Help me decide on a midi capable scratch mixer

[mostapha]

Vestax PMC-05 Pro IV.
It also comes in red.

It's not 100% MIDI, but you don't need 100% midi. You get a few buttons and encoders, a shift button, plus the easiest DVS setup that isn't just a certified mixer, extra IO, several inputs, great faders…and it's Vestax. They can take a serious beating and still sound great.

A couple years ago, my beloved pcv-180 got hit by a really bad power surge (that also took out some circuitry on one of my 1200s, with both pieces on a surge protector) and lost its output transformer. I did a party that night using the effects send as a master output, thanks to awesome connectivity that I never really used.

I don't scratch and I'd seriously consider one if I were in the market for a $1000 mixer. IMHO its only competition is the Empath, and I think it feels better…it just doesn't have full control over the 3rd channel.

I could do everything I do now with just that mixer, Maschine (controlling Maschine, not Traktor), and a sound card.

[DJ Sunshine]

Not sure if I would call it a "scratch" mixer, but have you considered the DDM4000? 4 channels which are individually assignable to midi or analog, with full Traktor integration? Crossfader is adjustable and replaceable, so I'm guessing if the stock one wasn't cutting it, you could put an Innofader in it? I recently got one and while I don't really scratch at all, its price point at 300-400 USD was hard for me to pass up. I'm kinda talking outta my arse here, so someone feel free to correct me if I'm in the wrong about this.

[Lineypirate]

I'd agree with the post above. It's not traditionally a scratch mixer but smash in the Innofader, or even Behringer's own Infinium X1 fader (can be had for less than £40) and it's more than capable.

Plus it's a MIDI monster (can assign two channels to audio and two to MIDI if that's what you desire!) and a lot cheaper than some of the alternatives.

I know people knock Behringer stuff, but mines been going for nearly 3 years and I haven't found anything I want to swap it for yet!

[mostapha]

Liney, have you used a mixer that's traditionally considered better?

I've heard good things about the ddm4k, and I don't really knock it all that much…but it does not feel as good to work on as most other mixers…including many that are cheaper. It does have a lot of cool features if you're into that thing, though.

[Lineypirate]

I used to have a Xone 92 and a DJM 600 previous to the Behringer. Most clubs I've played in have had a Xone too. Personally, I've never got on with them. Yes, the filters are fantastic but I'm not really a fan to be honest.

I know there is other mixers out there that will probably sound a lot better and are built like tanks, but at home, for somebody like me who regularly switches from DVS to "proper" vinyl numerous times in a set, does a bit of scratching and messes with some MIDI effects in Traktor, I can't really fault it.


Although the lightness of the faders takes some getting used to, and some of the smaller buttons definitely have that "Behringer" feel about them. And these facts, along with Behringer's previous history of sub-standard mixers is why this little gem often gets overlooked, especially by the "old school" folk who remember what a DJX700 is.

EDIT: I would rather like a "proper" scratch mixer though, like a Pio 909 or an Ecler

[mostapha]

DJX700 was technically my first mixer. I returned it after a week with 2 dead channels and bought a Vestax.

The ddm4k is a lot better than that.

[Lineypirate]

Ha, I briefly had one too...... I guess we all have to kiss a few frogs before we find our princess!

[funke]

What controls on that vestax unit are not midi mappable? Would I be able to use it by itself without turntables?

If not, is there anything about the t1 that I should consider that make it worth three times as much as the ddm4000? Is that behringer scratch certified or would I still need a seperate sound card?

[photojojo]

You would need an NI sound card to use the DDM4000. Do some serious research on the DDM4000. It's a quirky mixer that's not really what it seems to be.

[funke]

So I watched a video on the vestax unit, and they said that everything from the buttons on down are midi mappable, so that leads me to believe that the eq's are not. So now it seems that the denon dnx1600 and the pioneer djm-t1 are my two best options.

Hopefully, some other mixers become available here soon after namm.