Diffrerence Between Software and Hardware Mixer

If you have a powerful enough computer, clean from garbage and optimized for DJ use, you shouldn’t be able to feel any difference at all. To get there it’s important that you make sure everything is set up correctly. A Denon or Pioneer CDJ/DJM has a dedicated built in processor that does all of the work for each unit. When you use software, your computer needs to be able to handle as many tracks you intend to use (think tracks, loops, samples) and with the mixer, all of the effects you intend to use. The more you use at the same time, the faster CPU, and hard drive you’ll need, preferably a fast SSD. If you have a PC, you will also need to install an ASIO driver to get the latency down to a minimal. In Mac that’s not necessary. The mixer in the MC6000mk2, is working as a standalone hardware mixer, so it’s not dependent on the computer to work. You can bring your HC4500 and connect it to 2 channels and use it for backup and as a complement until you have fully converted to be a controllerist 🙂 . If you don’t have any experience or interest in computers, now it’s a good time to dig a little deeper in to that world. Your computer will be the difference between a happy and joyful experience and a nightmare. I’m sure someone here on the forum can recommend the basics to get things going the right way. At least, if you have a PC, Windows 10 comes to mind. Make sure you shut the windows update service down. Also shut down LAN, BT, WIFI and with that pause your AV program until next restart. With a clean computer, those are the services/functions that most likely will disturb you when playing. If you can afford it, the new Denon MCX8000 will give you the best from booth software and hardware as it can be used with USB media and Serato at the same time, or apart. With the USB you don’t need a computer connected to play. Pioneer has a similar unit but with a little different approach and higher price, the XDJ-RX. You can find Reviews of them here at digital dj tips. Good luck with your new gear.

Benfleet, can I assume you are using the HC4500 with a computer currently? If so, a different controller isn’t going to put a lot of extra strain on your computer. Peter is wrong is his description, your computer would currently be doing the work – the HC4500 is just a midi controller when linked to a computer. I think he is mixing up the HC4500 with a CD/media player unit.

Anyway, back on track with your question… I’ve used both types of systems and the biggest change you’ll notice moving from a hardware mixer to a software mixer is the loss of the extra layer of gain control. On a hardware mixer, the software applies gain to a track and then sends out a fully open channel to the mixer. On the mixer you can fine tune your gain some more before doing your thing.

On a software mixer, adjusting that gain dial is directly effecting the setting in the software, there is no additional layer of control. Additionally, anything you do with the faders isn’t being done to the signal, it’s being done inside the software, and only the fully processed master output gets sent to your controller. If your computer is older or slower, you can start to notice latency issues here (however the 4500 is a pretty demanding unit so again, if it was working fine you should still be okay).

As for which is better – many will tell you there is no noticeable difference. I feel there is. Really, it’s personal preference.

At the end of the day the integration of all-in-one controllers is such that there really is no need to go modular anymore.

It’s also easier to show up at a place and put your master output in the house mixer and be done with it, while at the same time being fully and totally familiar with everything on your controller.

Most analogue mixer are pretty straightforward. One of the more tricky things is FX use though. Each analogue mixer will have different ones and different ways to assign them and set parameters. Some won’t have FX at all. Some will have only one available FX at a time. On your controller you often have the option to use two FX channels which you can assign to the channel of your liking and which often consists of one 3-parameter effect or for example 3 stacked ones. Giving you way more creative options. On your controller it pays to get familiar with those options, on a (third-party) analogue mixer I feel it’s extra work, limiting options and generally a pain.

^^ My repair guy also used that term for the 6000, although with far less affection after having to spend over an hour removing screws just to open the unit up.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you Denon doesn’t build war-ready DJ gear! lol