Rane MP2014 2-channel Rotary Mixer

**[O/][iii][O/]** · 01-21-2016, 01:14 PM

http://dj.rane.com/blog/introducing-...l-rotary-mixer

RANE MP2014 TWO-CHANNEL ROTARY MIXER
January 2016

Successful artists demand purity—purity of sound most importantly, but also purity of style, controls, movement and art. Rane’s answer to this demand is the MP2014 two-channel rotary mixer with a pristine signal path that provides everything needed with nothing else added.

It is a new musical instrument for the discerning perfectionist DJ who only needs two channels but requires the utmost in technology, simplicity, reliability and portability. The MP2014 is built for DJs who love the classic rotary mixer experience yet refuse to compromise cutting edge features.

Different DJ styles require different instruments. The MP2014 is uniquely tailored for the artist seeking the fluidity and smooth transitions provided by silky-smooth rotary controls. Like its four-channel big brother this definitive mixing instrument is realized through a combination of powerful and unique features, classic elegance, rugged design and intuitive simplicity.

Rane redefined the rotary DJ mixer by bridging the gap between classic rotary mixers and modern DJ tools. The MP2014 represents the perfect marriage of a high-quality rotary control-surface, with state-of-the-art digital signal processing and dual 16-channel USB sound cards. An essential assortment of analog and digital I/O supports mixing vinyl, CDs and USB streaming audio in any combination.

Featuring exceptional phono preamps, three-way swept-filters and a three-band, steep 24dB/octave main mix Isolator—with adjustable crossover points—the MP2014 provides the same quality, aesthetics and high-resolution audio as the MP2015 in an elegant and portable design.

Rane’s Secret Sauce:
The two-channel MP2014 uses the same platform as Rane’s MP2015, which is the new worldwide standard for four-channel rotary mixers. This means it is a no-compromise music-mixing machine.

With a world standard to work with, creation of the MP2014 was straightforward: remove two input channels and the Submix channel; leave everything else alone and voilà, you have a MP2014—okay, not quite that simple, but in the critical pristine signal path, it is.

Designed for high-end, hi-res audio systems—whether club or studio, personal or downtown. Control, sound, reliability, durability and portability differentiate theMP2014 from all other rotary mixers.

There are no compromises in the design. It has the best sound, the best features, the best feel, and the best reliability, durability and portability, and is supported by the best customer service on the planet.

Hi-Res Sources:  
A world-class leader in performance, the MP2014 is designed for playback of High-Resolution Audio (HRA) 24-bit studio master quality sources. Its sonic signature has no equal, satisfying the most stringent vinyl purists. And the dynamics are perfect for DJs preferring the uncompressed sound of WAV and FLAC files. HRA (High-Resolution Audio) is an initiative by the Digital Entertainment Group (joined by CEA, AES, et al.) to define and mark file or physical media based sources of digital audio that qualify as true high-fidelity products. HRA is the mark describing sources with the best sound possible.

Ergonomics: 
Strikingly different and beautiful to look at with its laser-etched Rane logo wood side panels, classic spun-aluminum knob caps, 16-segment level peak-hold meters and back-lit push switches, the MP2014 sports a new compact size and shape for a rotary mixer, with all controls selected, designed and located for effortless professional performance playback. Its size makes it portable and easy to move about.

Sound Quality:  
Professional high-end sound quality begins and ends with the audio signal converters. The MP2014 uses AKM Premium Audio Device™ delta-sigma modulator converters that meet the highest sound quality standards of recording studios (Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation). The balanced differential audio input converters deliver 116 dB dynamic range,utilizing a built-in modified FIR architecture that minimizes group delay, allowing excellent linear phase response. The 24-bit audio output converters have the same 116 dB dynamic range and sport AKM’s proprietary 24-bit digital filter for better sound quality achieving low distortion characteristics and wide dynamic range. The differential outputs eliminate the need for AC coupling capacitors further increasing performance.Input and output converters support sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz. Overall Digital/USB in to Line-out, or Line-in to Digital/USB out dynamic range is 116 dB (A-weighted), while Line-input to Line-output dynamic range is a remarkable 113 dB (A-weighted) with vanishingly low THD+N of 0.001%.

