With over 40 years under its belt, RANE’s reputation as the industry standard for scratch DJ gear is ironclad. They use the highest quality components and build metal chassis to make gear that lasts, and their attention to detail in design is world class. And for five years, the winning formula of the original RANE ONE championed the cause for those who craved the tactile, old-school feel of high-end motorized platters in a compact Serato DJ controller format. Upping the ante, the RANE ONE MKII boasts the beloved form factor of the original, but with a whirlwind of exciting new features like four-part stem splitting and built-in effects.
We had the privilege to sit and chat with Chris Roman and Jason Stout, who led the teams designing the RANE ONE MKII, to get an exclusive inside track on how this upgraded modern-day classic DJ controller spun into existence.
Shop Now: RANE ONE MKII Professional Motorized DJ Controller
What are your roles at RANE, and how did your background influence the conception and design of the RANE ONE MKII?
Chris Roman: I'm the director of product development for the DJ side of inMusic Brands—been here for close to 30 years and designed a lot of product over the years for our various brands. I've been DJing for 45 years, something crazy like that. I started in high school on vinyl and am still active today doing proms, homecoming dances and a lot of high school events and weddings. When we design and build something, it's very, very important that what we do meets the needs of the customer—oftentimes we're the customer as well.
Jason Stout: I’ve been with inMusic for nearly 14 years now, working as a Product Manager on DJ gear, and in that time, I’ve had the chance to help shape a lot of the tools DJs are using today. I’ve worked closely with my team on products like the Denon DJ SC5000 and SC6000, the PRIME 4, PRIME GO, SoundSwitch Control One and plenty of others.
I’ve had the opportunity to develop some inspiring products that let DJs focus on what they love—mixing music and unlocking all the creative possibilities modern technology brings. The RANE FOUR and the RANE PERFORMER were some of the first RANE projects I worked on as a product manager, and it’s been amazing to see how DJs have embraced them.
Now the spotlight is on the RANE ONE MKII. It’s a highly anticipated update to a controller DJs already love, and for us, the approach was more about refinement than reinvention. We didn’t need to overhaul everything with this release. DJs already love the ONE—the size, the motorized platters, the overall feel. Our goal was simply to listen closely to the community and deliver on the specific features and improvements they’ve been asking for. And with the MKII, I think we’ve really nailed it.
At first glance, there a few layout changes with Serato Stems controls and a revamped mixer section. What features on this one really set it apart from the first ONE?
Stout: When we were looking at doing a MKII, our first priority was understanding the user—what they’re doing today, where the pain points are, and even where they just wanted more. It wasn’t only about fixing problems, but also about delivering on those aspirational requests that make the DJ experience more inspiring.
One of the first design decisions we made was around internal effects. We had just finished redesigning our DSP-driven hardware effects suite, and it made perfect sense to bring that into the MKII. We wanted DJs to have a screen, an internal system menu for customization and onboard effects—so they don’t have to rely on software effects if they don’t want to. That became our starting point, and we built outward from there.
Keeping the controller’s form factor was also a key objective. We didn’t want to change the overall size too much, because DJs already love the footprint of the ONE. With motorized, direct-drive platters, there’s naturally some weight, but keeping it compact and familiar was critical. From there, we looked carefully at the control surface and asked ourselves, “What features aren’t really being used much today, and how can we replace them with something that gives DJs more creative freedom?” That’s how stems integration found its way into the MKII.
Another big change was the touch strip at the top of the deck. It wasn’t being used widely. Between platter scrubbing and software needle drop, it just felt redundant, and we noticed other products moving away from it too. That opened the door for something new, and we turned that space into a secondary pad mode area. It just fit perfectly.
The end result is expanded performance access. DJs now have 10 pad modes below the platters, plus secondary modes up top. That means you can keep hot cues active while simultaneously running four-part stems, or triggering samples—whatever fits your workflow. With eight modes on that top section alone, the creative possibilities are huge.
Pictured: RANE ONE MKII Jog Wheel
RANE has a storied legacy in high-quality components and with catering to scratch DJs. With respect to all the other controllers and products within the current RANE lineup, who specifically is the RANE ONE MKII designed for?
Roman: RANE ONE, as you as you know, has been hugely successful. And one of the reasons why it's been successful is its portability, along with the motorized platters. It's got that smaller footprint. You can throw it under your arm. You can carry it with you. Or, you can pop it in a case and go. It’s sort of the core essentials that you need to have for any scratch DJ without having to bring a full setup, say a pair of Twelves and a Seventy-Two.
The one place where we knew we could have done a bit more—because we were so bare bones—was adding those internal effects, was upping the faders. In fact, listening to the feedback of the users who had the original RANE ONE model is how we developed this secondary model. We made every decision that we've made of putting this together through user feedback.
So, it’s for a scratch DJ, obviously. It’s for somebody who is still looking for somewhat of a simple platform to go with, but with better faders, having that access to real-time effects and not necessarily relying upon Serato effects. Of course, you have access to both. And so, we've listened to our customers. We've gone there.
Another interesting thing to note is the motorized platters that we have. There's a great love for the spindle that still exists, even if it's sort of a nostalgic, necessary thing. There's something about a slip disk. There's something about that configuration that isn't necessarily achieved in the same way with having a display in the middle of the wheel. Having a display in the middle wheel is wonderful—awesome. It works extremely well. But there's a lot of people that still prefers this more traditional approach to motorized platters. There's absolutely a place for this unit in the hands of those users.
Stout: In terms of the customer, the RANE ONE MKII is a professional tool—not entry-level, not midrange. It’s designed for DJs who are already working in the craft, whether that’s full time or part time.
