Allen and Heath DB4, can anyone explain why/what it does that makes it so “good”
Hi, I’m looking into buying some new equipment soon and I was looking at a DB4 but what I wonder is that will all the features that it has work with traktor, and are the features (filters, eqs, effects etc) better than what I find in Traktor? also if there are any alternatives please let me know. BTW I have a kontrol X1 right now
Fucking, everything.
Basically, it has outstanding audio, amazing effects, built like a bomb shelter and is not made by Pioneer. I spoke to one of the engineers at BPM and it can only be described as a work of passion. It looks like a shuttle console but the audio routing, settings manager, soundcard are all great.
I think the developers are still finding new things it can do.
Right on, I’m really curious about how the effects will work in conjunction with the effects in traktor, right now I’m a traktor 1.2.6 user (I never upgraded, don’t really see a reason to to be honest) on a bcd3000 and a x1, so basically it’s all plug and play. Is the db4 pretty easy to set up and mess with or will I have to do some mapping? Sorry for being pretty uninformed about the whole thing..I should be more informed huh? 
Its all external, no mapping involved - just route each deck in Traktor to a corresponding channel on the mixer’s soundcard. With the MIDI shift mode you can map all the software controls in Traktor, Ableton, etc to the DB4 controls as well. To be clear on that, you’re not limited to using the DB4 as an external mixer OR a midi controller, you can do both at the same time - just hit the MIDI shift button and all the external mixer controls seamlessly shift to MIDI controls. So, you could use just the mixer and your laptop for a complete Traktor solution if you were so inclined.
The soundcard and routing options, the effects, the switchable EQs, the looper… I could go on for days about all the things I love about this mixer, so I’ll just recommend that you start here, take a look at the videos, documentation, etc and I’ll answer any more specific questions you have.
Do you have one DigitalDevil? I haven’t talked to anybody that’s actually had one yet. I will admit that I toyed with the idea of selling my motorcycle, getting a different one and using the leftover for a DB4.
yessir
Alright, I watched the 3rd video where the (austrailian?) gentleman reviewed it and a few questions came up…first it seems like (like every thing that analyzes tempo) it works great with straight beat (techno, house, trance etc) styles, what I want to know is if it is useful for breakbeat styles, drum and bass in particular…it seems like bpm analysis doesn’t work that well for fast breaks. also is the crossfader light enough for scratching, because I’d like to get some sort of midi “jogwheel” control so I can scratch a bit. could you maybe explain a little bit deeper the whys behind using the built in effects as opposed to traktors (which sound pretty good to me, but I use very shitty speakers…)and explain a bit more about the loop roll (and possibly test it with dnb and make a short mix for me) I know I’m asking alot, but I like the mixer, but it is very pricey and you having one really seems like a good way to find out more about it to my specifications and needs. Thanks in advance
Mike
Also I’m looking for some sort of jogwheel control what would be a nice companion to my x1 and a db4?
Xone 1D 
? or maybe a vci
You could get a couple of these DJ Tech platters…
http://www.djtechpro.com/product_detail.asp?cate_id=63&subcate_id=105&product_id=294
Dan, that looks like what I’m after, but it appears that the Jogwheel is maybe 4 inches or so…I’m one of those gorilla handed DJs so I may need something slightly larger…but that is just about what I’m looking for, I know Denon has one out, but I hear good and bad things about denon stuff so I was just wondering what else is out there…thanks for the helpful reply dan (and everyone else in the thread)
The denon jogwheel controller I was talking about is the SC2000 if anyone has any experience with it please clue me in as well
What about the otus with the db4 that would be monster for scratching
Have to give this a +1!
Either the Denon or the Otus. I wouldn’t Spend that much money on the mixer then put one of those DJ Tech platters next to it.
Haven’t had any problems with the bpm detection on breaks/dnb… It takes about 5 seconds to adjust when doing a complete shift (say 130 to 170 bpm with a quick cut), but its pretty much always spot on. Also, you have the option to just sync with the MIDI clock in Traktor for the BPM data.
In short, yes. Its one of the most comfortable faders I’ve used, light enough to smash around but not so light that it keeps drifting when you let go. Also the crossfader “steepness” is adjustable, with a very quick cut option that is good for scratching.
The biggest advantage for me, personally, is that it alleviates any CPU usage. This probably isn’t much of a concern with Traktor, but when I have an Ableton set loaded up with 100+ tracks and tons of macro fx racks across a few channels, things can get dicey. In addition to this, the effects controls are much more natural with this than anything else I’ve used… every effect type has 4 parameters to control (for instance, the ping pong delay has dry/wet, feedback, time, and a frequency sweep), and everything is laid out in a manner that makes it very easy to understand and make subtle adjustments to find just the sound that you want. Also on that note, such a level of control allows for the user to make very minor touches in modifying a song, rather than completely destroying it as I find many software effects do.
Or, if destroying the sound is your kind of thing, you have that option too…
Don’t know how much I can say that hasn’t been demonstrated already… its always recording 4 bars on each channel and you can grab a loop from that anywhere down to 1/16th beat. The way its laid out makes it very easy to do quick beat repeats, loop-closing builds, or whatever else you can come up with. One of the things I like to do is route the same track on 2 channels (which is easy to adjust, as the soundcard input to each mixer channel is instantly switchable), grab a loop on one channel and close it in time with the natural buildup on the main track, crossfading between the two. You can get even messier with this with feedback routing (i.e. plugging the record out into an analog input channel) if you’re bold and daring.
The bottom line pretty much is that you can work your way around into doing a lot of what the DB4 does via software and you’re well into the realm of diminishing returns with the top-tier price tag, but if you’ve got the cash to spare and don’t want to make any compromises, it certainly is the best way to go.
Nice video digital devil.
I swear every time I see that thing being used I feel a strange urge to sell everything I own and pick one up along with a copy of ableton.
Luckily I come to my senses realise that I know nothing about production and thus everything I do with ableton would be total shit.
I’m seriously thinking of selling my Xone 92
fwiw, the db4 operates with a fixed point dsp architecture which comes from the a&h iLive digital consoles. but rather than spin the numbers, i would suggest finding a way to listen to it and give it a play. the interaction of matrix, dual filter mode eq, effects and loopers, are an amazing journey. just a/b the reverbs in traktor vs the db4 for a moment.
another detail that’s quite nice is the firmware - updates will include new effects and routing options, plus many other features to extend it’s use. i’ve got a new beta right now that extend the delay options in very nice ways. if you were to use iLive’s firmware progression as a reference, version 1.0 to 1.8 are like having entirely new consoles. there are many great things coming for db4 in that domain.