PIONEER DDJ-FLX6

Product Information

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: 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. This full-sized DJ controller is almost as large as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000, but it feels closer to the DDJ-200 in build quality. This is essentially a device built for beginners and people who don’t want to spend a small fortune on their craft.

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. On to the DDJ-FLX6, then. Here, the “effect strip” is a little more complex than that on the DDJ-400, but in some ways, it’s actually worse (for instance, there is no way of selecting effects from it – you have to do that on the screen). 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 The microphone input doesn’t connect directly to the soundcard, so you can’t add effects to your voice directly. The DJ controller makes a bold statement with a new aesthetic design. The new style includes a familiar layout of controls similar to how you would find them on the club-standard CDJ and DJM setups allowing for intuitive performances. The FLX6, however, features a new high-quality dark grey matte finish and re-designed jog wheels that will be sure to make your DJ setup stand out. DDJ-FLX6

Now, it may just be that people will come up with cool and clever things to do with the DDJ-FLX6 – but anyone getting serious about their DJing will soon miss more obvious things, like proper control of the software effects, external inputs, and a bit more durability. Why not a DDJ-600? Infuriatingly, though, with Serato the pad functions don’t line up with the labelling – I’m not sure how they could have got around this to be honest, but it is definitely annoying, and that’s coming from a DJ who’s used Serato for a decade. I think a beginner would just be totally lost. Some DJs will probably find it easier to use the jog cutter feature than to learn how to scratch in the first place. It seems pointless to focus your attention on learning this new functionality when you could just practice scratching – and use your skills on other devices too. Beat FX According to Pioneer, the DDJ-FLX6 ensures you can “flex” your creative muscles with a host of new features and an easy-to-use interface. Usability/ Ease of Use Plug and play capability is available via the in-built soundcard and DJ Performance functions with either rekordbox or Serato DJ Pro. All you need to do is connect using a USB cable to a connected laptop that is running either of the music software applications, and you are ready to get DJing.

In total, if rekordbox is the selected music software management system then there are eight Merge FX pattern presets (this reduces to four if Serato DJ Pro is in use), and everything is customisable. One Merge FX is made up of four categories Build FX, Build Sample, Release FX and Drop Sample, which include 41 types of effects, all of which can be united to create over 9,000 different patterns. Additionally, there is the option to save eight of the users own patterns, where the FX Select button can be used to recall them when required. New Jog Cutter feature for pro-sounding scratch effects I do hope someone proves me wrong and we see some great uses of this, but while this was maybe a fun feature when triggered via the pads (the infamous “Jazzy Jeff” scratch mode on the Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB3), I just don’t get this at all, and feel it is best rapidly forgotten. Beat FX You’ll also find VU meters in all four of the channels here, but there’s no master VU meter available. The meters are a little dim, however, so make sure you’re equipped to see them properly if you’re DJing in outdoor festivals with a lot of sunshine. D DJ FLX6 : The Verdict 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

Rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro compatibility

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. 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. Jog Cutter allows you to jump between one of six sections on your wheel to trigger different scratching experiences. According to Pioneer, there are around 10 different scratch jog cutter patterns to explore by moving your play head position, as shown on your on-wheel display. As for the professional market, I believe a Mk2 version is needed with balanced outputs before the FLX can be viable for them. Nonetheless, the FLX6 has found a seemingly untouched niche in the DJ market, and will likely sell very well to lower-budget hobbyist DJs.

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. 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 Pitch bending and scratching feel natural on the DDJ-FLX6-W thanks to the large jog wheels, which are the same size as those on the flagship CDJ-3000 multi player. Each one features an On Jog Display too, so you can keep an eye on the playhead position. 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 On the plus side, the system is USB bus-powered, which makes it a little more portable in general than some other larger solutions. You don’t need to install any audio drivers when plugging the device into your computer, and you can start mixing immediately with a built-in sound card that connects straight to any amplifiers or speakers through a single RCA cable. You can also record directly to Rekordbox with the USB connection. Mixers, Effects, and FadersThe jogwheels are full-sized and excellent, with the classic Pioneer pro feel. They are capacitive, not mechanical, but that’s OK – they’re great to use, and have a useful jog position marker in the middle too. The Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 is a dual software platform, four channel DJ controller designed to simplify genre hopping transitions for DJs who are ready to upgrade from the DDJ-200, DDJ-400 or DDJ-SB3. It doesn’t have the mobile-friendly features of the new DDJ-FLX4– While we suspect that when the Rekordbox for iOS & Android DJ app is launched in early 2023, there will be a way to get it working with the FLX6, but it won’t be as easy as with the DDJ-FLX4 that’s just been announced. That’s because the FLX-4 has USB-C connectivity and a USB-C charging port, neither of which are on the DDJ-FLX6-GT, sadly I feel a bit sorry for Pioneer DJ here. They took a lot of flak for not making their DDJ-1000 controller for Rekordbox work with Serato (they eventually released a Serato variant, the DDJ-1000SRT). Now they’ve released a controller that works with both, and they are still going to get flak for it.