Vestax R-1

With rotary mixers, the rotary movement of the channel controls determines how you handle transitions and level changes. The Vestax R1 is an analogue five-channel DJ mixer with rotary faders for phono and line sources. Its hand-built transformers and specified 20 dB of headroom shape the design of the unit.

Each channel accepts either a phono or line signal; you select the input using a switch. The ALPS rotary controls, made specifically for Vestax, adjust the channel level, while gain controls on the rear panel adjust the input levels. A signal/peak LED on each channel indicates the incoming level and warns you of an excessively high input signal with a red light.

For sound processing, a four-band isolator with Infinity Cut is provided. You can boost the bands or turn them down completely; bypass passes the signal through unprocessed, regardless of the control positions. You can also use the frequency selectors to shift the crossover points between Low and Mid-Low, and between Mid-High and High.

You can connect external effects units or equalisers to individual channels via the insert effect sends and returns. Each channel has a send and return connection for this purpose. As soon as a plug is inserted into the return connection, the internal signal path of the channel in question is interrupted. You should bear this in mind when connecting and setting up external devices.

The Sub-Master output can be adjusted separately and has its own 3-band equaliser for the booth mix. You select the headphone signal from the programme channels using the cue switch; a dedicated volume control adjusts the monitoring level. The master and cue level meters give you additional control over the master and monitor signals.

For the main PA, there is a balanced XLR output as well as an unbalanced line output. There are also Sub-Master and Record Out connections; the latter is not affected by the master level control. With its five phono and five line inputs, channel-by-channel effect sends and returns, and separate outputs, the mixer is suitable for vinyl- and line-based club, studio and installation setups.