Mixer to stay away from - SMX-401

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dennis

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I recently did a bunch of research and went ahead bought the Stanton SMX-401. Based on the specs it seemed like everything I wanted w/o shelling out $750 for an Empath.

Turns out though that either mine (along with many others) was defective or just had a flawed design from the factory.

The problem was that the levels were higher when the crossfader was at each end than they were when it was in the center. See: http://www.stantonmagnetics.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4647 for a better explanation.

I e-mailed Stanton first (multiple times) - never got a response. Finally e-mailed the place I purchsed it from and it's currently enroute back where I'll be exchanging it for a Vestax PCV-275.

I'm really upset with Stanton and plan on avoiding any other product they make. They really dropped the ball on this one.
 
.........

I can tell you 100% GUARANTEED that is NOT a design flaw. Looking at the manual there doesn't seem to be any crossfader curve control - which is a bit crap.
It sounds like they have implemented a 3dB dipped crossfader curve - which historically is the correct way it should really operate. The reasoning behind this is that if you mix the same signal over itself, the maximum increase in volume through constructive interference of the sound waves is a 3dB increase - hence why the fader is dipped to avoid increases in program output.
Although i'd agree that with modern music and mixing styles this is probably not the option most people would choose - nevertheless it is still a choice some people like, and has it's own technical origins.
Obviously this isn't how you personally wanted it - but it really isn't something that has gone wrong in the factory.
Peace
 
I understand where you're coming from and I actually considered that this was their intention - but one, it should mention it in the manual and two, I've never run across another mixer like this before (not that I've played on every mixer).
 
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Yeah i think it's a bad move to not have it switchable by some means, as the majority of people in the market for that mixer would not want to have that kind of crossfader curve. I'm really surprised they didn't put a crossfader curve rotary on that mixer.......
Peace
 
If this can comfort you, the big 4 channel Vestax PMC-55 in the club where I'm resident works the same way - when the crossfader curve is set to smoothest.
 
Stanton probably read your email, grumbled "dumbass" to themselves, and deleted it immediately. It's people like you who are responsible for companies like Numark implimenting THE WRONG crossfader curve. Stanton's is perfect. They use a correct arched X-curve so that the summed volume of both channels in the middle of the crossfader is the same as each channel on the ends. You need to educate yourself, man. I wish to god my Matrix 2 did this. The problem was obviously the user in this case.

dennis said:
I recently did a bunch of research and went ahead bought the Stanton SMX-401. Based on the specs it seemed like everything I wanted w/o shelling out $750 for an Empath.

Turns out though that either mine (along with many others) was defective or just had a flawed design from the factory.

The problem was that the levels were higher when the crossfader was at each end than they were when it was in the center. See: http://www.stantonmagnetics.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4647 for a better explanation.

I e-mailed Stanton first (multiple times) - never got a response. Finally e-mailed the place I purchsed it from and it's currently enroute back where I'll be exchanging it for a Vestax PCV-275.

I'm really upset with Stanton and plan on avoiding any other product they make. They really dropped the ball on this one.
Click to expand...
 
Man, you really got off on this post didn't you? Anything to rack up the post count.

But anyway, I may not major in crossfader curves, but no where in the manual did I find the xfader curve graph.

This still doesn't change the fact that mixer was crap. It felt like a toy and acted like one as well. From the crosstalk to the turn on/off thumps - it was garbage. Returning it for a vestax was the best thing I did - and I thank audiolines for allowing me to do so w/o occuring a restock fee.

I've never used another mixer with the curve like that, but then again, I don't use the xfader to mix. So I guess I'm stuck mixing with the xfader or I have to live with the output being so many decibels down in the middle.

So anyone else who doesn't use the xfader to mix (everyone I know - minus hiphop djs), avoid this mixer.

So why'd you buy a Numark when it has the wrong curve anyway?

Reticuli said:
Stanton probably read your email, grumbled "dumbass" to themselves, and deleted it immediately. It's people like you who are responsible for companies like Numark implimenting THE WRONG crossfader curve. Stanton's is perfect. They use a correct arched X-curve so that the summed volume of both channels in the middle of the crossfader is the same as each channel on the ends. You need to educate yourself, man. I wish to god my Matrix 2 did this. The problem was obviously the user in this case.

