Setup Change - Rookie Question

Hey guys, so currently I am using a Kontrol S4, while I love it, my friend and I split it and both use it. I am now looking to get my own setup so we can play together.

I know I want to use one or two MIDIFighters.

My question is, what mixers can I use with Traktor? Which ones are easily setup and mapped, I would really like something I can just plug in and download a mapping for that functions to the actual labels on the mixer.

What is the best setup? Do I need a soundcard?

Thanks in advance for helping me out. I appreciate any advice or feedback.

The only mixer i know of that was made for traktor was the djm t1 but it comes at a hefty price. but any mixer thats midi mappable will work with any software so being traktor ready isn't a big issue. so my advice look for mixers in your price range that your like and then research mapping for it, if you can't find any then it's no that hard to map it ur self

m-audio xsession pro is what you can use.

all midi, and cheap enough to be replaced when/if it breaks.

i cant think of any other all midi mixers, so you would then need to upgrade to scratch (unless thats what youre using already)

The mixers I've thought about using are the DDM-4000, the DJX900, or the NOX606. I know its all Behringer and they have a bad wrap, but I am just trying to stay low budget so I can see if I like the setup before I commit to Denon or Pioneer.

If I did go this route, what other hardware would I need? What about software?

*Waits for zestoi to come in this thread and talk about the Stanton SCS.3D and/or the DJ-Tech DJM-101*

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Originally Posted by Onimode

*Waits for zestoi to come in this thread and talk about the Stanton SCS.3D and/or the DJ-Tech DJM-101*

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DJ-Tech DJM-101 seems like almost too cheap of an option ahaha

OP, does it need to be all midi? or are you using traktor scratch?

Right now, I just have regular Traktor. I am willing to get scratch if I need to. I love Ean's set up of the mixer and MIDIFighter.

DDM4000 is a good choice for a cheap midi mixer.
If you want something with built in sound card you can go for something like Denon X600. if you use PC then DVS also works!

The X600 might be a little out of my price range, I do use a PC, sadly I have no idea what DVS is

DVS just means timecode.

The X600 was never traktor scratch certified, but the X1600 is. The two products are so related they actually use the same windows audio driver. The driver is how TSP detects that you are using a legit product for TSP.

Therefore on PC's you can use X600 as a DVS mixer.

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Originally Posted by Kaek

DVS just means timecode.

The X600 was never traktor scratch certified, but the X1600 is. The two products are so related they actually use the same windows audio driver. The driver is how TSP detects that you are using a legit product for TSP.

Therefore on PC's you can use X600 as a DVS mixer.

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i've been having lots of fun with this feature on my x600. FYI, ebay is your friend, got mine for $575

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Originally Posted by Garygary1

i've been having lots of fun with this feature on my x600. FYI, ebay is your friend, got mine for $575

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Is there a map that directly corresponds with the x600 or did you map it yourself?

The DDM4000 is a fine beginning 4-channel mixer and a great deal for the price. You need to get a soundcard if you use the DDM though as it doesn't have one. If you're not using timecode (and it sounds like you're not), you don't need to get Traktor Scratch -- Traktor Pro should give you everything you need. You can use any soundcard with it (or any mixer with built-in soundcard) as long as you're not using timecode. If you want timecode, you need a Traktor Scratch certified mixer or an Audio 6/8/10 soundcard. If you want to mix only internally, you should get a soundcard and something like the $40 M-Audio mixer that someone mentioned above or something like the DJ-Tech Mixer One. But if you're planning on mixing internally, why switch from the S4 or similar controller?

BTW if you do decide you want a great Traktor Scratch certified mixer with lots of bells and whistles at an amazing price, look through the buy and sell page for the Denon DN-X1700, which I still have been too lazy to put on ebay ;)

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Originally Posted by djproben

The DDM4000 is a fine beginning 4-channel mixer and a great deal for the price. You need to get a soundcard if you use the DDM though as it doesn't have one. If you're not using timecode (and it sounds like you're not), you don't need to get Traktor Scratch -- Traktor Pro should give you everything you need. You can use any soundcard with it (or any mixer with built-in soundcard) as long as you're not using timecode. If you want timecode, you need a Traktor Scratch certified mixer or an Audio 6/8/10 soundcard. If you want to mix only internally, you should get a soundcard and something like the $40 M-Audio mixer that someone mentioned above or something like the DJ-Tech Mixer One. But if you're planning on mixing internally, why switch from the S4 or similar controller?

