Thanks for checking out our Behringer DDM4000 Review. Behringer is an audio equipment and supplies company founded in Willich, Germany, by Uli Behringer, the current Chief Executive. In 2007, the company was ranked the 14th largest manufacturer of music products globally.
Despite its German origins, the company now manufactures its products in China.
The company is currently a subsidiary of Music Group, which is a holding company chaired by Uli Behringer. Music Group also owns other audio companies such as Bugera, Klark Teknik and Midas.
The DDM4000 is the company’s flagship hybrid DJ mixer and it can be a little intimidating when you lay your eyes on it for the first time. This is due to the multi-function display and the large number of buttons. However, a closer look will reveal that its layout is quite intuitive for anyone experienced with a DJ mixer.
Behringer just added additional features and controls where there were none, and when they ran out of space, they simply added in more menus. These little things add up to a lot, and the DDM4000 definitely delivers.
The DDM4000 is lighter than most DJ mixers, a factor attributable to its digital design.
Since it is fully digital, the DDM4000 manages to pack in a wide functional capability in a few number of chips and just 20 watts. Such functionality in the DDM4000’s predecessor, the DJM-500, required multiple power-hungry and bulky analog components to achieve.
With regards to the connections, the DDM4000 has covered almost every aspect regardless of how complicated the DJ setup is. The machine provides four input channels with each one capable of supporting two simultaneously plugged in devices; one line-level and another line- or phono-level. The latter are selectable per channel.
This mixer also supports two XLR microphone inputs, whereby one is fitted with effects and a 3-band EQ.
Lastly, the connections also include an S/PDIF (coaxial) digital output, an RCA tape/recording output, and a full complement of MIDI out, in, and through.
There are two main outputs which are separately controlled but both with RCA connectors. One of the output connectors may be considered as a booth/monitor output. The main output further has balanced XLR connectors which are suitable for electrically noisy areas and/or long cable runs.
The subwoofer even has a separate XLR output, suitable for situations when one has separate amps/subs but no crossover. The effect of this is a punchier and cleaner bass since a dedicated subwoofer output contains only the low frequencies produced allowing the subwoofers as well as their respective amplifiers to work more efficiently.
The layout and feel of this mixer is quite superb. A DJ will feel right at home with this system.
The master controls are at the top right, mic controls on the top left, cross-fader at the bottom and the channel strips at the center.
These basic controls also include headphone controls on the center right, two-bank sampler on the left, as already mentioned – cross-fader controls on the bottom right, and the effects section with a backlit LCD display between the EQ knobs and the channel faders.
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The sampler section is quite elaborate.
It offers two sample banks of up to 30 seconds each that can be independently pitch-adjusted and simultaneously played back, backwards or forwards, in a loop or momentarily. Any channel can be used to record for the sampler including the master output or mic, recording continuously or in 1/2/4/8/16 beats until it fills up or one stops.
There is an insert function which allows the volume knob to reduce the volume of the target channel, thus letting the sampler output dominate or even totally replace the channel’s.
There are a number of extra functions on this mixer. One of these has to do with the extra microphone features, which make it quite apparent that Behringer were designing and manufacturing live mixing consoles much earlier than they were DJ mixers.
The Mic Setup button reveals an array of microphone configurations including panning, low-cut frequency, cutoff frequencies and gain of the EQ knobs, effects, and master output B attenuation.
The icing on the cake comes in the form of Behringer’s Ultramic processors, of which there is a separate one for each microphone input. These processors further include a 2-band expander and compressor which can make the DJ sound more radio-like and further compensate for individuals who feel that they need to shout into the mic.
Various MIDI-related options are also offered by the DDM4000. One is that it can send a MIDI clock signal to synchronize connected MIDI equipment, a useful feature especially for those with drum machines. Therefore, all that needs to be adjusted on the drum box is the pattern.
DDM4000’s sound quality is excellent, save for a few issues with internal noises. For instance, when using the mixer with a set of good headphones and nothing else connected to the mixer but the power in input, slight noises are detectable at 13kHZ, apparently related to the mic input.
The phono inputs are also noisy, a factor that can be explained by the larger pre-amplification they conduct. However, these noises are much lower than any sound produced by a majority of DJ equipment, hence they are of little concern.
In use, the DDM4000 is fun and reliable.
There is a great feel to the light faders as well as their caps. A distinct click accompanies the press of any button therefore one is sure that they have actually pressed on something.
The significant level of customizability in such a small amount of space may take some getting used to, but the ingenuity that went behind them, and the fact that there are eight user preset slots should put anyone’s mind at ease.
In conclusion, the DDM4000 is definitely a product designed by pros at audio equipment design thus making it quite a value-for-money purchase.
It is a solid performer despite its low price and its light weight. It’s filled with innovative features and a variety of pro-sound based controls, which make it a tweaker’s haven.
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