Questions about replacing crossfaders

[IMFirth]

Hey guys and gals,

I recently bought a second hand Stanton SMX 401 mixer on the cheap. It's all cool, but the faders have horrible curves. The crossfader is a penny and gilles but it is 3 Db louder when on the left and right than in the middle. There is no way to change the curve on the mixer (no dial or switch).

If I was to buy a different crossfader and plug it in, would that help? Is the curve intrinsic to the crossfader or how the mixer deals with the crossfader signal.?

If I am buying a new crossfader, seeing as I won't be getting an exact model replacement, how do I know the crossfader will fit?

I am not going to shell out for an innofader (that will be twice what I paid for the mixer), and not being a scratch DJ I don't care much for the very best quality. What's the cheapest way for me to get a cross fader that does what I want?

[Mojaxx]

The only fader on the market with a built-in curve control that will work for you IS the Innofader, unfortunately.

Looking at the compatibility chart on their site, the forthcoming Innofader Mini PNP will work, and that should be a bit cheaper than the regular model.

Obviously you can probably take that fader with you to your next mixer (or few mixers), but otherwise the cheapest option would be to sell the SMX and get another budget mixer with a curve control.

[IMFirth]

So the crossfader curve is intrinsic to the mixer?

I don't need to be able to adjust the crossfader curve I just want it to not dip in volume in the middle. Would a crossfader from a mixer with a normal curve, and no curve control not work?

[Mojaxx]

Nope. A fader is just a fader, any curve is designated by the mixer (except in the case of some aftermarket faders like the Innofader).

[Mojaxx]

BTW, you'll find almost every mixer without a curve control has that dipped configuration. That is the 'normal' configuration, what you're after is a 'scratch' curve.

[DJ LayinLo]

You can make some of those changes on the Innofader to sharpen that curve and lessen the dip you are talking about.

FWIW....I love my Innofader that I installed in my Pioneer DJM900