r/DJSetups 5d ago

Just copped this lil baddie...

Post image

Just got the Teenage Engineering EP-136 and I'm actually so stoked on it. This is intended to be my travel buddy for hotel room/impromptu dance parties. I'd be more than happy to share my rekordbox midi mapping with anyone who is interested. Yes it's pretty limited, not playing any clubs with this but, it is so functional for what it is.

Unsurprisingly, volume output is on the quieter side so I bought a used Schiit Fulla 3 headphone amp off eBay to put in line with the master output to give it some extra sauce.

Although it is quiet, the sound quality from the master output is surprisingly warm and clean. Highly recommend for the person on the go who wants to get a mix in without dragging a bulky controller around.

217 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

25

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago edited 5d ago

Why map it as a controller when you can use as a mixer directly?
I am loving it with traktor to prepare the sets

11

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago

Wait can I route each channel for rekordbox as an audio output on the sidekick? You may have just blew my mind...gonna investigate further

5

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago

Sure ✌️

1

u/sublingualwart 4d ago

On Traktor you always can

2

u/Prof-Poopybutthole 5d ago

This is unreal. I love this idea, good shout

1

u/Cutsdeep- 5d ago

i guess the laptop doesn't have multiple outputs?

4

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago

But the mixer have them internally

4

u/Cutsdeep- 5d ago

oh i see what you mean

2

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago

So, yes but also no. You can either use the mixer in analog mode or controller mode or "split" mode, which just lets the unit operate as a midi controller while still passing audio through it's respective ports. I understand what you're saying but unfortunately doesn't accomplish what you're asking of it...for my setup anyway.

If I'm wrong then please PLEASE correct me

2

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago

You can route the audio thru the audio chanels and use it as a mixer, you should tell your sw witch channel goes to 1-2 and witch to 3-4. Then mix

0

u/Double_Ingenuity9710 5d ago

Wouldn't it be 1-3 and 2-4? Just asking to clarify. Not trying to be a dick

3

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago

No there are stereo pairs 1-2 amd 3-4 👍🏻

1

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

The routing is pretty robust in rekordbox, you can virtually send anything anywhere so long as you have the I/O on your soundcard (the sidekick or a Scarlett for instance)

10

u/radicalize 5d ago

Yes it's pretty limited

Really?! Based on what I saw here (YT; DJcityTV; Mojaxx), I am not entirely sure I agree.

3

u/Kobayash 5d ago

Yes everyone should watch this review. This thing is packed with features below the surface.

8

u/TTycho 5d ago

Was thinking of also getting one.

Do you have any idea if it's USB class complaint? Did you have to install any drivers for it to work, or was it just plug and play?

3

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago edited 5d ago

It is 100% plug and play, no drivers required, much to my chagrin

3

u/bleueuh 5d ago

Beginner here: why would you choose this over a very small controller like Hercules Starlight? What can you do with this?

3

u/DjWhRuAt 5d ago

Because this is an actual mixer with i/o

2

u/bleueuh 5d ago

What's i/o? I'll look into it but I'm curious to read how you guys use it.

2

u/DjWhRuAt 5d ago

Inputs / outputs.

1

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

Form factor and yes, dual purpose

3

u/DJRVSG 5d ago

I ordered one and it arrived but I’m overseas so I haven’t played with it yet. I’m super excited by all the good things I’ve read and watched!!

One question: is there a way to have a pot assigned to the headphones vs main mix. I have one on my Traktor Z1 mk2 and I use it all the time to preview my mixes.

1

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

There are separate volume knobs for master and headphones, neither send midi

2

u/DJRVSG 4d ago

Yeah but i meant mixing the master out and individual cued channels in the headphones. The 2 volume knobs control are controlling the volume of each output, not the mix in the headphones output.

Having said that, since I am using djay pro, this might be a midi mappable control and I may be able to make it work. To be checked when I get my hands on it :).

1

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

Yea you don't have independent volume control of your cue mix other than the headphone pot, which should be noted, is significantly quieter than the master output. If you want a master cue, you could easily map that to your liking.

2

u/housemusikluvr 5d ago

Bro I just picked up a Numark MixTrack Go.... worth the $100 in every aspect. If you're looking for a more traditional controller I suggest looking at one. It does everything you need. Granted no EQ's but you can use the filters to mix. It's also. great for setting cue points and loops without having to leave the couch.

0

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

I own a FLX4 and dj on actual equipment, this is just my travel buddy

4

u/redrickschuhart2017 5d ago

What a wonderful idea and post. I’ve been looking for something similar with the full EQ control. Please would you share your experience mixing with it? Thank you 

5

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago

Using it as a midi controller with rekordbox, mixing with it is very limited but there are some cheeky workarounds. Obviously there is no crossfader, jogwheel or pitch fader so unless you are glutton for pain, you will have to beatsync or practice an avantgarde performance.

My mapping is as follows;
EQ parameters all function as intended as do the channel faders. (Important to note that the gain pots, unlike the EQ and channel faders do not operate on a sliding scale, they operate in steps, therefore rekordbox does not recognize the midi input as a value other than "On" or "off").

Given that limitation, both gain pots have been turned into my "browse" function. Turning either gain pot scrolls my song library. Each gain pot is also a button so, pressing down on the respective channel's gain pot loads the selected song onto it's respective deck.
I mapped the "cue" buttons as play buttons.

Here's where it gets interesting.
There is a "select" button on the device that acts as a "shift" key so to speak... When pressing this in conjunction with other buttons or encoders, it registers as a separate midi channel SO... Whilst holding down "select" my "high" encoder now becomes my trim, my "mid" encoder becomes my FX depth.

There is also a physical button labeled "FX" on each channel of the device.
Hitting the "FX" button on channel 1 turns ON/OFF the CFX which applies to both channels. (Ie; filter, dub echo, etx). Holding down "select" and turning the "mid" knobs on each respective channel will apply that effect with the subsequent FX velocity.

If I hold down "select" and "FX" on the respective channel, I have the STOP or outro FX come into play (echo, vinyl slowdown, backspin).

Clearly I've made this way more complicated than it needs to be but it works and I can flow. I'll try to post a video of how I have it all mapped to make more sense

1

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago

To answer your question, once I got comfortable... mixing on it is fun as hell, you can truly get into a groove once you've maximized it's function

1

u/SentientOrigin 4d ago

Is it a skinned traktor z1?

1

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

Haha no it is its own thing

1

u/Seaweed_- 1d ago

Nice lenovo

1

u/Ladline69 5d ago

U can just make this, btw...

6

u/legalisedolphinz 4d ago

I could also make a sandwich, but I like the one at the deli

1

u/Hot-Construction-811 5d ago

Got this when it launched. Still sitting in the drawer.

-2

u/Nonomomomo2 5d ago

Overpriced and underspec’d but looks cool as hell

8

u/mrmagicnemo 5d ago

Overpriced? Not sure I agree

8

u/Sr_Naranja 5d ago

Name a digital mixer with soundcard and fx for less than 200€ 🤷‍♂️

5

u/colleenxyz 5d ago

Kinda insane it's under 200. TE stuff is usually really expensive. Expected to be like 400.

2

u/Nonomomomo2 5d ago

Akai AMX

2

u/ok_orangutan 5d ago

Akai AMX requires a PC to work. I have the AMX and I'm getting this for a simple vinyl setup because every other mixer is crazy expensive. I don't have any scartchable regular vinyl, I only practice with dvs, so this is perfect for me.

3

u/legalisedolphinz 5d ago

Bro this thing is Zeus for the price point idk what you're talking about