-Am running Ableton on a 15" Macbook Pro
-currently use MAudio1814 firewire SC
-Use an APC40, Launchkey, MPK mini and UC33e as controllers
-Primarily use Ableton to play my own compositions and to jam with guitarists, vocalists, instrumentalists
-Am trying to find a DJ style mixer that I can use to be able to quickly, smoothly allow me to cue/preview clips, as well as provide more maneuverability with effecting things.
My strategy for such jams is to put together really large palets of clips and synths and the like and mix in according to the mood that those I’m jamming with are putting out there. The 1814 has a clunky A/B function for cueing, but it simply is not useful. I have really little/no DJing experience/skill but have been a bedroom producer for ~10 years.
My questions are:
I would like to be able to use the 1814 simultaneously for inputing guitars, mics, etc and the master out as well, just using something like the SCS1 for my own monitoring in the box as it were, is this possible?
I’m wondering if you think it’s worth it for me to snatch an SCS1 up at ~200usd (will need another ~50 for adapters to thunderbolt) or if there is another rig I should be looking at?
I am happy to learn about Borne or other Automapping necessities if that’s required, or do alot of mapping on my own…but just wonder if this item is too defunct at this point to warrant getting.
Please pass on any and all suggestions. In an ideal world I’d just have the 2k to grab a DJM900 but of course that is not the case, I’m looking to spend <300usd.
If you had the money, Korg Zero 8. That thing its a beast. 8 channels, firewire, usb, soundcard, mic, inst, phono, effects, everything you can imagine.
I cant see why you would need a DJ mixer at all to be honest, you already have quite a number of inputs/outputs on that soundcard and Abletons cues can be managed “just like a DJ mixer” and give you more flexibility/effects all from within Ableton itself.
If your live instruments were routed into Abletons inputs you could preview any source going in and even sample their instruments and loop and bounce onto different channels.
However - if you really want a DJ mixer to route stuff though - Behringers DDM4000 is about the only one I can think of for $300 that has effects, midi control and a ton of other stuff that you can use e.g. programmable EQ’s
Personally though I think you should just work on your input / output routing within Ableton as you can already manage multiple input, and you only need 2 outputs, Cue and Master and no need to go near the a/b switch.
Thanks Deevey, my issue remains being able to audition/cue things on the fly before sending out to the main mix. To do this I’d atleast (I think) need to get some sort of dj style mixer that allows me to send my main (1/2) to one channel and my cue (3/4) to another that I can audition in phones before sending out. For the most part, those I jam with be they vox, guit players, or other ableton folks, all just come in on a channel and I have a large array of channels that I work in on the fly, but need to be able to properly audition them before slamming them in.
@Similian—if I had the funds for sure, but still would likely just save up for a DJM900, thanks for the thought though.