Opinions and input welcome :)

Welcome to Old Skool Anthems
The Old Skool Resource. Since 1998.
Join now

marty

Member
VIP Gold Member
Okies here we go :)

I have my trusty 1210's and lots of vinyl, so for the forseeable future, they will be going nowhere. I have had both Denon DN-S3700s and CDJ900 CD decks, but sold them at different times for financial reasons.

I've been thinking about it, and the new stuff I play is pretty much all in digital format, so I don't really need CD capability - this got me thinking about going the "controller" route.

When for example, I am playing on internet radio, I have the "chat" page open, so that I can participate in the natter that goes on, etc.

If I go the controller route, then I guess I'd either have to minimise and then keep switching between the DJ software screen and the chat screen - I can imagine this being a PITA!

My deck stand has room for the 1210s and mixer on the "main" part, and then has a shelf which I used to have the CD decks on, but this meant bringing an extra stand into play for my laptop - again, a but of a mess on.

So........ I thought a great solution would be some sort of wonderful machine that was both a pair of media players and a mixer that could take the place of my current mixer, incorporating inputs from my existing 1210s.

I have found this:

American Audio

This specific unit is also made and branded under other manufacturers and model numbers (Citronic MPX10 for one).

I know Citronic and American Audio may not be the best quality, or have the best features, etc, but this item would fit in between my 1210s, has two additional inputs (although I'd have to switch between inputs, rather than have four channels), and I would then have the upper shelf free for my laptop - also having the laptop screen free for the chat, etc.

The units are also controllers, so I'd be future proof if I ever decided to go the software route.

My style of mixing doesn't require lots of channels for sampling, or lots of accurate looping, etc, so I think one of these kiddies might just fulfill my needs. I have read of issues about the unit using 10 bit pitch sliders rather than 14 bit, but I got in touch with a couple of people that use the American Audio model and they say they have no issues - the pitch control seems to be stable and has plenty of fine adjustment.

Now I know the snobs will call for nothing but Pioneer, but a) I don't know if I can justify the cost again, b) don't really need CD capability, and c) don't need the best of the best, so long as the unit "does the job".

What do you think??? Anyone got one??

Thanks in advance :)
 

Monty

Active member
Apr 8, 2006
2,003
6
38
Hi marty! :D

I split my screen in half OSA (shoutbox) on the left side & Serato on the right side @ 1920x1200 plenty of room or you could buy a cheap second monitor hope all goes well mate! :thumbsup:
 
Technics x 2 + Rane TTM57SL mixer:

- Serato built in
- USB direct to lappy
- no need for extra soundcard box / wires,
- no need to touch the lappy as all crate loading / tune selection / loops / fx is done on the mixer itself, not on the lappy.
- hot swap digi timecode & normal vinyl
- Rane faders are slick & sick

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOlQ1nHSiNY]Rane TTM-57SL 2-Channel DJ Mixer with Serato Scratch Live - YouTube[/ame]
 

siman91

Member
Dec 28, 2002
996
3
18
51
Brisvegas
Marty I can not help with American audio although it is a brand I would not tend to look at. I have however had too many digital controllers. My advice, do not expect much more than a toy as they do not give the feel, the response or the control of vinyl. I like the idea of Shooms setup but I have the controller as my setup is in the living room so the controller can be used upstairs in my office without disturbing the wife and the idiot box.

Regarding the cdj's I have 2x cdj800's mkii which got switched on last about 6 months ago! Shout get rid of them but they are so easy to use.

Thinking of letting my vci100 mkii go for £250 which is cheap if interested to invest in Traktor S2 which would be my last attempt before giving up on digital controllers and going back purely to vinyl. Pity as I'm wanting to have a go on the OSA radio but my mixing with VCI is not up to my standards yet.

S
 

Monty

Active member
Apr 8, 2006
2,003
6
38
Technics x 2 + Rane TTM57SL mixer:

- Serato built in
- USB direct to lappy
- no need for extra soundcard box / wires,
- no need to touch the lappy as all crate loading / tune selection / loops / fx is done on the mixer itself, not on the lappy.
- hot swap digi timecode & normal vinyl
- Rane faders are slick & sick

Rane TTM-57SL 2-Channel DJ Mixer with Serato Scratch Live - YouTube

Man! i am so tempted so sell my Allen & Heath & buy that mixer i miss having my decks sideways DMC style,it would be better for when i do some more You Tube videos but i would have to get a new unit.
 

blue jammer

New member
Dec 9, 2003
9,779
0
0
and a free trapped pigeon with every copy :LOL:

hahaha :D

hahahaha innit :D

I forgot to say that as digi would seem to be the format that most new music is on I did try Pioneer CDJ (soulless & really not engaging... like driving an automatic car... with boxing gloves on), Denon CDJ with spinning platters were better but still not right, I've not tried a controller & I like the idea of stand alone mixing but as a gadget rather than a proper substitute.

