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The cult of rotary mixers

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Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#41

Post by laumars »

weinzierl wrote: post #16

One feature that faders have is clear visual and haptic feedback - a thing that is not as clear with knobs. For rotary controls not only are the markings smaller if they exist at all but you have to deal with angles instead of distances, for which we know from studies of pie charts for example, our brains are not well equipped for. Then there is the problem that for haptics you need a marking on the circumfence which…

I think you've covered the real crux of it. Any DJ worth their salt can switch between faders and rotaries but faders do offer an additional visual feedback plus are a little easier for doing some turntablism effects (which is why I tend to favour faders when given an option between the two). However rotaries really come into their own on digital mixers / MIDI controllers.

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#42

Post by namdnay »

lisper wrote: post #17
vinay427 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you picked the other company that is most known for an extremely fun relatively affordable car: the S2000 :) I feel like neither Mazda nor Honda are appropriate here, anyway.

I nominate Acura as the nameplate with the least fun to drive cars.

Dacia all the way

(not that they're bad cars)

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#43

Post by lisper »

namdnay wrote: post #42
lisper wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I nominate Acura as the nameplate with the least fun to drive cars.

Dacia all the way (not that they're bad cars)

Acuras aren't bad cars. In fact, they are quite good. Comfortable. Well-designed. Efficient. Reliable. And incredibly boring (except the NSX, of course, but that doesn't really count because it is so utterly unlike all of the other cars in their lineup).

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#44

Post by laumars »

cellover wrote: post #23
l33tbro wrote: post #19

Audiophile stuff is so often a bunch of baloney, but a vintage Bozak or Urei rotary actually does sound superior to modern mixers in a pretty noticeable way. Even for colder electronic stuff like minimal techno, I think the discrete components make things sound rounder and just more pleasant. Maybe the best rotary mixers being built today are by a guy in Adelaide, Australia (1). You'll have to wait 3 months (at least…

This reminds me of the best Midi sequencer in the world that is being built by Sequentix: the Cirklon (1): a no compromise hardware sequencer hand built and built to last, with unique features. The waiting list is around 6 to 10 months! (1) https://www.sequentix.com/shop/cirklon-hardware-sequencer

I've never spent more than £150 on a MIDI controller and have taken mine on the road on many occasions for live performances too.

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#45

Post by empath75 »

All mixers use almost all rotary controls — the only non rotary controls on most mixers are the channel faders and the cross fader. The primary advantage of a channel fader not being rotary is that you can see at a glance where it’s at, and quickly move from one setting to another to a rough level of precision. When you’re doing hip hop or certain kinds of house mixing (think your classic Chicago house style like Bad Boy Bill), that’s essential. You’re just banging through records a couple minutes at a time, and your hands are off the mixer all the time in your record bag or whatever.

I used to be a progressive house or trance dj, though and I was playing 10 minute records with 3-4 minute transitions and I tended to have my hands on the mixer all the time making minute adjustments, so a rotary mixer with the finer control made more sense.

All the nonsense about sound quality is just bullshit. Nobody at a night club gives a shit about sound quality, as long as like your record needle is clean and you aren’t doing obvious bullshit like pushing the sound into the red.

I was a DJ for five or 6 years— I played everything from dive bars to mega clubs for thousands of people. I’ve talked to hundreds of DJ’s about djing, including very well known names. I’ve never once had a conversation with any of them about audiophile stuff in the context of a club. Some of them are into it in their home studios, but when you’re talking about mixers and turntables— it’s only about user interface issues (or the quality of the effects add ons)

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#46

Post by mxfh »

laumars wrote: post #41
weinzierl wrote: post #16

One feature that faders have is clear visual and haptic feedback - a thing that is not as clear with knobs. For rotary controls not only are the markings smaller if they exist at all but you have to deal with angles instead of distances, for which we know from studies of pie charts for example, our brains are not well equipped for. Then there is the problem that for haptics you need a marking on the circumfence which…

I think you've covered the real crux of it. Any DJ worth their salt can switch between faders and rotaries but faders do offer an additional visual feedback plus are a little easier for doing some turntablism effects (which is why I tend to favour faders when given an option between the two). However rotaries really come into their own on digital mixers / MIDI controllers.

First it signal's "I don't do superfluous effects and scratches even if I wanted." The boutique type mixer has a whole different niche market than most comparably mass market mixers.

Also with faders it's easier to do audible mistakes (especially when not sober) since smooth linear motion seems harder to control, than a mapping to rotary motion. And they're harder to accidentally move, (and kids stay away from them, since they dont know what to do).

Let just look at the recently announced Denon Prime 4 all in one solution. Looks great on concept, specs and useful features, but still manages to look like a flashy plastic toy in.

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#47

Post by [deleted] »

laumars wrote: post #44
cellover wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This reminds me of the best Midi sequencer in the world that is being built by Sequentix: the Cirklon (1): a no compromise hardware sequencer hand built and built to last, with unique features. The waiting list is around 6 to 10 months! (1) https://www.sequentix.com/shop/cirklon-hardware-sequencer

I've never spent more than £150 on a MIDI controller and have taken mine on the road on many occasions for live performances too.

[deleted]

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#48

Post by whatusername »

monadgonad wrote: post #11
antris wrote: post #2

I've been playing records for a few years and have had the pleasure of playing with a DJR400. Some personal additions to the article I'd like to share: 1. The physical feel of the device is amazing. Every knob feels and looks both smooth and incredibly sturdy. It's like the difference between driving a Mazda and a Porsche. Madza might be more versatile, practical, and cost-effective. But which one of them is more fun…

> It's like the difference between driving a Mazda and a Porsche You mean Honda? Bit of an odd comparison when the Mazda MX5/Miata is one of the most well-known fun drives.

Not to mention the RX7/RX8.. (Given we are talking about "rotaries")

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#49

Post by davidkuhta »

scotty79 wrote: post #40
GarvielLoken wrote: post #32

I thought this was gonna be about blenders :(

I expected it to be about Kitchen Aid. They have cult like following.

+1 for KA Stand Mixer fans. From making your own pasta and ground beef to whipping creamy mash potatoes, those things are awesome.

Re: The cult of rotary mixers

#50

Post by laumars »

mxfh wrote: post #46
laumars wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you've covered the real crux of it. Any DJ worth their salt can switch between faders and rotaries but faders do offer an additional visual feedback plus are a little easier for doing some turntablism effects (which is why I tend to favour faders when given an option between the two). However rotaries really come into their own on digital mixers / MIDI controllers.

First it signal's "I don't do superfluous effects and scratches even if I wanted." The boutique type mixer has a whole different niche market than most comparably mass market mixers. Also with faders it's easier to do audible mistakes (especially when not sober) since smooth linear motion seems harder to control, than a mapping to rotary motion. And they're harder to accidentally move, (and kids stay away from them,…

> Also with faders it's easier to do audible mistakes (especially when not sober) since smooth linear motion seems harder to control, than a mapping to rotary motion.

I think that's more a case of what you're used to because I used to make more mistakes on rotaries than I did on faders.

> First it signal's "I don't do superfluous effects and scratches even if I wanted."

In fairness it really depends on the style of music you play. However I do agree with you that less is more - generally speaking.

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