Gauging Interest in 4 Channel MIDI Mixer

[mdcdesign]

lets see a mockup.

This is a REALLY rough mockup, but you should be able to get a basic idea

[ProfessorStrangeman]

Attachment 19354

This is a REALLY rough mockup, but you should be able to get a basic idea

Sold. Where do I pre-order/kickstart?

[mdcdesign]

Sold. Where do I pre-order/kickstart?

Haha :P Just keep this thread going and get those numbers on the poll up and this thing could make its debut at Musikmesse 2014 if we're lucky

[makar1]

If it's a 4-in 4-out card doesn't that mean it's just a typical external mixer? So basically you think Reloop should have included an audio interface in the RMX 80?

[031999]

oh please man...... please put a send and return on there!!!!!

[mdcdesign]

If it's a 4-in 4-out card doesn't that mean it's just a typical external mixer? So basically you think Reloop should have included an audio interface in the RMX 80?

No it wouldn't be an external mixer at all; all of the controls are completely MIDI, with the exception of the CUE EQ knobs, which may not even be on the final unit as I'd like to avoid analog controls entirely. Basically, it'd be an ESI Maya44 and a pair of Z1s in a single unit. What you do with the sound card is up to you; you could either route a microphone through one of the inputs and maybe a CDJ into Traktor through Live Input, or you could use a TT timecode setup with Mixxx.

From a technical standpoint, the closest equivalent would be the Hercules RMX; that also made use of a 4-in-4-out interface to allow DVS functionality, but obviously its mixer section was pretty substandard. Similarly though, this combines a MIDI mixer with an audio interface to offer a reasonably priced centrepiece to a DVS or MIDI setup.

Oh, there'll also most likely be a 4-port USB hub on the back as well, so you can plug a pair of X1s and a pair of F1s, or a pair of PL-1s and a pair of DC-1s etc into the mixer, and then hook the entire setup up to your PC with a single USB cable.

[mdcdesign]

oh please man...... please put a send and return on there!!!!!

Do you mean on the master output or per-channel? Per-channel unfortunately wouldn't be possible, but I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to add it to the output stage

[makar1]

So it inherits one of the issues from the S4 - the microphone consuming one of the inputs?

Any DVS system will need a proper standalone mixer anyway so that you're not tied down to timecode and can put on the odd CD/vinyl now and then.

Do you mean on the master output or per-channel? Per-channel unfortunately wouldn't be possible, but I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to add it to the output stage

Obviously it would need to be per channel; if you wanted it on Master you'd just route your master output through the FX device.

[mdcdesign]

So it inherits one of the issues from the S4 - the microphone consuming one of the inputs?

Any DVS system will need a proper standalone mixer anyway so that you're not tied down to timecode and can put on the odd CD/vinyl now and then.

Obviously it would need to be per channel; if you wanted it on Master you'd just route your master output through the FX device.

I suppose the microphone COULD be routed separately and summed with ducking in firmware, but I'll have to see what the engineers say.

I don't quite agree with your statement that DVS requires a standalone mixer though, as if you're using any software package you can use live input into the track decks and use the internal mixing with a MIDI control surface. Nothing to stop you putting on a real piece of vinyl, changing the deck to "Audio" instead of timecode and away you go.

I think if you start adding per-channel send/returns then you're getting into traditional mixer territory anyway, and would require - at least - an 8-out interface AND an analog mixer section. As I said, that's really NOT what this is about. It's basically a wider, more professional version of the MM-1, or a 4-channel version of the Z1/Z2, or a half-height, FX section-less/all-MIDI version of an 800.

I'm not - for a second - expecting this to appeal to "traditional" DJs; but for controllerists, or people who integrate timecode with X1s, F1s, and Ableton/Maschine this could be the perfect solution. I could also imagine it doing quite well with mobile DJs who love the concept of the Z1 but want something more rugged.

[DJBife]

I like the design, just please man, don't use EQ button kills in any form. I mean, who uses them anyway? Not a single top of the line mixer has them for a reason lol. They are useless and mess up the EQ organization imo