From a control perspective, this certainly isn’t the most advanced option on the market. There are a few things missing, such as key shift hardware or sync buttons. The microphone input doesn’t connect directly to the soundcard, so you can’t add effects to your voice directly. I mention it because an equivalent consumer four-channel controller for Serato, the Numark NS4FX, does not come with the pro version of Serato at all, making that unit bad value in comparison (plus, the NS4FX officially only works with Serato, although in practice it works fine with Virtual DJ, too). 3. The Traktor mapping may turn out to be underwhelming The design looks good and follows a similar club-standard CDJ and DJM setup, so it allows for intuitive performance. Each jog wheel comes with an on-jog display to help you keep an eye on your position, and they look aesthetically great too. 1/O Connectivity

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. However, while existing mid-range options from Pioneer focus heavily on durability and build quality – this one is all about performance features. Despite this, we should note that you certainly have a much tighter integration if you’re a Rekordbox fan.Most controllers do follow an exhausting trend of only using an exclusive single-software support option. It’s nice to see more than one option on one device.

While for us the overall spec of the controller is still a bit underwhelming (find out our thoughts on it in our original Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 review), a plus point is that it does have pretty much the same jogwheels as you’ll find on pro CDJs – something that has undeniable appeal, and looks better value in a market where other DJ controllers seem to be rising exponentially in price. This is the first Traktor-compatible controller – ever – with large jogwheels and a club layout. While all of this might seem simple enough at first, it’s actually a lot more complicated than you might expect. The machine weighs around 3.8kg and comes with a 24-bit sound card, as well as a set of two full-sized jog wheels to explore. Features include:Apart from that, it is all the same – nothing has changed about the hardware apart from the colour, and the only other difference is the updated firmware inside. Existing DDJ-FLX6 owners can upgrade their firmware to get all the same functionality. 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. All of these solutions are stored on the front of the DDJ FLX6 unit, with no split cue available, unfortunately.

The controller gives any DJ an edge when it comes to performing, and is a great way to keep the crowd's attention and take them on a journey they will not forget. It has incredible versatility with four available channels and new features and has easy plug-in-and-play functionality. Other features So as well as having a new graphite colour scheme, the DDJ-FLX6-GT adds compatibility with Virtual DJ and Traktor Pro, making it the first Traktor-compatible controller to be announced by a third party for many years.There are a set of four DJ software channels to choose from, a set of color FX knobs, and a three-band EQ to enjoy. There’s also access to looping controls, eight performance pads, and some basic inputs and outputs. There’s very little to grumble about when it comes to the sound quality of this device. You’re going to get an experience very similar to most consumer DJ controllers. Still, the brand surprised most music enthusiasts when it released the new DDJ FLX6, a Rekordbox, and Serato DJ Pro dual-compatible DJ controller with a host of tools for creative mixing. 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.

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. Pioneer’s jog wheels on the DDJ FLX6 are responsive and lightweight, so they’re a decent choice for making natural and bending feel as natural as possible. 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.

Tech spec

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. The DDJ FLX6 is all about versatility, hence the decision to ensure it works with both Serato DJ Pro or Lite and Rekordbox. You’d hope the Traktor team would not be happy for hardware to be announced as compatible with its software unless it is perfect – but that said, Pioneer DJ says that the in-jog displays don’t work with Traktor, which isn’t a good start.