Durability:
The all steel chassis is fabricated in Seattle, WA, USA, using the same equipment and people who make Boeing airplanes. Rane uses heavy 0.048” (1.22 mm) thick cold-rolled steel, electroplated with an aluminum-zinc alloy that makes the chassis rugged and rust proof. The front panel is the same material but extra thick at 0.075”(1.905mm) to accommodate those moments of DJ exuberance. All metal is finished with a baked-on polyester powder coating. This finish complies with EU directive 2011/65/EU and contains no Pb, Cd, CrVI, PBB, or PBDE. Additionally it complies with EU directive 2005/717/EC and contains no Deca-BDE. If that is not enough it also complies with EU directive 2006/122/EC and contains no PFOS. What does all that mean? Actually we have no idea but we are told that you can safely lick and kiss the metal until your tongue and lips blister.

All the fancy, exotic, expensive parts in the world won’t guarantee performance unless they are assembled onto a proper circuit board. The MP2014 uses FR4 material compliant with IPC 4101/24 specification. This is a heavy glass-resin material 0.062” (1.575 mm) thick and in some cases with 8 layersof gold-plated copper traces connecting components. FR4 is a grade designation assigned to glass-reinforced epoxy laminate printed circuit boards (PCB). "FR" stands for flame retardant, and denotes that safety of flammability of FR4 is in compliance with the standard UL94V-0.

Front panel legends are not silk screened on the surface of the metal but are printed on the reverse side of a Lexan™ polycarbonate overlay. This prevents wear that eventually would make the printing unreadable. The rugged Lexan is 0.012” (0.305 mm) thick to survive a lifetime of abuse,having a matte surface to prevent glare and enhance readability in low or bright lights.

**[O/][iii][O/]** · 01-21-2016, 01:15 PM

Studio-Quality Phono Preamps:
The Phono-CD (or any line-level source)analog input stages feature gold RCA connectors and are true studio-quality preamplifiers providing EMI, RFI and transient overvoltage protection against ESD. The circuitry provides low noise, high gain-bandwidth, low harmonic distortion, fast slew rate and high output current.The phono RIAA filter accuracy measures+0.1/-0.2 dB from perfect.Included are 18 Hz high-pass infrasonic (rumble) filters with steep 18 dB/octave slopes and ultrasonic filters beginning rolloff at 50 kHz at a 12 dB/octave rate. A zero-distortion relay selects between CD and Phono operation.

Pro Audio I/O Stages:
All analog source input stages have gold RCA connectors along with buffered circuitry that provides EMI, RFI and transient overvoltage protection.

All unbalanced analog outputs have gold RCA connectors along with line-driving circuitry with EMI, RFI and ESD protection as well as on/off transient noise muting transistors.

The differential balanced main outputs exit via the highest quality Neutrik® XLR connectors, while the differential balanced booth outputs leave through high-quality Neutrik ¼” TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) connectors. Both outputs have EMI, RFI and ESD as well as on/off transient noise muting transistors.

All line-level analog input and output stages utilize an amplifier design exhibiting very low input voltage noise with high gain-bandwidth-product and high slew rate. The line-driving output stage exhibits no deadband crossover distortion, large output voltage swing, excellent phase- and gain- margins, low open-loop high frequency output impedance and symmetrical source and sink AC frequency performance.*

Filters:
Each of the input channels feature a unique and exclusive three-position toggle selector-switch. Choose between LP (low-pass), HP (high-pass) or L-H (low-pass, high-pass combo). All have steep 24 dB/octave (4th-order) slopes and are sweepable.

In the LP position the Filter knob sweeps the low-pass frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (CCW to CW). The 12:00 middle position is 635 Hz.

In the HP position the Filter knob sweeps the high-pass frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (CCW to CW). The 12:00 middle position is 635 Hz.

In the L-H position the Filter knob sweeps either the LP or HP filter depending upon rotation direction from center. The 12:00 middle position bypasses both filters giving a flat unaffected response. Rotating the knob from fully counterclockwise to center sweeps the LP filter from 20 Hz to 18 kHz.

Rotating the knob from center to fully clockwise sweeps the HP filter from 35 Hz to 20 kHz.

The single Resonance (Q) knob controls the shape of the filters. The range is from flat (Q=0.707) to max peaking (Q=12).*

These filters are high-resolution, fast and artifact-free, with all filter coefficients accurately calculated for the selected sample rate.

