DJs of All Stripes Detail What Excites Them About a Mixer—And What Turns Them Off

Published in the March 2007 issue of DJ Times Magazine
Volume 20 - Number 3
By Jim Tremayne

For DJs, the mixer is probably the closest piece of gear they have to an instrument. But as we all know, the applications can vary wildly.

For example, many mobiles require a different feature set from those specified by club jocks. The mixer needs of club jocks are often dictated by the genres of music they play. And the mixer concerns of turntablists couldn’t be more unique.

So, in an effort to determine the needs of these very disparate market segments, we asked three questions of a panel of professional mobile, scratch and club DJs:
   • For your type of DJing, what is the most important aspect of a DJ mixer and why?
   • For your type of DJing, what is your favorite mixer and why?
   • For your type of DJing, what is your biggest pet peeve with a mixer?

Alright, research-and-development people, dig in—here’s your report.


SCRATCH DJ/TURNTABLISTS
DJ Annalyze, Rochester, N.Y.
Important aspects? The crossfader, the EQs and the size. I need a light crossfader for scratching, but not too light. I need extremely sharp curve on that fader as well, so that my scratches sound clean. Also I need good EQs that have full cut, so that my mixing can be clean. Also size definitely matters. I need nothing more than a mixer that’s 10-inches wide and has no more than two channels.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-909. It’s my favorite because it has only two channels. It’s a great size. The EQs are perfect and the crossfader is on-point. Also, effects are built-in, so I don’t have to drag my EFX box to shows.
Pet peeve? Size—I hate big mixers. Also hate a heavy or unsharp crossfader and volume faders that don’t have a curve—I don’t get it.

Faust & Shortee, N. Hollywood, Calif.
Important aspect? Crossfader. It must have a sharp curve that’s good for scratching, plus user-friendly cueing, which makes for easier mixing.
Fave mixer? Rane TTM 56 or 57SL. The 56 has a dope pre-amp with a limiter so the sound quality is amazing. It has durable magnetic faders and the crossfader is versatile for mixing and scratching. The 57SL integrates all the features of the 56 mixer and the Serato Scratch Live hardware complete with a button interface that controls the software so you don’t have the touch your laptop. It has effects included within the mixer that you can use with or without the software. You can also record with the Serato software using the mixer’s high-quality soundcard.
Pet peeve? Pain-in-the-ass cue systems. The cueing sucks when you have a ton of buttons to push—they slow you down and we hate it when the volume drops in the cue setting and blares in the master setting. Or worse, if the cue has a crossfader and it drops in volume when you hear both records together—how lame.

Sahpreem King, Miami, Fla.
Important aspects? I prefer the short-throw fader for quick cutting. Also, the replaceable fader is the best thing since sliced bread—I wear them out so fast.
Fave mixer? Numark DMX 06, a small powerhouse with a 24-bit digital output, which I use to sample from my record collection. Whether I am laying down a mix tape or sampling for a new production, I use this little gem to give me the best analog-to-digital conversion quality in a simplistic mixer.
Pet peeve? Too many gadgets. Keep it simple—the less buttons to get in the way the better.

MOBILES/PARTY JOCKS
Stephen Jade, Professional Entertainment Group, Ottawa, Ont.
Important aspects? Graphic EQ on mixer output to adjust for the different venues we play and speaker systems we use. A high/mid/bass EQ on each channel—including mic channels because the source material varies so much, i.e.—music videos are still the worst for consistency and entertainers’ voices are so different.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-600. It has a good solid feel and has held up on the road. For larger productions, we would use a studio or live production board such as a Mackie. We have also found that Behringer mixers have a lot of unique features, especially on their larger studio boards and they have held up well for us.
Pet peeve? Not enough of the right types of inputs and outputs, and control over them. For example, is there a subwoofer out with control of the volume and crossover point? Is there a booth out to send to a monitor amp? Is it ¼-inch in or XLR or both? Is there more than one main out and does it have its own volume control?

Russ Harris, Show On The Road, Chicago
Important aspects? Flexibility and simplicity. If it’s too complex, I stay away from it. I’m not real big into tricks; I need something that I can jump onto immediately and go to work on.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-600—it does the job. It has all of the inputs I need and the effects I use on a consistent basis. I can also split the headphones into a mono split, so I can be “right on” when it comes to blending any song together. 
Pet peeve? I don’t like the mixers without knobs. It’s much easier to control your levels with the knobs, as opposed to the faders.

DJ Terry Moran, Crown Entertainment, Lowell, Mass.
Important aspects? Solid construction, loud headphone output, precise sliders and faders. Multiple options for input/output. A clean sound and not too many bells and whistles for effects. 
Fave mixer? The Rane mixers—quality all the way through on each model, and I love the resistance on the sliders and faders. All mixers should come standard now with USB ins/outs. Are you listening, R&D people?
Pet peeve? Anything less than four-band EQ on each channel. I like to drop bass or mids in the mix. Sometimes two songs blend, but the basslines are so far off, you need to eliminate one to make it pop out right. Three-band EQs are OK, but drop too much out. 

