As an amateur in DJing, but running little party gigs in french, vocal and discohouse music for over 12 years I see a lot of mixers…
For about 4 years i changed my setup to laptop and midi-mixing with files…
My actual setup includes a xone 4D and a a maschine (in controller-mode) both controlling Traktor.
My thoughts are now going around the DJM900 Nexus now (i’ve got the old DJM600 years ago). Is it possible with the mixer to build a semi setup?
The Xone is great - but i’m thinking of better sound quality and more Possebilities while mixing.
Be sure to read up on problems with the 900. I’m not well versed on what they are, but I have seen quite a few people complaining about issues with it.
The 4D is not a midi-only controller; it is a fully featured mixer, and on top of it it is TSP certified so there are a lot of advantages to it over say the DX (which is a hybrid midi mixr that requires a computer connected to it). I would definitely do either the Xone 4D or the Denon DNX 1700 over the pioneer, no question.
You can get it cheaper but a&h rarely looses value. Pssl and musicians friend are still selling it at 2799.
I would totally pick a xone 4D over the db4 or pioneer.
I don’t see why you need more than the 4D to use traktor. I have a 4D and maschine, and use Maschine as maschine alongside traktor as many do.
The world is going software. Software has its own effects. And you need controls to work software. I.e. why would you get an effect driven mixer with no controls over a mixer with dedicated controls? I guess that’s the question. If you’re eventually going to go software, which you’re already Traktor centered. Everything is getting soooooo redundant. I don’t need 24bit effects over 24bit effects.
For the record IMHO the 4D is going to fill more of your traktor needs, and future software control. Not the db4. If I was going to stick to turntables and cdjs and not use software I’d choose the db4. Then it’s effects are relevant. You need the looper. As it stands traktor has all those features and more. The db4 has some midi functionality, but in the same way the pioneers do. You have to shift command and use the effect buttons for other stuff. Makes no sense to me. I think they released the mixers in reverse order. They should of put the db4 out in 09 to compete with the pioneer and now the 4D for use with software.
Edit if you’re already rocking a 4D just wait a lill while. You’ve seen those new x link k2 controller. They’ll make a mixer with those on the sides real soon, just watch.
I haven’t looked your particular mixer up, but usually if it has a built in sound card it can handle at least two channels of audio, unless it’s specifically meant to record only. Just google it
DJM900NXS
Traktor Srcatch Pro 2 / Ableton
Technics Turntables 1200 MK2 x 2
APC40 as a Controller for Traktor
JBL EON G1 x2
I use my set up at a more advanced level tham most as I use it for DJing and Music production. I route Traktor music into Ableton and use Ableton VST effects, DJM900 effects, Traktor effects. Sometimes I layer tracks and what not. DJM900NXS as a Master does blow so I never use it. Traktor is my Master.
I recently played at a event with my set, The one thing the other DJ’s did say about my style was “holy shit you have unlimited tools” as I did go all out and did a live remix and heavy filters. For my set.
Now what I learned from all this and my set up is. Get what you are going to use. If you get a DJM900NXS or DB4 and never use them to it’s full potential then get a more budget mixer. If FX is what your looking into incorperate Ableton with Filter Vst’s with a buget mixer. There is a section in Ableton called DJ Filters that has every DJM900 and DB4 effect on it. Tweak them to build your own tools.
Price and useability should be what you consider. Sometimes to much mixer can be a problem.
NOTE: I’m not attacking you here, I’m stating why I see the majority of the points you brought up aren’t big concerns in my eyes.
I’m not sure what made you think the DJM could receive midi from external sources considering it only has a midi output port, not a midi input port? Maybe you thought it could receive midi via USB?
2-3) Unless you’re trying to sync with another computer, you can midi sync in software almost as easily and with fewer cables. And for the Auto BPM - it’ll be off by maybe 1-2 BPM with standard 4 to the floor stuff. It doesn’t do well with drum and bass or breaks, but it’s also not difficulat at all to tap the tempo and you can hold tap and dial in a specific BPM with the timing knob. It’s not as automatic as say, Traktor beatgrids, but it’s also something that takes approximately 5 seconds to remedy if it’s off. You also have the option of using Rekordbox if you’re really bothered by it. It could be better, and arguably it should be, but this is more a convenience issue than a serious problem to me.
I record in Ableton anyway and I’m not at home to test recording in Traktor, but I haven’t had any issues with recording.
5-6) Never had any of these issues with my home setup. Just lucky I guess…? I even used a blanket as a dust cover on the DJM for a bit and it never got hot enough to be a concern. It will shut down if you have the auto-standby option enabled and don’t touch it for a certain (substantial) period of time though, so maybe that’s what people are talking about?
Completely agree on the midi controls. I guess they’re functional but aside from maybe adding in mix automation in Ableton while you’re recording or something I don’t see them as very useful. Certainly you’re not going to replace an actual midi controller with the thing especially with the most practical section for midi mapping, fader start, being hardware toggle buttons which don’t act like any midi controls I’ve ever used before. As I recall they only send a midi message when you turn the fader start on and don’t send a midi note off signal.
I wish the midi on the 900 was better, but I got it for the sound quality, TSP certified soundcard, effects, and external mixing. Midi wasn’t a huge concern since I have an X1 and midi fighter already. When I sync Traktor and Ableton I do so through software anyway, so I didn’t see that as a huge problem. Like you said, the 900’s not perfect, but it’s nowhere near bad enough to say it’s not worth buying, or that people should throw down another $900 on a DB4 just to avoid the issues with the Pioneer.
As for the DB4, it’s a great mixer but you’ll almost never see one in a club install, any other DJs playing on it won’t be familiar with the layout unless they’re in the like 2% of the DJ community who have played on one, and it costs almost a thousand dollars more than the DJM900. Nevermind the fact that it doesn’t have scratch certification and may very well never get it. Great mixer in theory, but those issues are more important to me than the issues with the DJM900 - hence why I made the choice I did.
As for the “pioneers suck” comment by Conall - there’s a lot of pioneer hate on this forum, and the majority of it is from people who have little experience with decent pioneer mixers (800+). The 900 has great sound quality - it may not be as good as a xone, but it’s no slouch either. Certainly it’s not bad enough to seriously say it “sucks”.
Well, keeb, I never knew about the dialing in for the effects and the timing knob, very nice.
I am a DJM900 owner.
I normally do CDJs with no traktor but I have a pair of pdx so from time to time I spend some time using traktor vinyls… its the old timecode, but no problems here with the soundcard or anything.
Pioneer effects(djm900) sound lacks on smaller speakers/sound system. You really need to use the DJM900 effects on a loud system to appreciate how good they really are. I prefer the DJM900 to the traktor effect myself.
I owned an s4 prior to my djm 900. I side-by-sided them at one of the bars in my area and I did the S4 right to the soundsystem and thru the Djm and through the audio 8 into the DJM.
I always found the traktor effects to eat up too much of the signal for what i liked and when you cut back the wetness you loss the effect.
This is where I think you should be able to select a frequency band for the traktor effects to affect rather than the whole signal. Something like the EFX1000/DJM2000.
Now, I like to dance myself when I mix. If your not into actually dancing but more of a performance thing I can see how the roll of effects can change.
You need to try equipment out before you drop cash on it and have no way to return if you dont like it.
The OP already owns a xone 4d, he is asking if it’s a good idea of replacing it for a djm900. Then i would say go for the xone db4 or db2 and ad some controllers with your machine.
Or the denon 1700 or 1600. if you want to save some money.
