r/rotarymixers • u/Rhythm-Academy • 13d ago
Clues for fitting Isonoe 420 into my setup
Hi there. It's official - I pulled the trigger for isonone 420 and now I have about 8 months to find a best way of fitting it into my table. Any suggestions?
In the left it's what I've got now (aside from decks which are currently 1210mk5 - these 1210mk7 will be delivered soon) and second photo with isonone is probably how I will end up fitting it - I will ask my carpenter for a cover so I can swap two mixers. I'm thinking about some sort of angled insert cover that would allow me to hide the hole after four.valve and angle isonone towards me. I hope it makes sense.
Some say I will stop using other mixers once I've got the Isonoe as it's the final boss but knowing myself I'll rather leave some flexibility for the future as I love DJ mixers š Saying that another option is to cut the desk so mixer would sit flush but then front of the table has permanent cut which I'd rather avoid.
Thanks
Lukas
2
u/pottage_plans Isonoe 13d ago
Put it on top and let it shine. Use the current insert for stowing cables away.
1
2
u/alexwoodgarbage 13d ago
The isonoeās forward facing pots and the height at which youād prefer those to be should determine. Iād wait for it and decide then.
Either set it on top and use the current space as storage and cable management, or remove the front and sink the isonoe into the space with the front open, essentially a shelf.
1
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
Cheers. All options on the table. And yes I'll wait for mixer to arrive first before doing any amendments.
1
u/alexwoodgarbage 13d ago
Congrats on the purchase. Itās a piece of functional art to me. And itāll probably be cloder to 5-6 months.
1
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
Can't wait. Do you have one? Honestly I don't know what to expect. I heard so much good about it but never used one.
2
u/alexwoodgarbage 12d ago
Yes, happy owner of one straight from Justinās hands earlier this year.
Iāve played on Condesa and DJR-400 mostly before this, both great and always a treat to find them as mixers for the evening, but the Isonoeās summing is something else to my ears. And the angled pots together with its summing put you in a different mode, taking mixes slower, more deliberate on how tracks sound and harmonize together rather than how tracks combine functionally.
It handles fast mixes, cuts and more general, cross genre party mixing just as well, as you adapt to it and its layout, but it truly shines when you start sculpting tracks together.
I know this sounds super vague and evangelical, but youāll know what I mean when you play on yours and adapt to it.
1
2
u/cherrymxorange 13d ago
Oh hey, I recognise that setup!
Honestly I'd look to do a little work to make sure you're able to fit it in a similar way as possible to the four valve.
Maybe some kind of insert that allows it to poke out a little but still be largely flush? It looks like you might need to take a wide notch out of that top wooden panel (the one that's presumably covering the cables), but you could cut it in a way that looks like it's a handle to pull the panel up if you swap back to the four valve.
The recommendation for the angled stand is probably the easiest but I love the super flat top down view, it's why I follow you so I think it should be preserved as much as possible!
2
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
Thanks man.the top view will always be there. Even if the mixer willl sit on the top of the table as per attached visual it will be quite hard to tell it's not flush when looking at the top view. Most likely there will be an inset that will allow both mixers. I don't want to cut my table to much.
1
u/Aural-Imbalance_6165 13d ago
Download Muse app and copy and paste what you said. It will blow you away.Ā
1
u/Tomazid 13d ago
Isonoe is a beast! 1210mk5 too! Why replace them with mk7?!
And to answer your question. The 420 should likely be placed on top of the table due to the angled channel pots on its front.
-1
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
Thanks man. In fact I have two sets of 1210mk5 one of which has even consecutive serial numbers. But I always wanted a set of new 1210 mk7 and I've ordered recent 55 edition. Mk5 not going anywhere far (to my storage for a while ).
And yes it will have to be on top of the table which isn't a bad thing as it's an living icon šļø
1
u/H-bomb-doubt 13d ago
That my friend is why putting your gear inside the table is so limiting
1
u/Rhythm-Academy 12d ago
Not ideal at times but I'm after this look - many of my listeners appreciate it. It will be just fine with the mixer on the top - the bottom line is I can kill the holes and keep everything up but I prefer them to be dropped inside.
2
u/Nonomomomo2 Condesa 13d ago
You want to leave the old mixer in place? Or can you swap it out?
If you swap Iād consider bringing the isonoe forward to the edge of the booth so the front controls are accessible.
The only other alternative is to rest it on top of the desk like you show in your mockup.
Personally I hate flushed booths like this where the equipment is so far back from the front edge. It makes no sense to me and is a triumph of form over function.
Iām sure thatās just me though so YMMV. In any case donāt make any cuts or commits until you actually get the new mixer in hand. It has particular ergonomics that you want to get used to before committing.
1
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
Hey here the decks are less than 10cm from the edge so very good access.
2
u/Nonomomomo2 Condesa 13d ago
For context my decks, and every professional booth Iāve ever built, commissioned or played on, has less than 2cm and usually 0 cm between the front edge of the equipment and the edge of the booth.
Iām not saying this is the norm but every cm past flush means you need to lean further over, fuck up your back and ergonomics for long sessions, and have less room for your legs to move.
Maybe Iām the weird one but it just makes no sense (other than aesthetic) to have your gear placed like this.
1
u/Rhythm-Academy 13d ago
To be honest it doesn't bother me. I can fully reach over my entire table with no issues. Would never thought about it as an issue. And answering your initial question I want to be able to swap mixers out. Here is a closer look on my studio in case you're interested. https://youtu.be/EeS36-In4tk?is=JoyA5m-go_r2Cish
2
u/Nonomomomo2 Condesa 13d ago
Yes I donāt mean to criticise. Your setup is lovely and thereās no ārightā way to do this game. Iām just expressing my personal experience and preference. š
0
u/Global-Pilot-4823 12d ago
Unless the turntable or mixer is more than about 40 cm away from the edge (or, more probably, the decks are at the wrong height), there are not going to be any ergonomic issues.
1
u/Nonomomomo2 Condesa 12d ago
Or unless, you know, you prefer not to stand right at the edge of the booth and hit your knees and junk up against the shelving units below every time.
Thereās a reason old mixing booths were designed the way they were.
1
u/Global-Pilot-4823 11d ago
By "booth" I assume you mean console. And yes, consoles generally have recesses below 80 cm or so, primarily so that the audio engineer can get access to the underside of mounted audio equipment, but as a secondary benefit, I suppose you could poke your knees in there if you're a little bit limp legged or have a freakishly short elbow to index finger length.
1
u/Nonomomomo2 Condesa 11d ago
No I mean āboothā as in DJ booth.
Look at the classic, legendary booths in Fabric, Klymax, Twilo, Space, Ministry and so on.
All the DJ mixers in these spaces are pushed forward to the edge of the lip and/or recessed at an angle for easier access, ergonomics and play.
Theyāre designed for comfort over long sets, easier access to equipment, and optimal room.
Iām not saying people canāt DJ on mixers places further back, just that itās not ideal and most high quality booths designed for professional, long lasting sessions bring the mixer forward for this exact reason.
6
u/Wide-Pick3800 13d ago
Remove current mixer. Build an angled stand for the Isonone that fits into the hole left by the old mixer. This will allow you to access the front panel and will also accommodate the extra width of the new mixer.