Hi
You certainly could use one but I am not sure what your experience would be without the X1800 mixer. A very tight intergration of BPM, Effects and in my opinion, the pitch control exists between the two units. I own a pair of SC5kâs without the mixer and I have noticed a delay of the pitch control when switching between layers. I have found that if I need to alter the pitch, using the pitch bend keys solves the delay of the pitch fader. I am still ignorant as I own these gorgeous machines for a month, so I am still learning. But this is a bonafide experience I have had and still have. The immense joy that these bring makes this a minor issue FOR ME. I hope that my input has helped you in some way. Perhaps you can go to a store and experience what occurres when using a unit with the mixer while primarily focusing on using the Layer Function, Pitch Fader and Pitch Bend keys as I have suggested.
Interesting - are you saying when switching between layers the pitch control is disabled for a few seconds?
Also, interesting that BPM wouldnât be 100% between 2 tracks/layers on the same unit? I would have thought this would have been tighter than 2 separates?
Ok⌠I thought the âlatencyâ or delay idea sounded a bit odd, the first time I read this - and then time, other tasks etc got in the way. Iâve tested this a few moments ago and ⌠no latency or delay etc on the pitch slider when changing layers beyond the normal âsoft takeoverâ aka âGo fetchâ aka âGo collectâ functionality.
As best as I can, perhaps if I describe those âSoft takeoverâ/âGo collectâ features: As we know, the pitch slider on the SC5000 isnât motorised - in fact, for good reason where precision is needed, most faders arenât motorised. So, if youâre on Layer A and have the pitch slider anywhere other than zero.zero, (Lets say itâs at +8% when you change Layers the Layer B song will load in and play (when you push play) at zero.zero pitch. If you want to adjust the pitch of the Layer B track you need to manually slide the pitch slider to where the pitch slider was on Layer A - the green UP and DOWN triangle LEDs will guide you. The pitch numeric display on the screen wonât move/change a digit until you âconnectâ the pitch slider position to the place where the pitch slider WAS on Layer A.
If you move the pitch slider slowly and it takes you two seconds to âgo collectâ the pitch slider to the value it was at on Layer A, then you might âperceiveâ that two seconds as âlatencyâ or âdelayâ. If you move the pitch slider quickly, or donât have very far to move it, and it only takes you an instant to match the pitch slider position to the pitch of the other layer, then âan instantâ will be how quickly the other layer responds to pitch changes.
I use one sc5000. I do a lot of my mixes with that I have no issue. Just need to get use to it. Also to help as well color code the jog wheel. That helps knowing which decks on each channel is on. I got use to eat many many years ago when I had the hs5500. Just hope with some upgrades like adding a time on when the other track is about to end so you can mixe it. They have a time warning but it does hurt to add that feature
I knew it would just be a matter of time and patience before i got to understand the machination of what was taking place. I think it was DJ Booth who tried to explain this to me to, but i simply didnât get it. So to you Gee, i say thank you very much (you to DJ Booth) for having another go at it and explaining the way you haveâŚnow i have a much better understanding of the green up and down triangleâs purpose and i certainly see its function in a new light.
For the record, if at any time prior to this post i seemed to suggest that this issue was a defect - this was not my intention.I simply never understood how this aspect of the technology works.
Thanks!
As a âperfect worldâ alternative, some people have suggested that we ought to add motor-driven linear pots for the Pitch control. So that every time you changed layers, and loaded a new track, the pitch control would slide itself down to zero, ready for the new layer/track. Apart from the expense of a motor slider and driving circuitry there are other downsides to this - notably, motors leaving a fader in the zero click is quite a task.
SoâŚas an alternative, we have âsoft takeoverâ or âCollectâ, as described above Some MIDI mixers have even described the feature as a âvalue clutchâ but youâd have to have driven a manual gear lever car with three pedals to make sense of that one
For the Beginning one SC5k is absolute ok. The Pitch Problem is well known, as well by using 2 Sc5k with X1800. I Think it is gonna be fixed by a new firmware. It is a general Problem. The Pitch fader must be moved fast, then it reacts but that is no real problem but must be fixed. Answering your Question: ABSOLUTE ! I use 2 SC5k and in my set i often use just one by changing the layers. Works fantastic. So just begin with one and then later another. Even one SC5k is a much better Workflow than any MIDI-Controller i used before! It´s worth it.
Sorry for my english, I´m German but i do my best
From what I have read here, every single time when somebody complained about that issue it turns out people havenât read the manula/have no idea what soft takeover is. Is there some real issue?
It definitely sounds like one SC5000, without an X1800 mixer is still absolutely fit for purpose .
I also donât think I will have a problem with the âfetchâ functionality on the pitch - this does not sound like a defect and sounds very similar to the pitch functionality within Algoriddimâs DJay Pro software when using a controller I.e you have to âfetchâ a ghost pitch button to bring to the correct tempo - only really needed when not using sync or when you need to speed / speed down the next track.
I guess the final question is whether the Denonâs will become industry standard ? But probably one for another time âŚ
I started with one SC. Just had money for one at that timeâŚ
I did many short mix sessions at home with the two layers and an analog mixer. No sweat!
Pitch slider catch-up function works fine; just follow green triangle.
Layers color coded ofcourse, but did not make a mistake during every session. Remembering the days of the first Denon cd-player with tray 1-2 function and one jog wheel to manage it allâŚthat was terrible!
Forgetting to change 1 to 2 and bam, music gone.
I got hooked after one SC. Never touched my Traktor D2âs anymore⌠I just went all out and had to get me the whole Prime setup! The mixer is also an amazing piece of hardware!!
Yeah, I had no idea what âsoft takeoverâ is. I have never been exposed to it or been fortunate to have someone kind enough to educate me. Until I bought Prime and asked my question here, it was never a complaint. So I have no issue.
I used one sc5k with a mcx8000 for a few months and did many mixes and added them to mixcloud. Itâs takes a while to get used to it but def is awesome when you do. Having the album art on the deck helps knowing which song is on and which isnât, as well as you canât change the song when one is playing so you donât accidentally turn off the wrong track. Also said above is the different colors for different layers also is a big help. I still use one all the time even now with another sc5 and the 1800 mixer. Itâs really fun and challenging
In my case i use green color for left channel and red for right channel as red is always indication for right.
You will get use to layers if color code indicate your left or right channel.
Not a problem. The SC5000 has a menu/preferences option of âReset deck on Loadâ which can be switched on or off by the user. This setting is remembered by the deck for each gig.
I never noticed that and my players are in their boxes at the moment. Do they indeed have a âReset deck on Loadâ in menu/preferences, and why would that need to be optional? I can imagine no possible circumstance where softtakeover should still be necessary after loading a new track as itâs purely a requirement of the layer change and if you load a new track youâre obviously not going to play the prior track on that layer anymore. Loading a new track should always see the pitchâs physical position immediately on that layer. Can users confirm this option exists, and does anyone have a good reason for it just being an option and not a permanent feature?