« Previous page of American Audio VMS2 review
The mixer section
It’s a two-channel mixer, with a great EQ section that kills properly, and excellent VU metering that sensibly monitors the cued source when a “cue” button is pressed, and the master output when not, allowing you to easily get your gain staging right.
Decent crossfader options and full kills make this small mixer section satisfying to set up and use.
The crossfader is, as mentioned above, replaceable and the supplied crossfader is loose enough for scratching. There is a normal/reverse toggle, and also a crossfader curve adjuster. The latter is just “OK” – the scratch end of the spectrum is fine, but there’s no audible centre dip at the other end of its setting as there ought to be on a control like this.
Two small toggle switches on the front select between USB audio and line/phono inputs. The unit can act as a standalone mixer (ie no need for a laptop), so you set these to “analog” and can then DJ away old school-style with CDJs or turntables. You can switch back to your USB (ie Virtual DJ decks) just as easily, so you could mix and match inputs, although you’d have to mix from the USB on the left to the turntable/CDJ on the right (or vice versa) to keep things smooth and seamless, of course.
But you can also use the unit in audio interface mode – the internal sound card is four-in, four-out and so it’s possible to route the external inputs through your software, and Virtual DJ can do this. Furthermore, you can map the VMS2 to prefer the software’s EQ over its own internal hardware EQ or vice versa too. Like its older and bigger brother the VMS4, this unit is nothing if not flexible.
Loops and effects
There are both manual and auto (ie beats / bar-matched) loop functions available, the latter over-complicated (although not too much) due to the fact that you need to hold shift and then press one of two further buttons to half or double the loop length.
Effects are not a strong point of this version of the software or of the way the hardware is set up.
Effects are not a strong point of this version of the software or of the way the hardware is set up. You access them in a rather convoluted style using the library knob and up/down arrows, pushing the knob to turn the selected effect on and off, at which point you get access to one of its potential two parameters by turning the same knob.
Virtual DJ’s effects in the LE version can be quite fun, but they’re limited, and there are no filters – that’s the effect you want more than any other. If you think you’re going to want to use effects a lot, this isn’t the controller for you.
Other functions and features
There are booth and master outs, meaning two volume controls, plus two extra controls for cue mic and headphones volume.
Basic cue piints, simple but effective looping and the standard keylock, sync and search functions make up the bulk of the buttons immediately above the jogwheels.
There’s a gain control for the microphone, and a useful tone control there too.
The “mic” on/off button glows red when it’s on, which is a good reminder that your microphone is live.
Round the back is just what you’d expect from the features already described: master and booth outs, two grounded input channels with line/phono switches, and a (dual XLR and 1/4″) microphone input socket.
Sound quality
The sound card sounded decent enough to me, and the headphones were loud enough. There was no discernible background noise or distortion on the master outputs, and for its intended market (ie small venues, mobile setups) the sound card will be just fine.
People bleat on about sound quality but for me, it’s down to the quality of your music files and how deftly you use your system more than any theoretical advantage one sound chip gives you over another.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to like about the American Audio VMS2. It’s functional, serious-looking (if a little old school/clunky, especially with those pseudo-turntable jogwheels complete with imitation strobe dots and record grooves!). It’s reasonably well built, out of plenty of metal.
The jogs work well – better than those of many DJ controllers, which is due to the software integration as much as anything. Having said that, they lack the promised dual purpose nudge/scratch functionality that most have. That wouldn’t bother me but it may be a deal-breaker for you. (Do you scratch? No? well it definitely won’t be a worry them.)
The supplied software – Virtual DJ – is good for “playing records”. It’s easy to use, the sync is very simple, and it has most of the major features you’ll need, with the possible exception of decent effects. (Filters would be nice, but you need to upgrade from the LE version for that stuff, and overall this is not an effects-led controller, as their programming is almost an afterthought.) As solid software to get a job done, Virtual DJ is OK.
You switch between computer audio and analogue inputs on the front panel.
The ability to plug external sources straight into the unit and to use the whole device as an external mixer is welcome, but the ability to route these through software too (your choice), is to be applauded – even though you’ll have to get your hands dirty setting it up , as it’s not straightforward. You’ll also have to upgrade the supplied software for this.
The inclusion of balanced XLRs reinforce the fact that this unit is meant to be used out and about, and particularly that it would be good for mobile DJs, who will appreciate being able to make a professional connection from this to either their own or their venues’ PA systems.
