Pioneer DJ hasย just launched an updateย to itsย DDJ-FLX6ย mid-range DJ controller, which now works offically with Virtual DJ and, interestingly, Traktor, as well as Rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro as before.
Here are seven things you need to know about the controller before you buy one:
- tโs the first new Traktor-compatible controller to be announced for three years โ This is in itself worth noting, because while weโre still waiting for Native Instruments, the owners of Traktor, to announce new โofficialโ gear for the platform, it shows that the team is active and working on integrations for the software
- Itโs the first ever Traktor-compatible controller with full-sized jogwheels and a club layout โ 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
- Itโs not a perfect Traktor mapping, or the easiest to get workingย โ It isnโt plug and play with Traktor (youโll need to install a TSI file to get it to work), and once it is up and working, some of the advanced features of the controller, such as the Merge FX and the in-jog displays, wonโt work
- It has also been announced as working with Virtual DJย โ This is good news, but then, it always did work with Virtual DJ in its previous DDJ-FLX6 incarnation. Maybe this is just exactly the same mapping made official and announced by Pioneer DJ, or maybe there are improvements (weโll no doubt find out soon enough)
- It unlocks Serato DJ Proย โ This is worth pointing out again, because the recentย Numark NS4FX, which is a comparable mid-market Serato DJ four-channel controller, doesnโt, and Serato is pricey software. Not only does the DDJ-FLX6-GT unlock it, but it comes with vouchers for two desirable add-ons too, PitchโnTime and FX, making it much better value than the Numark unit or any other at this price point
- It still works best with Rekordboxย โ Despite all the talk about โflexibilityโ, this is still primarily a Rekordbox DJ controller, and some of the features โ Merge FX, Jog Cutter, Sample Scratch โ donโt work as well or at all with other platforms
- It doesnโt have the mobile-friendly features of the new DDJ-FLX4ย โ While we suspect that when theย Rekordbox for iOS & Android DJ appย is launched in early 2023, there will be a way to get it working with the FLX6, but it wonโt be as easy as with theย DDJ-FLX4ย thatโs just been announced. Thatโs because the FLX-4 has USB-C connectivity and a USB-C charging port, neither of which are on the DDJ-FLX6-GT, sadly
- BONUS: Existing DDJ-FLX6 users can get all the new functionality tooย โ I thought it was worth adding an eighth โbonusโ point for those who own the original DDJ-FLX6, just to make it crystal clear: Aside from the paint job, the hardware hasnโt changed at all, which is great news for existing users, as they can get all the functionality with a simple firmware upgrade (source:digitaldjtips)