JD WAS
Whats up people?
I plan on buying one of the 2 this weekend.
Any feedback from actual users of them would be very helpful.
All info and poinions are welcome
thanks in advance
I plan on buying one of the 2 this weekend.
Any feedback from actual users of them would be very helpful.
All info and poinions are welcome
thanks in advance
geposted Wed 16 Feb 11 @ 6:51 pm
djrxmx
Just my personal opinion,
but I think VMS4 is the better choice because it looks more professional and it's a little bigger. I like that it has independent volume and EQ controls for EACH of the 4 decks support. Though the MX-4 is no doubt in theory (i.e., I have never held one in my hand, I will confess, I have only seen videos) an impressive controller as it is a Hercules product, I just think it has a little more of a cheese look to it as compared to the VMS4.
I'm sure a Hercules fanboy is going to blast me a little for my honest comments, but this is how I feel.
I think for $499 (USD) the American Audio unit is more rugged.
but I think VMS4 is the better choice because it looks more professional and it's a little bigger. I like that it has independent volume and EQ controls for EACH of the 4 decks support. Though the MX-4 is no doubt in theory (i.e., I have never held one in my hand, I will confess, I have only seen videos) an impressive controller as it is a Hercules product, I just think it has a little more of a cheese look to it as compared to the VMS4.
I'm sure a Hercules fanboy is going to blast me a little for my honest comments, but this is how I feel.
I think for $499 (USD) the American Audio unit is more rugged.
geposted Wed 16 Feb 11 @ 10:33 pm
DeeJayDerek
I used to own a VMS4 - but sold it due to fundemental technical problems at design level.
On a positive I loved the unit - it was easy to use, well made and basically brilliant BUT there a 4 fundemental faults to work around. As a working DJ every piece of equipment will have minor irritations but with 4 I wasn't prepared to put up with it.
Have a look on the AA (American Audio - the manufacturers) web site forum for the real detail but in summary:
1. The mic inputs suffer distrotion on alot of mics (they now provide impedance matching transformers on request),
2. Low signal output on the balance outputs (they are still looking as a replacement power supply - after 3 months still waiting),
3. Master line out is often noisy,
4. Low headphone volume (on some headphones depending on type and background noise etc)
You will see from other peoples posts its either a LOVE IT or HATE IT type of unit. If you are seriously going to buy then take you mic and try it in the shop - speak fairly loudly as you would introduce/present an eveing or similar and see how the mic sounds.
If you can deal with the problems it is a real beauty, but personally I couldn't put up with it.
On a positive I loved the unit - it was easy to use, well made and basically brilliant BUT there a 4 fundemental faults to work around. As a working DJ every piece of equipment will have minor irritations but with 4 I wasn't prepared to put up with it.
Have a look on the AA (American Audio - the manufacturers) web site forum for the real detail but in summary:
1. The mic inputs suffer distrotion on alot of mics (they now provide impedance matching transformers on request),
2. Low signal output on the balance outputs (they are still looking as a replacement power supply - after 3 months still waiting),
3. Master line out is often noisy,
4. Low headphone volume (on some headphones depending on type and background noise etc)
You will see from other peoples posts its either a LOVE IT or HATE IT type of unit. If you are seriously going to buy then take you mic and try it in the shop - speak fairly loudly as you would introduce/present an eveing or similar and see how the mic sounds.
If you can deal with the problems it is a real beauty, but personally I couldn't put up with it.
geposted Thu 17 Feb 11 @ 2:52 pm
JD WAS
I used to own a VMS4 - but sold it due to fundemental technical problems at design level.
On a positive I loved the unit - it was easy to use, well made and basically brilliant BUT there a 4 fundemental faults to work around. As a working DJ every piece of equipment will have minor irritations but with 4 I wasn't prepared to put up with it.
Have a look on the AA (American Audio - the manufacturers) web site forum for the real detail but in summary:
1. The mic inputs suffer distrotion on alot of mics (they now provide impedance matching transformers on request),
2. Low signal output on the balance outputs (they are still looking as a replacement power supply - after 3 months still waiting),
3. Master line out is often noisy,
4. Low headphone volume (on some headphones depending on type and background noise etc)
You will see from other peoples posts its either a LOVE IT or HATE IT type of unit. If you are seriously going to buy then take you mic and try it in the shop - speak fairly loudly as you would introduce/present an eveing or similar and see how the mic sounds.