Likewise, the fact that there’s a booth out means that were you a mobile DJ playing a bigger venue, you could easily attach a powered monitor. Record out, also, is something that I welcome – we all like to record out sets, and this bypasses the master volume control, so you can alter the overall output according to the circumstances (ie how busy the floor is, how many people are in the venue, the fact you’ve just been shouted at to turn it down at home!) while still recording at a constant level.
Who it isn’t for
This unit is not for controller DJs cutting up loops across four decks, triggering samples, applying beatmatched effects, manually holding together multiple sources, or employing any of the other myriad advanced techniques as practised ad infinitum in bedrooms or shown off on YouTube.
No, it’s a box for spinning records digitally, that also plays nicely with existing equipment. People whose idea of DJing is just that – playing records one after the other in public – will also see much to like in the VMS2. I’m talking about bar DJs, mobile DJs, lounge DJs, party DJs, or people who want a unit that they can use for this in the future while practising with it right now.
Take proper care of it, though, and it’ll do the pro job for what is basically very little outlay.
How to choose between this and the VMS4? If you think you’re going to be constantly mixing between CDs, turntables and digital sources, you may want to look at the VMS4 instead, as because it has four channels you can keep channels permanently set up for four mixed sources, unlike on the VMS2 where you have to switch. The VMS2 would be better suited if you need to switch formats once or twice in a night, or drop the odd record in on another format, or just want the option built in for future-proofing, or “just in case”.
For the money, the VMS2 is great value, but its build quality is not as high as something like the Reloop Jockey 3, for instance. It may be made of metal, but I still think it would repay being well looked after; there is a custom soft bag available and the supplied mounts mean it can be rack mounted into a pretective case, which is what I image gigging DJs would want to do.
Take proper care of it, though, and it’ll do the pro job for what is basically very little outlay. It’s a neat little basic DJing unit that could give you years of service, and if you play in public or are intending to do so, the built-in flexibility for input and output sources would serve you well as your DJing career developed.
Video
Summary
We like:
- Decent basic standard of construction
- Pro ins and outs at a low price
- Good-to-use jogwheels
We don’t like:
- Poor effects section
- Question mark over durability of faders
- Supplied software is quite limited
Star ratings:
|
Build quality: |
|
|
Sound quality: |
|
|
Features: |
|
|
Ease of use: |
|
|
Value: |
|
|
OVERALL: |
Product details:
Size & weight: 15.7 x 12 x 1.5″ (399 x 300 x 40mm), 10.9lb (4.9kg)
Price: US$349
Buy from: Amazon.com
What do you think?
Are you a working DJ who’s been looking for this kind of flexibility in a controller? Have you considered the VMS4 but are now swayed towards this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Now go to:
DJ Midi Controllers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2011
Review & Video: Vestax VCI-100 Mk II DJ Controller
Leaked: Unofficial New Video Of Pioneer’s Latest Controller
Want to escape the bedroom and play in public - fast?
Our 1000s-selling How To Digital DJ Fast video course shows you how.
Learn to DJ Free - email course plus bonus PDF book
Sign up for our weekly email course for beginners now...
Trouble choosing a controller? Visit the web's #1 guide!
DJ Controllers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2013.
Pages: 1 2
Tags: american audio vms2, dj controllers
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Hi! I read your review and it is very insightful, but when I looked for the video I wasnt able to find the link???
hope all is well! have a good one!
[ link ]No vid, Phil?
[ link ]Does this unit physically posses filter knobs? Filter is about the only effect i regularly use, if these were present it would make it a very serious contender
On further investigation it just looks like master, phones, gains and low mid hi eq’s…. shame..
[ link ]Yeah, no filters. BTW, vid wasn’t working for some people – I’ve re-embedded, it should be fine now.
[ link ]Been using the older VMS4 version for video DJ work since last November. If the VMS2 is as solid as it’s four channel version it is a solution well-worth the price! Upgrading to Virtual DJ Pro is a no brainer.. Just do it! Great project at reasonable price!
[ link ]RE: installing the Innofader – DO NOT try to install an Innofader mid-set. When performing any kind of Innofader installation, make sure to turn off your VMS controller and disconnect it from power. You can find more information at http://www.innofader.com
Justin Woo
[ link ]Audio Innovate
Sales Rep
How would you say this holds up against the Denon MC-6000?
[ link ]The DN-MC6000 is a 4 channel Controller so you should compare it to the VMS-4 instead.
