Cast your mind back a year, to when Rane made every kind of DJ get collective trouser trauma with the introduction of the retro styled fader-free MP2015 rotary mixer. The reaction was universal — even those DJs whose very existence depended on crossfaders craved one badly. For many, it was a total DJ’s wet dream. But for others it was a tad too much, both in price and features. So Rane has come to the rescue, making things considerably simpler and a tad smaller with the new MP2014 two channel rotary mixer. And I went to Rane in Seattle to take a look.
Let’s get the official words out of the way first:
Rane MP2014 Mixer
Rane announces the launch of a new musical instrument for the uncompromising professional DJ who only needs two channels but requires the utmost in technology, simplicity, reliability and portability. The model MP2014 uses the same platform as Rane’s MP2015, the new worldwide four-channel rotary club standard.
Different DJ styles require different instruments. The MP2014 is uniquely tailored for the artist seeking the fluidity and smooth transitions provided by silky-smooth rotary controls. Like its four-channel big brother this definitive mixing instrument is realized through a combination of powerful and unique features, classic elegance, rugged design and intuitive simplicity.
With help from the best DJs and clubs around the world Rane redefined the rotary DJ mixer by bridging the gap between classic rotary mixers and modern DJ tools. The MP2014 represents the perfect marriage of a high-quality rotary control-surface, with state-of-the-art digital signal processing and dual 16-channel USB sound cards. An essential assortment of analog and digital I/O supports mixing vinyl, CDs and USB streaming audio in any combination.
Featuring exceptional phono preamps, three-way swept-filters and a three-band, steep 24dB/octave main mix Isolator—with adjustable crossover points—the MP2014 provides the same quality, aesthetics and high-resolution audio as the MP2015 in an elegant and portable design, and is supported by the best customer service on the planet.
There’s also the MP2014 data with all the geeky detail you could ever need. Please download and read — no need for me to copy and paste here.
SO WHAT IS THE RANE MP2014?
I think that’s pretty obvious really. It’s a two channel version of last year’s MP2015 that keeps the same basic principles of features and build, loses the sub mix but keeps the dual USB. And importantly, keeps the isolator. SO it’s a simpler workflow, but still retains the MP2015’s DNA that we all love.
Why drop two channels? Believe it or not, you don’t need four channels to mix two tracks together. I’ve often though about the perception of four channel mixers being the only type that you can mix tracks on. Clearly this isn’t true at all, and a great many DJs leave the spare channels completely idle. So the MP2014 will be a welcome addition to the Rane line up.
Back in simpler times, the focus was on doing as much as you could with two tracks. And that’s what I love about the MP2014. I have a tendency to lapse into more fader centric mixing and not bother so much with EQs and filters. But this will allow me to focus in the music, and to experiment with the range of focussed tools that the MP2014 offers. I’ll actually learn how to mix all over again with this, whereas the MP2015 would probably have been overwhelming.
Some of you will ask where the crossfader is. And if you do, then it’s clearly not for you. This is about the pure appreciation of the music in front of you — about the purity of mixing two tracks together without being concerned about such frippery as effects, looping and cues. You can of course do all of that if you wish but it’s not superfluous chaff thrown into a mixer to placate those who should really be looking at other Rane mixers.
So it’s likely that potential buyers of Super Stereo and E&S rotary mixers now have another two channel unit to salivate about.
The bottom line – this will be $1999 on the street, which is a considerable saving on the MP2015.
GALLERY
People don’t want four channel mixers to just mix on four channels. They want four channels in case they fancy using them all. Once you own a two channel mixer, you are stuck with just that until you upgrade. Realistically, it’s not a crazy price leap to gain the extra two channels.
do they have anything else lined up for name?? something tells me this cant be the only thing they are dropping
MP2018. 19″ Mixer with analog master VU meters, crossfader, optional line faders, crossover control for the channel eqs, changed filter knob behaviour (dry/wet vs current “xone style”). At least that’s what I would sell my MP2015 for. Rane, are you listening?
Do you even mix bro? Niggas kill me on this site.
What’s your point, again?
The point is, most of you so-called “DJ’s” on this site can barely mix a salad and seem to think you are audio engineers because you play on CD decks and just whine what features would make you drop coin. If you cannot make a party dope on 2 channels you fucking suck and B) you surely will train wreck on more channels. Not one of you sucky, spoiled ass DJ’S will every be happy.
You seem to know me pretty well.
What about you? What makes you such a dope DJ so you can judge over everyone commenting on this site in the way you do?
Show some proof of your DJ skills!
And just for the record (no pun intended): I don’t play CDs ;)
I have no idea. I would rather have an analogue version of the MP2015.
But you wouldn’t yield that extraordinary sound quality (SNR and phase linearity of the iso and filter). In the today’s DSP realm they can calculate everything required to a discrete setting of your parameters to even out the quirks.
That math is impossible with analoge ciruits they said anywhere in their pages.
And the flexibility nowadays seems to be easier programmed on a DSP than to be designed and laid out for analogue cirtuitry.
My problem is more the added cost of having an audio interface in there. I’d rather have something separate so that my money spent doesn’t end up getting wasted when a manufacturer decides they can’t be bothered to update their drivers. It makes more sense to buy a dedicated interface.
That’s pretty much what we have seen in the first MP2015 thread a year ago (courtesy of https://disqus.com/by/HiFiSciFi/ )
Rane even admitted that they modeled it after THAT user suggestion: https://serato.com/forum/discussion/1545807#10632365 :)
Indeed, and for the price of 1999 dollars, you cant even connect your cdjs digitally, if i am correct…major flaw if this is the case….
Now, if this were an updated Empath Rotary… I would probably buy one and stick it in a glass display case, never to be touched, and keep on using the Sixty-Four.
I am an Empath Rotary user and until the 2015 there was no better rotary mixer out for my requirements. Only the CF would have been nice but for the better sound quality (seeming the very perfect neutral sounding mixer) plus iso, filters and meters I was able to get over it.
When they added SDJ certification, I was sold. No need for conversion from source through the mixer upto a digital studio preamp. Hoping them to add this here as well.
My prayers have been answered. Thank you Rane, you’ve build my perfect mixer. :)
Gorgeous. However if I had the coin I’d still go for the ’15…..
holy….this is EXACTLY what I wanted.
Very curious to see what Vestax is coming out first before I would jump in on this one. Seems what I have been looking for…
Vestax might have a rotary to add to the sudden rotary market…. They did make what some would call a classic rotary mixer many many years ago. It was a hit with a lot of House DJs.
I really dig this 2ch option. I’ve been totally saving all the loose change I can find for the 2015. When I started playing house music I was told about rotary mixers and how they are the perfect house mixer the person who likes to ride tracks and blend their frequencies together making them sound like 1 track that was created in the moment and makes mixing music offically an art form.
BTW:
What about Serato users? No cert yet.
What about Traktor Scratch users? Same.
What about CDJ users wanting to play all thru digital? No option at all.