By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published August 14, 2026
This guide is part of DJ mixers explained: the complete guide.
The turntablist’s mixer — solid steel, Serato to the core, and the unit long-time Rane loyalists refuse to give up. Here’s the honest verdict.
Rane has been making battle mixers for turntablists longer than almost anyone, and the Seventy-Two MKII is its flagship — a 2-channel, Serato-focused, touchscreen battle mixer built in solid steel for the road. It’s the unit that goes head-to-head with Pioneer’s DJM-S11, separated by roughly $100, and the rivalry between them has driven both forward. Where the Pioneer wins on software flexibility and deck count, the Rane answers with better microphone handling, smarter sampler control, and a build reputation that’s near-legendary. Here’s who should buy one.
The Rane Seventy-Two MKII (~$1,899) is Rane’s flagship 2-channel battle mixer for Serato DJ Pro — a touchscreen, dual USB connectivity, solid steel tour-ready build, and the fader feel turntablists swear by. It beats the DJM-S11 on microphone implementation, sampler filtering, and footswitch support. The catches: it’s Serato-only, has no four-deck control, and costs nearly as much as the more flexible Pioneer.
Seventy-Two MKII at a Glance
The key specs and what they mean for you:
| Spec | Seventy-Two MKII | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Type | 2-channel flagship battle mixer | Built for scratching and turntablism |
| Software | Serato DJ Pro focused | Deep integration — but no rekordbox |
| Display | Full-colour touchscreen | Browse and perform without the laptop |
| Build | Solid steel, tour-ready | Rane’s legendary road durability |
| Mic section | Faceplate controls, level meters, mic-to-line switching | Better than the S11 for hosts and MCs |
| Sampler | Routable to its own channel with a dedicated filter | Filter and effect samples independently |
| Connectivity | Dual USB; footswitch support | Seamless changeovers; hands-free FX |
| Price | ~$1,899 (check local) | About $100 under the DJM-S11 |
(Prices vary by region and over time — the smaller Rane Seventy sits below it at around $1,699. Confirm current local pricing before buying.)
Why Turntablists Stay Loyal to Rane
Rane’s standing among scratch DJs isn’t marketing — it’s decades of mixers surviving road abuse and feeling right under the hands. The Seventy-Two MKII continues that: solid steel construction, a layout refined over generations of battle mixers, and a fader that owners describe with the kind of affection usually reserved for instruments. Reviewers who’ve owned one for years still call it their favourite. In a category where the crossfader is effectively the whole product, that reputation carries real weight — and it’s why the Pioneer-versus-Rane debate never resolves.
What’s Great About the Seventy-Two MKII
The Best Microphone Implementation in the Class
This is where it clearly beats the DJM-S11 and it matters more than spec sheets suggest. The mic controls sit on the faceplate rather than hidden on the front edge, there are level meters (which the S11 lacks entirely), and the mic inputs can be flipped to line level — turning them into extra inputs when you don’t need a microphone. For DJs who host, work with an MC, or play weddings and events, that’s a genuinely better design.
Smarter Sampler and Effects Control
Both mixers can route the Serato sampler to its own channel, but the Seventy-Two MKII adds a dedicated filter on that channel — so you can filter and shape samples independently of your music, which opens up creative routines the Pioneer can’t quite match. It also uses a dedicated effects button rather than requiring a Shift press, which is faster in performance, and it supports a footswitch for hands-free effect triggering while both hands stay on the platters.
Built for the Road, Updated Over Time
The steel chassis is built for touring abuse, and dual USB connectivity means two laptops can be connected for clean DJ changeovers — essential at battles and multi-DJ nights. Rane has also added features via firmware over the mixer’s life, including Scratch Bank, so the unit has genuinely improved since launch rather than stagnating. Pair it with Rane’s Twelve motorised platters and you have a complete turntablist rig without vinyl.
What to Watch Out For
- Serato only. The biggest limitation versus the DJM-S11, which also supports rekordbox. If you prep in rekordbox for club gigs, that’s a real workflow split.
- No four-deck control. The S11’s Deck 3/4 feature has no equivalent here — you’re working with two decks.
- Only ~$100 cheaper than the S11. Given the Pioneer’s extra flexibility, the price gap is narrow enough that features, not cost, should decide it.
- Only buy it if you scratch. Same rule as any battle mixer — two channels is a limitation, not a feature, for anyone who doesn’t.
- Not a club-install mixer. Booths run 4-channel DJMs; this is your own rig.
- Design is evolutionary. Some reviewers wished Rane had pushed further with new possibilities given the full-colour screen on board.
Who It’s Really For
It’s for committed turntablists and scratch DJs who live in Serato, value fader feel and build quality above all, and want the best microphone handling in the category — particularly DJs who host, work with MCs, or play events where a mic matters. It’s also a natural pairing with Rane Twelve platters. Skip it if you need rekordbox compatibility or four-deck routines (the DJM-S11), if you don’t scratch at all (get a 4-channel club mixer instead), or if you want to spend less — the Rane Seventy sits below it at around $1,699.
A Note From NaJade
What I find genuinely great about this category is the rivalry. Rane and Pioneer have spent years trying to one-up each other on two-channel scratch mixers, and DJs are the ones who won — there’s more choice, at better prices, with firmware updates still adding features years after release. If you’re a Serato turntablist, the Seventy-Two MKII is a beautiful piece of equipment, and the mic implementation alone would sell it to me if I hosted. My honest steer is the same as for the Pioneer: this is a specialist tool, so buy it for the discipline you actually practise, not for how professional it looks. And please go and touch both before deciding — I can list features all day, but the crossfader under your fingers is the whole point of a battle mixer, and that’s a conversation between your hands and the machine.
Compare the whole range in my complete DJ mixer guide, or see the software side in the Serato DJ Pro guide. Want help building scratch technique? My DJ lessons run in person in Bangkok or online over Zoom.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Rane Seventy-Two
Is the Rane Seventy-Two MKII worth it?
Does the Rane Seventy-Two work with rekordbox?
Rane Seventy-Two vs Pioneer DJM-S11: which should I buy?
What’s the difference between the Rane Seventy and Seventy-Two?
Is the Rane Seventy-Two good for mobile and wedding DJs?
Does the Rane Seventy-Two still get updates?
About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand. He teaches beatmatching and mixing to beginners both in person in Bangkok and online over Zoom. When he’s not behind the decks, he’s documenting the journey on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.