After a storming set at Airbourne a few weeks ago Handsome Paddy is going head to head with DJ Rizm at Best Foot Forward this weekend. Before setting him loose we ask Handsome Paddy, whats your mixer?

I have had this mixer for approx 10 months after a toss-up between it and the Rane TTM57SL. I chose it in the end because a friend who had recently upgraded to the Rane told me he was finding the effects a lot more difficult to use and was thinking of going back to the Pioneer. I’m very happy with my decision as I am a massive fan of this mixer.

I love the layout and although the fader took a while to get used to I really like it now. I had always had simple Vestax-type scratch mixers with no frills before this so it was really novel for me at first to have the use of effects, which are the main reason I like it so much.

The effects I use the most are the Echo, Filter and Roll, which have been standard on the higher end Pioneer mixers for a while and are great for adding colour to a mix, but there’s even further scope for creativity in some of the other features. The Fader Synth, for example, allows you to play melodies or basslines by adjusting the pitch of a tone (the frequency of which you can adjust) with the upfader and cutting it in and out with the crossfader.

I only have two gripes with the mixer:

1. The booth monitor output is phono only which has meant on a few occasions playing out I’ve had to get a direct feed from the desk to the monitor which I can’t adjust from the mixer as they needed a jack output.

2. I would like if there was a bit more cut in the EQs.

However, these are only minor flaws and otherwise I am completely satisfied and have no plan on changing for the forseeable future.

Colm K and, fellow friend of ChoiceCuts, Stevie G can be found delivering lush sounds at Jam in The Pavilion in Cork. This weekend we are bringing him back up to Dublin for the next installment of the Best Foot Forward party. Before ripping it up with Rizm we ask Colm K, whats your mixer?

I begun with a Vestax 05 Pro in 1999 & still use it for cuts and scratches but for DJing I generally use the Pioneer DJM 600 or 800.

The Vestax was the premier mixer for cutting & scratching at the time and I kinda decided to go all out when I had just finished school. The Pioneer through the years has grown on me and I picked one up recently.

Began using the Pioneer DJM 800 in the clubs and liked the feel – it has a lot better sound too than the DJM 600. Think the key to the Pioneers is not too over drive them or they sound terrible.

How would you rate it?

I like the control & general feel of the Pioneer, the fader is good & the effects are nice but I’m careful not too over use them. It can get messy quickly.

Happy with what you have or looking to get something new?

Happy-ish! I’d love to try & use something beefy like a classic Urei 1620 with a Bozak crossover or an Allen & Heath Xone 92. I would then like to couple any of these with a send & return loop for effects via a proper rack delay/reverb unit, you can be a lot more cretive with effects whilst maintaining that monster sound acheived from such classic units.. Maybe I’ll try it someday. Think Mr Scruff does a lot of this and it helps make blending numerous genres a lil more seemless! Or maybe thats just Scruff….

Here is what Vestax have to say about the updated version, the 05Pro III

Over the last 10 years the 05Pro series has undergone a number of important transformations that have helped to establish it as one of the most trusted and widely used mixers of all time. Once again, the PMC-5Pro has been reborn, this time as the PMC-05ProIII, bringing with it a number of important changes such as, new effects routing options for both PGM1 & 2, a more open battle area, a new generation cross fader and new input switch/controls.

Features:

• Effects routing options on both PGM1 & PGM2 with main level volume controls. Can also be used to create a session in loop, which is perfect for team battle play.
• The CF monitor control & monitor level controls have been moved closer to the top in order to free up more battle space around the cross fader for dynamic scratches and moves.
• Third generation PCV cross fader for smoother and more accurate cuts, mixes and scratches. Cross fader reverse (Hamster switch).
• Innovative double panel faceplate system for the easy maintenance and replacement of the cross fader, input faders, and input control switches.

More details

Here is what Pioneer have to say about the DJM-800

Loaded with an amazing array of features and jawdropping effects, the DJM-800 gives you freedom of creativity and digital control at your fingertips.

Full spec.

Not only a DJ, Colm has made a name for himself in Ireland and internationally as a producer.  Colm, under the alias Red Hula Hoops, released an e.p. of remixes in 2007 which sold internationally and he’s currently working on a follow up for release soon. Solo material features collaborations with The Good People (Brooklyn NY), Tiffany Paige (LA) & many others as well constructing remixes of Lupe Fiasco, Nas and more…

You can catch Colm and Rizm DJing together as part of their BestFootForward clubnight in Dublin and Cork over the coming months (we’ll be posting some interesting news about that night on the site soon).

Colm K – Best Foot Forward by ChoiceCuts

In the meantime take a listen to this mix to get an idea of how it goes down at the BestFootForward clubnight when Colm’s spinning:

Tracklisting
Mayer Hawthorne and The County – Maybe So, Maybe No
Rob Tex – Foxy Lady
The Captain – Everyman
Eddie Kendricks – Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind
Floatingpoints – Love Me Like This
Omar feat. Stevie Wonder – Feeling Me Feeling You (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
Amp Fiddler – Superficial (Moodymann Mix)
The Fatback Band – Street Dance (Todd Terje Rekutt)
Sugardaddy – Love Honey
Bill Withers – Who Is He (Re-fix)
Chic – I Want Your Love (Tangoterje Edit)
James Brown – Give It Up Or Turn It Loose (Fantasista Re-formation)
Build An Ark – Dawn

plenty of the old sitting proudly beside the new

To kick things off Rizm comes correct with this nice mix to get you out of the dreary beginning-of-the-year blues and more in line with the summers-just-around-the-corner frame of mind. This is short, but oh-so-sweet with plenty of the old sitting proudly beside the new and glued together in Riz’s own subtle way.

Plenty more where this came from and Murphy aka DJ Scope will be next up to bat so keep your eyes glued to our podcast feed!