Arkadiusz Mikina

no worries 🙂

I am also wondering if buying higher/high grade of USB A-USB B to connect my MCX to the laptop makes any sense if the signal is digital 0/1 only so the cable shouldn’t affect the quality of the signal (like it does with analog signals) but I suppose it doesn’t belong in this thread so will start a new one hehe

cheers

Vintage is absolutely right!

you usually have little control over what ‘sound amplification’ has to be used at a venue so unless you have influence in that respect the sound quality argument of a fully analogue mixer may not shine through.

I think rotaries are more suited for home where you have total control (and money) over everything. And as we all know the most important rule for us all: ‘your system will sound as good as the weakest element in the system’. So at home, if you have the determination and funds to use ultra high quality components for everything (how about XLR cables for 700 euro each, anyone?) you may reap rewards from the sound quality improvement (by keeping the signal analogue from the beginning to an end).

The argument that Vin brings about the music creation – it’s an interesting one. Music that we mostly listen to and mix as DJs is indeed created in ‘a digital way’ and only then converted into analog medium when vinyl is pressed. So ideally, you would want to mix music on a 100% analogue purist system/mixer which is analog in the entire production process – this may be impossible or miss the point. Would you mix classical music on a DJ mixer?
Also an interesting thing I have noticed: look at our ‘hearing apparatus’. Ear is analogue and everything but how does the sound ‘end up’? It does end up being converted into electrical current (so digital form) when it is passed from the ear to the brain right? So one can argue that actually digital music can indeed be more ‘compatible with us’. Interesting stuff for sure, lots to talk about 😉

cheers

Hey

where do I start….. 😀

mcx8000
Picked it up yesterday. Played around with it only for couple of hours but……OMG! just buy it!
It’s not a controller – it’s an epitome of digital DJing encased in metal box – that simple.

Reloop TM8
While I was at the shop and was waiting to get served I noticed TM8 on the display so….I played with it – what an impressive piece of kit honestly for the price ! All metal, solid, great build and so on. It costs like 400 euro in my country (Poland) but looks and feels 2-3 times more – easily on par with the most expensive Pioneers that ‘everyone thinks is best and the only one’. Generally, I think that Reloop has made such a technological leap in recent 4-5 years it’s unbelievable. I have just got a PA system from Reloop called Groove Set 12 and you know what? It’s just mind blowingly good – it’s very well engineered in terms of sound stakes – very very well calibrated and tuned sound. And it does 2 things for me: it’s amazing at home when DJ practicing (the bass is so deep and precise it’s like a joke – trust me) + I can do small gigs with it. Best part? I got it for 600 euro – this is a joke. I have listened to stuff over 1000 euro and nothing plays better then this!
Reloop is no longer Reloop 7 or 10 years ago. They have amazing products! Controller – TM8 is amazing when you consider it costs 400 euro (+ all metal). Turntable: 7000/8000 are the best TTs you can buy bar ‘new old mk2/mk5’ Technics (and these, of course, can be bought but new but cost 2000 euro each) – and I know it for a fact as my mate installs stuff for concerts and festivals in the USA so he knows what he is talking about and is relaying all this knowledge to me (wow/flutter the same as Technics, torque 3 times more then Technics and adjustable, great build, Ortofone carts collab and so on). Modular controller – Neon is extremely good. Headphones – rhp20 (cool looking, loud and powerful bass with a price to laugh at at 80 euro).
There is definitely a ‘stigma for Reloop’ out there. I can see it with my friend DJs who laugh at Reloop as a brand. But that’s all to do with their experience with Reloop 10 years back. NOT NOW! I encourage everyone to give Reloop a try – you will not be disappointed. I think I will start a topic about ‘Reloop stigma’ and ‘present state of things’ in that matter. Particularly try the Groove Set PA system and you will be blown away by its sound and price (instead of buying ‘studio monitors’ which, as even the name suggests, are intended/desgined for studio use and work and not bedroom/home DJ practice/fun).

cheers

hey mate

I was just saying what I have noticed that people refer to as ‘analogue mixer’ – I have noticed these three instances and imho the 3rd situation is ‘really true’. If you have DACs in the mixer then the sound gets digitized, simple.

Most rotary mixers on the other hand are analog – they don’t have DACs. The new RAne 2014/2015 is the odd one out – it’s rotary + designed to look like vintage (i.e. analog era) but fully is fully digital mixer – sounds very very flat and transparent – not my cup of tea at all, although amazing mixer in its own right.
What you have to bear in mind is….if an analog/rotary mixer is IC based or is fully discrete. Discrete signal path distorts the signal less therefore is preferable. What I am trying to say is that analogue mixer which is discrete based is probably the best sounding architecture in the mixer you can get (bar the passive analog mixer but these are very hard to get/find and are ultra ‘no compromise’ stuff). For example: IC based analogs are DJR400, DN78 or Alpha9000, where fully discrete analogs are old bozak CMA, Condesa products (probably the best sounding mixers in the world right now) etc.

I guess it all comes down to how much you wanna spend on a mixer and also what signal you will be feeding into it (hot or cold).
As far as ‘cheapest rotary’ mixer – nothing can touch Omni. Nothing at all.

I think that ‘analogue mixer’ is interpreted in 3 different ways by people (and it shouldn’t be so):
1. Analogue meaning it has a physical form as opposed to digital which is physicalless and ’emulated by software’
2. Analogue meaning it has sound card built in
3. Analogue meaning it has 100% analogue signal path (no DACs!)

From what I know and understand an analogue mixer is when the signal is not converted into digital form by DACs only (so the option number 3) – taking this standpoint, most of the mixers on the market are digital – all Pioneers are digital, most of Rane is digital (even rotary MP2014/5 is fully digital) and a few exceptions come from A&H (e.g. one 23 and 43 but db2/4 are digital).
General consensus is that analogue mixer sounds better than digital architecture.

Rotary vs fader?
Rotary ‘mix level’ knob is supposed to feel easier to control. Why? This is to do with human’s hand anatomy – hand/ forearm is constructed in a way that makes it easier to make movements which are circular than linear. For example: it is easier for us to draw a circle then 100% straight line – we are not robots 🙂
Also, the other factor with knobs on rotaries is the major one: you can rest your hand on them when using – you cannot rest your hand on a fader.
Of course, everyone likes different things and if something works for someone then….go for it! 😉

greetinx 🙂

Over a year has passed…..
anyone heard the Axis 12 now?

or can point to a comprehensive review somewhere on the internet plz?
thx