Help to find which controller I need - advice please!

I've had a DDJ-SX2 for many years, but have only used it a handful of times. I've only ever bought Pioneer gear since starting DJing in the early 1990s, but the SX2 is the most disappointing purchase I have ever made. It's a beautiful device, but it's missing too many features I need, and is difficult to do the things I want. I'm looking to buy something to replace it.

Back in the day I used to use a DJM-500 with various CDJ models. But now I want to use digital files too.

My requirements are quite simple: 4 channels, Line IN x 2, onboard effects (flanger, echo, delay, reverb), Next track/track search buttons, Loop in/out/adjust buttons.

I don't need MIC inputs, I don't need Phono inputs, I don't need scratching capability, don't need fancy (or big) jog wheels, don't need performance pads. I don't care whether the controller uses Serato or Rekordbox. I don't even care if it's an all-in-one controller or not.

But looking at the incredible variety of controllers now in existence (both current and archived models), the only one I can find which seems to have what I need is the XDJ-XZ, the most expensive product in the entire range!

I can't believe that nothing else fits my very basic needs, so I'm asking for help from anyone with a better knowledge of the product lineup. I'm happy to buy a secondhand superseded device, as long as it does what I need.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Paul Vincent January 20, 2022 05:13

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4 comments

I'm pretty sure the only all-in-one controller Pioneer do is the XDJ-XZ. If you aren't planning on using all 4 channels of the mixer at the same time then the RX, RX2 & RX3 are all good and their two mixing channels are switchable between the on-board decks and external sources (phono/line), so you've essentially got 6 inputs but can only use two of them at any one time. The RX2 & 3 also have Aux inputs but I believe their functionality is limited to just volume adjustment. Sounds like maybe you might be better off looking at a couple of XDJ players like the 700s or 1000s and a separate 4ch mixer or dare I say it... a Denon Prime4

George James January 20, 2022 14:30 0 votes

Thanks George.
Your idea of XDJ players and seperate mixer would definitely solve most of my needs, but unless I'm mistaken, I wouldn't be able to connect up to 4 XDJs to a single Serato/Rekordbox window all accessing my entire music collection, right?

That's why I thought I needed a controller, so I could run Serato/Rekordbox on my computer and control up to 4 decks from that one piece of software, and then simply plug in my other devices to LINE IN ports and control those manually when necessary.
The RX units won't work, as I'm usually playing at least 3 channels at a time.
Yeah, I looked at the Denon online. Unfortunately the onboard effects aren't there at the level of the Pioneer, but it does indeed look a really great piece of kit, especially with the ability to connect a drive of your own.

Paul Vincent January 21, 2022 07:01 0 votes

Yes the XDJ-XZ would click all the boxes, but if I am reading your post correctly you want to run Serato/rekordbox in 4 deck mode with 4 separate control surfaces so you could use CDJs or XDJ-700/1000s and go into a 4 channel mixer and then into Serato/rekordbox and get the final result you want. The XZ would actually be more cost effective unless you went to say CDJ-350's and a DJM.

Jay January 21, 2022 19:15 0 votes

Thanks, Jay.
After seeing that the XDJ-XZ only allows 2 channels in standalone mode, I realize it isn't going to do what I need either. The Prime 4 is closest, but the lack of decent FX is a deal breaker.
As you suggest, I will have to look into a seperates setup as a provisional solution until a controller is released that checks all the boxes on my list of requirements.

Paul Vincent January 27, 2022 10:08 0 votes