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3-chan mixer for hip-hop/scratching and dance
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| bent |
[Cliffnotes/summary at bottom of page if it's too long for ya :)]
Hi,
I'm looking at getting a new mixer, with 3 channels, and as with most new purchases, I'm having trouble deciding. My budget is at most $1000AUD, but preferably a bit less like $800. I mainly spin hip hop now, but i'd don't want a scratch mixer since i'd like the 3rd channel, plus i still would like to mix dance a bit. Lately i've been learning to scratch so id like an adjustable crossfader curve to make crabs and flares easier.
Here are my options!
Vestax Mixers
As everyone on these boards says, the vestax pcv-275 seems like an awesome mixer for trance, however, they've been discontinued and would probably be hard to get a hold of. The other option is a vestax 180. Although they have the PCV faders which are meant to be relatively good (or at least were a few years ago), neither the 275 or 180 have an adjustable fader curve. The Vestax VMC-180 looks the goods, but I can't get it in Australia, and I'm not willing to ship overseas
Stanton Mixers
The SMX-401 and SMX-501's both have Penny & Giles faders (and fader curve adjustment), which are meant to be awesome (better than the PCV's i've read), but from reading numerous forums there seems to be a lot of bagging of the 401's - problems about the mixer components breaking in early days of use (didn't notice as much criticism, if any on the 501's though). The SMX-501 seems to fit my needs perfectly, being a cross between a scratch and club mixer, however being Stanton and all, plus from the goss on the 401 i'm not sure about its durability...
Numark Mixers
The numark DM-3000/1/2X models which are nicely priced, and have fader curve adjustment. The problem is, I think the faders suck, although I haven't looked into this in great detail yet. Also, they seem to be hard to get a hold of in Australia.
Then there's the Numark Matrix 3. It also has got fader curve adjustment (good) and has an 'Omega fader'. However, I am unsure as to the quality of this fader. Plus I ain't too keen on the design, it looks rank, and like a toy.
I've heard talk of a 3/4 chan version of the Numark DXM06, which would be bloody awesome (great effects, sound quality and fader). Anyone got any word on when this is due for release?
Maybe this could be an interim solution till a 3/4 channel DXM06 comes out, I could get the Numark DM3050 since it's DIRT-FREAKIN-CHEAP! Only $225 in Australia, is real basic and has 3 channels, and fader curve adjustment to. As to the quality of the fader, I'm not sure.
Ecler Mixers
The SMAC range is great I know, and I hear they can handle scratching and fader-hammering - the SMAC30 would be nice, but for me it is too expensive, and I'm not keen to exceed my budget since i just lashed $1400AUD the other month on cd decks.
CLIFFNOTES/SUMMARY
In summary, this is what I'm looking for:
a) a quality fader;
b) with fader curve adjustment; and
c) overall, the mixer must be durable
Ecler SMAC30 is out of my price range. Even though I'm hell keen onthe PCV-180, no fader adjustment seems to rule out the Vestax's. Numark Matrix 3, I ain't keen on. I'm unsure about the Numark DM3000X range's fader quality, and overall mixer durability. The mixer I'm leaning towards at the moment is the Stanton SMX-501, however I am unsure of the overall mixer durability. Last option is to purchase a cheap Numark DM3050, and wait for a 3/4 channel DXM06 to come out (however, it still may be too expensive!).
If anyone can confirm or correct any info I've collected regarding these mixer's quality, and their faders, or just comment constructively it'd be much appreciated :). Sorry if this is too long-winded, but I always like to research thoroughly before making a big purchase, and writing it all out helps me decide and organise my thoughts! |
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| tu_face |
are you dead set on 3 channels? if not look at the allen & heath xone02. i have heard it's its a great scratch mixer, and if its anything like its bigger brothers, it will be, plus it has proper padle faders as opposed to touch faders.
as far as scratching is concerned, if you are looking for the best, they are usually 2 channels. e.g. vestax (who make the best scratch mixers around) pmc05 pro-D ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mix...tax/pmc05_pro_d ), pmc07-pro ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mixers/vestax/pmc07pro ) and the awesome 3 channel beast pmc-37 pro, which technically isnt a scratch mixer, but hey its great ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mixers/vestax/pmc37pro )
to me the pmc37 pro looks your best bet. i don't know enough about the ecler mixers you mentioned to say anything abouty them, but i have heard great things :) |
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| Zild |
Check out these mixers.
