Pio or A&H?
I have been mixing internally with a Livid RGB slim but I have had the itch to buy a mixer for a while. The 2 big boys on the block seem to be the DJM or the DB4. Is there any big advantages to either when it comes to DJing out of Live?
Ill be using the will marshall template and then remapping the 4 channel EQ section on the RGB to effects in Live.
Any thoughts on this?
If you’re using Live, you might as well go for the DB4 for its effects. Both are good products.
id see if you can have a go on them, and make a choice that way. its really down to personal pref
Sam, those were my thoughts exactly. The only thing that is holding me back is the fact that the pio is industry standard and I’ve never used one. It would be nice to be real comfortable with something thats so prevalent.
Chris, I wish I could get my hands on both mixers for a day…
Depends what you want from the mixer, are 4 channels a must? do you want effects?
Personally I wouldn’t buy either, but that’s just me.
This isn’t really worth anything. Don’t settle for what the benighted and less-informed want you to do. For example, Windows is the industry standard for a lot of industries (though not ours), but I sure won’t be using it. Just consider what a lot of people think about playing out with Ableton vs. CDJs. If someone were to give you shit about using Allen and Heath - a DB4 for that matter - instead of Pioneer, they aren’t worth your time. You’re not going to change their mind, but you can just throw on some of the new infrabass effect and shake their bones and eyeballs.
I had forgotten for a moment that I changed up my signature - I’ve been wondering why everyone knows my first/full name all of a sudden. 
Are you buying it primarily as a
a) mixer
or
b) effects engine.
If the answer is A, I’d probably just grab myself a Xone 42 and 4ch sound card and you’ll be set for any mixer that happens to be in a club.
Very good points.
Defiantly both. I would have all the traditional effects on the mixer then have all the go to ableton effects mapped on my RGB slim like beat repeat, etc.
4 channels and effects are what im going for.
One thing I forgot to add, I thought about just using all Live effects so I looked into the xone 92 but another thing I really like about the DB4 or djm is the built in interface. getting a DB4/DJM and ditching the soundcard sounds nice.
I briefly thought about getting a xone 92 but then I will have my RGB, X92, Focusrite card, and then I will need a MF Twister to map effects too.
I dunno, Just some random thoughts in my head. RGB and DB4/DJM seems nice and stream lined.
What is your Ableton set like? Are you just mixing tracks, or is it stems? How much of it is original productions? How live is it - do you plan on incorporating live synths (303, 909, or similar? modular?) This might help inform your decision.
No origional production at this point. I use the will marshall template and make clip packs using ill.gates method of breaking up songs into like 6 parts so I can drag and drop on the fly. Then I have a channel with a midi fighter pro on it with either drum racks and one shots. No live synths any time soon.
I had a extremely fortune event recently, someone I knew regretted the purchase of his DB4 (he’s a newbie to the DJ realm), he felt overwhelmed by the mixers capabilities while I became depressingly bored of the DJM900nexus as well as annoyed by many of its effects. I sorta manipulated and talked him into using the more ‘simple’ layout over his DB4 (I feel bad..not really) and we ended up doing a straight-up swap of mixers. I really can’t be happier with the A&H DB4.
Theres a lot of talk about the sound quality differences of a UK made unit vs China made unit as well as how it compares to the 900nexus. Ive never heard the later DB4s but my current ‘Made in UK’ DB4 pours liquid gold out of my monitors, the sound quality is unmatched. I love the effects that are offered in the DB4, the effects are subtle and you can really put extensive/complex refinement in your mix, too many times Ive gotten lost with these exceptional effects–even terrified at times when I suddenly realize that an *effect I had left engaged ON was not part of the original piece. Yea the DB4 rocks..
In comparison to the DJM900nexus after owning it for awhile, there is a lot more detail lost that you don’t hear in your tracks. In my opinion, the DB4 is superior to the 900nexus by a fairly large magnitude.
The FX will sound different on a DB vs DJM, but you are not going to “lose detail” in your tracks by using a DJM. Both mixers will sound transparant when playing back unaltered music.
I disagree, not all DA/AD converters are made the same, I’m sure the detail with the DJM is there but it isn’t presented like the db4. The djm also isn’t as ‘full’ as the db4, somewhat analytical in comparison.
So now you’re implying the DJM has a more accurate response whereas the DB4 is colouring the sound? I’d disagree with that too - both are high end mixers with quality DACs way beyond the distinguishing capabilities of the human ear. I’d also assume that you’ve never conducted a blind test between the mixers.
Lastly, the DA/AD converters in both mixers are entirely optional.
I can hear the difference between lots of (very) high end DACs. I’m pretty picky myself when it comes to AD/DA conversion in studio situations. However, you may be right that there might not be a meaningful difference between those DACs. Also, in a typical club or party situation, these nuances are not likely audible to anyone.
I’ve been having the same debate myself. Although i know i’d be way more happy with an A&H DB2/DB4 mixer in regards to sound quality, filters, other effects and overall design, i’m choosing to go the Pioneer route simply because almost every gig i perform at has a DJM-900 in the DJ booth. I like having a “mirrored” setup so i can perform the same at home and out at gigs. Another big reason i’m choosing to go with Pioneer is to be familiar with setting up & using the on-board sound card. This will greatly reduce stress at DJ gigs when setting up, or transitioning after another DJ who’s performing.
If you don’t gig out often, i’d go with A&H most definitely.
Kosta, those are my exact same thoughts. I dont gignout much yet. Mostly small parties but the plan is to work up as soon as I can. As much asni hate to realized it, I think im going to grab the pio too even though I know I want the DB4…
You’ll get bored of the djm real fast. If you’ve got the funds, go for the db4, you will not say to yourself “I should have went with the pioneer”, whereas it’ll be the other way around if you go with the pioneer. The xone92 would be my first choice