Is a crossfader really necessary?

[SirReal]

Well, ultimately you'll find and establish your own workflow within the confines of what you can afford. As long as you're having fun and are able to challenge yourself to keep it interesting then nothing else really matters (ie the sync vs beatmatch debate) Seems like you're approaching it the right way though.

[keeb]

It's easier to make quick cuts with a crossfader than slamming a line fader all day. It also allows you to bring in a track at instantly full volume instead of having a slight ramp up as you slam the fader (not that it makes a huge difference). Primarily though, it's useful for scratching and even though I don't scratch a ton, I wouldn't want a crossfader-free mixer.

[DirtyNerd]

Well, ultimately you'll find and establish your own workflow within the confines of what you can afford. As long as you're having fun and are able to challenge yourself to keep it interesting then nothing else really matters (ie the sync vs beatmatch debate) Seems like you're approaching it the right way though.

Thanks. I have been having a blast getting back into music. I am a bit of a computer nerd, so I have embraced making my own MIDI mappings for Traktor. Having USB-based MIDI controllers has been a revelation to me that I have fully embraced...(I know I've been out of touch for a while...last I knew MIDI was the domain of electric keyboards in the 80s).

[DirtyNerd]

It's easier to make quick cuts with a crossfader than slamming a line fader all day. It also allows you to bring in a track at instantly full volume instead of having a slight ramp up as you slam the fader (not that it makes a huge difference). Primarily though, it's useful for scratching and even though I don't scratch a ton, I wouldn't want a crossfader-free mixer.

I hear you...that is what I mainly use it for (though not too often). So, given that just about every imaginable DJ mixer has a crossfader, my real question then becomes down more to whether I can get away with doing everything I want just with controllers mixing internally) and just 2 steroe outs (Main & Headphones) or do I need/want/benefit from an external mixer.

[synthet1c]

I mix with the line faders and scratch with the crossfader, it is set at 0.78% cut in that is one CC tick... My personal opinion is if you are mixing with your ears open you can't help but notice the lack of control over the level that the crossfader gives.

[fitzyp]

Map the crossfader to something else. You might wanna mess around with cuts in the future. If your investing in gear you plan to use for a long time. Better then buying something expensive without one and regretting it later.

[keeb]

Well, you lose a minor amount of sound quality mixing internally (I'm talking audiophile-type niggles here), but you'll be fine doing so. I mixed internally for two years without issue and there are big acts out there (Zedd, Porter Robinson, etc.) who use internal mixing with the S4. Just make sure you have a decent soundcard - I'd imagine the K2 should cut it but it's hard to tell with it not being released yet.

[Deejaesnafu]

i only use a x fader for scratching.. i dont even have my x fader mapped on my apc atm. for mixing why bother with anything but the volume imo? its just another thing to keep track of in the mix.

[djproben]

Besides scratching I like using the crossfader to cut patterns in and out of a mix (though be careful not to overdo this). It's a bit different way to mix two songs together - cut back and forth from one to the other on the & or the 1,2,3,4 for a couple measures before coming into the next track. Of course it only works for certain track combinations. I also like doing this without cutting all the way across on other mixes, have the new track's channel fader at half mast and cut in and out on the beat as you bring the new track's channel fader up and the previous one down. Again, don't overdo this or try it on tracks you haven't practiced with because it won't always sound that great; it really depends on the sounds being cut in and out.

[Deejaesnafu]

^ i like to freeze them back in forth.. also fun sometimes