One year ago, the acquisition of Rane by inMusic was announced on DJWORX. And in that time we’ve all been patiently waiting to see what was to become of the brand adored by mixer nerds around the world. inMusic even tried to set our mind at rest by allowing us to interview Rane’s Rick Jeffs to assure people that the Rane spirit of Seattle is alive and well, just being manufactured in the far east. Well it seems that we’re all about to find out what has become of Rane, as two new products are about to be unveiled at DJ Expo in a couple of weeks.
There is an announcement about the announcement:
RANE DJ IS BATTLE-READY FOR DJ EXPO!
Highly regarded for its engineering excellence and unparalleled customer service, Rane chooses DJ Expo as launching point for impressive new models.
MUKILTEO, WA USA (August 1, 2017)—Rane DJ (Rane), an established innovator in the DJ industry, noted for their leading-edge solutions coupled with unequalled reliability and customer service, today announced that they will introduce two important and exciting new products to the professional DJ market at this year’s DJ Expo in Atlantic City. The new models mark a dramatic and impressive move for Rane DJ to the forefront of the DJ stage.
Over the past 12 months Rane’s Seattle Washington based engineering team has been hard at work bringing this amazing new gear to life. The same engineering team that set the standards for Rane’s rock-solid performance-based mixers has been collaborating with world-class DJs and their crews to develop new DJ performance tools, the likes of which the industry has never been seen before. Rane calls these unprecedented new products Battle Ready. These new introductions will definitely set a new benchmark of excellence for the industry. More detail on these latest products will be forthcoming as DJ Expo draws closer.
To go along with their ground-breaking new products, Rane is also announcing the addition of Brand Manager JP Mathurin (DJ FATFINGAZ) to their team. Mathurin is a seasoned, enthusiastic DJ veteran whose experience and skills are a perfect complement to Rane’s upcoming product lineup.
“With these new products, Rane is sending a powerful message to professional DJs all over the world and our loyal, demanding customers that we’re present in a big, big way,” said JP Mathurin, Brand Manager for Rane DJ. He added, “This will be a breakthrough year for Rane as we push the boundaries of performance, quality and innovation to new heights of excitement. All we can say is you’ve been warned.” #staytuned
Please visit Rane at DJ Expo, booth #115.
NEW PRODUCTS
Over the last few weeks, Rane’s social media accounts have been reawakened, largely with posts about the Sixty Two mixer — you know, the one that was in every scratch video going before Pioneer DJ carpet-bombed turntablism with DJM-S9s. So based on the fact that “new” was used a full 10 times in the context of gear, my guess is that we’re going to see a reworked Sixty Two , rather than just remade in a new factory.
As for the second product… well I have no idea. Possibly an SL3/4, but I wouldn’t rule out a turntable in the shape of a straight arm VL12. It could also be a far eastern version of the MP2015, if only to show that manufacturing standards haven’t changed.
The one thing I’m ruling out (well 90% anyway) is a controller. Rane has an established market, and controllers don’t really lend themselves well to the brand’s style. They’ve never done one before — it was considered but they didn’t know what they could bring to that makes that was valid. Perhaps some fresh guidance from the Numark and Denon DJ people would allow Rane to put their stamp on a controller. If they did, I’d want NS7 style, focussed on heft and not bells and whistles. I’d want it to be a controller for life.
IT HAD BETTER BE RIGHT
At the time of the takeover, there was an overwhelming expression of concern that Rane’s utterly over and above service levels would be destroyed by being brought into the inMusic fold. And it’s a sentiment I’ve hammered home endlessly to the higher-ups in Rhode Island. For Rane is not just a logo, it’s a symbol of home-grown quality, and garners much love and support at a grass roots level.
So while the design and engineering is US based, it remains to be seen what the manufacturing will be like, and especially if the stellar support will continue. Hopefully these new things will be so bloody good that support isn’t needed. That’s the aim right?
Rest assured that because my love for Rane runs deep, I’ll be the first to be vocal if things aren’t right, and equally if they are.
WHAT’S NEXT?
We media types get to see it next week via Skype, but you’ll still have to wait until the start of DJ Expo to see what’s been brewing in Seattle. Oh and hi JP aka Fatfingaz — welcome to the inner workings of the DJ industry. Enjoy the ride.
I’ll put my money on two new battle mixers.
Same footprint, same basic controls.