Channel Tone Controls:
 The input channels have exceptional three-band tone controls characterized by being 12 dB/octave (2nd-order) Linkwitz-Riley, full-cut filters (kill) with selectable crossover points of 150 Hz/6.0 kHz or 300 Hz/3.0 kHz. The crossover points are selected in the user control panel when connected to a computer via one of the USB ports.

Like the Filters section above, theTone Control filters are extremely accurate, high-resolution, fast, and artifact free, with all filter coefficients accurately calculated for the selected sample rate.

Isolator Section:
The proprietary three-band output Isolator is a steep 24 dB/octave (4th-order)phase-compensated Linkwitz-Riley design with continuously adjustable low-mid and mid-high crossover points. Like the Tone Controls, these filters are extremely accurate, high-resolution, fast, and artifact free, with all filter coefficients accurately calculated for the selected sample rate.

Adjustable crossovers allow the artist to match the Isolator to the music being played. Low-mid crossover is adjustable from 80 Hz to 640 Hz. Mid-high crossover is adjustable from 1 kHz to 8 kHz.

Mic Preamp:
The superior microphone preamplifier is a high-performance current-feedback instrumentation design manufactured by the world leader in pro audio analog circuits, THAT Corporation, having lower noise at low gains, wider bandwidth, higher slew rate, lower distortion, and lower supply current than other designs. Transient overvoltage protection is provided.

Headphone Amps:
 The stereo headphone amplifiers use a unique Maxim Integrated DirectDrive® architecture that eliminates the need for large DC-blocking capacitors. The amplifiers deliver up to 70mW per channel into a 16 Ω load or 130 mW into a 32 Ω load and have low 0.009% THD+N. The design includes ESD protection on the headphone outputs along with short-circuit and thermal-overload protection. Comprehensive anti-click-and-pop circuitry suppresses audible clicks and pops on startup and shutdown. Complementing the headphone amplifiers is the versatile cueing system utilizing Rane’s proprietary Split Cue™ technology.

Headphone*cueing*system utilizing a*pan*control to choose between what is cued and what is playing. In its normal mode the cued program feeds one ear and the master, or program (what is playing) feeds the other ear. This makes*beat matching*easy and convenient since you listen to both turntables (or CDs, or MP3 files, or any combination) at the same time. Rotating the pan control fully CW, or CCW, puts a mono’d signal into one ear with no signal going to the other, and vice-versa. Rotating the pan control to its center position routes equal amounts of cue signal to one ear and program signal to the other ear. Pioneered in 1986 by Rane with the introduction of the MP 24 DJ Mixer.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP):
All digital computations are done by a Texas Instruments 32-bit floating point digital signal processor running at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz or 96 kHz.

The S/PDIF transceivers a Texas Instruments pro audio device with exceptional receiver sample rate converter.

Dual USB Ports:
Dual USB ports provide for simultaneous connection of two computers, enabling back-to-back sets between laptop DJs running different software without compromise or interruption—no easy feat.

The USB ports are 100% class compliant, allowing hook-up to any Mac OS X device without the need for an additional driver.

The included high-performance ASIO driver runs most Windows DAW and DJ software.

MIDI end points are class compliant with both OS X and Windows devices.
Each port supports 6 playback and 10 records channels. This lets most DAW programs simultaneously record two decks, the Session input and the Main mix.

Control Panel App:
A Control Panel app is downloadable from Rane's website for Mac and Windows computers. This provides access to options and settings affecting inputs, outputs, headphones, tone controls, mic, record, MIDI, USB, and buffer size.

Custom Level Pots:
Unable to find suitable level control pots with the required feel, life and reliability, custom pots were designed that exhibit superior durability, long service life, and repeatable accuracy. These conductive plastic rotary potentiometers are fully sealed with an extraordinary long life expectancy of one million cycles with special viscous damping to give the desired feel.*

Worldwide Use:
Properly tested and certified safe and non-interfering the MP2014 enjoys international use.

The internal power supply accommodates line voltages from 100 to 240 VAC and either 60 Hz or 50Hz and is fitted with a detachable universal IEC-320-C13 power cord. This combined with international agency approvals allows the MP2014 worldwide usage.

The MP2014’s robust construction means dropping it on your toe is going to hurt; however it is designed to be safe when used as intended. A federally registered testing laboratory certified that it meets or exceeds all applicable electrical and mechanical safety requirements for its product class and intended use.

Haven't had a chance to fully swap out the MP2015 and flush mount the MP2014 into console yet, but here's basically how it'll look when that finally happens.