Click to expand...
 
i agree the mixer is crap. The lack of a crossfader curve really kills it. Im not sure about the smx-401s upfaders, but it's predicesor, the rm3-s had a real horriable curve. (the fader was dead than 3/4 the way up it would have a sharp curve) Simply said i really don't like new stanton mixers too.
 
OK... you want a real reponse.

I started out with a Stanton SK2 which is supposed to be a scratch mixer. I put my faith on the sales guy since he really sold me on the optical focus fader. What a joke... Well I did not know any better, and really all I wanted to do was skratch anyways.

So my assesment on Stanton currently is not impressed and will stay away from them. I am on a Numark right now, the PPD01 digital skratch mixer...

I have put many hours into it, and bought it when it first came out. However, I have outgrown it and am now looking at the Rane or the Pioneer skratch mixers. I have seen DJ Craze get crazey on them, and I have to say it is impressive....

as for my posts... Yes I am trying to rack up the posts... I want to see that senior member rating ASAP... lol...
 
Dennis,

Your personal preferences don't change whether Stanton is a good mixer producer, it only means that that mixer didn't fit your bill, and that's totally cool.

It irks me when I hear reviews of equipment that is poopooed simply because they bought the wrong piece for the job.

For example, I've heard a review of the STR8-80 by a guy who was using it to listen to records. The thing is made to scratch man! Hell, I'd get (if I needed to and had the money) a turntable for every type of gig I'd be doing. Stanton or Vestax to scratch, Technics to mix, etc. You go with what fits your bill.
 
dj_hamzter said:
OK... you want a real reponse.

I started out with a Stanton SK2 which is supposed to be a scratch mixer. I put my faith on the sales guy since he really sold me on the optical focus fader. What a joke... Well I did not know any better, and really all I wanted to do was skratch anyways.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with the focus fader? It's made just for scratching, it works perfectly, if I want softer, weird cuts I use upfaders. The SK's were cheap and that's what was good. I got my 6F for $100 on clearance, when they were phasing out the SK's, I actually think I got the last one in the store because I got it open box, unplugged and pulled off the shelf.
 
i know that ranking can be fun. :) Here's my list and views of stanton mixers and gear i've owned:

sk-4 (great basic mixer that lasted me 3-4 years without major problems)

Rm3-s (sold my sk-4 and bought this for $150 new. Died less than 6 months later, gave it to a friend that bought my str8-100)

smx-501 (replaced my crapo dead rm-3s. Worked great the first night, than a couple days latter the channel gain LEDs died, and crossfader curve shot out causing the xfader to only cut, returned it a week later uber-pissed)

Str8-100 (worked great for a couple years, survived lots of abuse, then the pitch fader freaked out. It was a pure nightmare to get ahold of a stanton rep to help me track down a replacement pitch fader. So instead i decided to disassemble the deck and relube the fader every so often)

Final Scratch 1.14 (had a bad sound card that would disconnect and reconnect randomly on any of the five pcs i've tried it on causing final scratch to crash. btw, i used 4 different chipset computers, a pci usb card and all would do the same; it even acts screwy in win xp. E-mailed stanton and native instruments w/o response, then after 2 weeks i decided to return it. Two months latter i received a email from stanton with a rma number and mailing address so i can get a replacement scratch amp)
 
minty said:
It irks me when I hear reviews of equipment that is poopooed simply because they bought the wrong piece for the job.
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WTF...

I researched heavily for a new mixer, probably two months. The Stanton was marketed as a dance mixer. I quote, "A 10" 3 Channel Dance Mixer...".

It also had the external effects loop which I also wanted. Unfortunately, I don't have a Stanton dealer nearby that carried this model to audition personally.

The Xfader curve was not the only reason I returned it.. Did you not read my whole post??? The thing felt like a toy and sounded like one as well. Don't get me started on the knobs.. My Gemini I had for 6 years or so had more solid knobs.

