The Rotary pros/cons [Archive]

DMinus

01-24-2010, 10:35 AM

i know there have been discussions on this before, but can someone outline for me what the advantages and disadvantages are of the so-called rotary mixers out now that cater especially to DJ/club type mixers? i've been considering getting a dj mixer to maximize my MOTU outputs from the laptop for live performance. theory is i can better sub out audio to outboard processing devices, and then collect it all back in a small dj style mixer even though i won't be using the mixer that much. so i'm looking more for a dj mixer that is good transparent sound quality as opposed to feature-set and faders, eqing, etc. is a rotary the answer to that question or not?

ready, set, go go gadget SW5 experts-

Alert

01-24-2010, 10:52 AM

I like Rane's rotary/regular mixers. Simple design, no bells & whistles.

:pizza:

cardinal

01-24-2010, 12:13 PM

http://www.electronique-spectacle.com/djr400.htm

http://www.electronique-spectacle.com/media/DJR400.jpg

speaking of no bells and whistles ;) superb build quality, unbeatable components. about $2k

if I had the money I'd have this right quick.

dis=c0!

01-24-2010, 01:03 PM

while that e&s mixer looks sick, and a lot of the higher end rotary mixers are revered for having extra good sound quality, i don't know that there is any other reason to prefer a rotary mixer beyond the fact that some djs like turning a knob, while other djs like riding a fader....could be wrong tho!

s.p.e.c.t.r.e.

01-24-2010, 01:28 PM

cardinal

01-24-2010, 03:09 PM

indeed, I suppose it depends on where you are gearwise and where you want to be...

infuzion

01-24-2010, 03:35 PM

I did my first live (not Live; this was before Windows) on a rotary radio mixer, & used some rotarys when I DJed in Italy. I find big knobs more accurate & less fidgety than sliders. If you mix mostly with a crossfader I don't think it would matter either way.

If you're DIY the mixer DMinus, why don't you just leave anough room on your layout for either one, so you can switch out to see what's best? Or if it is more of a "set levels & leave it" situation, why a DJ mixer? Just get a smaller Mackie for the clean sound?

dave

01-25-2010, 12:54 PM

the thing about the old rotary mixers is that they have much hotter output potential than many modern mixers... beefy output stages sound good... the olb bozaks put out 24V and the Urei 1620 18V.....

their headphone output stages are redic also....
:)

i have a few old rotary mixers if you want to check one out...

brandon bass

01-25-2010, 01:15 PM

wow...there are so many cooler things i could blow 2Gs on...

well... that's like... your opinion, man

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/The_Big_Lebowski___Jeff_Bridges.jpg

the olb bozaks

for what he is doing that is what i would probably go with

DMinus

01-25-2010, 01:38 PM

i have a few old rotary mixers if you want to check one out...

i might take you up on that.

infuzion

01-25-2010, 02:10 PM

the thing about the old rotary mixers is that they have much hotter output potential than many modern mixers... beefy output stages sound good... the olb bozaks put out 24V and the Urei 1620 18V.I would think that is because old mixers are pure analogue vs modern mixers are digital. You simply can't overdrive digital like analoge. That has nothing to do with knob vs slider.

dave

01-25-2010, 02:21 PM

That has nothing to do with knob vs slider.

I think it has everything to do with how the mixer 'performs' sonically, which in my mind is more important than slide vs rotary pot.

i have a few slide mixers too... but they (generally) don't have the 'balls' that the old rotary units have when driving a system... (and i am not saying 'overdrive' a system, as to me that would be bad.... overdrive to me is likely someting along the lines of audible clipping... which is what i don't want....)

i attribute this to the available output voltage, and honestly simply better designed crcuits...

infuzion

01-25-2010, 08:22 PM

i attribute this to the available output voltage, and honestly simply better designed circuits...Exactly my point. Perhaps I'm confused if DMinus is asking if the potentiometer should be a knob or slider, vs the direction you seem to be looking at is knob-mixers are generally better than the typical slider mixer.

