Rane Four Preview - 4 Channel Serato Stems Controller

Rane has just announced its brand new 4-channel controller, the Rane Four, which is expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2023.

But why announce now, when the product isn't available yet?

Because it's the first controller designed for the new Stems feature in Serato 3.0 (currently only available in beta). Stems are the key new feature and allow separating different layers of a track, such as vocals, bass, drums, and melody. After watching some demo videos, Stems seem to be so much fun that even DJs who never play vocal tracks want to experiment with them.

Additionally, they're paired with Stem effects: Vocal Echo, Instrumental Echo, Instrumental Braker, and Drums Echo - each effect can be applied over the Stems.

The new Stems controls can replace the standard pad controls of most Serato-compatible hardware and can also be assigned to any MIDI controller. At first glance, the analysis seems very impressive and accurate, but not perfect, as the software analyzes based on the frequency spectrum and all four elements have the same frequencies at a certain point, making it difficult to split them accurately. However, they sound and separate well enough to confidently use them in live sets.

It's worth noting that this may demand additional CPU performance, especially if leaving the automatic Stem analysis enabled.

To use Stems, one needs to drag one or more tracks into the Stems Crate, and Serato will analyze them, separate the four main elements, and create a Stem file for each track. Stem files can take up considerable disk space, as they are usually more than double the size of the original audio track.

Anyone wishing to experiment with Serato 3.0 Beta can already do so.

But back to the hardware!

Unfortunately, we don't have access to the hardware yet, but Rane has already released the key features on its website.

As expected, the controller will feature the same solid build quality as other Rane devices and have a metal housing.

One thing that surprises us is that it doesn't have motorized platters, like the Rane One, but as its design and 4 channels suggest, it's not a battle controller but rather a flagship for Serato DJ, allowing deep diving into Stems, slicing one's tracks uniquely, and creating something new each time.

The static jogwheels thus make sense, especially because we have never seen traditional jogwheels on a Rane device until now. Therefore, the wheels are a good choice as they can reach a broad category of DJs without compromising the turntablist aspect generally associated with Rane.

Ultimately, they are still a pair of jogwheels whose design harks back to traditional turntables.

The large 8.5-inch jogwheels are definitely suitable for scratching, and some fortunate users who have already gotten their hands on them testify to a pleasant resistance perfect for scratching and back-cueing.

The performance pads are now supported by OLED displays, which show cue point times, names, beat divisions, or sample names. At first glance, they seem rather small; it will be interesting to see how they perform in practice.

The Rane Four finally gets on-board effects, so we are no longer reliant solely on Serato FX. There are 22 integrated effects available, which is a significant selection, and we can't wait to try them out. They can be turned on, off, or paused using two pedal switches.

The software effects are complemented by the 4 channel FX controls, which govern the effects built into Serato.

Combining both effect areas with Stems will likely yield some very unique and expressive performance possibilities, especially when mixing tracks with vocals.

The Rane Four enables instant Stem performances with the Stem Split button, which splits the instrumental and acapella parts of a track and distributes them across two decks. Afterward, each element can be further manipulated, chopped, and embellished with effects - this is sure to be a lot of fun!

With the dedicated Stems section, vocal or instrumental elements of any track can be isolated or subtracted at any time with a quick press of a button, without leaving the currently selected performance pad mode. Perfect for live mixes, remixes, and creating acapellas.

Regarding the connectivity options, the device will surely not disappoint, as we will find out:

• 2 x XLR outputs (Main)
• 2 x 6.3mm Jack outputs (Booth)
• 1 x Pair of Stereo RCA outputs (Main)
• 2 x XLR/6.3mm Jack Combo MIC inputs
• 2 x Stereo RCA inputs on Deck 3-4, to connect turntables or digital decks
• 2 x Headphone outputs (6.3mm and 3.5mm Jack)
• 2 x USB Type-B ports
• 1 x IEC power cable input

Currently, there are only a few DEMO devices, so we might see some minor changes before the final version is released to the market, but likely only in terms of firmware and perhaps some mechanical adjustments. The sale price has not yet been announced, but we expect it to be around €2000.

We look forward to getting our hands on the device and writing a comprehensive review. In the meantime, you could try out the new Serato 3.0 and get acquainted with Stems and Stems FX.