RANE Four Review: Does It Live Up to the Hype? | DJ Controller + Stems

🔥 Get Yours! passionatedj.com/hookup_ranefour
The RANE Four is a four-channel controller, meant to bring stem separation into the mainstream. But does it hold up to the hype? That's what I hope to find out today. There are a few things I expect from RANE gear:
Sturdiness
Scratch-friendliness
Tight integration with Serato
A forward-thinking (but uncomplicated) design.
My hope was that the FOUR would meet all these expectations, while offering an experience that convinced me of the usefulness of stems (the breaking down of a song into individual parts).
Outside of stems, the FOUR is a standard all-in-one DJ controller for Serato, with paddles that give access to 22 MAIN FX, 4 knob-controlled CHANNEL FX, and Serato DJ software FX.
It has 16 performance pads, topped by 8 beautiful OLED screens which give pad-related feedback. You’ll also find 8.5” high-resolution capacitive static platters with full-color center display, and support for external connections (such as turntables).
00:00 | Intro
01:18 | Stems: Acapella & Instrumental
02:19 | Stems: Pad Mode
03:40 | Stems: Stem-Split
06:04 | Features & Layout
11:58 | Ports & Connections
13:33 | RANE Expectations
15:20 | RANE Four vs. DDJ-FLX10
17:18 | Wrapping Up
See also:
➡️ My Pioneer DDJ-FLX10 Review: • Pioneer DDJ-FLX10 Revi...
➡️ Fatty Lumpkin destroying a RANE One: • RANE ONE: 20+ Min. Scr...
➡️ Get a RANE Four: passionatedj.com/hookup_ranefour

[@Suplexus]

I hope Rane might consider making a Rane One mk2 with a battle style layout with on board effects including the fader effects from the A-Trak 70 and stem separation, that would be amazing!

[@PassionateDJ]

That would be cool!

[@WazzyTV]

we definitely need rane 4 vs flx10 review comparison

[@gooddreamco3054]

came here from the PassionateDJ review on FLX10 hoping this would cover that

[@sonidosoundwaves]

I just got mine last Monday. I have always been using Rane gear, l love the quality! I made the transition from a Rane 44 club mixer to a recycled Coke bottles pioneer 1000 srt controller to the metal Rane 4 controller

[@wikkidselekta]

the small detail of the oled screens for indicating the pad's mode doesn't get enough love. The FX paddles/levers alone make this the FLX10 killer, not to mention the more intuitive stem controls.

[@idlesurfer214]

Great review! What's the name of the track you're using for the stems demo? It's ❤‍🔥!

[@drcarter74]

Nice vid. What stand are using for the four?

[@melvindjnenemartinez521]

I love Rane 4 cool black

[@kevind5159]

Would love to see the rane four in comparison to the rev5

[@roymoxley2587]

I have had mine since April not one issue love it . I spoke too soon Now Platter is issues after only 8 months

[@selectaguru]

Between the rane4 and flx10 which have the better soundcard?

[@djmadbwoy4806]

Nice review. Question: is it true that there's no EQ for the mic inputs?

[@PassionateDJ]

One of them does! On the front of the unit. :)

[@aninja_dj]

I bought a Rane One 2 years ago and after a year sitting in studio two of the EQ pots started to crap out. The first loaner I got was a display model that also had the same damaged eq pot issue. I have another loaner which is working fine but have been waiting 10 months for a new eq pot. I feel like this must be a common defect for the $5 part to be so back ordered (I'm in western canada, not exactly remote). I've been offered a full refund and I'm considering a 4 channel controller, but I'm weary of getting the rane four if they have the same shoddy EQs. I expected better from Rane but maybe this was just an anomaly to get two in a row.

[@DJMadVibes1]

Nice review. Really like this piece of kit. I do have a minor issue with them not going with USB C connection. Other than that. Very curious how the jog wheels feel or work compared to the ones on the FLX 10. I just returned the FLX 10 cause I couldn't stand them. Im also new to Pioneer DJ or "Pro" controllers in general. Need real world feedback on that

[@dlisch]

What did you not like about the FLX?

[@DJMadVibes1]

I didn't like to have to press down on jog wheels. I prefer touch sensitive style. Like on the Denon Controllers. So Im curious on how the Rane 4 works in that dept.@@dlisch

[@roymoxley2587]

That touch jog wheels suck

[@donvanmeter4057]

Kind of interesting how the DJ hookup says that this has been discounted from over $3,000 down to $1,600. The price of this was never over $3,000

[@Canoneosmiami]

Do pioneers do the same things?