Dave Lundon, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Important aspect? Versatility, because I DJ and get hired to run sound. So I may be using all mics one day, then 10 different audio sources another.
Fave mixer? I have several, depending on the application. The Behringer series, price-wise, and they do give you a lot of sends and other patch points, loops, etc. For sound apps, the Yamaha audio mixers are good and Allen & Heath are great, if pricey. For DJ mixers, I like either Numark or Rane for sound quality. I generally just stick to the bare bones on DJ mixers since I normally just use them as a submix to a larger board.
Pet peeve? DJ mixers with lack of input channels. I use a lot of video and do game shows, so I need more channels than most.

Don Swindler, Any Kinda Music, Springfield, Ohio
Important aspect? I’m all-digital, so it’s sound, versatility, and ability to do other tasks like crowd interaction and light programing.
Fave mixer? I still have my American Audio Q-2422 in my rack, but use the PCDJ FX/KJ program, which has a built-in mixer. I do run my music thru the mixer, but for the most part I set it and forget it.
Pet peeve? Carrying too much weight—I turn 50 this year.

CLUB DJs
Misstress Barbara, Montreal
Important aspects? EQs—they need to be powerful, but not too much, and be separate per channel. I also enjoy filters on some mixers, and effects on some others.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-800 because it has good EQs, as well as effects and amazing filters.
Pet peeves? When the EQs are not separate per channel.

Alex Gold, Alex Gold Music, London
Important aspect? Accurate top, middle and bottom gains—nothing worse than an oversensitive mixer which affects your performance when the gains are too sudden.
Fave mixer? The rotary Urei or the Allen & Heaths for their precision.
Pet peeves? Mixers which distort and/or limit sound.

The Scumfrog, Effin Records, NYC
Important aspect? At least a 3-band EQ on each channel.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM800—great sound quality and endless processing possibilities.
Pet peeves? Unreliable gear.

Jon Fugler, 2Bit Pie/Fluke, London
Important aspect? The integration/matching of computer-based software systems. The mixer is now more than a control surface for multiple sources—it has become the interface to much of the equipment used.
Fave mixers? Allen & Heath’s Xone V6 for its basic mixer functions and also the Xone 3D, as it can control Traktor, accept sources and be the mixer I want it be.
Pet peeves? For those of us who turn up to play using computers, would it be so difficult to make some inputs a little more accessible? It would save on the nail-biting-connection-in-the-dark nightmare. Oh, and maybe add a cigarette lighter...

Ivano Bellini, Club Space, Miami
Important aspect? The sound—no contest. You can have the coolest mixer in the world with the best gizmos on it, but if the sound is poor it’s worthless to me.
Fave mixer? Urei because of its excellent sound. I also love the Pioneer DJM-1000—great sound and features.
Pet peeve? Knobs and faders that get loose and start flying all over.

Deepak Sharma, Hidden Recordings, NYC
Important aspect? EQs in a row on top of the channel. Also, a lighted button to press when changing channels. Also, filters are fun, but EQs are necessary.
Fave mixer? Allen & Heath X:one series. Great traction on the fader for slow, blended mixing, but also for quick mixing on techno tracks, when you need to move quickly, but keep the sound consistent.
Pet peeve? Mixers without EQs. For techno, tech-house and minimal tracks, you must be able to control the low end because it adds powerful elements to the night. Otherwise, you can sound boring and repetitive.

Johnny Vicious, Vish Records, NYC
Important aspects? Quality sound and knobs.
Fave mixers? Urei 1620—flawless; then the Allen & Heath—a perfect mixer with warm sound and great low-end cut-off; then the Rane 2016, the Urei copy—love the EQ expansion.
Pet peeve? I hate faders. They don’t belong in a house club—keep ’em in the hip-hop room.

DJ Theo, Pacha, NYC
Important aspect? EQs—it’s essential in mixing two to three records at once without the system overmodulating.
Fave mixers? Rane 2016 with XP attachment and the Pioneer DJM-1000 with knob attachments.
Pet peeve? Flimsy knobs and/or faders.

Sin Morera, Sin/Mimi Music, NYC
Important aspect? Knobs that can control the mix and volume 100-percent.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-800, a 4-channel unit digital IO Effects and MIDI control with knobs.
Pet peeves? Slides, lack of volume control.

Ulysses, Scatalogics Records, NYC
Important aspect? Smooth faders on each separate input channel, plus a smooth crossfader. I don’t always DJ in a totally seamless style—I like to throw stuff in quickly sometimes—but I like to be able to make it appear seamless.
Fave mixers? Allen & Heath or Rane mixers—quality pre-amps, so they don’t distort easily. Also, the old Ureis are warm and smooth.
Pet peeves? I hate battle-style mixers because the crossfaders are too light and touchy to blend records smoothly.

