So I picked up the Rane 70 online on a payment plan, because I wanted a secondary DJ setup. I bought two Reloop 7000mk2 decks to pair with my DJM-S11 mixer as my primary setup, so I had my two Audio Technica 1240XPUSB decks with no Serato DVS mixer. I got the Rane 70 for those decks so I could teach my young step-grandson how to DJ properly on a setup. He lives far away, so I haven’t had the opportunity to show him anything yet, but soon enough I’ll be able to.
The Rane 70 is built like a tank! That’s the first thing you notice about it compared to a mixer like the DJM-S11. The Rane 70 is all metal, including the FX paddles. It’s definitely a traveling Dj’s mixer, because it looks like it will hold up to a lot of movement and abuse. It’s very utilitarian in that way, and that’s not a bad thing. The stock Mag Four faders on the upfaders and cross fader are nice and you can get a decent cut with them. The crossfader also has a tension adjust on it, so you can get the fader to feel how you like.
The onboard hardware effects are decent, with most everything you’d need like an echo, brake, reverb, delay, etc. You can also use effects in Serato DJ pro if you’d like. Unlike the DJM-S11, the Serato effects are per side, so you have 3 effects buttons in the center on each side for a total of six. Those match up with the deck A and B effects in Serato DJ pro. So if you want a “Clean Echo Out” on both decks, you’ll need to assign it to each side of the deck in the effects in Serato DJ Pro. I wish they’d made it so you could use any effect on either deck, but oh well.
The sound quality on the Rane 70 is top notch. Rane is known for having very good sound quality in their mixers, and the Seventy is no different. Whether going out of the XLR ports, or listening in the headphones, the sound is clear, punchy, and sounds great. I have a really difficult time choosing which mixer sounds better between the DJM-S11 and the Rane 70. Some days I feel like it’s the S11, some days I feel like it’s the Rane 70. Regardless, whether you’re using analog vinyl or Serato DVS, you’ll be happy with the sound you get out of the mixer.
Overall I’m glad I picked up the Rane 70. I’m still paying for as of this writing. I’ll be done paying for it later this year, but it was a great buy. It’s built like a tank, and it works very well. It’s easy to use and will keep you honest as a DJ. Unlike the S11, there’s no screen on it to watch the waveforms and know your bearings in the song when in DVS mode. You have to use your DJ skills when back-juggling and things of that nature.
I would definitely suggests the Rane 70 to a newer DJ looking to use two decks and a mixer. It will last them a long time, and it has all the features you need to rock a set and them some. It works with the latest version of Serato, and should be supported for a while to come. Check out my friends at zzounds.com if you’re interested in picking up one for yourself. Peace and stay up!