my IRL persona. Not that I'm some big name or anything, just enough of a buzz that when I do spin somplace local I can count on a particular following. I wouldn't want to confusicate them. :)

FWIW DJ DazZ is what I go by (since 1987).