If that is the question, then a slider mixer could be the same as a pot-mixer; just replace the potentiometer with a similarly resistance item. I think sliders got more popular in the 80s due to it is MUCH easer to scratch/beat-juggle/quick-mix on slders vs pots. More popularity = more mixers = more cheaper mixers. Slider mixers never took huge hold in Italy for example, since most club DJs just do blends & beat match. I don't remember a difference pot vs high-quality slider mixers, but if you wanted a cheap mixer they were always sliders IIRC.

s.p.e.c.t.r.e.

01-27-2010, 06:35 PM

well... that's like... your opinion, man

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/The_Big_Lebowski___Jeff_Bridges.jpg

lmao... jus sayin ;)

Erik Mitchell

01-28-2010, 12:39 PM

I don't see the point, as long as there are good EQ knobs I'm golden.

DJ Hero

01-28-2010, 12:57 PM

Have you ever tried scratching with a rotary cross fader? Next to impossible.

Just Ben

01-28-2010, 12:59 PM

This has knobs.. ;)

http://www.dj-solutions.ie/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/Q/-/Q-Spand_Pro.jpg

brandon bass

01-28-2010, 01:00 PM

does that thing have fiber optic level meters? lol, and a "tru bass" knob to really rock it out!!

brandon bass

01-28-2010, 01:02 PM

Have you ever tried scratching with a rotary cross fader? Next to impossible.

never played on a rotary with a rotary cross fader. usually they have a linear or no crossfader at all. which mixer do you speak of?

dave

01-28-2010, 01:09 PM

i've seen old school cats quickly drop songs in on a rotary with no xfader...

check out the martinez brothers live... almost as fast a a quick crossfader cut...
and aren't there some fader-less scratches?

agreed tho' won't be crabbing or anything...

and btw,the classic rotary mixers don't have EQ per channel like most younger cats are used to....
unless they've been heavily modified

Just Ben

01-28-2010, 01:10 PM

But do they have a TRU BASS and WOW buttons?

I need a WOW button on my mixer.

dave

01-28-2010, 01:13 PM

But do they have a TRU BASS and WOW buttons?

I need a WOW button on my mixer.
old biamp mixers have a bass processor, labeled "bass impact" onboard, and it sounds pretty good IIRC

http://www.phase-acoustics.de/dj5600.gif

Fonzie

01-28-2010, 01:14 PM

Needs more turbo button

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lqcapwW1CkU/Sj_xDf0NodI/AAAAAAAADgo/HzM_Y8aiXYM/s800/Old_PC.jpg

Just Ben

01-28-2010, 01:18 PM

If you had bass impact, wow and tru bass buttons you'd really only need deep thump and epic build buttons and you wouldn't even need records anymore.. :)

wowowowowow bass impact bass impact TRU BASS TRU BASS TRU BASS deep thump epic build wowowowowow deep thump

Look, I just made dubstep!!

brandon bass

01-28-2010, 01:22 PM

infuzion

01-28-2010, 01:29 PM

and btw,the classic rotary mixers don't have EQ per channel like most younger cats are used to....
unless they've been heavily modifiedWhich may be one of the reasons why rotary "sound better" since
+ more features = more S/N.

WAVERUNNER

01-28-2010, 09:14 PM

I don't see the point, as long as there are good EQ knobs I'm golden.

You have obviously not ever played with a pro rotary.

Go for any old Rane with analog EQs and you won't be sorry.

WAVERUNNER

01-28-2010, 09:17 PM

This has knobs.. ;)

http://www.dj-solutions.ie/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/Q/-/Q-Spand_Pro.jpg

I bought one of these for $200 a while back. I didn't realize it has the plasma lights until I got it home and powered it up. Cool. Suprisingly, this mixer has about the best sound out of all the low priced mixers. I was suprised how good the EQs sounded. Still doesn't compare to the Ranes, but, for low end, it's damn good.