Rane FOUR vs. Rane ONE – which one is better for you? The Rane ONE is the better pick if you want motorized platters and a simpler 2-channel layout, while the Rane FOUR gives you 4 channels, dedicated Serato Stems controls, much more extensive FX and jog wheel displays. Let’s take a closer look at all the important differences.
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RANE FOUR vs. RANE ONE – full specification comparison
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Note: This comparison covers the original Rane ONE, not the newer Rane ONE MKII.
Rane FOUR Serato Stems Integration
One of the best features of the Rane FOUR is its extensive Serato Stems control integration. From the controller’s interface, you can easily split your tracks into individual stems and freely mix them individually. Having access to these features from the hardware interface level using actual physical buttons (and pads) is a really neat and unique feature.
The Stem-Split feature lets you instantly split the track playing on one deck into vocal and instrumental parts with the push of a button. These are then placed on two separate mixer channels, letting you mix, EQ and apply FX to them independently.
Another great thing is the presence of dedicated Acapella and Instrumental buttons on each deck.
Note: Keep in mind, that despite Serato DJ best efforts, the stem split feature won’t work perfectly on all of your tracks. AI stem splitting is still in its relatively early development stages and different DJ software manufacturers have different approaches to it. If you’d like to compare the most popular AI stem splitting algorithms on the market, check out this video by DJcityTV: Stems Comparison: Serato DJ Pro vs. Algoriddim DJay Pro AI vs. Virtual DJ
OLED displays on the Rane FOUR + performance pads
Rane FOUR features 4 small 128×32 px OLED displays above the performance pads on each deck – 8 in total – plus an additional OLED display in the middle of the mixer section for the audio FX parameters.
These little displays are rather similar to the ones you can find on the Traktor Kontrol S4 Mk3, or synths like the Korg Monologue. They can give you visual feedback for things like Hot Cues, loops, samples, Pitch Play and Stems without having to look back at your laptop as often.
In terms of the performance pad modes, there aren’t any surprises on the Rane FOUR, besides the said displays and the “Stems” pad mode allowing you to play around with the AI separated track stems and apply different pre-set FX combinations to the individual separated stem tracks.
The original Rane ONE also supports Serato Stems, but it doesn’t have the dedicated Stems hardware controls found on the FOUR. In Serato DJ Pro you can replace one of its existing pad modes with Stems mode instead.
Serato Scratch Bank is also accessible from the Rane ONE hardware despite the controller not having a dedicated button for it. To access it you’ll have to press the Sampler button together with Shift.
The very same goes for the Pitch Play pad mode – here you need to press the shift button and the Hot Cue pad mode button together to activate it. Remember that for the Pitch Play mode with your Rane ONE you need to purchase the Serato Pitch ‘N Time expansion.
Performance pads on both devices feature RGB backlighting. They are a bit smaller on the Rane FOUR because of the displays placed above them, but this isn’t really a big issue.
Hardware FX set on the Rane FOUR – great things there!
While the Rane ONE features a standard set of FX paddles to control your Serato DJ software FX (and you can read much more about it here), the Rane FOUR offers a much more interesting solution.
One of the best things about the Rane FOUR is its FX section consisting of two classic FX paddles, traditional FX parameter controls, as well as individual channel FX controls with 4 knobs and FX selection buttons placed in the middle of the mixer section.
Rane FOUR gives you access to 22 different hardware audio FX:
- Echo
- Delay
- Flanger
- Phaser
- Reverb
- Roll
- Recycler
- Riser
- Matrix
- Echo Out
- Back Spin
- Bit Crush
- Beatbreak
- Brake
- Cyclone
- Duck Echo
- Hold Echo
- Pitch Down
- Scale Down
- Pumper
- Rider
- Sttr Out
All the main FX on the Rane FOUR are hardware FX, so you can use them even when the controller’s mixer is working with external audio sources. If you’d like to control the Serato software FX using the main FX controls you can do that too – simply use the HW/SW (hardware/software) FX switch in the mixer section.
Hardware FX – What Does This Mean? (DJ Controllers)
The “Channel FX” knobs on the Rane FOUR are meant to control 4 basic Serato DJ software FX – Filter, Filter Roll, Noise and Flanger.
In comparison to the Rane ONE, the FOUR gives you much more creative freedom when it comes to FX controls and the sheer amount of available audio FX.
Remember that if you decide to use your Rane FOUR mixer in standalone mode, you’ll get only two mixer channel inputs (as the mixer only has physical audio inputs for 2 channels) and you’ll lose access to the “Channel FX” section – it will simply act as a standard hi-pass/low-pass filter. All the main FX controlled by the paddles will be available normally as these are processed locally by the hardware.
FX controls on the Rane ONE are much more simplified, as you can see on the picture above. There are also no hardware FX there, and the controller only allows you to use the FX available in the Serato DJ software.
Jog wheels – now with built-in displays
The Rane FOUR features two 8.5-inch capacitive jog wheels with built-in 320×240 px color displays and a plastic vinyl-like finish.
On the Rane ONE, you’ve got two motorized 7.2-inch jog wheels that aim to emulate the vinyl mixing experience, with a classic spindle in the middle.
Although you can certainly scratch on both controllers, the Rane ONE is more suitable if you’re looking for a more organic turntable-like experience with moving platters.
| Rane FOUR on Ebay: |
| Rane ONE on Ebay: |
Lack of search strips on the Rane FOUR
The Rane FOUR doesn’t feature the touch strips found on the Rane ONE, so you lose that quick way of moving through a loaded track with a swipe of your finger.
The Rane ONE features one small search strip for each deck – about half a size of standard full-sized search strips present for example on the Pioneer DDJ-SX series.
Software compatibility
Rane ONE and Rane FOUR are primarily Serato DJ Pro controllers. Both act as hardware unlock devices for Serato DJ Pro when connected. They both unlock the full version of the Serato DJ Pro software and allow you to make use of all its base features right away.
The Rane FOUR also comes with the Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ expansion, while with the original Rane ONE you’ll need to purchase it separately if you want to use features such as Pitch Play.
Both controllers also work with VirtualDJ, and both have support in Algoriddim djay Pro. Serato DJ Pro is still the software they’re most closely designed around.
Summary – Rane ONE vs. Rane FOUR
While the Rane ONE is a 2-channel DJ controller designed for scratch DJs who want to experience the high quality vinyl control emulation using the high quality motorized platters it has to offer, the Rane FOUR is a new interesting option offering 4-channels, better FX controls, larger FX choice and easy access to Serato AI separated stem manipulation features, as well as a few other useful gimmicks. It’s quite safe to say, that the Rane FOUR might just be a little bit more suitable for club DJs because of these very features.
The two still offer reasonably different workflows. The Rane ONE is all about that moving-platter feel, while the FOUR puts much more emphasis on 4-channel mixing, Stems and FX.
If you see yourself making use of 4 mixer channels more often than not, and can live without the motorized platters of the Rane ONE, I’d go for the Rane FOUR. If the turntable-like platter feel is the main reason you’re looking at Rane in the first place, the original ONE still has the advantage there.
If you’re shopping new rather than used, keep in mind that the Rane ONE MKII has since replaced the original ONE and adds dedicated Stems controls, internal FX and several other upgrades.
Rane ONE vs. DDJ-Rev7
The Rane ONE is often compared to one of its main rivals – the Pioneer DDJ-Rev7, which is still one of the best DJ controllers with motorized platters present on the market. If you’re interested in the most important differences between these two devices we’ve got you covered! Check out this in-depth comparison here: Pioneer DDJ-Rev7 vs. Rane One (Gear Comparison)