Buying advice: dj mixer as audio interface/DVS

[DEADWOOD-BMC]

Hey guys,

I'll try to make this as short and clear as possible I'm a bedroom DJ and producer for about 2 years now. I've been DJ'ing for two years, with a couple local performances and I'm producing for about 6 months, give or take. All in the 140 bpm dungeon style.

I started out with a Reloop Digital Jockey 2 for the DJ'ing and a Line6 tonepod soundcard for the production. After a while I've added 2 TT's and a basic Denon dn-x120 to the setup. By now it's time to upgrade the entire setup, but it seems to me I need a lot of product and I want the best quality for my budget.

What are my 'needs'?

• First of all, I need a quality 4-channel mixer. I need a mixer that gives me the ability to prepare for bigger performances, but also with plain simple good audio. A friend of mine has a DJM 900 Nexus, and to be honest, it's an amazing piece of equipment. But unfortunately, out of my budget. Keep in mind, I'll be using this mixer frequently as well.
  
  Secondly, I need a reasonably good audio interface. I'm still a very inexperienced producer and I'm coming from a totally different genre in music (been in hardcore/metal bands for years), so everything is a total new -but amazing- journey.
  
  And finally, I need a DVS-system in the likes of Traktor, Serato or Mixvibes. I'm a vinyl-dj and I love the simplicity and feel of DJ'ing with vinyl. But not everything is being released on vinyl, so I want to be able to use MP3/WAV/etc. I've been using Traktor for about a year, so it's the most familiar software for me.

At fist I thought of buying all three pieces separate, but the DJM 900 Nexus gave me the idea of buying the 3, in 1 piece of hardware equipment. But I'd like some opinions on this. I'm currently thinking about the next mixers, with current prices in my stores:

- Pioneer DJM 850 for about 1400 EUR
- Denon DN X1600 for about 1050-1100 EUR

Both are quality mixers, no doubt about that, and both have the Traktor certificed interface. But the thing I'm curious about: is it also a good soundcard for production? I'm not looking for something high-end, or with a lot of features. The most important thing about the interface is a good sound quality all round (internal mixing, external sound on monitors/headphones) and low latency. Another mixer that I really like is the Allen & Heath Xone DB:2, but unfortunately this doesn't have the Traktor interface, so I'll have to buy some sort of Traktor interface with it.

I'm not really working with external hardware/microphones (Ableton, Massive & VST's, midi-keys) and I've got no crazy plans in using other live instruments/vocals/etc. I'm also realistic about the fact that if I'm still producing in a couple of years, I'll probably have to upgrade to a high-end audio interface, but at this stage, I'm nowhere near that. So the purchase of a high end audio interface in upcoming years, is still an option.

So, in conclusion, is this a good idea, or do you guys think there are better options/solutions?

Thanks!

[Hircine]

I'd say save a bit and get a djm 850 & a small dedicated focusrite for production. I don't think the signal flow in a dj mixer is as clean and transparent as in a proper production soundcard.

[Mr_Frost]

i would look into Rane or Allen & Heath mixers both have models compatible with serato. Pioneer mixers are overated IMO

[AxeD]

Traktor Pro, A&H.

If you're going to use Traktor timecode, you'll need one of the NI interfaces.
I have the audio 8, good enough. Obviously not a real producer's interface, no mic pre amps etc..

[DEADWOOD-BMC]

i would look into Rane or Allen & Heath mixers both have models compatible with serato. Pioneer mixers are overated IMO

Well, I've always been critical about Pioneer-products, especially concerning the price/product ratio, but it seems to me the DJM 850 would be a good fit to my needs despite the fact that it's overpriced.

Rane is way out of my budget unfortunately. Anything below 1000 EUR would be fabulous, 1200 EUR is safe and 1400 EUR would be the utmost maximum I'd like to spend.

I also like the A&H (i hate the lay-out of most mixers though), but in general almost everybody is positive about their mixers. But I can't find any A&H mixer that is Serato-compatible? The only one I can find is the 4D which is Traktor-compatible. So what other Xone's would have Serato-compatibility?

Traktor Pro, A&H.

If you're going to use Traktor timecode, you'll need one of the NI interfaces.
I have the audio 8, good enough. Obviously not a real producer's interface, no mic pre amps etc..

Not really, both the DJM850 and DN-X1600 have a Traktor Scratch certified soundcard, so the only thing you need is the software and the CD's/vinyls. No need for buying an external interface. http://www.native-instruments.com/index ... tified&L=1

[AxeD]

Oh I don't really know about digital mixers.

Booths I've been in just have analogue mixers (800's), connect the interface and you're off.
Never seen people bring their own mixer, except for the all in one controllers, but they mix within Traktor.

Guess your option does give you quality equalizing and filtering (Traktor's internal mixer is not that good).
That Ecler evo looks sexy btw.