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Trying Hand at DJing, which A&H mixer?

Hello all, I am thinking about trying my hand at mixing and am looking to get a mixer to DJ with. I have decided to go the route of digital (sans vinyl or CDs) and will be needing a suitable mixer. I have grown to enjoy Allen and Heath as a brand due to the quality of their other products, but am unsure as to which of their DJ mixers would meet my needs. I want to be able to travel and mix with just my mixer, laptop, and headphones (no decks). I would like to be able to use my computer not just as a source for tracks and effects, but also to record my mixes. I know that the Xone:3D can do all of this, but are any of the other models suitable? I'm not sure about >$2000 for something I have nto really tried out yet. Also, any links or references to good guides for beginners would be much appreciated. Thank you all for your time and help!

Hey, first off, A&H are the bomb, geat gear, but...
I have a few questions for you.

You say you want to go ALL DIGITAL right? WHat software do you use... Traktor, Abelton? I ask becasue depending on what you are using, an A&H may be WAY overkill and a waste of money. If you are using Abelton, I HIGHLY reccomend a Korg ZERO 4, its a fully functional DJ mixer and abelton controller, amazing piece of kit. I mean if you are going to spend nearly 2 grand on a mixer migght as well be one specifically for what you use.

Alternatively, you may want to try out M-Audio's XPonent, that uses their proprietary Syncroscience Torq software.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...nent?sku=241136

I have a hybrid setup, using Torq off my laptop and 2xCDDJ and 2x turntables. For the price, you can't beat the Xponent, musicians friend has it for 599 I think, and its AWESOME, full tactile control over crossfader, picth, cue, fx, channel faders and more, great piece of kit, I fell in love with mine instantly. It is also a fully functional soundcard with several outputs (cue for headphones, monitor out and main out, midi I/O and pedal)uses one USB port, and it doesn't cost $2000. Its very lightweight yet well built, so its easily portable. It can also be used in conjunction with Abelton, creating one hell of a DJ setup. With the budget price spent on this you can invest in a good amp & speakers and get going right away.

Hope this helps

Yeah man, go for something like the Zero 4 or a DJM 7/800. They're all fully digital from source to speaker (with the proper cables of course).

Personally I'd go Zero 4. I've heard great things about it.

korg zero8/zero4 should suit you just fine. much smaller price as well.

...

I have not heard about Torque, what are its advantages? I heard that Ableton was ultimately the most robust, but that it was neither as grab and go friendly as Traktor. I also heard that you couldn't just open and mix with Ableton as you could with Traktor as it required prep-time, so I was leaning toward Traktor.

I looked at the Korg Zero 4/8 mixers, but I (admittedly without much research) perceived them ton be lower quality versions of the xone:42/92.

i would wait if i were you...i read that there might be a new mixer from ecler...an evo4...i think i read it at skratchworx.com

i kinda wish i knew about it earlier...i would held off on my djm700 and gotten that

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Originally posted by Dancing-Clown I have not heard about Torque, what are its advantages? I heard that Ableton was ultimately the most robust, but that it was neither as grab and go friendly as Traktor. I also heard that you couldn't just open and mix with Ableton as you could with Traktor as it required prep-time, so I was leaning toward Traktor. I looked at the Korg Zero 4/8 mixers, but I (admittedly without much research) perceived them ton be lower quality versions of the xone:42/92.

go on youtube and type in torq xponent. Its SICK dude, especially with the new version 1.5. There is so much shit you can do with it. They also have Torq Connective which is like Serrato but like 100x better (here comes the flames), but thats just my opinion. Torq can also be used in conjunction with Ableton or Logic or ProTools or any rewire slave host. And it doesn't cost 2,000 dollars.

Ableton is a good software package, but I don't like it, the interface annoys the shit out of me. Its great as a DAW, but I hate to DJ with it. Plus it doesn't play MP3s. TO me, its not a DJ friendly interface. That doesn't make it bad I have still mixed with it, it just was not an enjoyable experience for me really. Some people love it some people don't I suppose. But, the Korg Zero4 is amazing if you want an ableton controller.

Re: Re: ...

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Originally posted by SteelWolf Plus it doesn't play MP3s.

you do know that 4 isn't the latest version, right?

Re: Re: ...

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Originally posted by SteelWolf Ableton is a good software package, but I don't like it, the interface annoys the shit out of me. Its great as a DAW, but I hate to DJ with it. Plus it doesn't play MP3s.

You cant compare Ableton to a conventional DJ mixer & 2 decks.
And as said, above, Ableton has supported MP3s for a longgggg time.

To the OP: get the Ableton demo, once you learn a few basic things and come to the realisation of the possibilities it has, you will find it quiet fun.

Hmm I bougth an M-Audio firewire interface that came with Ableton live m-audio edition... NO MP3 SUPPORT. Is it becasue its some special edition? I only use Ableton for production anyway makes no difference to me

quote:

Originally posted by i got big pants i would wait if i were you...i read that there might be a new mixer from ecler...an evo4...i think i read it at skratchworx.com i kinda wish i knew about it earlier...i would held off on my djm700 and gotten that

Ooooh, interesting.

The ECLER EVO5 will allow you to use it as a standalone mixer with soundcard, effects and MIDI control, making it a perfect "digital only" solution. Its similar to the KORG ZERO's, just on a higher quality level, like A&H (both brands compete directly with each other).

Or, the smaller, cheaper NUO4 might suit you fine. You can spin with ONLY Traktor and a NUO4 (and an inexpensive soundcard) perfectly fine!

