Summer is a time for entertaining and for anyone looking to dip a toe into the tactile world of DJ’ing, the various social engagements surrounding the silly season can serve as the perfect low risk setting to work on your DJ fundamentals, while also adding an entirely new dimension to the listening experience for the casual music fan.
Perhaps there is no better entry point into the world of DJing than something like the new DDJ-FLX4 2-Channel DJ Controller by industry stalwarts, Pioneer DJ, distributed through Jands.
Serving as the perfect gateway drug into the world of mixing and beatmatching, the DDJ-FLX4 has all the familiarity and standardised layout you’ve come to expect across Pioneer DJ’s ubiquitous range of mixers and DJ products, as encountered across the lion’s share of DJ booths worldwide.
The beauty of the DDJ-FLX4 (or DJ controllers in general for that manner) is the way in which this workflow neatly parlays into such a convenient and mobile DJ option, with instant plug-and-play functionality and a compact physical footprint, ideal for anyone looking to get into mixing with a minimum of fuss.
Whether you want to connect to a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or an Android phone or tablet, the DDJ-FLX4 is compatible with all of the above, with Bluetooth functionality on its way with the next update, for even more flexibility of use.
Connecting to a laptop via USB, the bus-powered DDJ-FLX4 interfaces with its associated software in a way that can really help fill in the blanks, in turn giving a leg up to beginners by visualising basic DJ concepts like cue functionality, crossfading, beatmatching, and transitions in a clear and concise way. With access to both Rekordbox and Serato DJ Lite software for Mac and PC as a download, the DDJ-FLX4 has everything you need to hit the ground running, with industry-standard folder navigation and plenty of handy little tricks up its sleeve.
Along with the Hot Cue, Pad FX, and Sampler functions that make use of the eight touchpads beneath each deck, there are some cool additions in the mixer section that make it easier for the beginner DJ to pull a mix together faster than ever. The new Smart CFX knob, found just below the EQ controls in the central mixing panel, applies a combination of effects that can be dialled in and out to your liking. It kind of reminds me of the Effects button that was introduced on the early DJM mixer models in the back in the ‘90s. Great fun, with sometimes unexpected effects and no need to worry about adjusting features, just wind it up and let it whirl.
For beginners, the ability to scroll through and cue potential tracks by order of BPM will definitely go a long way to help ward off those awkward silences, at the very least. With a host of streaming services working in conjunction with Pioneer DJ, you can have seamless library integration and access to Beatport, Tidal, Soundcloud, and more. Literally millions of tracks can be streamed directly to your laptop, so you shouldn’t have any issue filling the space.
For the more experienced users looking for a scalable controller for advanced use, an upgraded licence for Serato DJ Pro can be purchased to unlock greater feature sets and functionality.
But the real draw card on the DDJ-FLX4 has got to be the Smart Fader feature. Over the years we’ve seen the development of BPM matching and other functions to help create a seamless mix, but this has just taken it to a whole new level. Engaging the Smart Fader button allows you to use the crossfader as a ‘do it all’ mix feature. It adjusts the BPM of the outgoing channel to match up to the incoming channel, as well as adjusting Bass Volume and Level of the two channels as you slide the fader across. This is applied to both the crossfader and the channel faders, depending on which method of mixing you prefer to use. It’s that simple. Just don’t let the audience know and they’ll think you’re a seasoned professional on the decks.
If this one isn’t on your Christmas list already, there’s still time to drop a subtle hint or two. The box is even compact enough to be wrapped with a standard roll of Christmas wrapping paper. Pioneer has thought of everything!
For more info, head to pioneerdj.com or www.jands.com.au.
This article was made in partnership with Jands.
