Review (part 1) of the American Audio VMS4 controller / mixer

[nemra111]

hello i have a quetion

So if i have VDj 7 now first i need to install the LE version and after install vdj 7 again right?

[groovindj]

@nemra111 at the time, installing the LE version was the only way to get the VMS4 skin and install the ASIO drivers. I think they can be downloaded separately now.

[nemra111]

@groovindj

:D i have ASIO drivers now but the question is: Will it work with no LE versions (for example vdj 7 free?

[DJMojoJAB]

I have a question, I see from other reviews they all use the 4 channels could you just use 2 channels?

[groovindj]

@DJMojoJAB of course. You can even use just one. Nobody's forcing you to use all four!

[TheManicMeerkat]

I soon realised that this controller isn't that good. Please could you recommend one for this price mark maybe a bit higher if need be that is accessible for beginners but won't need replacing when I get more serious. Thanks

[TheManicMeerkat]

Is is too advance for a new guy but I do want to get serious in the future? I obviously realise it'll take a while to learn the advanced features. Please help!

[neroj95]

is there a feature for pre listening sorry my english is bad plz answer

[groovindj]

@neroj95 yes, just like any DJ mixer.

[Rdrac13]

!!!!!!!! VMS4 skinn LOL, unfortunate wording

[deeb86]

Is there a Sync button?

Like you know on Virtual DJ when you miss-cue or miss-sync a track with another one you gotta Auto-Sync it real quick ... could u do that on the controller?

[groovindj]

@deeb86 yes there are sync buttons for each deck - but bear in mind that on a MIDI controller, any button can be remapped in the software to do whatever you want, so you could assign sync to any button.

[SwedishBrewery]

Should I get the VMS4 or NI's S4? The S4 is cheaper and after watching this I'm unsure :/

[MrLostCrayon]

Would you recommend this for a DJ that plays in clubs?

[groovindj]

@MrLostCrayon clubs usually have their own kit installed.

The VMS4 is a budget controller, so not really the sort of thing that should be used in clubs, as the club sound system (assuming it's good) will show up any flaws in low end kit.

I bought it just to have on standby, as a backup system in case my my playback fails.

[baldwing0613]

do the bass/mid/treble controls have a click kill switch function?

[joselikescars]

is there any way you can rack mount it?

[groovindj]

@joselikescars there's no official rack mount option, but you could rig something yourself.

[TrialVersion8]

4 faders, 4 decks right?

[groovindj]

@TrialVersion8 correct - unlike the Denon MC6000 which despite being marketed as a 4 deck controller, only has two USB stereo audio channels. The flaw in the VMS4 though, is it has no dedicated button for switching plattter control from 1&2 to 3&4.

[Th3Utuber]

Finally the truth

[jfslim25]

I got this and after 2 months of only HOME USE i screwed up the channel A fader.. and i didnt even pushed it hard or played it everyday ... :S

[TurKdiRty]

for its price, what are the alternatives and would you recommend this. i just like the look of this.

and will it work with traktor without having to set things up?

[groovindj]

@TurKdiRty there are no alternatives at the same price. This is the only thing that has this exact feature set.

There is a Traktor specific VMS4 on the way, but the original version will work (it's a MIDI controller, so it's universal).

[Amaranth7ne]

@TurKdiRty For Traktor and Virtual i had to map the console but not exceedinly. awesum console!

[petenicezz]

does this comes with a case .

[groovindj]

@petenicezz no.

[DJCob1]

Great review. Like how you tell us the truth about how it feels.

DJCob1

[kema32]

you just gotta double tap the load mouse pad button to load a track you dont have to press two things

[mxwebman]

How about de response? Does it have delays or not? Which one do you prefer: VMS4 or Hercules 4-MX? Thanks.

[Flexzor24]

great review dude. im thinking of buying this one, but don't know if i should buy Gemini CDJ 210 x2 + a mixer instead. i'm quite new at dj'ing. what do you think?

[mario84000]

c'est cool et sympa bonne continuation

[groovindj]

@mario84000 merci beaucoup Grégoire

Joyeux Noël

[Cityj0hn]

Platters being of center is an issue which plagues many MIDI controllers which I find just ridiculous and makes me want to kill the guy who designed the manufacturing process.

Great review though man seriously many guys just read the fricking specs and that's it, The most important things are:

How are the Jogwheels centered and how do they feel and spin.

How do the buttons feel, overall feel of the layout.

Thanks for being normal :)

[jiay63]

can u make a vid of your vms4 settings for VDJ LE?? would very much appreciate it.

[groovindj]

@jiay63 there are no settings in the VDJ software that ships with the VMS4. It's plug and play - it just works.

[DJJORGEMOJICA]

im buying this american audio vms4 for christmas yeah baby.

[igotanewthing]

@DJJORGEMOJICA same here

[djlexist]

where from you're and what's name of the plug and adapter?

[DJHodg3]

ERMM.... PROBLEM

WHAT IF U DO NOT HAVE AN ASIO SOUNDCARD.. OR UR ASIO DONE NOT PLAY OUT OSUND!!

[groovindj]

@DJHodg3 if you have a VMS4, you have an ASIO sound card - it's built in to the VMS4.

[HuntedHouseMusic]

@groovindj I have a VMS4, but the crossfader doesnt move in the software when i move it on the Vms4.

So when im mixing, if i dont move the crossfader it wont move in the software so...

Please reply

Thanks...

[DJKuLR]

@groovindj Question. Will this require soundcard for me to use vdj software on my computer with or it comes with usb?

[tranjohn]

@DJHodg3 lol how many times have u asked this same questions??? Have u got ur answer u were looking for? lol i bet ur they were ALL the same answer u got haha

[dedbult]

vms4 skin. haha.

[KidInTheGlasses]

would i need a soundcard for this since there not one built in?

[groovindj]

@KidInTheGlasses you do NOT need a sound card, since there IS one built in.

[magallanes813]

have pitch bend on this device?

[groovindj]

@magallanes813 yes - pitch slider (like Pioneer) and also +/- nudge buttons (like Denon).

[javdm12]

does it supports Windows 7?

[groovindj]

@javdm12 I haven't tried but I think it does.

[DJDougdimond]

can you record with this? Do you have to use Traktor? Can I use Itch?

[groovindj]

@DJDougdimond, yes it has a USB record signal back to the computer when in '8 out' mode, and also has an RCA booth output that could be used.

You can use any software that supports SUB MIDI controllers and sound cards.

Itch only supports the controllers that it ships with.

[POODYMAN2010]

can i use just alone without a laptop ? just it with a couple of speakers ? :)

[groovindj]

@POODYMAN2010, yes - that's one of its major advantages over most other similar controllers. It is a full four channel (+2 mics) mixer, so you can use it with CD players, turntables etc. without a computer.

[burn5495]

does it have the sync button??

[groovindj]

@burn5495, yes - but you should really learn how to beat mix manually, and not rely on software to do it for you!

[Diezytell]

@groovindj Isn't this VERY hard?? I tried it for a sec and its really hard... I just click the sinc button and tadaaaa it does it for me so.... Do cdj's have sinc buttons?

[groovindj]

@Diezytell it's like driving a car or riding a bike. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Trying it "for a sec" is no good - practise until you can do it instinctively.

You should not rely on things to do it for you, because you may need to do it manually at some time.

[tranjohn]

@Diezytell Should try to learn it! It's pretty easy once u get the hang of it! I learnt it pretty easy my friend's a dj and he had an old set of dennon cd and he just showed me how to do it maybe about 5 times just basic beat matching and how to cue up next song etc and that was like 3 years ago and when i got my VMS4 last week and beat matching is even easier cause u got a screen to look at and shows u BPM etc! So there's no need of a SYNC button just learn, it's easy and takes no time to learn

[Diezytell]

@tranjohn Ok, thx mate :D Do u really beatmatch with your pitch slider or do u look at the bpm's and match them up?