BTW if you do decide you want a great Traktor Scratch certified mixer with lots of bells and whistles at an amazing price, look through the buy and sell page for the Denon DN-X1700, which I still have been too lazy to put on ebay ;)

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Damn, that DN-X1700 is pretty nice, but def out of my price range.

I was just going to be nice and let my buddy use the S4, he seems to really like it and I am indifferent on it. I thought a 2 MIDIFighter and mixer system would be pretty damn fun, maybe even just 1 MIDIFighter. I like the setup Ean had a while back, when he did that 10 min set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8eB8...layer_embedded

Love that. If I could get that setup I'd be a very happy person, I don't even know what mixer that is.

It's the RANE TTM-57, made for Serato but can be used as a regular 2-channel mixer like its baby cousin the TTM-56. Unless you're going to use Serato I'd pick the 56 over the 57 since you can't use the extra buttons as MIDI. The 56 is a lot cheaper too; you can get them around $500 used. It's a straight up no-nonsense 2-channel scratch mixer; the faders are absolutely unbeatable for scratching and the sound quality is fantastic. But it has no MIDI and it doesn't have a sound card so you'd need to add a soundcard to use Traktor with it. It's a great mixer but probably not what you're looking for unless you plan to start scratching....

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Originally Posted by djproben

It's the RANE TTM-57, made for Serato but can be used as a regular 2-channel mixer like its baby cousin the TTM-56. Unless you're going to use Serato I'd pick the 56 over the 57 since you can't use the extra buttons as MIDI. The 56 is a lot cheaper too; you can get them around $500 used. It's a straight up no-nonsense 2-channel scratch mixer; the faders are absolutely unbeatable for scratching and the sound quality is fantastic. But it has no MIDI and it doesn't have a sound card so you'd need to add a soundcard to use Traktor with it. It's a great mixer but probably not what you're looking for unless you plan to start scratching....

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Yeah, I definitely do not plan on scratching, at all. So if you had to pick a mixer for what I am looking for what would it be? I definitely want to use Traktor, if that is any help.

So if I got a DDM4000, I would need an external soundcard, but it will work with Traktor?

Also, if I just had 2 MIDIFighters, the only other thing would be the soundcard and mixer right?

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Originally Posted by WilmDJ

Yeah, I definitely do not plan on scratching, at all. So if you had to pick a mixer for what I am looking for what would it be? I definitely want to use Traktor, if that is any help.

So if I got a DDM4000, I would need an external soundcard, but it will work with Traktor?

Also, if I just had 2 MIDIFighters, the only other thing would be the soundcard and mixer right?

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The DDM would work well for you I think - it's a lot of mixer for a great price. Personally I didn't like it much because there are dozens of knobs and buttons poorly laid out for what they are supposed to do, everything feels cheap and plasticky, and the effects are practically worthless. But if you use it just as a basic 4-channel mixer with MIDI capabilities (you'll need a USB-to-MIDI cable to get the most out of it), it's a great deal. And yeah with the midifighters all you need is a soundcard and mixer.

In fact you could do with just a soundcard if you wanted - grab a MF Pro and a soundcard so you have some faders on your midifighter. That would be a really minimal setup though. An alternative would be a pure MIDI mixer like the M-Audio mentioned above - it's really cheap and basic, but it will do the trick. Traktor lets you mix either internally or externally so you can do everything you want with a fake mixer if you want.

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Originally Posted by djproben

The DDM would work well for you I think - it's a lot of mixer for a great price. Personally I didn't like it much because there are dozens of knobs and buttons poorly laid out for what they are supposed to do, everything feels cheap and plasticky, and the effects are practically worthless. But if you use it just as a basic 4-channel mixer with MIDI capabilities (you'll need a USB-to-MIDI cable to get the most out of it), it's a great deal. And yeah with the midifighters all you need is a soundcard and mixer.

In fact you could do with just a soundcard if you wanted - grab a MF Pro and a soundcard so you have some faders on your midifighter. That would be a really minimal setup though. An alternative would be a pure MIDI mixer like the M-Audio mentioned above - it's really cheap and basic, but it will do the trick. Traktor lets you mix either internally or externally so you can do everything you want with a fake mixer if you want.

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When you say Traktor lets you mix internally or externally, I am assuming external means with an attached mixer and internal means just point and clicking the software? (Sorry if this is a stupid question)

I mean, what else could I realistically use? I would need to have some form of a mixer, if nothing else for highs, mids, and lows and the crossfader. I guess I was just hoping that there was a mixer that would work flawlessly with Traktor for a decent price.