For the scratch community, we’ve tested and refined the product with some of the best in the world. We collaborate with DMC Champions, Red Bull 3Style competitors—DJs who’ve been part of the RANE story since the very beginning. When we beta test our hardware, we put it in their hands because we know they’ll push it to the absolute limit. They’ll stress the product in ways only elite battle DJs can, and they’ll give us honest feedback. They’re not afraid to tell us exactly what works and what doesn’t.
But the MKII isn’t just for battle DJs—it’s equally relevant to the broader professional market. You’ve got wedding DJs, mobile DJs, open-format DJs working in bars, clubs and private events. Not everyone is a scratch DJ. I’m not a scratch DJ myself, but I love motorized platters because they keep me connected to the hardware. I can pitch bend, I can nudge, and it feels natural. For a mobile DJ, that tactile control not only makes mixing easier—it also makes a statement. When you show up with a serious piece of kit featuring motorized platters, it speaks volumes to your clients.
That balance—catering to both technical scratch performers and working event professionals—is what makes the RANE ONE MKII so strong. It’s built for the pros. Whether you’re cutting routines on stage or rocking a wedding dance floor, this is a controller that delivers.
Pictured: RANE ONE MKII Motorized DJ Controller I/Os
Which less obvious or “hidden” upgrade from the previous version to this one are each of you most excited about?
Roman: I'll say the onboard effects—I like our recycler. There are certain effects that are in there that are build effects and are things that really make it a joy. It just makes transitions easier makes other things happen much, much easier. It’s the obvious thing, but it's a big part of it. And I do have another one, but I want Jason to say what he's thinking first. (Laughs)
Stout: For me, effects are great, but I can't DJ without stems anymore. They’re such an integral part of how I play, that I need a controller with those tools instantly at my fingertips. With the ONE MKII, that’s exactly what we’ve delivered.
The controller gives me both primary and secondary pad modes, with dedicated acapella and instrumental buttons that let me instantly isolate or mute key parts of a track. On top of that, there’s a dedicated stem level mode that provides detailed control—I can EQ, pull down or boost the volume of individual stem layers on the fly. For me, it’s all about having that freedom to shape and manipulate every element of the music.
There’s also a subtle but really powerful firmware feature hidden under the hood. On the acapella and instrumental buttons, you can actually swap functionality. In Serato, you can trigger them normally to remove a stem part, or trigger them with an effect—for example, echoing out the opposing stem. With this firmware option, DJs can choose which behavior is primary, with or without an effect. It’s a small detail, but I think a lot of DJs are going to love having that level of customization.
Roman: I want to add one other, and I think it ties together with what Jason just said. The ability to be able to do stems both in the pads above and in the main pad section is very important. I don’t need to change modes when I need to instantly jump to a point in a song—and I don’t need to move away from either doing stems, a roll or whatever it is I'm doing on my pads. I can just jump to where it is. And now, with the additional pads at the top, I see myself leaving my four-part stems up there all the time—and then coming down below to do the cues and the other things like that.
With the four-part, whether you do it in the pads below or whether you do it above, you can release and trigger freely—and you can just leave the mode alone. I think that's another very strong area of difference here that I think people really appreciate.
Stout: The touch strip used to serve just one function—you could search through the track. Now, with the MKII, those four buttons above it unlock 20 different functions, including two newly designed stem FX modes. That’s a massive leap in versatility.
RANE has a longstanding reputation for their use of high-end components—how does that RANE “DNA” appear in the ONE MKII and set it apart from the current competition?
Stout: The competition uses a bulky, proprietary power brick that DJs have to lug around. With the ONE MKII, we built the power supply internally and went with a standard IEC connection. It’s a common cable type, which makes setup faster and way more convenient.
Roman: We’re using a MAG Four crossfader and then the Precision Four for the upfaders. You can change the tension adjustment, so you can make them super smooth, or stiff like a club-style mixer. That's a big difference between what we do and what the competition does in this case.
Stout: There are also some thoughtful details built in. For example, the ONE MKII matches traditional turntable height. When you place it on a booth or alongside vinyl decks, everything lines up perfectly. The competing product is thinner, which means it sits lower—and that throws off the natural flow when you’re moving between decks.
Another big advantage is the direct-drive platters. Our motors deliver the highest torque in the industry. That extra torque makes the platters feel more natural—just like the classic turntables many DJs grew up on. It’s familiar, powerful and responsive in a way that instantly feels right.
Pictured: RANE ONE MKII RANE and Serato Branding
Love to hear it. Obviously, this is a Serato controller, along with a slew of built-in effects, but will DJs who use other DJ software be able to use this out of the box?
Roman: Absolutely. We have built this, as we often do, in collaboration with Serato. Usually that's our first and foremost place that we go to. We recognize Serato being industry standard, especially for scratch DJs. It's vital that the integration be smooth and seamless, and feel as one. But that doesn't preclude the use of other software—or even other systems outside of Windows and Mac—with a device like this.
So, I can tell you with confidence right now when we launch, we not only will have Serato integration, but we also will be compatible already with Virtual DJ out of the box and fully compatible with Algoriddim djay—and Algoriddim djay on an iPad or an iPhone. There’s joy and beauty in the industry deciding USB-C would be a standard for everyone. With the proper cable, you can connect directly to your ONE MKII, and you can DJ off an iPad.
Stout: The ONE MKII ships with a USB-B to USB-C cable. We kept the B connection on the hardware because it’s more robust, but the C side connects directly to your media device, computer or tablet.
That opens up a lot of possibilities. You can plug straight into an iPad and use it with Algoriddim djay. While Serato is the primary software, we’ll also have Algoriddim and VirtualDJ compatibility right from day one. That’s exciting, because we know those customers have been waiting for a piece of hardware like this, too.