PIONEER DDJ-FLX6

Product Information

Ignore some of the brand-new features like Merge FX and the Jog Cutter, and the DDJ FLX6 gives you a pretty standard DJ controller experience, similar to things like the Denon MC7000. For Rekordbox, it’s a 3/5 from me, and as this is primarily a Rekordbox controller, that is the score we have used on this review. But for Serato, it’s a 2/5 – I just can’t recommend it, and I’d direct people to the DDJ-FLX4 or Numark NS6II in a heartbeat. Depending how you view this kind of DJing, this is going to be potentially great fun to you, or anathema – an exciting way of adding to your sets, or an “echo-out on steroids” for people without the ability to properly programme music or figure out how to transition between their music. I’m intrigued as to why Pioneer DJ didn’t made a “DDJ-600” controller, a well-considered step up from the DDJ-400, but below the professional brace of the DDJ-800 and DDJ-1000 – something we could recommend to our Rekordbox users who are still hobbyists but want four channels, and who one day want to play in pro DJ booths. The big jog wheels on the DDJ-FLX6-GT, are the same size as those on the top-of-the-line CDJ-3000, which make pitch bending and scratching feel natural. Each one also has an "On Jog Display" so you can see where the playhead is, and the new rubberised finish on the outer ring provides a much better feel, especially when pitch bending. Merge FX Feature

We do like the dark grey matte finish and the decision to add some really sleek-looking full-sized jog wheels, but this doesn’t take away from the plastic feel of the build. Performance pads

Features

One bonus is that you will be able to choose between whether the mic goes through the Booth outputs or otherwise.

Still, you get the usual on/off button, the Level/Depth knob, the Beat buttons, Channel Select (a single button that cycles), and FX Select – the latter simply cycling through the six effects you have selected across the two effects engines. The paradigm was this: DJ software came with two effects engines, each with three effects (you also got the choice of just a single effect per effects engine, with much more control). Control-wise it is missing some small things I’d like to see (parameter buttons for the pads, a key sync or key shift hardware button, a slip button, better effects controls – more later) and the pitch faders seem almost comically small for such a large controller (again, it feels like a mismatch), but it’s generally all here. It’s only a software controller, which is fine, so there are no inputs for other DJ gear. However, I think not even having an Aux input is a bit much at this price.

Virtual DJ Support

The Merge FX experience is relatively easy to get used to. All you need to do is choose a pre-set and press the knob to start building your music. AlphaTheta Corporation has today announced the release of the new DDJ-FLX6-W from its Pioneer DJ brand. This limited-edition version of the popular DJ controller for rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro comes in a high-quality matte white finish, bringing an eye-catching look to any event, livestream, or home setup.