Also, what mixer is Ean using in this vid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Np3L...layer_embedded

That's the same RANE TTM-57 he's got in the other video. It's an insanely nice mixer, but it will set you back $1400.... for that price buy my Denon ;)

Internal vs. External - the difference is whether the actual mixing is done in software or hardware. If you're mixing internally you could use the mouse like you describe but you can also get an external midi mixer -- like the M-Audio mentioned several times above. The midi mixer doesn't handle any audio at all; it just sends signals to the software to adjust the volumes or EQs or whatever as you fiddle with the knobs on the mixer. So the mixer isn't actually doing the mixing, the software is. (This is how it was with your S4, although it's less obvious since the sound card is built in). That M-Audio is only $40 at some stores (see http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ontroller.html) but you will need to add a sound card to connect to your speakers and headphones.

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Originally Posted by djproben

That's the same RANE TTM-57 he's got in the other video. It's an insanely nice mixer, but it will set you back $1400.... for that price buy my Denon ;)

Internal vs. External - the difference is whether the actual mixing is done in software or hardware. If you're mixing internally you could use the mouse like you describe but you can also get an external midi mixer -- like the M-Audio mentioned several times above. The midi mixer doesn't handle any audio at all; it just sends signals to the software to adjust the volumes or EQs or whatever as you fiddle with the knobs on the mixer. So the mixer isn't actually doing the mixing, the software is. (This is how it was with your S4, although it's less obvious since the sound card is built in). That M-Audio is only $40 at some stores (see http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ontroller.html) but you will need to add a sound card to connect to your speakers and headphones.

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A guys here in Boston is selling a DDM4000 for $200, might just do that so I can get used to it then just buy an Audio 2 DJ, or should I get an Audio 4?

If you're using planning to later upgrade to timecode get the audio4, otherwise just the audio2.

Just want to make sure you understand since there are some confusing posts in this thread. You DO NOT require traktor scratch in order to use an external mixer.

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

If you're using planning to later upgrade to timecode get the audio4, otherwise just the audio2.

Just want to make sure you understand since there are some confusing posts in this thread. You DO NOT require traktor scratch in order to use an external mixer.

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Thank you, I want to use Traktor Pro 2, and all I want is a mixer to be able to crossfade and use the EQs, I have the MIDIFighters that pretty much will do any effects I want.

Is this too bare of a set up?

Not at all. Sounds a lot of fun and it would certainly give you more control than my turntables and mixer setup!

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

Not at all. Sounds a lot of fun and it would certainly give you more control than my turntables and mixer setup!

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So personally what mixer would you use for this?

Something study with 2 channels and no extra flair. No need for effects when you have traktor and you're only using 2 channels so what's the point in a 4 channel mixer?

An A&H Xone:22 would be a good choice, as would an Ecler Nuo 2.0 (woo I have this) or a Rane TTM-56.

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

Something study with 2 channels and no extra flair. No need for effects when you have traktor and you're only using 2 channels so what's the point in a 4 channel mixer?

An A&H Xone:22 would be a good choice, as would an Ecler Nuo 2.0 (woo I have this) or a Rane TTM-56.

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And to use these with Traktor Pro, all I need is an Audio 2 DJ?

Or any other audio interface. One stereo output per channel is all you need. The Audio 2 is an excellent choice.

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

Or any other audio interface. One stereo output per channel is all you need. The Audio 2 is an excellent choice.

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Thanks for the straight answer, I am looking up all those mixers now. I am trying not to spend an arm and a leg, just incase I don't like the set up as much as I think I am going to.

No problem, glad I could help.

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

No problem, glad I could help.

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The A&H Xone:22 looks exactly like what I want and seems to be a good price. I'm assuming this is a quality mixer as well, I'm pretty excited.

Yeah, it really is nice. I wish my Ecler had a nice filter on it like the Xone!

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

Yeah, it really is nice. I wish my Ecler had a nice filter on it like the Xone!

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Is it better to buy mixers like this used or should I get a new one? I know they have a good rep for lasting a while I just don't want to get screwed

I'd probably get a new one but I'd imagine you could get a perfectly good one second hand for cheap.

I got a second hand mixer and it was working perfectly apart from some mild cosmetic damage.

One more question, with this set up could I cue in my headphones?

if you route both channels of the Audio2 into an external mixer you can cue directly from the mixer, otherwise you can cue directly from the Audio2. Either way, yes you'll be able to cue