Rane Sixty-Two-Z

During a DJ changeover, the mix needs to keep playing while the next computer is already connected. The Rane Sixty-Two-Z is a two-channel battle mixer with two USB ports for use with Serato Scratch Live and two computers. The Z-Trip Limited Edition is functionally identical to the Sixty-Two and differs in its faceplate designed by Shepard Fairey, purple and yellow accents, and purple cables.

Each of the two USB ports transmits six stereo recording and four stereo playback channels at 48 kHz and 32-bit floating-point resolution. This allows you to record the decks, the master mix or the microphone signal, for example, and route software audio back into the mixer. Each input bus can be assigned to an analogue or digital source; this supports a changeover between two DJs without having to reconnect the audio during the set.

For analogue operation, four switchable phono/line inputs are available via RCA. They feed two PGM channels, whose sources you can select from the respective inputs or USB playback. Each channel has gain, a 3-band EQ with full cut, balance, adjustable high- and low-pass filters, level metering and cue assignment.

The FlexFX loop connects external effects units to the mixer signal path; you can use the USB insert to integrate software effects. A separate USB aux playback channel is provided for the SP-6 Sample Player and can be cued and assigned to FlexFX. The internal effects unit offers Filter, Flanger, Phaser, Echo, Robot and Reverb with an LCD display; the parameters are adjusted in the software. MIDI Beat Clock, Tracking and Generator, as well as Tap and BPM Sync, add tempo-dependent control.

The control surface directly controls more than 40 Scratch Live functions, including Library, Cues, Loops and the SP-6. Two non-contact magnetic line faders and the crossfader can be adjusted for contour and reverse; channel swap is also available. The cue system provides monitoring paths for channel, master, aux and FlexFX. Two headphone sockets, 6.3 mm and 3.5 mm, make it easier to connect different headphones.

A combined XLR/jack input with gain, 2-band EQ, FlexFX routing and LED level metering is provided for a microphone or line signal. Outputs include balanced main outputs via XLR and booth outputs via jack, as well as an unbalanced session output via RCA; each has its own volume control. Analogue FlexFX send and return connections via jack are also provided. The internal power supply operates at 100 to 240 volts, and firmware updates are carried out via USB.

The mixer is suitable for scratch and performance sets with Serato Scratch Live, particularly when two computers, external playback devices and a microphone need to be integrated into the same setup. Two USB paths and extensive signal routing are the key selection points; ASIO and Core Audio drivers are also listed. Actual software and operating system compatibility depends on the installed drivers and the respective system version.