One will be a DJM-S9 killer with all the nextlevelness that’s needed to exceed Pioneer’s offering + better build quality.
The other one might be a stripped down version at a significantly lower price.
Both Serato certified.
Maybe there’s a connection to the Denon/Engine ecosystem, too.
I don’t think we’ll see a new rotary at this stage, though, as the battle marked is where Rane is more attached to.
–>Hey Rane, if you’re reading this: I’d love to help design your next rotary mixer 😊
Hey Rane, if you’re reading this, I’d love to have one of your MP2016 rotary mixers (plus XP rack).
Really? Not the 2015?
I’d miss the filters…
You must have missed my opinion piece on built in audio interfaces…
Nope, read it and even have to agree 😉
But if the audio interface stops to work some time in the future, the 2015 will still be the mixer of my dreams (I mean apart from what I’d improve if I had the resources) because it ticks so many boxes and feels + sounds just incredible!
And making it work again with Traktor would “just” be a matter of spending some 300€ on a recent audio interface.
love my MP2014 cause I can carry it with me (you rarely find rotary mixers in clubs/venues). I wonder if there’s still a chance that it gets Serato Certified (at least with the club kit).
“Maybe there’s a connection to the Denon/Engine ecosystem, too.”
How? Not even MCX8000 can be connected/linked to a laptop running Engine Prime LOL
That is beyond me, too.
They must have had Engine Prime on the road map when they released the MCX8000 (saying it took them 4 years to develop the SC5000).
Take my money Rane!!!!!
You know what would be great? If I could get a replacement fader for my 56 somewhere so yeah, please, Rane, do something about the production. Thanks.
I have extra faders for the 56.
Very interested to see how they intend to take on the S9. Traktor certified Rane mixer would be a dream come true but likely yet another pipe dream
Certification for both Serato and Traktor would be huge.
Yep! That be a true game changer IMO, even as an existing owner of both softwares I’d happily except a further charge to unlock software per a hardware unit rather than be locked out all together, as long as there’s proper native support.
The current system of hardware dictating which software you can use is shite (says the Traktor user who envies the SDJ hardware options), I appreciate that software companies want a monopoly/exclusive deals but I’m sure there must be profit to be had from giving customers the choice to pay for unlocking native support for individual hardware vs the current like it or lump it system.
… and that’s a thing that especially Traktor must suffer from: Lack of continued income from existing users.
Once you’ve bought the software, there’s no way to throw cash at Native Instruments.
I’d happily spend money on FX packages like in Serato.
I’ve given NI well over 300 dollars in timecode purchases.
They need to do more special edition / half n half Timecode releases (like serato does all the time). I’ve worn out 5 pairs of bully breaks 5 vinyl’s and It’s getting harder and harder to find a fresh copy, let alone a pair.
That said, I’d love a Traktor Compatible 4 channel rane mixer (with the magnetic crossfader).
This and class-compliant sound card that doesn’t even need drivers on Mac. Btw this also allows to connect to an iOS device for backup or laptop-less setup.
The MP2015 is just that. But obviously not a battle mixer.
Who’s using Traktor anyway? Seems like Native Instruments don’t care too much either.
I’m going to guess at hundreds of thousands of people. Just because it hasn’t had significant features added in a while doesn’t mean it doesn’t work as well as the rest of the market, or is any less popular.
I see almost nil marketing activity from NI. Which gives the impression that…
Either the market has already been cornered. And NI doesn’t care about the “niche” dj market.
Or they’re selling still a good amount of licenses without doing any marketing. Hats off.
But both ways… It gives me a bad feeling trusting a product which gets so little love from the manufacturer.
Who knows what they are working on in the background?
I have to agree to the lack of communication – that’s a shame for sure!
For the most part Traktor does more than enough as is, its the simple things that need a rejig. But NI ethos is to try to deliver unique tools which must take time to get right. I have faith they’ll eventually put something out interesting/next level while at the same time not quite perfect.
That qbert/thudrumble mixer prototype with a built in touchscreen computer teased last year…. I wouldnt be surprised to see the new version of Traktor to drop at the same time – new hardware workflow experience with tailored software to get the most out of hardware with touch screens etc..
That would also explain why they don’t support the SC5000’s at this stage.
I think that is just a matter of inMusic not wanting to spend money on Traktor support at this stage. If Prime gear gets a footprint in DJ booths around the world, NI will practicaly offer Traktor HID support for free and inMusic knows that.
Wasn’t the MP2016 dual certified?
Theres a handful of mixers that do both but not one of them is a battle mixer :(
Fair enough, a dual certified battle mixer would definitely rock the boat. Hopefully, the InMusic umbrella will be a bit more open to the idea than Pio. It seems like the only choice NI wants people to have in this form factor is the half plastic Z2.
Because of Z2, NI refused to TSP certify the Denon X600 (that doesn’t even have the dedicated midi buttons) but they did certify the Pioneer DJM-T1 so anything can happen I guess… But it’s most likely just a case that the idea of Z2 was made AFTER the deal with Pioneer was signed.
The 2015 has both certifications.
My thoughts exactly. The Z2 could really use an update but I don´t see anything new happening in the Traktor department anytime soon from NI´s side, if at all. The negligence of the Traktor userbase is really frustrating.
With NI seemingly not interested in developing new DJ hardware and Pioneer wanting to forge their own software path, a dual USB Traktor certified battle mixer that also played nice with Serato could really make a dent IMHO.
Rane is dope, always has been but I don’t see anything beating the S9
The soundcard on the 62 is better than the soundcard on the S9.
I don’t think anything Rane makes in terms of sound has a better sound than Pioneer products, but that’s just me.
its def just you
You’ll be shock comes less than two weeks…..
Sure…. great idea… just leave the present 61 and 62 owners in the dust with drivers that haven’t been updated to work properly with Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra, creating the dreaded delay/latency issues where you move your record and it has a horrible delay.
Serato has publicly admitted this is a rane and apple issue, yet rane has been mia.
Who cares about new product if rane is going to continue to dodge present and past support.
#fixranedrivers
Already know what is on the way bit not gonna spoil it. One of the new items is VERY interesting and something I have been thinking the DJ world has needed for years
Standalone Numark Dashboard with SSL and Rane interface?
I know it isn’t but I can’t imagine something else fitting your description.
It’s not outside the realms of reality at all — far from it in fact. But I don’t see it as a Rane product.
I saw it more Numark of course but Rane/SSL makes a good match. I expect Numark doing it with SDJ… :V
Anyways I know it’s not going to happen from Rane so thinking twice… what else could be “necessary” since time ago? A switcher? There were some… isolator? Too…
you can spoil it…it doesnt mean we still wont buy it ;)
Some 18 moths ago, when I visited the Rane factory, we were in the boardroom gathered around the at that time unreleased MP2014 while I snapped pictures. “So what’s next?” I asked. With a degree of reticence, they replied “we’re not sure”. “Make an effects box” I said — “there’s not enough of them around”.
Rane and others have all this send and receive magic happening but little to plug into it. So if an effects unit gets announced, I’m going to raise my hand and take a tiny bit of credit, if only in a “go on you know you want to” way.
Not even a FX box, just cut the iso section out of MP2015 and give us that for under 150$ and we’ll be happy.
FX box would be cool – and with plenty of fx competence under the InMusic umbrella it’s not completely unlikely.
Again, it would make sense to incorporate Engine Prime compatibility then.
Can’t tell if the sides are plastic or metal. The way the logo is pressed into the material rather then painted or screened onto the chassis makes be think it’s not metal.
My guess is punched metal sides with inset plastic logo. I hope it lights up.
The way that the top plate looks makes me think it’s all metal.
I would expect no less from Rane.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8d4f8c010e4cdf684cf00b55675b92501dbb014185d13d30b7af60812c984ec7.jpg
Been a 4 channel guy since i got in the game but…
This is Everything I want in a two channel mixer, minus pioneer. Still, might have to cop a sixty two when the market floods with people ditching them for Seventy-Two’s
Nobody suspicious that all the LED’s and even the screen are lid up without any power? At least I don’t see a power connection…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f6eb654bb60760cca36268a580dd63f0609b3c99928c1ee60239e9f2a212c29b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5a00e9080ffc466c8d40860940c262c2e576677ef3767e97a57aa28503309bf9.jpg
Saw a pic of the back of it and it has USB for something else to be plugged in. It may or may not be some sort of Hardware that might make having to buy new control vinyl a thing of the past. :)
Thanks for the images. My inboxes are groaning under the weight too. Story coming…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ae4f808d225916f074a8b3c401df630b540a1f3c3f4d0ffbb41d44d9faceee6.jpg