Hey guys, ive hit a dilemma. Im going to be selling my s8 soon because it just isn’t what I wanted. So with the cash I get from selling it im going to get a nice mixer for a modular setup. Im going to be using the following:
Midi fighter twister
midi fighter spectra
2 xdj 1000’s
a pair of x1’s and or d2’s.
Im looking for a mixer that I can plug and play with about everything. And has to work flawlessly with traktor. If I have to get a sound card so be it but I would prefer to not have too. Ill be taking this mixer with me everywhere when I dj so I want it to be durable. And the sound has to be awesome too. Price has to be below 1900$. I wont be getting the denon x1600 due to lack of filter knobs. So any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
For you modular guys what would you say is the best 4 channel mixer?
That said, I have and use and like the Denon x1600. The lack of a filter is a minor nit, for me. I have a pair of X1’s and I dedicate a shift+knob for the filter on each channel.
DB2 also doesn’t have filter knobs on the channels so…
Only Pioneer mixers will work with rekordbox. For now it seems. My suggestion would be Z2 (becuse of portability, USB hub on the back and your requirement for filter knobs on the channels), otherwise go for the DJM850 or even 900 if you can afford it.
xone 92/62. it doesn’t have individual channel filters, but it does have 2 assignable filters that can be assigned to specific channels, along with different different combinations of curves.
they’re heavy and they get hot. you’ll also need a sound card. but its has a lot of potential that allows you to really change your set up.
you know that filters are just sweeping eq bands with resonance, right?
ok, so what would you say is the best mixer on the market. with or without a filter knob for a modular set up. now that you guys have pointed out some stuff I’m realizing that not having a filter knob is sort of pointless. i can just program my midi fighter twister to have a knob for it. sound card doesnt really matter either. I’m looking for great sound and works perfect with traktor.
better yet ill just keep it between two mixers. the db2 and the djm 900. But at the same time people are telling me to get a z2. but i feel not having those extra two channels will hurt down the road.
Z2 is a 4 deck Traktor controller that looks like a 2 channel mixer. Because it uses internal mixing in Traktor, with it you can control 2+2 decks (you dont get EQ control over the +2 decks but you can map eq’s to twister or some other controller like you said).
It costs considerably less then other options, comes with TSP licence, has a USB hub in the back, build quality is decent enough for transporting it around (but, it is no where near Denon/Pioneer’s).
I personally would go for X1600/1700 - offers almost everything DJM-900 does with the same build quality at a fraction of a cost and, unlike DJM-900, you can sync mixer’s FX to the Traktor BPM.
Just got de A&h DB4, switching from the Kontrol s8 to two D2’s in combination with the DB4, the sound of this mixer is way, way better than the pioneers, or the Kontrol s8, so i am a happy camper.
reason for getting this compared to the xone 92 was the inboard soundcard, just plug in and go with my laptop..
The effects from this unit are so much cleaner and nicer then anything i ever heard…i am in love
True, but DB2’s “Trimodal EQ” can be used as a to high/low pass filter. It’s not the same as a dedicated filter knob, but it provides similar (and more flexible) function.
Disclaimer: I have not used a DB2, but I have seen video reviews that go over this feature.
I’ve got a Xone 42 on eBay right now for a good deal, brand new. Comes with a Decksaver, Odyssey bag and Hosa snake for sound card. Just figured I’d mention it in case you’d be interested.
Per channel filters can be taken care of with fx filters in traktor if need be, but I rarely need anything other than the two multi-mode filters on the mixer itself (plus they sound fucking incredible). The sound quality is out of this world, and the 4 band EQ is second to none. Dual headphone jacks are a plus, and the build quality makes a DJM feel like a Fischer-Price mixer. DJMs are useless to me thanks to the filters sounding like shit and the audio quality is just -not- on par with the Allen & Heaths. I know DJMs have their fanbase, but I’ve never enjoyed using one.
Of course there is no internal sound card, but if you’re going modular, it might be attractive to you to have an external interface anyway (after all, if the interface in your mixer goes ka-put…well…). I use an Audio8 with my 92, and I have zero qualms.
I had a Xone62 prior to the 92 and that was a phenomenal bit of kit as well.
I will echo the other comments yelling “Xone” at various volumes, because they’re pretty amazing, but I will add that if you don’t Xone then Denon is a worthy alternative.
Ok I’ve made the decision to get an come mixer. But one last question. Would it really benefit me down the road to get a 92? Because carrying around that sound card is going to be a hassle. With the db2 I can just plug and play. What are the big differences between the two besides the 4 band. But is that 4 band that really big of a plus?
