Table of Contents
The Best DJ Controller
Pioneer DJ DDJ-200
This mid-range controller has everything a great. With its four channels, its capacitive jogs each equipped with a screen and its style close to professional standards, it is intended for advanced DJs.
Produced by Pioneer DJ, it can be used on a computer with Rekordbox, the in-house software. But the DDJ-200 is intended above all for nomads who want to mix from their smartphone. The control, however, passes through physical buttons: a crossfader, 16 pads, large round cue and play / stop buttons. There are also round synchronization knobs, buttons to modify the tempo, and other rotary knobs to impact the equalizer. In terms of connectivity, there is only a 3.5 mm jack.
Hercules DJ Control Compact
Besides a very affordable price, this model is particularly slim. It is ideal for people who regularly travel with a laptop. It is also a very good choice for beginners.
The Hercules DJ Control Compact is compatible with the brand’s DJUCED 18 ° software. It offers rotary knobs to change volume, midrange and bass. Surprisingly, no button can impact the treble. There are also automatic synchronization keys, cue and pause / play buttons, 4 adjustable effect pads and something to assign them loops, effects or samples. In terms of connectivity, the board is only equipped with a mini USB port. The advantage of this model lies in its ergonomics: it measures 34 cm by 10 cm.
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3
Mainly intended for beginners, it has many advantages that allow it to also suit advanced users. As a bonus, it combines a compact design with a host of features.
As its name suggests, it is linked to the Traktor software, specific to Native Instruments, of which the Pro 3 version is offered to you. You have 16 pads and a three-way EQ for the usual controls. The rest of the orders are faithful to the brand’s standards by being qualitative and precise. However, their format is reduced because of the template contained in the set. To add your touch to your songs, you have four dedicated buttons. There are eight rather basic effects that can be pre-programmed through the software. Their control is done with knobs (one per channel).
our selection
| Our Pick, Best Mid-Range | Best cheap | Best high end |
|---|---|---|
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| Pioneer DJ DDJ-200 | Hercules DJ Control Compact | Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 |
| This mid-range controller has everything a great. With its four channels, its capacitive jogs each equipped with a screen and its style close to professional standards, it is intended for advanced DJs. | Besides a very affordable price, this model is particularly slim. It is ideal for people who regularly travel with a laptop. It is also a very good choice for beginners. | Mainly intended for beginners, it has many advantages that allow it to also suit advanced users. As a bonus, it combines a compact design with a host of features. |
Honorable mentions
Reloop Mixon 4 (€ 795.90 when published): this model is compatible with Serato DJ and Algoriddim Djay Pro software which can be used simultaneously. It offers four channels and is operated via its large jog wheels with LED lighting. There are also 16 colored pads. With its Plug-and-Play connection, it has a USB connector. It works just as well with a phone, a tablet or a laptop. Spotify integration gives you access to over 30 million songs. On the other hand, there is no equalization of the microphone.
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX2 (€ 1,269 at the time of publication): the RX series from Pioneer DJ incorporates all the qualities of the best controllers while being more oriented towards all-in-one professional equipment. The particularity of this controller is precisely that it does not require the use of a computer thanks, in particular, to its large touch screen. The different elements that equip it are taken from other products of the brand for a perfect combination between the ease of a digital model and the capabilities of professional models. However, it is intended for initiates.
How to choose your DJ controller?
The main difficulty in finding the ideal controller comes from the different ecosystems available. It is also necessary to define which functionalities are in line with your level and with the use you intend to make of your purchase.
To help you in your research, we have established the following criteria:
- Software compatibility: there are currently many software suites. Some brands have developed their own system, which allows them to optimize their products based on them. But the file formats are also proprietary, so if you start with a system, you use it for all future models. There are of course solutions for converting but they can be tedious.
- The controls : the positioning of the various buttons, faders and jogwheels have an impact on the ergonomics of the product. So, while it is important to have easy access to all features, it is also essential to avoid overloading the chassis to minimize the risk of confusion. In addition to this location, durability and comfort must also be ensured, especially for those who make heavy use of it.
- Features : they allow a controller to differentiate itself from the competition. They can be of two types: hardware, with the integration of several screens for example, or software. Thus, some controllers have learning aids (especially entry-level models) just as others have a much wider range of effects available, interesting for the advanced user. Keep in mind that it is still recommended that your controller includes a sound card, a VU meter and a 3-band equalizer.
- Connection : it is made up of inputs and outputs. The former are used to connect to your sources where the latter are linked to the emission of different sounds. Depending on your level and your use, different connections are necessary. In addition, it is essential to have a headphone output to be able to set your CUE points and possibly optimize the synchronization of your songs. For the majority of uses, 2 channels are sufficient.
