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SA-3 Overview Layout/Design From my time spent with the SA-3 the first thing that I noticed was a very traditionally user-friendly layout. There's nothing more frustrating than having to train yourself to get used to a new interface before you feel comfortable performing at your normal pace. As soon as I plugged this mixer in I was comfortable with the placement of all the features. Personally I feel that there is a time and a place for innovation, and changing the layout that everyone's used to is counterproductive. On top of the very user-friendly interface the SA-3 offers everything that you would traditionally expect out of a high quality scratch mixer without the traditionally high price. Features The SA-3 offers the essential features expected from a high quality scratch mixer without the traditionally high price. One of the first things I noticed when I was using the SA-3 was the nice cut-in time. In the past, company's have struggled to perfect the cut-in time to cater toward scratch DJ's. Keep in mind turntablists are probably the most demanding critics in the DJ scene due to the nature of the art, so the standards to which the next scratch mixer is compared are extremely high. An additional feature that I have never seen on an inexpensive scratch mixer is the master cue function provided on the SA-3. This provides for unobtrusive/quiet scratch sessions in your headphones without annoying your roommate or neighbors too much. I must also note the smooth fade, and the nice cut-in time on the volume faders 3 selectable positions; cut, mid, and long. (Good job Jim!) I truly believe that even the most particular critics will be happy with the features that Stanton has offered with this mixer. Durability Although I have only had this mixer for a weekend I "sessioned" for about 6-8 hours at a time in an attempt to get this mixer to malfunction. In no way, shape, or form did this mixer stop performing at the level it performed the first time I plugged it in. The Alps fader provided still has not need to be lubricated after a weekend of solid cutting. This is highly uncharacteristic of any mixer straight out of the box. Even though I did not drop or throw this mixer on the ground I will assume that it would survive a short fall or even a modest throw across the room. Sound Quality In the past sound quality hasn't really been one of the primary concerns for scratch DJ's or manufacturer's of scratch related products. As the art form develops concerns such as sound quality are starting to be the focus around which mixers are being developed. This is clearly evident with the super loud output or the crisp cut-in time on the SA-3. Overview Overall this mixer exceeded my expectations in pretty much every way. The most surprising aspects of this mixer were the price and the cut-in time of the faders. I believe you guys have truly captured the market of the entry level-intermediate scratch DJ, with no competition currently available. It seems as if no corners have been cut to produce a professional level, cost effective scratch mixer that will appeal to DJ's of all levels. Nice work, Aaron Perry |