[@Javarrol]

how do connect my headphones but hear music from the next track I want to play ... ex: playing music on the left deck but wanting to hear music on the right deck before hand...

[@PassionateDJ]

Split Cue: on!

[@DIE-DEEJAYWG]

I have a big problem with latency, especially with the hot cue pads. They react quite sluggishly. It is hardly possible for me to call up the cues with pinpoint accuracy. No comparison to my Prime4 or the DDJ1000-SRT. Here everything runs smoothly. Serato and the controller are up2date. A Macbook Pro M1Pro works as a laptop. The controller was already at the dealer. This could of course determine nothing. Also the Rane support does not know what to do. So the controller makes no fun in any case. Does anyone of you have a similar problem.

[@DIE-DEEJAYWG]

@@artisans8521 With two different Macbooks? That can hardly be due to the Mac. Moreover, other controllers work perfectly.

[@TheCoolProfessor]

What are STEMS? I'm a beginner and how do they work?

[@PassionateDJ]

In the production world, a “stem” is an individual track within a song. For example, drums, or vocals. DJ software now has the ability to extract or generate “stems” in real time. So, hit the “drums” button (for example) and they magically disappear. Hope this helps!

[@itzmunch]

Mannnnnnn I love my 4. has a few issues but over time it will get better !!!\

[@DJMadVibes1]

What issues? In the market for this controller

[@TomFooleryTheAustere]

Let’s say you’re playing a genre like drum and bass. Will the stems isolate things like synths, subs, percussions, etc?

[@djciiisco]

Yes. The stems feature on this rane controller is divided into 4 different options (vocals, melody, bass, drums). However I do notice at times I want the claps in the percussion and not the drums but I can’t do that.

[@sirjag2922]

What's the best motorized turntable controller with excellent stem & fx features?

[@kartik_adhia]

a version of rane four now comes with motorized wheels as well

[@sirjag2922]

@@kartik_adhia thx - i'll look into that!

[@djcue100]

Bananas😳

[@vj-nikkolax8008]

Would you recommend me to buying it second hand? Is it a resistant and reliable device or should I buy it new?most of pioneer products can be used for years but I don't know if I can trust Rane

[@PassionateDJ]

I find Rane to be quite reliable, though I can’t speak to this device specifically since it’s so new. If you want a “new” one with a few hundred bucks off, the one shown in this video can be purchased as an open-box deal on The DJ Hookup (if you’re quick!)

[@misterluxu3886]

Has anybody found a way to fix how the microphone sounds like a robot or as if you were underwater and getting electrocuted???

[@itzmunch]

I just continue using an external mic mixer instead of the controller Mic. I've been doing that ever since controllers came out....

[@Johnnyjawbone]

Have you turned off the Echo FX?

[@micksterminator3]

There is one in my area for 125. They must've forgotten a 0 at the end lol

[@PassionateDJ]

🤣

[@adifilip1572]

David, sorry to mention it, but you haven't done your homework quite well.....rane four can handle lights with it's pads and it has built in hardware controls. 😊

[@PassionateDJ]

While that may have been good for me to mention, that’s an apples and oranges comparison. I assume you’re describing MIDI-mapping pads to activate presets for something like Soundswitch, which runs in the background separately from Serato and uses a separate hardware interface. The FLX10 literally has an onboard DMX port and the light show is controlled within the DJ application (Rekordbox).

[@Johnnyjawbone]

@@PassionateDJ So the lights functionality on the Rane Four is more of a 'MIDI map fuction to control lights' as opposed to an out of the box full integration? I have the Rane Four, lights are not a priority for me, but still curious.

[@ProsixOfficial]

Funny how you don t mention Traktor since it has STEMS for already 5 years…

[@PassionateDJ]

NI stems format is not at all the same thing as realtime stem separation.

[@jayant54singh]

It's an edge over pioneer and Denon. But Ableton is still on top in this segment.

[@beatzandwheels]

Ableton makes DJ controllers?

[@miamichi5]

No usb music thumb drives only reason I won't buy. WT hell rane didn't think about additional media sources! I will buy the denon prime 4+4 instead.

[@PeteSpaker]

They make this so hard for reasons beyond me. Incredible hardware. That works best with garbage software. Serrato? yuck. Traktor? Amazing. NI Controllers: Trash. Ableton is the ultimate. Wanna good Controller for it? Build it, or get several.

[@roymoxley2587]

How does it live up well ask us who have issues with those stupid platters Rane your no longer going to be for me I’m getting pioneer it never let me down or had issues period