Serato is simply the closest to vinyl manipulation using digi methods (Traktor always seemed to fuck up on me by going backwards & shit) & the fact that with that Rane mixer I don't even need to touch the lappy is just pure porn for me.
 

marty

Member
VIP Gold Member
£800 plus for the mixer alone though :|

I did like both the Denons and Pioneers for ease of operation; the Pioneers maybe just having the edge, but only due to the fact that they are pretty much the "club standard", and should I ever play out (rarely), at least I'd be familiar with the cueing - Denon's seemed to make more sense to me though :confused:

For the amount of "DJ'ing" I do - ie: for myself in the house, and the odd set on the interweb, I can't see the point of spending a fortune - sure, it's nice to have good gear, but I/m not sure I can justify the cost - I could save £500 or so and that could pay for (for example) a lot of oil for my heating.

Hmmmmmmm.....choices, choices. Might have to get one to try or something like that? Maybe I can find a friendly dealer who will supply one on the understanding I'm testing it before deciding........ well you never know lol
 

Benny-Digital

Active member
Apr 20, 2006
2,646
6
38
48
Pink makes the boys wink....
£800 plus for the mixer alone though :|

I did like both the Denons and Pioneers for ease of operation; the Pioneers maybe just having the edge, but only due to the fact that they are pretty much the "club standard", and should I ever play out (rarely), at least I'd be familiar with the cueing - Denon's seemed to make more sense to me though :confused:

For the amount of "DJ'ing" I do - ie: for myself in the house, and the odd set on the interweb, I can't see the point of spending a fortune - sure, it's nice to have good gear, but I/m not sure I can justify the cost - I could save £500 or so and that could pay for (for example) a lot of oil for my heating.

Hmmmmmmm.....choices, choices. Might have to get one to try or something like that? Maybe I can find a friendly dealer who will supply one on the understanding I'm testing it before deciding........ well you never know lol

You could just buy A serato box.£150/£200 :thumbsup:
 

marty

Member
VIP Gold Member
Hmmmmmm.....digital vinyl may be the way to go then - although it looks that average price is about £349 for the set-up.

I've seen bits and bobs for £100 and £150, but none are the complete lot.

Do you need different cartridges/styluses (stylii?) as I have seen some that are specifically for timecode vinyl?

Oh yeah - and how do you switch between playing normal vinyl and playing timecoded? Does the software just "not do anything" when you are playing your tunes, and then when you slap the timecoded on, it automatically comes into play?

Do you have two channels on the mixer fed back from the box and then back out again to the laptop for streaming?
 
Last edited:

Benny-Digital

Active member
Apr 20, 2006
2,646
6
38
48
Pink makes the boys wink....
Hmmmmmm.....digital vinyl may be the way to go then - although it looks that average price is about £349 for the set-up.

I've seen bits and bobs for £100 and £150, but none are the complete lot.

Do you need different cartridges/styluses (stylii?) as I have seen some that are specifically for timecode vinyl?

Oh yeah - and how do you switch between playing normal vinyl and playing timecoded? Does the software just "not do anything" when you are playing your tunes, and then when you slap the timecoded on, it automatically comes into play?

Do you have two channels on the mixer fed back from the box and then back out again to the laptop for streaming?

Your decks go into the serato box then back out into your mixer lines then another 2 from the phono thru's on the box to your mixer phono's. all you then do is switch between line and phono to go from one to the other.
 

Benny-Digital

Active member
Apr 20, 2006
2,646
6
38
48
Pink makes the boys wink....
rane-serato-diagram.gif

Easier hahahaaa.. Mate I can't recommend it enough :thumbsup:
 

blue jammer

New member
Dec 9, 2003
9,779
0
0
Yeah, Serato SL3 is amazing.

Best way of manipulating audio still using the control of vinyl.

You can select on screen if playing vinyl or timecoded control, very easy.

Worth the outlay, or buy it second hand off ebay. :thumbsup: