PIONEER DDJ-FLX6

Product Information

Later, with the Rekordbox DDJ-400, Pioneer DJ maintained the “club-style” effects control, only this time, you were controlling the software effects, as it had no hardware effects of its own. It was limited, but they managed to make it work. 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. If rekordbox is used to manage the music software, there are eight Merge FX pattern presets. If Serato DJ Pro is used, there are only four, and everything can be changed. One Merge FX comprises of four groups: Build FX, Release FX, Build Sample, and Drop Sample. Each of these groups has 41 different effects that can be combined to make more than 9,000 different patterns. Also, the user can save up to eight of their own patterns, which they can access with the FX Select button when needed. New Jog Cutter Feature Pioneer DJ has just launched an update to its DDJ-FLX6 mid-range DJ controller, which now works offically with Virtual DJ and, interestingly, Traktor, as well as Rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro as before.

This is a software-only DJ controller, so you can’t plug in extra equipment, even if you bought your CDJ or turntable directly from Pioneer themselves.It’s the first ever Traktor-compatible controller with full-sized jogwheels and a club layout– the DDJ-FLX6-GT has a club-style mixer layout, and CDJ-sized jogwheels, which mean it feels similar to using club gear (like the ever-popular DDJ-1000 controllers). Traktor owners jealous of users of other software with access to these units now have a unit they can use themselves with these features There are 8 Merge FX pattern presets to choose from (4 if you use Serato DJ Pro) and you can use your own samples. If you’re DJing with rekordbox, you’ll find everything is customizable. Choose from 41 types of effects within the 4 categories that make up a Merge FX (Build FX, Build Sample, Release FX, and Drop Sample) and combine them to create more than 9,000 different patterns. You can save 8 of your own patterns and use the FX Select button on the unit to call them up whenever you want to perform a unique mix. If you found the Slicer function confusing when it arrived on DJ controllers, this is not going to be for you. Basically, it is a way of “scratching” without actually scratching, and I just didn’t get it. All of these solutions are stored on the front of the DDJ FLX6 unit, with no split cue available, unfortunately. That said, the FLX-6 is a Rekordbox unit first and foremost, as its Serato DJ integration isn’t nearly as tight – there’s no MIDI mapping and less customization over features like Merge FX. I did, however, find the unit to be more responsive with Serato DJ, but that may just be due to the fact that Serato DJ has traditionally optimized as a lighter program designed for turntablists. I/O connectivity

The dual Serato DJ Pro or Lite and Rekordbox compatibility is quite a positive surprise for a lot of mid-level DJs in search of versatility. 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 DDJ FLX6 bypasses things like advanced connectivity options and a metal-reinforced chassis to bring you a different set of bonuses, including full-sized jog wheels and four channels.One exception to that statement is that the DDJ-FLX6 has a booth output, but no DJ is going to want to play with this controller in any venue big enough to have booth speakers – plus, when you have “booth” and master, having them both as unbalanced outputs doesn’t make sense. If your computer doesn’t work, or something crashes, your music will stop too. For voice-over and other elements, the DDJ FLX6 has its own microphone input, but this routes directly to the outputs, so you won’t be able to apply effects. Overall, the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 is a decent consumer-focused controller intended for the mid-level market. This device focuses primarily on performance features rather than build, with four channels, and a host of new features – though some are more appealing than others. With Rekordbox, your pads will give you access to musical samples in a keyboard fashion, allowing you to merge and trigger multiple experiences at the same time.

Indeed, with the DDJ-1000, even though the software (Rekordbox) still had effects built in as I just described, the hardware didn’t control them at all. In that unit, they were actually hardware effects. 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. It feels a bit like a controller of mismatches. It is too big and expensive a controller to get away with consumer build quality. The jogs are brilliant, but the crossfader lets them down. The controls don’t really control very well what the software can do, especially with Serato, where for me it is a dealbreaker.The controls on the DDJ-FLX6-GT are set up the same way as on its predecessor, which is a club-standard CDJ + DJM setup. This makes it easy to perform. But the new matte grey body and graphite jog wheels give it a more elegant look. Virtual DJ Support It still works best with Rekordbox– Despite all the talk about “flexibility”, this is still primarily a Rekordbox DJ controller, and some of the features – Merge FX, Jog Cutter, Sample Scratch – don’t work as well or at all with other platforms The FX select simply cycles through the effects you’ve chosen for the two engines, with up to 6 options available. Take away the Merge FX and the Jog Cutter and this is a completely standard software controller – think Reloop Mixon 4, Denon DJ MC7000, Numark NS6II (although generally those are higher specced, better units than this one). It has four software channels, three-band EQ, Color FX knobs (they’re filter only when using Serato), eight performance pads, looping controls. Despite a couple of grumbles, the DDJ-FLX6 is still impressive in its own way. There are a few advanced functions that you won’t get anywhere else. Pioneer also boasts a new aesthetic for this DJ controller, but we’re not sure how much of a benefit that is at first glance.