Long-time DJs Guru supporter DJ Switch has had his Rane One for 6 months now. After half a year, it’s time to ask – is he still loving it? DJs around the world raved about it when it was released, and in our accompanying video review, DJ Switched breaks down the four biggest reasons things he loves about his Rane One. It’s not just a Rane One DJ Controller Review – it’s a recap of his real-world experience with one of the most popular DJ controllers on the market.
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Rane One DJ Controller Review – Portable Turnkey Performance
Having come from playing on a set of Technics 1200s, DJ Switch knows how big of a pain setting up turntables can be. The Rane One eliminates the hassle of connecting two tables and a mixer. Instead of multiple road cases filled with gear, there is a single device, in a single case, with most of the cables ready to go. This didn’t just cut his setup time in half – in his words, it dropped his setup time to 20% of what it was before.
Durability/Repairs
The Rane One isn’t just durable – it is class-leading in its durability. A huge benefit of most Rane devices is that they’re made of steel. They’re TOUGH. Where many DJ controllers, even higher-end ones, are made of plastic, the Rane One stands out. In addition to standing up to the rigors of the road, the finish is much more resistant to the scratches and scuffs that accumulate while gigging.
Another huge benefit of the Rane One is repairability. Rane makes it very simple to, say, remove a crossfader and clean it. Remove four small screws and boom, you can pull of the front plate and get servicing. Handy DJs are stuck sending their controller in for service when the smallest thing breaks. If you’ve got the knowledge, you can take care of things yourself.
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Only Three Cables
Setting up the Rane One at a gig is as easy as plugging in power, USB, and a signal out cable. That’s it. You no longer need to carry a whole backpack of cables, needles, and adapters. DJ Switch’s backpack requirements have been drastically reduced. Instead of hauling his dedicated DJ gig bag to every event, he can throw the few cables he needs in any bag he has available.
Accessories Ecosystem
Having a single device like the Rane One has opened up a lot of opportunities for DJ Switch to be able to find creative and nuanced ways to DJ that he wasn’t able to before. Whether he is at a corporate BBQ, a wedding, or a tour, his Rane One (safe in its case with rack-mount space and laptop shelf) is completely ready to handle the biggest of events. Boutique shows, like a smaller bar or video game store, are becoming more and more popular places to DJ. Sometimes, there isn’t space to fit a whole rig. However, he can just grab his Rane One, in a soft bag instead of a bulky road case, and slip into any venue.
A Different Perspective – Bill Beats
DJ Switch also sat down with a good producer friend of his, Bill Beats, to chat about the Rane One. He received his controller at almost the exact same time as DJ Switch, and he had a few thoughts to share as well. Bill came from a Rane 12 and 72 before owning the Rane One. Like Switch, he was excited about the portability aspect of the controller. Being able to slip it on a plane as a carry-on in a soft case? Perfect. Another huge benefit? The weight is just right to be super sturdy but easy to transport.
Rane One DJ Controller Review – Is it Worth it?
The answer, according to DJ Switch, is ABSOLUTELY. While other companies are starting to jump onto the motorized controller bandwagon, once you lock in a solid ecosystem around the Rane One it will last you a long time. In his words, it would take a pretty incredible shift in the fundamental way that he DJs for him to give his Rane One up. He doesn’t expect to get ride of his Rane anytime soon, and we’ll most likely see 1 year, 2 year, and even longer follow-up reviews in the future. At the end of the day, the Rane One is an investment, and one that pays itself back time and time again.
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