- Portability : if you plan to use your equipment outside your home, to host a party for example, you must be able to easily take it with you. To do this, you have to find the best compromise between your needs and the maximum size you want. Note that, generally, the more you go up in range, the more the controller is voluminous, as the functionalities extend.
PS: if you are a fan of turntables rather than the PC, our selection of the best mixers is for you!
Our Pick: Pioneer DJ DDJ-200
Pioneer DJ DDJ-200
This mid-range controller has everything a great. With its four channels, its capacitive jogs each equipped with a screen and its style close to professional standards, it is intended for advanced DJs.
Derived from the DDJ-1000 (top of the range), this complete and relatively portable controller is suitable for most DJs. However, only users who already have a good grasp of it can get the most out of it. It can be used with external sources without depending on your computer.
Produced by Pioneer DJ, it can be used on a computer with Rekordbox, the in-house software. But the DDJ-200 is intended above all for nomads who want to mix from their smartphone.
You can use it with a host of services like Beatport LINK, SoundCloud Go +, Spotify Premium, and Deezer. In terms of software, this deck is compatible with WeDJ, Rekordbox, Djay and Edjing Mix.
The control, however, passes through physical buttons: a crossfader, 16 pads, large round cue and play / stop buttons. There are also round synchronization knobs, buttons to modify the tempo, and other rotary knobs to impact the equalizer. Other buttons are also used to adjust the sound.
In terms of connectivity, there is only a 3.5 mm jack. You can use Bluetooth to connect a speaker, as long as you sacrifice preview and accept that there is latency.
The USB-B port can be used to connect the turntable to a computer. But it also allows you to connect an external battery to power it.
Therefore, this plate is not the smallest of our comparison, but the most nomadic. You can indeed mix for several hours simply with a smartphone, a Bluetooth speaker.
The best cheap DJ controller: Hercules DJ Control Compact
Hercules DJ Control Compact
Besides a very affordable price, this model is particularly slim. It is ideal for people who regularly travel with a laptop. It is also a very good choice for beginners.
The Hercules DJ Control Compact is compatible with the brand’s DJUCED 18 ° software. With it, you can create playlists, record a mix or even use the “automix” function.
These functions are accessible with rotary knobs to modify the volume, midrange and bass. Surprisingly, no button can impact the treble.
There are also automatic synchronization keys, cue and pause / play buttons, 4 adjustable effect pads and something to assign them loops, effects or samples.
In terms of connectivity, the board is only equipped with a mini USB port. A computer is therefore essential if you want to take advantage of this turntable, but also to hear what you are doing. Unlike the higher-end models, there is also no pre-listening socket.
The advantage of this model lies in its ergonomics. As the name of the plate suggests, it has particularly low dimensions compared to the competition: in fact it measures 34 cm by 10 cm. For nomadic DJs who regularly travel with a laptop, this is therefore an excellent choice.
Finally, it is also an ideal model for beginners. For an extremely affordable price, Hercules DJ Control Compact offers all the basic functions for getting started in djing.
The best high-end DJ controller: Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3
Mainly intended for beginners, it has many advantages that allow it to also suit advanced users. As a bonus, it combines a compact design with a host of features.
Mainly intended for beginners, this controller has many advantages that also allow it to be suitable for advanced users. As a bonus, it combines a compact design with a host of features.
As its name suggests, it is linked to the Traktor software, specific to Native Instruments, of which the Pro 3 version is offered to you. It is reputed to be more complete than Rekordbox but more complicated to learn.
It has two channels, each distributed over a channel. They are controlled via two sufficiently large and responsive jogs. Plus, they appear sturdy, which is a huge plus for transportation.
You have 16 pads and a three-way EQ for the usual controls. The rest of the orders are faithful to the brand’s standards by being qualitative and precise. However, their format is reduced because of the template contained in the set.
To add your touch to your songs, you have four dedicated buttons. There are eight rather basic effects that can be pre-programmed through the software. Their control is done with knobs (one per channel).
The connections are quite simplistic: an RCA output, a 3.5mm jack, a 3.5mm headphone output, a microphone input and an iOS port. It is disappointing that the specific port is not usable by other operating systems.
In terms of negative points, we note a drop in the quality of finish compared to the previous iteration, in particular because of the use of plastic. In addition, in terms of controls, improvements are possible: more precisely controllable effects and more ergonomic sliders would be a real plus.
Finally, it is suitable for beginners as well as less demanding advanced users. The effects, easier to manage, allow the first to familiarize themselves with them.
Sources
- Interview with Yann Costaz, founder of the site La guerre des potards, May 27, 2021
- Musiccritic, 10 Best DJ Controllers in 2020 [Buying Guide], 26 novembre 2020
- Musicradar, The 10 best DJ controllers 2020: budget and high-end options for Serato, Traktor and more, 26 novembre 2020