Rane Empath
Ecler SMAC 30/40
Ecler Nuo-5
Personally I mix hip-hop and scratch but I also mix alot of breakbeats too so I'm going to get the Nuo-5 when I can afford it. The crossfader is one of the best I've ever used. The Empath and the SMACs have very very nice crossfaders too. |
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| auujay |
It is good to see a mixer question that is fully researched :)
I own a Numark DM-3000X so I thought I might comment on that line. I really only mix dance (trance/prog/prog-breaks) and I have had my mixer going on 3 years now it it is showing its age. The xfader started bleeding/leaking first about 1.5 years ago and that is on a mixer that did not see serious scratching. It is user replacable of course but I am cheap and now use the channel faders anyway. Now after 3 years my channel faders are crackling but no bleeding (I might go get so lube for them as a temp fix). About 9 months ago the headphone cue-blend knob started bleeding, if you put it to full cue with no master that msater suddenly cuts in (so now I just back it off a little so it is so much cue you can't hear the little master which is supposed to be there). One other think, inside the first year the pre-amp on my channel 3 suddenly had lots of line noise on it (so I switched to using the 1st and 2nd channel for my TTs).
That seems like a real laundry list of issues but overall I am still happy with it. For the price it is actually decent. My friends Stanton RMS-3 is in sorrier shape, at his last frat party we used my mixer because of all the issues he is having.
For a beginner on budget I would recommend this mixer but if you can afford it I would get a nicer one.
I nearly forgot, for me this is a non issue and I am not sure if this is particular to my unit but other dnb and jungle DJs who have used my mixer complain of the "hard" channel faders. The upfaders have much more resistance than the xfader and for super fast cuts they are much less than ideal.
PS - Zild, those mixers are all out of the price range...
Also, if you only need 3 channels because you have TTs and CDJs you and you don't need to be playing from 3 sources at once then you can always just flip betweent the decks with the line/phono switch found on every decent 2 channel mixer. |
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| Zild |
| Ahh I didn't see that. I can't really reccomend any other mixers that will last or preform very well that are 3 channel so my suggestion is save up for the SMAC 30. |
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| cheesy |
| Yes the Vestax PCV-275 is discontinued, but it's still available. I'm not sure about other countries but vestaxstore.com and pssl.com still have them for about $300. |
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| bent |
| quote: | Originally posted by tu_face
are you dead set on 3 channels? if not look at the allen & heath xone02. i have heard it's its a great scratch mixer, and if its anything like its bigger brothers, it will be, plus it has proper padle faders as opposed to touch faders.
as far as scratching is concerned, if you are looking for the best, they are usually 2 channels. e.g. vestax (who make the best scratch mixers around) pmc05 pro-D ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mix...tax/pmc05_pro_d ), pmc07-pro ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mixers/vestax/pmc07pro ) and the awesome 3 channel beast pmc-37 pro, which technically isnt a scratch mixer, but hey its great ( http://www.decks.co.uk/products/mixers/vestax/pmc37pro )
to me the pmc37 pro looks your best bet. i don't know enough about the ecler mixers you mentioned to say anything abouty them, but i have heard great things :) |
Yeah I am dead set on 3 channels actually lol, and the PMC-37 Pro looks like a beauty but it seems damn expensive, just looking at one shop in my area - price was over $2000!
Anyone got word on the Stanton SMX-501? |
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| bent |
Ok from what I've read on futureproducers the SMX-501 f'ing sucks hard, numerous accounts of VU meters dying within weeks, as well as the crossfader curve dying too.
Seems like the only decent 3-chan mixers that you can scratch with are the Rane Empath and the Ecler SMAC30, both out of my price range! :(
Why the hell couldn't stanton make the 501 decent!! aggh |
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| dj chex |
| quote: | Originally posted by bent
Ok from what I've read on futureproducers the SMX-501 f'ing sucks hard, numerous accounts of VU meters dying within weeks, as well as the crossfader curve dying too.
Seems like the only decent 3-chan mixers that you can scratch with are the Rane Empath and the Ecler SMAC30, both out of my price range! :(
Why the hell couldn't stanton make the 501 decent!! aggh |
That post was 100% mine. In the past i've had good luck w/ the sk-four and sk-2f, but since then stanton mixers are pure . Believe me, the same day i returned the smx-501, i told my homey at guitar center to order me a empath asap. I just got sick of crap... If i were you take my word from future producers, get a empath or a smac30, and get ahold of jason from www.agiprodj.com he can and will help you out. |
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| bent |
| quote: | Originally posted by dj chex
That post was 100% mine. In the past i've had good luck w/ the sk-four and sk-2f, but since then stanton mixers are pure . Believe me, the same day i returned the smx-501, i told my homey at guitar center to order me a empath asap. I just got sick of crap... If i were you take my word from future producers, get a empath or a smac30, and get ahold of jason from www.agiprodj.com he can and will help you out. |
Yep :) |
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| Zild |
| I say if you save up for the SMAC 30 you'll be very glad you did when you don't have it crap out on you. They're built like a tank and the faders are cheap and easy to replace although you probably won't need to. |
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| tu_face |
| quote: | Originally posted by bent
and the PMC-37 Pro looks like a beauty but it seems damn expensive, just looking at one shop in my area - price was over $2000!
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jesus, they like drilling you aussies for every penny don't they! |
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