Maybe they should market it as "A 3ch dance mixer for DJ's who strictly use the Xfader to mix because if you don't use the xfader you're **** out of luck."
 
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dj chex said:
i know that ranking can be fun. :) Here's my list and views of stanton mixers and gear i've owned:

sk-4 (great basic mixer that lasted me 3-4 years without major problems)

Rm3-s (sold my sk-4 and bought this for $150 new. Died less than 6 months later, gave it to a friend that bought my str8-100)

smx-501 (replaced my crapo dead rm-3s. Worked great the first night, than a couple days latter the channel gain LEDs died, and crossfader curve shot out causing the xfader to only cut, returned it a week later uber-pissed)

Str8-100 (worked great for a couple years, survived lots of abuse, then the pitch fader freaked out. It was a pure nightmare to get ahold of a stanton rep to help me track down a replacement pitch fader. So instead i decided to disassemble the deck and relube the fader every so often)

Final Scratch 1.14 (had a bad sound card that would disconnect and reconnect randomly on any of the five pcs i've tried it on causing final scratch to crash. btw, i used 4 different chipset computers, a pci usb card and all would do the same; it even acts screwy in win xp. E-mailed stanton and native instruments w/o response, then after 2 weeks i decided to return it. Two months latter i received a email from stanton with a rma number and mailing address so i can get a replacement scratch amp)
Click to expand...

Stanton isn't very good about emailing back immediately, I have no idea why. I've asked them questions a month ago about the str8-80x and they still haven't responded.
 
bottom line: stanton makes cheesy stuff. I've touched plenty of stanton stuff, even seen the insides of a number of thier products - it's all super-mass-produced junk. Like most DJ mixers.

If you dont want the dip, mix on the channel faders, not the crossfader!

expecting to see a fader curve graph from stanton is like expecting real-world specifications on a consumer-level audio products: good luck.
 
dj chex said:
i know that ranking can be fun. :) Here's my list and views of stanton mixers and gear i've owned:

sk-4 (great basic mixer that lasted me 3-4 years without major problems)

Rm3-s (sold my sk-4 and bought this for $150 new. Died less than 6 months later, gave it to a friend that bought my str8-100)

smx-501 (replaced my crapo dead rm-3s. Worked great the first night, than a couple days latter the channel gain LEDs died, and crossfader curve shot out causing the xfader to only cut, returned it a week later uber-pissed)

Str8-100 (worked great for a couple years, survived lots of abuse, then the pitch fader freaked out. It was a pure nightmare to get ahold of a stanton rep to help me track down a replacement pitch fader. So instead i decided to disassemble the deck and relube the fader every so often)

Final Scratch 1.14 (had a bad sound card that would disconnect and reconnect randomly on any of the five pcs i've tried it on causing final scratch to crash. btw, i used 4 different chipset computers, a pci usb card and all would do the same; it even acts screwy in win xp. E-mailed stanton and native instruments w/o response, then after 2 weeks i decided to return it. Two months latter i received a email from stanton with a rma number and mailing address so i can get a replacement scratch amp)
Click to expand...

I see somebody stuck it out with Stanton for a while. I gave up after a mishap with an SK-6F. It's been about 2 years, no response email.
 
meridian5i2 said:

If you dont want the dip, mix on the channel faders, not the crossfader!
Click to expand...

That's where the problem lies... Mixing with the channel faders with the xfader in the middle will leave you many decibels down (not sure exactly how many).

Like I said, I've never mixed on any other mixer like that. It flat out sucks for mixing with ch. faders.

The Vestax pcv-275 I replaced it with is worlds ahead - esecially with the rotary faders.
 
thank you GOD, the guy who sold me my gear was a Good guy, I wanted to get a Stanton mixer, but he looked at me like I was insane or dumb or something like that and just said "hell no I won't sell you this crap" :)

At a gig I was mixing on SA3, IMO this mixer is a complete joke, feels like a toy and after 2 weeks of usage (non regular usage by me and another dj, for mixing purposes only), it had problems with the X-fader.
 
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