Paul Dailey, Rise/XM Satellite, Boston
Important aspects? Sound quality, robust EQ section, well-designed send/return and VU meters.
Fave mixer? Allen & Heath Xone 92—best mixer in the world. Sounds great, well-designed with tight EQs, great send/return, and meters, and the filters are to die for.
Pet peeves? Units with poor gain structure that go into the red too easily. Also, cheap faders that bleed.

Justin Paul, Playloop Records, Philly
Important aspects? Great signal-to-noise ratio, balanced audio out, built-in effects that lock to the tempo and MIDI.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-600. It has been my most solid DJ mixer since my first mixer, a Numark 1550.
Pet peeves? Loose knobs and faders, not having balanced XLR audio output and a line/phone button, instead of a switch.

Robert LaFrance, Alchemy, New Haven, Conn.
Important aspects? Sound quality—any system is only as strong as its weakest link and, as every audio source will route though the mixer, it must sound great. 
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-800. Its combination of top-notch digital sound, durability, precise EQs and unique color effects (like harmonic tuning and filter sweeps) make it stand out.
Pet peeve? Those tiny grounding screws drive me nuts! Can someone please come up with a better solution than trying to squeeze my fat fingers in between eight RCA cables to re-connect the turntable’s ground wire that came loose in the middle of a set?

Oscar P, Open Bar Music, NYC
Important aspects? Size and design.
Fave mixers? Allen & Heath, Rane, Denon, Bozak, Urei—I’m old-school, so I can play on anything.
Pet peeve? Not enough ins and outs, not portable.

Jimi Bruce Krates, FullO’Jointz Musik , Nashville
Important aspects? Effects like reverb or echo, quality EQs and the ability to sample on the fly.
Fave mixers? Numark DXM 06 and the Pioneer series. For tight budgets, Geminis do the job.
Pet peeve? Those damn little 500-volt bendable lights—the contact point invariably stops being tight, and renders it useless.

Masi & Mello, So Deep Music, Jackson, N.J.
Important aspect? Individual channel EQs make for cleaner and smoother mixing.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-1000—clean sound, built like a tank, smooth faders and the large three-band isolators.
Pet peeve? No individual channel EQs.

DJ Bipjeffington, Club Bang, L.A.
Important aspect? Simplicity.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-800—it’s easy to use and has great fidelity.
Pet Peeve? Oversensitive crossfaders.

Dave Gadbois, Soundz Creative, Birmingham, Ala.
Important aspect? Simplicity. I hate clutter. I want to get through a mix without accidentally losing the midrange because I hit an EQ kill button while crossfading.
Fave mixer? The old Bozak CMA 10-2DL knob mixer, then any of the Rane units. They’re well-built and have powerful headphone output.
Pet peeve? Mixers with feature quantity, instead of product quality.

Scott Henry, Buzzlife Productions, Washington, D.C.
Important aspect? A tightly controlled, accurate, smoothly sloped rotary input fader (aka a potentiometer) for long, well-controlled mixes.
Fave mixer? The original Urei 1620 because of its large, warm sound. If you can find one, it’ll sell for $2,000 and up.
Pet peeve? Insufficient volume on the headphone-out/cue jack, or a mixer with more options/knobs than are necessary—don’t confuse me!   

Filo & Peri, Crowd Control Recordings, NYC
Important aspects? Design and the layout. A mixer can have a lot of bells and whistles, but a poor layout and design will keep people from using it more than once in a club.
Fave mixer: Pioneer DJM-800—great access to effects.
Pet peeve? No individual bass/mid/treble control

Jennifer Shapiro, DJ Times, Boca Raton, Fla.
Important aspects? Reliability and durability. Adjustable crossfaders and channel faders.
Fave mixer? Pioneer DJM-1000—easy hookups with samplers and effects, plus great sound quality.
Pet peeve? Not enough power in the headphone amps.

Phil Turnipseed, Promo Only, Edison, N.J.
Important aspect? I blend and ride my mixes a lot, so tightness in the controls. It’s nice to feel that slight resistance on the faders so you can “feel” the beats on top of each other.
Fave mixers? The original Urei or the Rane MP 2016a for clarity. Also, the Denon DN-X400—simple and effective—and the Pioneer DJM-800 for the effects and sound.
Pet peeve? Style over substance.

Ray Velasquez, Billboard Reporter, NYC
Important aspects? Simplicity and reliability—just straight-up quality.
Fave mixer? Rane MP22 or MP24—a solid and reliable workhorses. I’ve owned my MP22 for more than a decade.
Pet peeve? Too many bells and whistles—don’t need ’em.

DJ Cinful, Original Cin Music, Denver
Important aspects? A channel for video and simple effects.
Fave mixers? The Pioneer series—I can hook up my Serato system and my Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD turntables.
Pet peeves? I hate knob mixers. I know DJs swear by them, but I prefer up-faders.  

Brenda Black, The Ritz, NYC
Important aspects? I just need the basics, but I like each channel to have EQ.
Fave mixer? Don’t have one, really. As long as it works, I’m happy.
Pet peeves? Lack of durability—like when the headphone jack breaks.