MC6000, S4, S2, or Xone DX

Hi guys,

I am new on here but have read quite a lot - great forum and YT channel.

I used to DJ years ago on a set of old Technics decks spending most of my cash on vinyl, however 11 years on I have been bitten by the bug again but with digital mixing.

I am in the market for a new or second hand controller.

I have been told to save my pennies and buy a Mixtrack Pro, however I am not into poor build quality. In the same breath I dont want to spend a fortune!

I have narrowed down my search to the following:

Denon MC6000 = 4 decks, no dependancy on my MBP, great build quality.
Traktor S4 = 4 decks, Traktor, very popular.
Traktor S2 = 2 decks, compact.
Xone DX = 4 decks, great looking piece of kit however on ITCH [can be mapped to Traktor].

Has anyone been in the same position as me - what did you choose and why?

Also Midi Fighter or Midi Fighter Pro?

Appreciated :)

something wrong with the NS6 and the DDJ systems

First of all and to clarify, the MC6000 doesn't have _no_ dependency on your MBP. It will work with CDJs/TTs without your MBP, but if all you have hooked up to it is your MBP and your MBP bites the dust, you're still screwed.

I haven't heard great things about the Xone DX, but with the price dropped to $500 recently, it might be worth it. I haven't tried one or seen one in person so I can't really comment.

As for the S2 vs. S4: The S2 is quite decent from the looks of it. I have an S4 and I'm sure the build quality is the same which is to say that it's pretty top notch as far as midi controllers are concerned. The jogs are a lot better than the MC6000. The main drawbacks for the S2 vs. the S4 to me are the lack of filter knobs and less control over sample decks/4 decks. Still seems like pretty solid kit though, and with a smaller form factor it could be worthwhile. I will say though that I bought the S4 before the S2 came out and I don't regret my decision one bit.

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Originally Posted by keeb

First of all and to clarify, the MC6000 doesn't have _no_ dependency on your MBP. It will work with CDJs/TTs without your MBP, but if all you have hooked up to it is your MBP and your MBP bites the dust, you're still screwed.

I haven't heard great things about the Xone DX, but with the price dropped to $500 recently, it might be worth it. I haven't tried one or seen one in person so I can't really comment.

As for the S2 vs. S4: The S2 is quite decent from the looks of it. I have an S4 and I'm sure the build quality is the same which is to say that it's pretty top notch as far as midi controllers are concerned. The jogs are a lot better than the MC6000. The main drawbacks for the S2 vs. the S4 to me are the lack of filter knobs and less control over sample decks/4 decks. Still seems like pretty solid kit though, and with a smaller form factor it could be worthwhile. I will say though that I bought the S4 before the S2 came out and I don't regret my decision one bit.

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Thanks for clearing that up.

I think the Xone has reduced in price due to the new range being announced next month. I have read that they have suffered with problems post sale.

I like the 'compactness' of the S2 however I am concerned that I will regret it due to the lack of features that the Denon and S4 offer.

NS6 looks good.

Hey man I bought a DX and it was the best decision I made. I absolutely love the controller. Choosing your controller is all about your needs and how you're going to play out. Need to ask yourself how important full size jogs are, do u want to scratch, which software do you prefer, do you 2 or 4 decks, how important is portability to you, etc.

I was in the same situation as you and I carefully laid out what I thought was important to me. In terms of software, I started on Traktor and now switched to Itch 2.0 and I'll can tell you that I'm in love with Itch. Then again, I wouldn't say that I was advanced with Traktor, but I was still well into Traktor as I had put out some podcasts using it. My only gripe with Itch has been that it takes just a tad longer setting my cues. The snap/quanitize function (which apparently is in built into Itch) is not a strong as that in Traktor (which actually has on/off buttons for snap/quantize). I've felt that beat gridding in Itch 2.0 >> beat grids in Traktor.

In case you're wondering, the quality is superb. Built like a tank and I absolutely love the knobs. It also just feels amazing to own a high end piece of hardware from Allen & Heath.

The other controllers on the list are great too. Choose one and just go with it! Let me know if you have any q's about the DX :-)

Thanks for your post. Have you ever tried mapping it to Traktor?

I personally have an MC-6000 and I love it to bits. Seriously, I haven't found a SINGLE flaw with the unit, or the compatibility it has with traktor. The jogs feel great, the knobs and faders are all really high quality, and it's a full steel chassis unlike the S4(which is all plastic). The buttons are also really easy to press(a loose rubber that reacts to your press no matter which side you press on). It's easy to locate everything in a dark location, too - the LED's are really bright). I also have a midi fighter on the way to my house to control hot cues and effects much quicker. I chose the classic just cause I feel I would be too obnoxious with the beatmasher if I had the pro version (also less money and smaller size).

If you're interested in an MC-6000 I actually have one for sale. It's brand new in the box because I won it in a contest a week after I bought the unit(irony, yayyyy!). It retails new for 750-800 dollars but I'm willing to sell for 600 just because I'm not an established dealer, haha. The package hasn't even been opened though so it really is -brand new- Send me a PM if you're interested :)

Wow, you won one? How did you do that? :D

Hey Chrismac, no problem. No sorry, haven't personally mapped it to Traktor yet. No time.

This guy has though: http://www.mixarchitekt.com/

It was a contest at my school, actually. An essay contest about what you would do with the controller given the chance of using it. Kinda funny that i entered the contest, sorta forgot that i entered, bought the controller, won a 2nd one. Don't really feel like sitting around with a 2nd mc6k when i could get 600 for it and buy myself a pair of PA speakers so that my mobile DJ rig is one step closer to being complete :)

What the hell man... My school you got a chocolate bar or something...

Let me rephrase - at my college.

What the hell man... My university you woulda got some beer or something...

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Originally Posted by KryticalH!T

I personally have an MC-6000 and I love it to bits. Seriously, I haven't found a SINGLE flaw with the unit, or the compatibility it has with traktor. The jogs feel great, the knobs and faders are all really high quality, and it's a full steel chassis unlike the S4(which is all plastic). The buttons are also really easy to press(a loose rubber that reacts to your press no matter which side you press on). It's easy to locate everything in a dark location, too - the LED's are really bright). I also have a midi fighter on the way to my house to control hot cues and effects much quicker. I chose the classic just cause I feel I would be too obnoxious with the beatmasher if I had the pro version (also less money and smaller size).

If you're interested in an MC-6000 I actually have one for sale. It's brand new in the box because I won it in a contest a week after I bought the unit(irony, yayyyy!). It retails new for 750-800 dollars but I'm willing to sell for 600 just because I'm not an established dealer, haha. The package hasn't even been opened though so it really is -brand new- Send me a PM if you're interested :)

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If I were in the market for one, I'd jump on that.
If you haven't registered it with Denon, then whoever you sell it to could and would be eligible for firmware updates as well as the full warranty. :cool:

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Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

What the hell man... My university you woulda got some beer or something...

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This! And I've been working at universities the past 20 yrs and have never seen anything like that essay contest. Where do you go to school? heh...

I've played around with all these controllers in the store except the S2 and I have to say if I was deciding between them I'd pick the MC6G. The S4 and the XoneDX are great pieces of kit too but they are totally tied to the software; none of them can be used without a computer. For me that's important but it's not important for everyone. The Xone is nice but it's a bit flimsy compared to most Allen and Heath products - I was actually surprised it felt kind of cheap compared to what I was expecting. (It's all relative of course -- this felt cheap compared to other Xone products; but compared to Behringer or whatever it definitely does not feel cheap!)

The S4 actually had a better feel to it, and at least you can use timecode with it; but on the flip side I am certain the A+H soundcard is much better. I really didn't get a chance to test sound quality in any realistic sense as these units were all in a noisy guitar center, and I didn't use them side by side, but all three were certainly good enough for DJ work as far as I'm concerned.

Big plus on the Denon is the independently assignable booth out; great for situations where you have to manage sound in a couple different rooms -- you can actually play a mix CD in one room while you're mixing live in the other, and control the volumes separately. Meanwhile the S4 has no booth out at all. And the DX has several output options including digital.

I don't think you'll be disappointed by any of these though.... It's all a matter of assessing your needs and picking a unit that meets them best.

Hi guys, thanks for the detailed and very useful responses.

I have been reading a lot [of what is out there!] and I am pushed towards either the S2 or the Denon.

The only thing that is putting me off about the S2 is the lack of fader knobs. Everything else ticks the boxes. Especially if I was going to combo it with a Midi Fighter in the near future.

KryticalH!T - interesting offer, shame I dont live in the States.

I have no idea why they didn't include filter knobs. Really a shame :(

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The Xone is nice but it's a bit flimsy compared to most Allen and Heath products - I was actually surprised it felt kind of cheap compared to what I was expecting. (It's all relative of course -- this felt cheap compared to other Xone products; but compared to Behringer or whatever it definitely does not feel cheap!)

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I don't agree on that, the DX compared to all other controller is the one which actually felt the less cheap and can compare in term of built quality to the other xone product (apart from the high end mixers). It's the sturdiest between the controllers mentioned here. It was actually designed with the most traditional way (ie like common pro gear - apart from some buttons: play and cue). And compared to the S4 it beats it easily on quality (the s4 for many users has controls that stopped working or malfunctioned, mainly buttons, after less than a year and without that much intensive use.
I do/did own both so it's not an out of the blue comparison.
Don't misunderstand me, I like the S4 as it's packed with a lot of features and it's probably the most advanced of all, but I'm quite disappointed if I take into account its built quality.

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I have no idea why they didn't include filter knobs. Really a shame

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Exactly the same as the Twitch doesn't have a electrical plug. To keep costs in check and being able to offer a product still competitive within a defined price range. You get what you pay for in a sense.

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Originally Posted by Yul

I don't agree on that, the DX compared to all other controller is the one which actually felt the less cheap and can compare in term of built quality to the other xone product (apart from the high end mixers). It's the sturdiest between the controllers mentioned here. It was actually designed with the most traditional way (ie like common pro gear - apart from some buttons: play and cue). And compared to the S4 it beats it easily on quality (the s4 for many users has controls that stopped working or malfunctioned, mainly buttons, after less than a year and without that much intensive use.

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Well when I said the A+H felt flimsy I meant in comparison to their mixers, not in comparison to the S4. But I did play with the two side by side and I was expecting to like the A+H better and actually came away liking the build quality on the S4 better. But you have more experience with both than I do, so take my opinion with a grain of salt ;) I think it was probably the jog wheels on the DX that disappointed me most, so that might have colored my opinion of the whole unit. (And maybe it's not fair - the jog wheels are no different than the similarly crappy jog wheels on the 4D).

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Originally Posted by chrismac

Hi guys, thanks for the detailed and very useful responses.

I have been reading a lot [of what is out there!] and I am pushed towards either the S2 or the Denon.

The only thing that is putting me off about the S2 is the lack of fader knobs. Everything else ticks the boxes. Especially if I was going to combo it with a Midi Fighter in the near future.

KryticalH!T - interesting offer, shame I dont live in the States.

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I was in the same boat as you several months back. I was looking at the Denon, S4 and NS6. I ended up going with the MC6k. With the firmware update they did back in July it can do everything the S4 can do and can also be used as a stand alone mixer (although for me that wasnt the deciding factor).

I went to the local guitar center and sam ash and checked both out, I played around with both and overall I liked the MC6k. Some people say the buttons are cramped but I have no issues and I've never accidently bumped anything that i didnt mean too.

No matter what you choose you cant go wrong i think. it just comes down to what you like better.

I completely second what Yul said. I own the DX and am just blown away by the build quality. Yes, the jogs are small and not touch sensitive. I find them to be perfect for beat matching as I don't need to scratch. Jog wheel size/features needs to be a part of your research and an important question to ask yourself when buying these controllers as they all have very different jogs.

In the end, you can't go wrong with any of these controllers! It's all about the music! :-)

I've tried and like both the mc6000 and xonedx. I was saving up and trying to decide which one to buy. The recent price drop on the dx made up my mind :D

I also love the portability/the prospect of owning a piece of A&H equipment. Can't wait to have a go at itch too

Problem with Itch and dedicated controllers is they are quite soon behind any future Itch upgrade, and are lost after trying to add the new features from the software. The Dx was the first serious -in my eyes - 4 channels controller, but as it is, it has been soon outclassed (features wise, feedback wise, type of controls wise; and if would have to choose a controller with Itch in mind I would probably go with the Twitch). It's still a nice piece of kit anyway, I like its (overall) built quality, the soudcard, its size and weight, it felt more like pro gear in a sense . I would have liked an s4 but with the built quality of the Dx, even if that would have been an obvious price increase on the s4.
Well may be one will come with that one day.

You know, I'm honestly kind of unhappy about the DX change in price. I've since gone with a traditional turntable setup, but I also really like A&H products, and was eying the DX but couldn't previously justify the price.

Personally, as it's now just $499 certain places, it's a good deal. But also to consider, is how you actually want to mix. The vast array of controllers out there now really lets you tailor the user experience to where you want it to be. For the most part, everyone isn't learning ONE piece of equipment anymore, you can choose from a variety. It's both good and bad.

Remember, always choose based on software compatibility first, and then choose your controller after. It's one of the reasons why I chose not to get a controller, because I can't make up my damned mind lol. I know some people are firmly in different camps on software, and hence controllers, but it's something to keep in mind.

I'd say go for the S4 if you want Traktor with jogwheels, twitch if you don't need jogwheels, and the DX if you're open to different software, but want to try itch.

I also wouldn't rule out the VCI-300. I've had a chance to mess about with one, and for basic mixing with Itch, it's really a nice unit.

Again - thanks for the replies.

I really want to use Traktor Pro 2, so that is a top priority.

Funnily enough I have been offered a VCI 100 Arcade! Shame it didn't have a sound card built in.

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Originally Posted by chrismac

Again - thanks for the replies.

I really want to use Traktor Pro 2, so that is a top priority.

Funnily enough I have been offered a VCI 100 Arcade! Shame it didn't have a sound card built in.

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If you are strictly wanting TP2 then its between the S4 and MC6k IMO. The MC6k gives you more options and doesnt limit you as much as the S4 does. At this point if I were you I'd go check them both out in person.

I checked them out, but still couldn't make my mind up!!!!

However I just ordered the Denon MC-6000. Mainly for its feature rich, well made unit, that can function as a standalone mixer if I decided to go down that route. It seems pretty future proof and most importantly works with Traktor Pro 2.

I have some questions about Tractor Pro and the MC-6000 - so will post it in a separate thread.

Guys.. a big thank you for helping me reach my decision.

I think you will be more than happy with the MC6k

Agreed! Can't go wrong with kits made of steel :)

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Originally Posted by sastilez

I think you will be more than happy with the MC6k

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Originally Posted by chrismac

Thanks for clearing that up.

I think the Xone has reduced in price due to the new range being announced next month.

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What new range being announced? Any details on this?