[tranjohn]

@Diezytell i do both if i'm lazy i just look at the screen to match them up...but it's best if u try to learn without looking at the screen first and do it by ear:)

[x1junior1xx]

@burn5495 thats the problem with djs, your either a good dj or your not....in your case just by asking this questions makes you no dj.

[DJVC1993]

Hi,

I am since yesterday a proud user of the VMS4. (and yeah, i also got the off-center scratch wheels that are mentioned in the video. It's a production fault or something)

I have also spend a lot of time to get it working. My conclusion to get the full experience of the VMS4: get traktor pro. Virtual Dj don't support 4 decks. The only disadventage is that the beatsyncing is not that accurate as Virtual Dj.

I have also a question: how can you togle the shift button?

VC

[groovindj]

@DJVC1993, VDJ will soon support up to 99 decks, so who cares about four?

:-)

[jearley2424]

Good hands on vid groovin interesting as i havent got one. Have you still got your numark director that is funny vms 4 skin

[groovindj]

@jearley2424, yes I still have the D2 Director.

[DJVC1993]

I readed at some forums that the ANALOG sound quality is crap. Is that true?

And can you beatsync an analog channel with a usb-channel?

(I gonna buy the vms 4 tomorrow, so a fast response would be nice)

VC

[groovindj]

@DJVC1993 some people are saying that the audio distorts, but it really depends how hard you push it.

Some DJs like to run in the red, with lots of EQ. If you do this, it will distort - because it only has 5v power.

To mix an analog channel with USB, use your ears to sync the beats!

[alvandra01]

groovindj, is the vms 4 connectable to an external mixer? the dp2 is right.

[groovindj]

@alvandra01, the VMS4 has a 4 channel mixer, there is no need to connect it to another mixer!

[AmadoChalhoub123]

5.04 <3 :P

[internetvideossuck]

So why does it sound like you used haven't actually used this?

[groovindj]

@internetvideossuck, beause at that point I hadn't. For some reason you don't seem to have noticed that this video is PART ONE.

The usage comes in PART TWO.

If you've used it, why not make your own video and give your views?

[acwh79]

LOL @ VMS4 Skin

Very unfortunate way of phrasing it indeed!

[brianmole]

Nice one Paul, we had one at the SEDA ShowNight in July, looked groovy :)

[djwenk]

Hi GroovinDJ ;o) Please tell me whats going on with the Buttons !?

[groovindj]

@djwenk, what do you mean?

[djwenk]

@groovindj or what happens with the right deck ???

[groovindj]

@djwenk, the pause button sometimes does not respond. It seems more sensitive on the left edge.

[djwenk]

@groovindj Thanxxx Bro ...

[Corneloues]

About the 'free spin' is there an adjuster screw underneath like on the RMX? I'll find out tomorrow myself when mine arrives.

I'm also not happy about that power supply... It's gonna make plugging everything more complicated. I may invest in a UK spec/same voltage adapter!

Roy (aka GagdetMan)

[groovindj]

@Corneloues, there's no adjustment screw underneath (at least not on the outside).

The PSU is 5v 1a so nothing unusual.

[Corneloues]

@groovindj We can raise the platter adjustment issue in the forums. Thought the PSU would be pretty standard. May nip out and get one before I plug it in.

[tranjohn]

@Corneloues what's a free spin?

[DJVC1993]

thanx man!

This video says the things which the promotion video's don't say :)

Vc

[plugggd]

sweet. thanks for the video. gives a good idea of the vms4. the platters are 'off-center' doesnt sound so great. also when you spin it the travel seems a lot less then from the earlier videos on the web when it was tested at a NAMM show...maybe an issue for scratch djs, i dont know.