Inside the Pioneer DJM-707/ DJM-909 fader

I've had 2 Pioneer DJM-707's and 3 DJM-909's since 2006. Since then, I've scoured the net for instructions on how to clean and lube the crossfader. All to no avail. So being the enterprising fellow that I am, I decided to open it up and have a look my self. Once inside, I found a well built piece of precision machinery that is well suited to it's intended purpose. I also found that due to the offset design of the fader stem, that comes out from the side then over the top and up through the faceplate, there wasn't much dust, dirt, or grime inside the body of the fader or on the rails at all. I've been inside every fader of every mixer that I've ever owned and this was the cleanest I've ever seen. I've owned this mixer for four years and never clean the crossfader. Not to mention that I bought it used and doubt that it was ever cleaned previously. Having gone through the trouble of disassembling it, I went ahead and cleaned what little dirt was there. I cleaned all rails and the carrier with rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and Q-tips, then I put everything back together. Lastly, I sprayed the rails with DeoxIT Fader F5 lubricant to make it all nice and slippery. This was a big mistake because it instantly caused sticking and the fader didn't slide as well as it did before the cleaning. I tried re-cleaning the rails but didn't feel like dismantling the fader to thoroughly remove all the DeoxIT. It slides well enough, but I will definitely have to open it up again. I went against my better judgement with the lube because I found that in the past lubing caused pre-mature sticking once dirt and grime mixed with the lube creating a vicious cycle of cleaning and lubing. I found that a thorough cleaning without lube provided a longer period of silky smooth glide goodness between cleanings. So there you have it. All that's left is the never before seen photos of the inside of the crossfader.

Another fallen DJ legend

DJ Grand Master Roc Raida died today. Details are still unknown but the world of music and especially turntablism will definitely mourn his passing. Full story

Your gear and only your gear!!!!!

This was posted on Skratchworx a few weeks ago and it could be quite interesting for DJs that like to customize their gear. Not only do they make customizable faceplates, but the plan to produce a line of color coordinated knobs and fader caps to match the faceplates. More info can be found at their website DJs Face.

Starts this Thursday, May 7, 2009

Allen & Heath Speaks Out

Re Xone 2:02 Viral Ads


Regarding the controversy over the recently posted viral videos, we at Allen & Heath would like to assure our customers that it is definitely not our policy to denigrate a rival company, or its products.

These videos were uploaded by our ad company whilst we were at the Frankfurt Music Messe, so we did not have the opportunity to properly view or approve them first, and as soon as we became aware of their inflammatory content we had them removed immediately. They will be re-edited and re-posted soon.

The ethos behind the ad is sound; illustrating in an amusing way the embarrassing gaffs that many DJs, (if they are honest), can relate to at some point in their career, as well as stressing the importance of having the right equipment, and the danger of taking ourselves too seriously.

It is a shame that what was intended to be a bit of fun, has unintentionally become controversial.



Andy Rigby-Jones

Xone design manager

Full story here

Xone 2:02 viral videos (1 of 5)

A&H How to be a crap DJ-Scratch DJ-1 of 5

Interesting to see what becomes of this. You can view the remaining 4 here. And check out the archives.

Tribologix TX45 Contactless aftermarket crossfader

This is the newest contactless crossfader to [soon] hit the market. It is design by, "a dedicated group of DJs and engineers, devoted to bringing you the most technologically advanced DJ faders" in conjunction with AB electronics. Its' design includes:
Non-contact technology
Tension adjustment
Lag and centre point adjustment
Lag adjust
Centre point adjust
Curve Control
8mm steel stem
Choice of fader caps
Interface boards
Simplified installation
Modular construction
The TX45 is aimed squarely at the aftermarket that has been recently seized by Audio Innovate's innFader and the Pro Xfade before it. Click here for more details.

My perfect mixer

As a DJ for more than 20 years, I have gone through more mixers than I care to know. Some were traded for a newer model with a new set of features that I thought I wanted, at the time. But most went by the way side due to the fact that they had expired there useful life expectancy. Back when crossfaders were not user replaceable, that didn’t take long. Having come to this day and age where technology has advanced beyond anything that most people could’ve have imagined, I feel that some manufacturer can make the, “Perfect,” DJ mixer. (at least in my opinion) So the following is a list of things that my ideal DJ mixer would have:

1. Two channels
2. Session in w/ volume control
3. Session out w/ volume control
4. A dedicated record out
5. Split cue w/ switch that can assign master output to either ear.
6. Three 45mm matched, quality faders. (i.e. 3 P&G’s, 3 Pro X-fades or 3 innofaders.)
7. Curve control on all three faders
8. Cut-in time adjustment
9. A completely linear channel fader curve (ala pioneers channel fader curves)
10. Crossfader that has a true dipless A-type curve, a -3db dipped curve and a sharp on off curve.
11. Three band eq’s that kill on each channel
12. XLR master outs and ¼ booth outputs
13. An effects loop with ¼ inputs and outputs
14. ¼ and 1/8 headphone jacks
15. Sturdy feet like those on the old technics mixer
16. A sub $500 price tag

Maybe I’m asking too much, but I really believe that all the things that I am asking are possible. One thing that I know for sure, is that the manufacturer who can make a mixer with all of the above features, will surely get my money. Until then, I will go through mixers like sneakers on my feet.

To Anonymous

If the 02 was never made in the UK, then how do you explain this?

Dear Allen & Heath and ......

Any other company that is now out-sourcing your labor to China. I keep hearing the claim that the parts that go into the equipment are exactly the same, just the location of assembly has changed. If this is truly the case than you companies need to get much tighter quality control inspectors in these factories. The fact may be that the parts are the same, but they must not be installing them correctly. Case in point,I have a friend who has an Allen & Heath Xone 02 mixer made in the UK. When I compare it to my 02 made in China, my mixer is noticeably of poorer quality. His eq and pan faders have a definite center click like they're supposed to while you have to search for the center clicks on my mixer. His level meter is mounted perfectly flush with the face plate while my meter is slightly crooked. And lastly, my 02's P&G crossfader failed after just 4 months and his has been going strong since they first came out. I also feel that, since my P&G crossfader failed, I should've been upgraded to the Pro X Fade just for the inconvenience. The new model is shipping with them standard anyway! This could all be coincidence, but am I really to believe that now of these build quality inconsistencies have to do with the difference in geographical location of the factories that they were produced in? After purchasing a $500 mixer that failed in four months, I feel that I would've been better off purchasing a used Rane TTM56 for slightly more money. Get your quality control up to par Allen & Heath! Your rep is suffering!!!!

Uh yeeaah!

I dropped my Allen & Heath Xone 02 mixer off at Just Audio, on Harford Road in Baltimore, for servicing because the (highly regarded) Penny & Giles crossfader began bleeding a week ago. Today, I get a call from the shop's tech. He asks me what's the problem with the mixer. After I tell him, he says well It's working fine now. Do you want me to order a new crossfader and install it. Uh yeeaah! I mean I've had the mixer for a month or so and know that it wasn't doing that in the begining, but now it is. So why would I take the mixer back in the same condition for the same problem to occur shortly in the future? This brings me to my point. When something is not working properly, and you take it to be fixed, the problem is rarely fixed (or even diagnosed) on the first visit and I know why. Because that tech, who is not a DJ (or at least a scratch DJ), is not going to use the Xone 02 mixer the way that I use it and therefore he will not be able to replicate the problem. The same goes for that car mechanic who is not going to drive your car the same way that you drive it daily. So why don't service shops allow you, the owner of said equipment, to show them the problem that is occurring so that it can be fixed correctly the first time? I don't know the answer to that question, but hit me up if you do.