Theres also a slew of new MIDI controllers with jog wheels out there, if youre looking for something more simple and portable.

quote:

Originally posted by Soundwerks The ECLER EVO5 will allow you to use it as a standalone mixer with soundcard, effects and MIDI control, making it a perfect "digital only" solution. Its similar to the KORG ZERO's, just on a higher quality level, like A&H (both brands compete directly with each other).

The Korgs can play at a 192Khz (compared to the 96 Pio boasts about), can the Evo5 do that? (not trying to bring you down or anything but im really interested in knowing the answer)

Re: Re: Re: ...

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Originally posted by inconspicuous you do know that 4 isn't the latest version, right?

technically he's right - ableton converts mp3s to wavs and stores them on your hard drive

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Originally posted by Hasneez The Korgs can play at a 192Khz (compared to the 96 Pio boasts about), can the Evo5 do that? (not trying to bring you down or anything but im really interested in knowing the answer)

Evo5 supports up to 96khz.

But honestly, who cares? the majority of the tracks you play aren't even mastered at 192k, and most the downloads are still 44khz/16bit like a regular CD.

Just about any A&H mixer will suit your needs. Even the little xone32 has connectivity for what you need, although it's a fully analog box.

Going full digital presents another problem: is there even a suitable USB or Firewire interface with (2) independent S/PDIF outputs on the same clock?

quote:

Originally posted by MERiDiAN5i2 Evo5 supports up to 96khz. But honestly, who cares? the majority of the tracks you play aren't even mastered at 192k, and most the downloads are still 44khz/16bit like a regular CD. Just about any A&H mixer will suit your needs. Even the little xone32 has connectivity for what you need, although it's a fully analog box. Going full digital presents another problem: is there even a suitable USB or Firewire interface with (2) independent S/PDIF outputs on the same clock?

LOL and the human ear can't even distiguish 192k, let alone 96...

The new Xone 42 has an integrated sound card as well.

I think you really need to figure out which digital solution you are going to go with: Ableton, or something the uses the tradition DJ'ing paradigm (Traktor, Torq, Virtual DJ, etc.)

For Ableton, routing into a "real" DJ mixer is still my preferred method (I don't care for Ableton DJ'ing though, I use it for studio work only). Until a suitable MIDI controller is available (like the announced Vestax VCM-600), mixing with the other cheapo controllers available is less than satisfying compare to a quality DJ mixer.

So you can use really any mixer of your choice... the difference will be if you want an integrated sound card or not. You still need MIDI control for clip launch, effects, etc... all of which really aren't provided with even the Korg Zero 4/8 or EVO 5 either.

If you go with Traktor/Torq/etc, you'll need a MIDI controller to control your decks of course... The Xponent was already mentioned (it feels cheap, IMO), and the Vestax VCI-100 is another option. But with either of those, you won't need a mixer anyway (they have MIDI controls for that).

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Originally posted by SteelWolf LOL and the human ear can't even distiguish 192k, let alone 96...

no joke.

...

I have decided to go with Traktor. So what I am looking to do is play all my tracks off of my laptop through Traktor and then record it back onto the laptop while outputting it to the PA. So I guess I am looking for a mixer with a built in interface?

quote:

Originally posted by MERiDiAN5i2 Evo5 supports up to 96khz. But honestly, who cares? the majority of the tracks you play aren't even mastered at 192k, and most the downloads are still 44khz/16bit like a regular CD. Just about any A&H mixer will suit your needs. Even the little xone32 has connectivity for what you need, although it's a fully analog box. Going full digital presents another problem: is there even a suitable USB or Firewire interface with (2) independent S/PDIF outputs on the same clock?

I am not following, why would I need two digital outs on the same clock?

Well, traktor is going to output two channels to the mixer. The two channels need to be synchronized. A common problem is people who run two sound boards, one for each channel, and they don't necessarily have the same timing. If you were to use dual S/PDIF digital outs, it could be a little tricky as I've yet to see a board with two S/PDIF outs.

But since you plan to go with a mixer with an integrated sound interface, no worries.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryan0751 The new Xone 42 has an integrated sound card as well.

Problem with the Xone:42 is the USB sound interface is only a single stereo channel in, single stereo channel out. It's part of the microphone channel, so it's basically like an aux in.

IE you can't output two channels from the computer directly via USB and mix them on the console.

This makes me curious.. any boards with real USB connectivity? As in you hook the mixer up via USB 2.0 and have ins and outs for each channel on the board? That'd actually be worth owning.

Yes that is lacking for the Xone 42. It does give you a handy way to record at least.

The Korg Zero 4/8 and Ecler EVO 5 have firewire audio interfaces, and yes they can have a stereo output per-channel. The Xone 3D is similar, but it can only out 3 out of the 4 channels to the mixer portion of that mixer.

quote:

Originally posted by MERiDiAN5i2 Problem with the Xone:42 is the USB sound interface is only a single stereo channel in, single stereo channel out. It's part of the microphone channel, so it's basically like an aux in. IE you can't output two channels from the computer directly via USB and mix them on the console. This makes me curious.. any boards with real USB connectivity? As in you hook the mixer up via USB 2.0 and have ins and outs for each channel on the board? That'd actually be worth owning.

Man, the Zero 4/8 look freakin' sweet. I'd like to play with one of these

...

I thought that the consensus was that they were cheaper versions of the Ecler/A&H products?

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