Vestax PMC-05 Pro

The Vestax PMC-05 Pro is the mixer that turned DJ mixers into scratch instruments. Vestax built it after listening to turntablists including DJ Q-Bert, DJ Shortkut and DJ Rhettmatic, and it became the blueprint for the battle mixers that followed.

History

At the 1993 NAMM Show, Vestax started talking with DJs about what club mixers lacked for battles: a smooth crossfader, a hamster switch, good EQ and a clear space around the fader. The PMC-05 Pro was the first result. Sources date the original to the mid-1990s, with DJWORX putting it at 1997. Pro II, III and IV versions followed, along with a limited Q-Bert edition.

Built for battles

The fast, adjustable crossfader sat in open space with no screws in the way, which made scratching and beat juggling easier. Independent channel gains, headphone cueing and two-band EQ covered the basics. Later versions added a hamster switch and VCA faders, and the Pro IV brought three-band EQ, XLR outputs and MIDI.

The Bay Area connection

Q-Bert and Shortkut came out of the Bay Area turntablist crews that dominated DJ battles in the 1990s, the same region as the Bay Area rap records in this archive. Vestax gear was everywhere at DMC competitions, and DJ Q-Bert, Mix Master Mike, DJ Craze and A-Trak all battled on it.

Buying one today

Vestax was reported to have ceased operations in 2014, so every PMC-05 Pro is used. Check the crossfader for bleed and scratchiness (many have been swapped for aftermarket faders), make sure the correct power supply is included, and test every knob and channel. Q-Bert limited editions carry a collector premium.