Numark EM260 Anyone ever used one?

[funke]

Found a Numark EM260 http://www.numark.com/em260 "battle style" mixer with built in Kaoss pad. Says it's MIDI capable. The guy wants $120 for it.

Anyone ever used one or know if I can use it with Traktor? And how much MIDI capability are we talking? It would be sweet to use the pad for multi FX and mixing internally. Or externally. Or program the knobs and faders to FX as well.

[deco]

for 120 - get it

[escapemcp]

Found a Numark EM260 http://www.numark.com/em260 "battle style" mixer with built in Kaoss pad. Says it's MIDI capable. The guy wants $120 for it.

Anyone ever used one or know if I can use it with Traktor? And how much MIDI capability are we talking? It would be sweet to use the pad for multi FX and mixing internally. Or externally. Or program the knobs and faders to FX as well.

Yeah, got the 460 here (4 channels).

Basically the kaoss pad can output 6 channels of midi, plus 2 on/off switches. You can switch the midi for all 6 outputs on or off (by using the 6 buttons along the top of the pad). The channels it outputs are:

1 - Pitchbend type control (X-plane)... left of the pad is 0, right is 127, BUT it always returns to 63 - can use for hi-lo filter
2 - Top half of controller (Y-plane)... middle of the controller is 0, top is 127
3 - Bottom half of controller (Y-plane)... middle is 0, bottom is 127
4 - Diagonal - Bottom left is 0, top right is 127, either of the other 2 corners, or the centre X,Y is 63.
5 - Left/right (X plane) - left=0, right=127
6 - Up/down (Y-plane) - bottom=0, top=127

Then the buttons:
EFX on/off sends out a signal from CC1-95 - this is a toggle switch and not a latching switch
Also hold sends out a signal (again from 1-95), BUT if you have hold engaged, then when you release your finger from the pad, it treats it as if you haven't (important for #1 (pitchbend))

To program:
1) Press all 6 buttons above the pad
2) Turn the program knob to pick midi channel
3) Press any of the buttons 1-6 to toggle that control on/off
4) Press and hold efx on/off or hold and rotate program knob to set the CC that these send on (1-95)
5) (Just discovered this) - press and hold buttons 4-6 and rotate program knob to send out those outputs on different CCs. 1-3 are always fixed (to pitchbend, 1 & 2)

Any further info, just shout.

Oh...
From a traktor/serato usage point of view, it isn't much use for anything other than FX, and even then it's quite sensitive (in a bad way) - move your finger a tiny bit and the knob moves loads in traktor. I have one programmed for FX, but only use it now and then. I need to find a good use for it (I was trying to get it to take out the bass on decks A,B,C & D (using a corner for each deck), but I haven't sussed it yet!

Hope this helps... write me if not,

escapemcp

[funke]

So in a nutshell: fun with records, not so great for traktor.

My ideal setup is to using an audio 10 with a midi mixer and a midifighter on the side. I figured this would be ideal in case my laptop crashed and I could keep the show going and still have some FX. Or just have something else to play with.

Do you think the mapping issues could be resolved with a more complicated mapping? Im always up for a challenge.

[funke]

I guess I could always just mix externally and still use it. But then I would still need more than just a midifighter to control Traktor. Hmmmmmm....

How about the fader on that? The guy I talked to didn't seem to know much about it. He said the crossfader "seemed kind of loose" and that it "needed tightening". Like there was an adjustment to fix it. Me thinks it just needs a new crossfader. Ever replaced yours, and if so, did you use a different one?

[escapemcp]

So in a nutshell: fun with records, not so great for traktor.

Yeah, but fx are not beat synched.

Do you think the mapping issues could be resolved with a more complicated mapping? Im always up for a challenge.

Well, it's more like that as you only have an XY surface, you can only really control 2 parameters independently - yeah, you can use the diagonal, but in using that you are going to affect X/Y at the same time. Also you can use the split feature on the Y axis (settings #2 & #3 of my previous post) to control 2 params, but you could do this through Bomes anyway. If anything the Kaoss pad means that you don't have to get involved with Bomes, as you can choose which outputs to spew out, and then just map those in traktor. (unless you want a split X axis, which it doesn't do (and seeing as the X axis is longer, that is the one you really want to be split... the split Y axis is far too sensitive). Hope that made sense! If not, let me know!

[escapemcp]

I guess I could always just mix externally and still use it. But then I would still need more than just a midifighter to control Traktor. Hmmmmmm....

Well you *could*, but it wouldn't be that much fun!

How about the fader on that? The guy I talked to didn't seem to know much about it. He said the crossfader "seemed kind of loose" and that it "needed tightening". Like there was an adjustment to fix it. Me thinks it just needs a new crossfader. Ever replaced yours, and if so, did you use a different one?

Yeah, mine is 'loose', but in a good way (aren't x-f's supposed to be loose (on the L-R axis))... it moves loosely (as opposed to the line faders), but has a decent enough feel - there is no Up/Down looseness, if that's what he's talking about. Yeah, it's no Innofader, but few fitted faders are (none at this price point)! Your x-fader wants to be loose, surely, otherwise you cannot slam it across every 1/16th of a beat! Dunno about adjustment, I'll have a look when I get home tonight. Never replaced it, and it has never started crackling.. mixer must be about 10 years old now (-ish) and although it wasn't used for a few years, the fact that it still works ok must be a good sign.

Will let you know on the adjustments when I get home tonight.

[escapemcp]

No adjustments to Xfader.

Just watching a vid on DJTT suddenly made me realise that the kaoss pad has so many modes of operation, that you can easily create a superfader on the pad without bomes etc. It is in the firmware of the kaoss pad, so could be very handy.

Can't believe that I hadn't noticed this before!

escapemcp