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Forum: VirtualDJ Technical Support

Topic: 4 ch on Rane One mkII
Hi, I am interested in upgrading to the second-generation Rane One. I am coming from a 4-channel controller, and while I primarily use only 2 channels, I will occasionally use a third to cover a dropout. Does anyone know if the 2 channel Rane One can control a third and fourth channel?

I do not see a deck selector button, and not sure if it's possible in the mixer section either. I know this is a brand new controller, but does anyone have experience with the original Rane One and knowledge if it can support 4 channels?

thanks
 
Posted Wed 27 Aug 25 @ 5:57 pm
From looking at the manuals (@devs/others please correct where appropriate):
Rane One MK1
Rane One MK2

Can you control decks 3 and 4?

Short answer: By default no - both iterations are designed and mapped to control 2 decks.

Longer answer: Short version + but with some effort you can remap controls control those decks, but in terms of the audio mixing, only the Rane One MK1 could sensibly use the audio output from those decks.

In both cases, the mixer is a 2 channel onr - there is no getting around the fact that you can only have physical, independent control (through what is offered by that controller only), of 2 decks at a time.

To explain this:

Quote :
only the Rane One MK1 could sensibly use the audio output from those decks.


Start with this question:

Where does the audio from Decks 3 and 4 go to in the audio setup?

The Rane One MK1 has an internal mixer setup (master + headphones), so in theory, you can actually mix output for decks 3 and 4 there (as it's done within the software), and hear some understandable result (software routes the final mix to master).

The Rane One MK2 however, has an external mixer setup, with two deck source inputs and a sampler input. This means that you can't actually route audio from decks 3 and 4 independent of the already existing input sources (deck 1, deck 2, sampler).

Summary:

  • Neither controller was designed (nor mapped by default), for 4 deck playback
  • It would take a fairly major remap effort to get it working for 4 decks, and would only ever work properly in theory on the Rane One MK1


It's probably better to save yourself the trouble and invest in a controller designed for 4 deck manipulation + audio playback - Rane Four, Rane Performer, DDJ-FLX10.
 
The short answer is:
If you want to use a 3rd and a 4th channel, get a Rane Performer, not Rane One MKII.

The long answer is that while technically it is possible to control another software deck, it's going to be a nightmare to setup and control.
To the point that personally I would prefer to carry around and setup a second laptop to use on the second USB bus, rother than trying to control 4 decks on the same computer/software.

I will spare your time and I will save you from the headache to even try to explain what needs to be done.

PS: I have recommended Rane Performer because it also has motorized decks which is the main feature of Rane One MKII, and the built in hardware effects are the same. So, consider Rane Performer as the big brother of Rane One MKII.
 
Thanks guys, figured as much. I still have the ddj1000 and have avoided the preformer due to the bigger size. Guess I will have to consider it though.

Thanks again!
 
There's no "easy" soloution if you want/need motorized decks.
For me the biggest issue is the weight, not the size.
Yes, Performer is slightly bigger than DDJ-1000. However it's considerably heavier. Same goes for Rane One / One MKII or even DDJ-REV7.
Motors add weight, and weight is far more important than size.

Also AFAIK Rane Performer is the ONLY four deck motorized controller. All the others are 2 decks.
 
@PhantomDeejay if you can also get your hands on a used NS7 II/NS7 III, those are pretty good too.

I fully agree with the weight - it's too heavy for me for mobile use when I can do everything with non-motorized version (DDJ-1000 currently), and I have turntables at home if I need that practice/experience.
 
i'm actually in the same position. Currently have a ddj1000 and looking to get a Performer or One mk2. I almost never use deck 3/4 but i do like to flip on some real vinyl's from time to time. The rane one has a phono switch on the back, so with all this said you can't swap deck 2 from the controller and use a turntable then as deck 2?

i don't want a 3/4 channel just swap out what is controlling either channel 1/2
 
Yep you can swap the deck for analog source uee - the mixer is fully external (I assume the Line source setting would probably be the one you want...not sure about any preamp though).

What OP was asking about was switching the deck control of a side to another internal software deck - that is another matter, as the controller was not designed/mapped to do that.

Btw, you should be able to use decks 3 and 4 for analog sources on your DDJ-1000 (I use one deck for an Aux source, and I use the Phono switch to force the Preamp to be used as most of the time, the source audio needs that boost).
 
Yes, Rane One MKII offers the ability to use and mix two external analog audio sources.
The sources can be line-level or phono-level devices. There's a switch in the back of the device to select which preamp to be used.
Also above each channel there's a switch that allows you to change the channel between USB A (Computer 1), Analog Input and USB B (Computer 2)
 
BTW: A "phono" preamp is more than just a volume/gain boost. It also applies a specific EQ curve (the specs of which are provided by RIAA)

So, you should not use a line/phono switch just in order to boost audio levels. Sound coloring changes as well.
 
Agreed there is coloring done, but I'm okay with it - not sure of another obvious way to boost the analogue signal through the software other than VST use or increasing the gain manually (and largely) (there was at least one other recent post on this).
 
I see there's a A line B switch on the mixer. So assuming you set to phono it would be a like a bypass to play real vinyls, but can that also be set to control timecode in vdj?
 
 
Thanks for all that!
 
listen2 wrote :
but can that also be set to control timecode in vdj?

Yes it can, but if I may ask.. WHY ?

I'm curious.. Why someone would buy a MOTORIZED controller (with it's weight penalty) and then use DVS ?
I'm curious.. If the intention is to use DVS, why not buy a regular (non motorized) controller. And if the intention is not to use DVS, then why bother asking as a purchase criteria.
In my mind, a motorized deck is a replacement of DVS, not a compliment.
So, I'm genuinely curious..


PS: The inputs can be used to control timecode in VirtualDJ even for decks 3 & 4.
However the MIXER section does not allow for 4 decks operation.
The ONLY relatively easy way 4 decks mixing can be done on ONE MKII is to use DVS for decks 3 and 4, and then route the sound of decks 3 and 4 in VirtualDJ to an EXTERNAL soundcard that will be connected on the LINE inputs on Rane One MKII.
So, too much trouble, and you're still limited by the two channels mixer.
 
You're right DVS would be unnecessary with the controller. For me it would be to use as it as a bypass and play real vinyl. The only other reason one might use DVS is for scratching on a full size 12" platter.
 
Ok, it's mostly terminology then, but you don't need DVS support in order to play real vinyl.

DVS stands for Digital Vinyl System and it's a term than means that a DJ software can read (hear) a digital signal played by a real vinyl record and manipulate the playback of a track loaded on it's own deck.
DVS is mostly about the software and it's integration with the hardware.

A controller/mixer that would have a "LINE/PHONO" source switch but would not "send" the audio from this source to the PC, would still be possible to playback the given analog audio. There's no need to add "DVS" capabilities for that. A device is not "DVS ready" when it can play audio from turntables, but when on top of that, it can also send the given audio to the PC host

I'm not saying this for you specifically, but just as a reminder of how things work.

BTW: If you want/need to scratch on a 12' inch platters, wouldn't it be best to look at Rane Twelve's ?
Or stay at real turntables and just change/upgrade the mixer ?
Just saying..