If you can deal with the problems it is a real beauty, but personally I couldn't put up with it.
That was really my only concern with the vms4 was the sound output.
Thats why i started looking at the 4mx it lacks a few of the vms4's features but if the sound is on point then I'm sold.
BUT I would love to hear more from you guys about either unit.
On a positive I loved the unit - it was easy to use, well made and basically brilliant BUT there a 4 fundemental faults to work around. As a working DJ every piece of equipment will have minor irritations but with 4 I wasn't prepared to put up with it.
Have a look on the AA (American Audio - the manufacturers) web site forum for the real detail but in summary:
1. The mic inputs suffer distrotion on alot of mics (they now provide impedance matching transformers on request),
2. Low signal output on the balance outputs (they are still looking as a replacement power supply - after 3 months still waiting),
3. Master line out is often noisy,
4. Low headphone volume (on some headphones depending on type and background noise etc)
You will see from other peoples posts its either a LOVE IT or HATE IT type of unit. If you are seriously going to buy then take you mic and try it in the shop - speak fairly loudly as you would introduce/present an eveing or similar and see how the mic sounds.
If you can deal with the problems it is a real beauty, but personally I couldn't put up with it.
That was really my only concern with the vms4 was the sound output.
Thats why i started looking at the 4mx it lacks a few of the vms4's features but if the sound is on point then I'm sold.
BUT I would love to hear more from you guys about either unit.
geposted Thu 17 Feb 11 @ 4:59 pm
djrxmx
Wow. That's really disappointing to hear that American Audio's unit has some major flaws, based on the comments thus far in this thread.
(I'm really hoping that American Audio makes some hardware fixes to this unit in the near future. The company definitely doesn't need to shoot themselves in the foot on those blunders, especially in this competitive digital music market.)
I was at Guitar Center last week where I physically picked up and held the unit and was just impressed with the overall layout and the industrial strength feel of it. I also like those platters.
(I'm really hoping that American Audio makes some hardware fixes to this unit in the near future. The company definitely doesn't need to shoot themselves in the foot on those blunders, especially in this competitive digital music market.)
I was at Guitar Center last week where I physically picked up and held the unit and was just impressed with the overall layout and the industrial strength feel of it. I also like those platters.
geposted Fri 18 Feb 11 @ 10:42 pm
DeeJayDerek
As I said can't speak highly enough of VMS4 on build quality and layout - but it seems to be the customer service and support that is so lacking. It is unfortunate that the defeciencies got through beta trials at all but they have been so slow following up although some of the solutions are more complex than any quick fix. Ideally it need some design changes to the internal circuit boards which is not something that can be fixed as a follow up.
As for VMS4 sound quality I found it to be excellent. I havn't been able to compaire it directly with any other controller or sound card but the internal sound cards were (in my opinion) as good as my old Pioneer CDJ500s on a direct comparison through both a small 200W PA and a large 1500W active system both at gigs.
If they bring out a MK2 with these issues fixed I will be out to get one fairly proptly.
One other thing worth considering when choosing a unit - what will happen should the PC/Software crash during a performance. How long does it take to reboot and restart the software - several minutes!! During that time NO music. Most controllers become useless when the PC is down BUT the mixer on the VMS4 is still fully functional. So all you need to do is have a small CD player/ipod output/mp3 player or any other line level sound source set up as as back up ready to play at the press of a button and it can be played out through the mixer immediately and on you go looking like a consumate pro that you are.
As for VMS4 sound quality I found it to be excellent. I havn't been able to compaire it directly with any other controller or sound card but the internal sound cards were (in my opinion) as good as my old Pioneer CDJ500s on a direct comparison through both a small 200W PA and a large 1500W active system both at gigs.
If they bring out a MK2 with these issues fixed I will be out to get one fairly proptly.
One other thing worth considering when choosing a unit - what will happen should the PC/Software crash during a performance. How long does it take to reboot and restart the software - several minutes!! During that time NO music. Most controllers become useless when the PC is down BUT the mixer on the VMS4 is still fully functional. So all you need to do is have a small CD player/ipod output/mp3 player or any other line level sound source set up as as back up ready to play at the press of a button and it can be played out through the mixer immediately and on you go looking like a consumate pro that you are.
geposted Sat 19 Feb 11 @ 3:40 am