SOUNDING OFF PLAYBACK…PRO AUDIO…PROCESSING
Bose L1 Pro Series
There are many ways to numerically measure a mobile DJ’s set-up. One could start with the number of songs in their collection. Or focus on the number of channels and decks they mix from. Or glance at how many light fixtures they have. However, one universal number that nearly every mobile DJ understands during each gig is the weight of their set-up. Let’s face it: mobile DJ gear can be heavy. Most turntables can give a gym membership a run for its money, but speakers and PA systems are the king of the weight mountain. I bet dozens of DJs probably contemplate a cubicle-based career when they load and unload their speakers every weekend. Fortunately, many equipment manufacturers have taken notice of the need to produce speakers that meet the main core requirements for mobile DJs – be lightweight, offer room-filling sound, and be durable enough to survive the rigors of frequent gigging. Aiming to do just that, Bose introduced the L1 Series of powered, portable speakers 17 years ago. These looked almost unlike anything that had been released before. Instead of a rectangular speaker on a pole, this setup was entirely self-contained: they featured a base section housing a subwoofer and a thin column of drivers rising above from the center of the subwoofer. Although they were undeniably different, the L1 Series attracted a devoted following, and other pro-audio brands began to experiment with this architecture. Now, perhaps in an effort to reestablish its dominance in the portableloudspeaker world, Bose has released three new models to the L1 family: L1 Pro8, L1 Pro16, and L1 Pro32. Each new L1 Pro model offers a Bose L1 Pro Family: Performance & multi-app portability.
BOSE’S PORTABLE PA & RANE’S EVOLUTIONARY MIX RANE TWELVE & SEVENTY-TWO
SEVENTY-TWO: RANE’s battle mixer with more.
TWELVE Controller: Digital heart, analog soul.
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DJTIMES.COM
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BELIEVE IN MUSIC ISSUE
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2021
By DJ Deets
Two years ago, RANE’s SEVENTY-TWO and TWELVE took the Serato DJ market by storm. The SEVENTY-TWO 2-channel battle mixer promised to offer the technical wizardry found on the latest generation of DJ controllers and DVS support for Serato DJ. Meanwhile, the TWELVE offered DJs the ability to control a 12-inch motorized platter and various software parameters in one device. Put together, they made a formidable setup. Releasing a second generation for both products, RANE has bestowed them with a few tweaks designed to elevate their usability to a wider range of DJs, who use a variety of DJ software. These updates are more evolutionary than revolutionary, but they breathe new life into an already-phenomenal product. Given all their capabilities, I could easily write a novel explaining the features of these two devices. I think RANE already did and called it a “user manual.” So, instead, I want to describe what’s new in this second generation and, more importantly, talk a little about how they feel to use. At first glance, both devices share a lot in common with their predecessors: the SEVENTY-TWO MKII is still a 2-channel battle mixer with a full-color touchscreen in the middle, and the TWELVE MKII is still a motorized singleplatter controller. Both are absolute full-metal beasts: the TWELVE MKII weighs 20 pounds, and the SEVENTY-TWO MKII weighs just over 12 pounds. As with other RANE equipment, they’re built like tanks, and I have confidence in their ability to survive years of heavy and frequent use. TWELVE MKII: Intuitively, the design of the original RANE TWELVE and this second generation make a lot of sense: you get the feel of playing on real, moving vinyl without many of the hassles that come with traditional turntables. RANE’s parent company, inMusic Brands, is no stranger to motorized DJ equipment. Its brands were responsible for the Numark NS7 series, the Numark V7, and several motorized media players from Denon. It’s clear inMusic involved the right expertise when making this controller.
