High-End Controller vs. Standalone Mixer

I almost exlusively do mobile DJ-ing these days. I now have a DDJ-SX (through a gear trade), but had a Denon MC6000mk1 before that.

While I like the SX, I am still contemplating going out and getting the MC6000mk2. It predecessor was, imho, the ultimate mobile gear. It was compact (19″) yet complete in features. While the jogs where on the small(ish) side, as I don’t scratch or do other stuff like that (mostly use the jogs for bending/nudging), everything is there. It functions as a great stand-alone mixer with loads of input matrix options which I totally love. The build quality is the best, bar none (I don’t usually do “the best” qualifications because most features are highly personal, but on the topic of plain physical build quality I dare anyone to show me a better controller). It has TWO seperate mic channels, both with 3-way EQ per channel! The mic channels have on/off buttons (set the right level once and leave it), ducking and echo (so that lady doing a little karaoke song at a wedding sounds a bit better than dry). It has split cue (hear master sound in one ear and cue sound in the other), so mixing in your headphones is a lot easier to do. Audio quality is great. Balanced outputs are there for both master our (XLR) and Booth out (Jack). One Mic input is combo I think, the other jack. It’s all there in my opinion.

The thing lacking is real performance pads, but you can fix that by adding something like the Reloop NEON if you need them.

Well you can tell which way my preference goes.

As it’s so compact I would have room on my fold-away DJ Booth counter to stick two Numark NDX-500 mediaplayers next to my controller that operate as back-up. Everything in flightcases of course. I always keep two floor-filling tracks cued up for the purpose. So, if my laptop crashes, I hit play, yell something through the mic and off we go. THEN I will start worrying if I can revive the laptop or replace it with my spare laptop. You could, instead of media/cd-players, also opt of a tablet or even smartphone with just iTunes or DJ software as backup. Totally up to you of course.

I know my colleague Terry_42 is a Reloop Terminal Mix 8 afficiado. He loves it. He has opted for a small PA mixer to compensate for some of the things it lacks and for his mic channels. Personally his reasons for chosen the TM8 don’t resonate with me, hence my choice for the MC6000.

Guilty as charged 😀

I’d only buy a mixer if you plan on using some kind of “decks” like CDJs or turntables.

If you’re doing all your “deck work” from the controller, then don’t bother with a mixer. Just buy one with mixer capabilities.

Chuck, I accuse you of shenanigans… you are ACTUALLY contemplating an MCX8000, you are just trying to come up with a good argument for getting one. Any contemplation of the MC6000Mk2 is merely your backup plan. 😉

AH! My bad, I didn’t notice someone performing necroforumancy. My bad, sorry.

I would say to look right at the Denon MC4000. I really love mine. But this is a funny post time-wise because I just decided to sell mine so I can focus on my DVS setup. Because I use a Xone:23C, I can still mix with just that combined with my laptop in external mode using the keyboard for hotcues and play/stop for mobile gigs. It’s a compromise but because that one mixer can handle analog and software mixing and can be used at home and at a gig, I can’t justify keeping the Denon controller because I’m looking at a cross country move and need to downsize, even though it’s awesome.