The VMS-4 is a very solid built controller with all the essential functions.
I don’t know the MC6000 but so i sadly can’t compare them though.
[ link ]American Audio is a low budget controller with faders and knobs of lower quality.
Denon MC6000 is a top quality controller with the best faders and knobs money can buy and a real 4chan mixer with matrix + more.
Check the test of the MC6000 and look for yourself:
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/01/review-denon-dn-mc6000-dj-midi-controller/
//DJ Hessler
[ link ]The VMS2 SHOULD be able to do dual mode platters-if it comes with the same accessories as the VMS4, then it comes with rubber wrap around bands for the platters that allow for pitch bending when in scratch mode.
That said, great review!!!!!
[ link ]Is THAT what they’re for? I thought they were just protectors
Bit of a weird solution, but f it works…
[ link ]Works very well actually. I never got why they don’t just put them on by default, but it is the same solution they had since the old “Velocity” CD players.
[ link ]My advise is to check one in person before you buy. It’s not very impressive. Definitely not worth 500 bucks. Maybe 300 tops
[ link ]Surely you can map out the filters using the mapper on VDJ – that’s what I’ve done with my Hercules RMX – and this looks like the next controller to replace my RMX!!
Looks really good.
[ link ]just got mine today and i love it (better than the old vms4!!
[ link ]Hi I was wandering if this had time code capabilities. Probably a stupid question but I’m new to these midi controllers. So far it’s ticking all the boxes for me. Also is the soundcard better than that of the vms4. Thanks
[ link ]VMS 4.1 has an improved soundcard. It will won’t work with Traktor or Serato timecode, you’d still need their scratch interfaces.
[ link ]Have you tested the American Audio VMS2 for recording? Do you know what might be required to setup for recording to mac/pc?
[ link ]If you only want to record what you’re doing digitally, just click “record” in your DJ software. If you want to record your microphone, analogue inputs etc, you need to route the analogue output to something. It’s usually possible to use internal audio routing on your PC/Mac to make it do this, but it would take a bit of setting up and you may need some kind of audio routing utility. You could use a second PC, or even a smartphone recording app instead.
[ link ]When recording mixes whis this unit, it’s important to be aware of the way it handles audio. As i noticed while using it in combination with mixxx on a linux machine, it works as a 2-channel audio interface. It recieves the audio from both software decks individually pre-(software-)faders and then does the mixing internally. It’s not affected by the software’s own mixing engine.
It still sends midi commands to the software though, so you get visual feedback and the software follows everything you do.
As a result, the audio output of the VMS2 and the recording the software does might not be perfectly identical, especially if fader curves dont match etc.
This applies to both channel faders, crossfaders and master gain. Channel gains are done in software and EQ’s, as you mentioned in your review, can be switched between soft- and hardware processing.
This thing screwed up my first recording when i didn’t notice the software didn’t follow my fader moves due to the still dodgy soft-takeover function in the current stable version of mixxx, so the channel fader on the vms2 was turned up and audio was coming through, while in software it was still turned down (unnoticed by me) and mixxx simply recorded silence on that channel.
Once i turned that off in the midi-script everything worked fine.
I’m telling you this because i think this illustrates the complications this “feature” can cause. So if you’re not trusting your software in this respect, i’d recommend you to record the analog audio from the booth output instead.
Now i’d like to know something from you: You’ve already tried many different controllers. Do you know of any other models working in a similar way? Maybe even most of them? I’m just being curoius.
[ link ]Thanks, Groschi. I am not aware of any other DJ controller that works like this.
[ link ]One small correction to what i just said: The headphone cue buttons are done in hardware, too.
[ link ]And with “turned that off in the midi-script” i was referring to the soft takeover.
Your concern about their past jog wheels seems warranted. I recently went into my local Guitar Center and tested this out. I was immediately caught by the loosely mounted jog wheels. I don’t know if it was because of the abuse they may have seen as a floor modeled piece of kit, but they were really bad. They wobbled so bad that they reminded me of a badly bent bicycle rim. They still functioned properly, but were very off-putting. Love the site, love the reviews. They have been very helpful.
[ link ]Has anyone else noticed that when you “nudge” a track with the rubber on the platters, it tends to bend the pitch, rather than just speed up or slow down the track to match the beatgrid of the track you’re mixing. Its VERY annoying and VERY audible when mixing. How do I change this?
[ link ]Oh, and this happens EVEN with the keylock on, someone please help me!
[ link ]