Stanton SC System 1 Review

Stanton Magnetics introduced the SC System in 2008 and they were one of the first to introduce a universal controller for virtually your choice of DJ software.  Since then they have made leaps and bounds in the controller market by revamping and perfecting their flagship SC System 1 which we previewed at Winter NAMM this past January.  Stanton sent us the complete system which consists of the SCS1.d deck and the SCS1.m mixer.

Both the SCS.1D and the SCS.1M are fully customizable midi controllers that allow for control of DJ and Production software such as Traktor and Ableton Live.  They integrate together as a system for a traditional DJ set-up of 2 decks and a mixer, or can be used separately for complete control due to the ability to map every function to the various pads, sliders, and encoders on each perspective controller.  There are also dual colored LCD “scribble strips” that display each parameter or function that is designated to the encoder.  This is key because each encoder can represent multiple functions in each of 4 separate banks and they are conveniently displayed on the strips while switching quickly during your performance.

The SC System 1 is very dynamic and here’s what I love about it the most:

1.  It is expandable to 4 Decks for tag-teaming.

2.  I can run 4 Decks in Traktor using SCS.1D OR SCS.1M separately.

3.  The SCS.1D motorized platter is large, high-torque, and ideal for scratching.

4.  The CUE buttons are large and respond accurately enough to play like drum pads.

5.  The SCS.1D pitch fader is motorized and can be assigned to my  filters in Traktor.

Thanks to Stanton for providing us with the SC System 1 and also congrats on a job well done.  Check out our video review for more details and a brief demonstration on it’s features.  Cheers and happy gigs!

 

Video Transcript:

Hey this is Scott Magno, DJ MadFlip from UniqueSquared.com and today we’re hanging out with Stanton. We’re going to check out the SC system 1, this is going to consist of two devices, the SCS1M mixer and the SCS1D deck.

Now we’ve got this running with Traktor today, these are excellent controllers. Let’s check them out.

Ok, so let’s talk about the SCS1M mixer, we’re going to get this connected to your laptop via firewire 400. We’re using a mac so we had to use an adapter to make that firewire 800. In the back you’re going to have two balanced ¼ inch outputs as well as an RCA booth or zone output.

You’re also going to have ¼ inch microphone and footswitch outputs as well. Upon looking at it, it looks like your standard four channel mixer, but there’s a couple things different.

I’ve got these assignable encoders and I can rotate those and it gives me 360 degrees of LED communication with my software. That’s very convenient for a darkly lit place, since most of you will be in a club.

You can see those LED’s there that show exactly how much of each parameter I have affected. You also have the LCD scribble strips here, this is assigned to my effects right now so it’s going to tell me that I’ve got the beat masher, the flanger, and the gator right there on the scribble strip.

It also turns to red whenever I have that enabled. Nice, convenient, makes me good to go when I need it.

As you can see, the software controls in virtually. Everything I do on here is easily read on the software. You’ve got this nice big browse button over here, very easy to go through my tracks, I can select which track I want here, hit the button, and I’m good to go on which track I select.

Real convenient, I can browse through all of my tracks without touching my laptop, got to have that.

Ok, so the Stanton SC1M is very easily assigned, you can map it with whatever software you use, it works perfect as a stand alone mixer, or with a SCS1D deck. I can actually control everything on the mixer using the software alone, just by using my plays, cues, transport section, loops, and all of my effects directly onto here.

Using the preset buttons I can do my show with this alone. Alright, so let’s check out the deck of the system, the SCS1D. Alright as you can see it’s got really good size for those of you making the transition from turntables to a mixer, you’re going to feel real comfortable with that.

This hooks right into my SCS1M with firewire, or I can go directly into my laptop and use this as a stand alone controller without anything else.

Anything I can map on the SCS1M, transports, volumes, I can assign everything to the SCS1D. Really cool. So let’s check out this 10 inch, motorized, super high torque platter. That is a rotating motorized platter as well. So that moves really nice, good feel, just like a turntable it comes with that slip mat and the record feels just like vinyl and it’s a good size.

Bigger than most of the other controlling turntables out there. I’m going to show you guys just a little bit about how the torque on the platter works. That just really responds well, I can adjust the range from 8, 16, 25, 50 percent. Great looking platter, my loop is on here.

You know I’m doing all this from the deck itself. We also have a 100mm pitch fader right here. 100mm is awesome, plus it’s motorized, that means if I’m using the deck control for A to B, it’s going to go to whatever tempo I have on deck B.

Also if I’m using deck A and I go to deck B then my platter stops and I can go and control deck B, so that is really convenient.  I like being able to run my whole show on one turntable. And you know if I can adjust that pitch as well to… so I’ve got 8, 16, 25, and 50 percent control on the motorized fader.

I’ve got different presets on here I can use this slider as my filter control as well. Now I can’t stress enough, a 100mm fader to control stuff like that, I can mix ten elephants within the range of that pitch adjust right there.

Alright so everything else on here, you’ve got your standard transport section, you’ve got your play, you’ve got your cue, your BPA, you’ve also got your sync button conveniently right there if you’re using software that allows you to sync.

We also have velocity sensitive hot cue buttons all over the mixer as well. So I can use those for cue points, I can go through and use those just like I’m playing an instrument.

Alright we’re going to have the same assignable encoders with 360 degrees of LED communication with my software. We also have the same scribble strips on there, so again, if I have an effect or a different parameter with loops assigned, it’s going to tell me right here I’ve got my loops set up right here.

And that’s going to show me that on deck A I can go set my loop right there, activate it in and out.

I have my effects set up on these scribble strips up here as well, and as soon as you apply them boom, it turns red, really easy to see what control you’ve got going on with the software.

Ok so there you have it, the SCS1D deck, that coupled with the SCS1M mixer is the Stanton SC System 1, it is amazing, I love it.

Completely assignable, I can run one without the other, or I can run one with another deck, his brother deck 2, his other brother deck 3, his sister deck 4. I can put on an amazing show and be a real show off with this system.

Alright so there it is, the SC system from Stanton. SCS1M, SCS1D, highly compatible, highly versatile controllers. If you have any other questions leave it here, I’ll be happy to answer it personally. Don’t forget to check out our blog, check us out on Facebook, and on Twitter. Be you, be unique, at UniqueSquared.com.