TECH awards 2013 dJ ConTrollEr ovEr $900
Allen & HeAtH Xone 4D
$1999
HYPE High quality standalone four-channel mixer, top-notch build quality and lovely filters.
GRIPE This feels like a mixer with MIDI
controller functionality added rather than being designed as a DJ work station.
Allen & Heath do not disappoint on the sound and build quality fronts but the MIDI controller features are somewhat limited when compared with some of the more recently released DJ controllers on the market.
TECH VERDICT8.5/10
vestAx VCI-400
$1299
HYPE Oozing with quality, this controller has a fully featured four-channel mixer and is hugely customisable.
GRIPE The tension controls on the jog-wheels are quite awkward to use.
This is the perfect choice for anyone wanting to customise their DJ controller to create the ultimate personalised DJ battle weapon.
TECH VERDICT8.5/10
Reloop TM4
$599
HYPE Full-sized four-channel controller for Serato with high quality components and lovely jog-wheels that just beg to be scratched.
GRIPE There is only two-channel support
with Serato Intro and some of the buttons on the control surface do not work with this version of the software.
electRIx TweaKer
$399
HYPE A highly customisable controller that will suit the MIDI fetishists and tweakers out there.
GRIPE No onboard soundcard and the
standard MIDI in and out will only work when connected to a computer due to the controller being USB powered.
A MIDI controller that seeks to break the mould and bring something unique to the marketplace. The Tweaker manages to carve out a niche for itself and pulls it off with a retro-cool style.
TECH VERDICT7.8/10 094
djmag.com
A controller that manages to be almost great but is limited by the choice of pairing it with Serato DJ Intro and not Itch as standard.
TECH VERDICT7/10 WInneR
pIoneeR DDJ ergo
$465
HYPE An amazing bit of kit for the money, it even gives more expensive controllers a run for their money.
GRIPE Rather a lot of plastic but at the price can we
really complain?
A feature-packed controller that works well as an entry level starter but can even tackle the demands of professional DJs.
TECH VERDICT8.5/10 $676
HYPE Has everything except a soundsystem and pair of headphones in one complete package.
GRIPE The motorised platters as seen on the NS7 are
gone. No Traktor official version.
Four-deck control of Itch via this feature-packed controller, a four-channel mixer and high quality soundcard in one sleek unit.
TECH VERDICT8/10 dJ ConTrollEr undEr $900 $999
HYPE Free upgrades to Serato DJ for life, dual deck control mode, slip mode and a four-channel stand-alone mixer come together to make a seriously good controller.
GRIPE There are some small niggles with control
placements which can lead to disaster for the unwary but nothing that should put potential owners off purchasing this controller.
Pioneer have managed to combine the best features of their various products to create a fantastic four-channel, four-deck hardware controller for Serato DJ that is streets ahead
of the competition. TECH VERDICT8.5/10
numARk nS6
nAtIve
The new breed of controllers offering professional performance for today’s digital DJs.
pIoneeR DDJ SX
WInneR
InstRuments TraKTor KonTrol S4 $999
HYPE Excellent controller that really
turns digital DJing into a satisfying experience.
GRIPE None
The Kontrol S4 is a pro package that has a lot of appeal for all levels of DJing, and at around £749 it’s well-priced considering that a full pro CDJ set-up can cost £3000. The S4 is the complete answer for DJs using Native Instruments Traktor software, and is worthy of gracing any DJ booth, be it bedroom or pro.
TECH VERDICT8/10
It’s not all about the big guns: these cut-price wonders will make any budding DJ feel like a seasoned professional.
nAtIve
Allen & HeAtH K2
InstRuments TraKTor KonTrol F1 $279
HYPE Great controller with a multitude of
GRIPE No built-in soundcard.
The Kontrol F1 allows DJs to perform in Traktor as they would in Ableton, adding this to your set-up opens up a whole new world of performance.
TECH VERDICT9/10
pads that make performing with the new Traktor Remix an absolute joy.
$349
HYPE Extremely well-thought-out and customisable controller with an onboard soundcard that packs a shed load of professional control features into a very portable package.
GRIPE A booth output would have been nice
and MIDI mapping can be a real headache in some software for the less technically minded.
A controller that manages to provide everything a DJ needs in one small box, it works with a range of software and is completely customisable to keep the tweakers and tinkerers well and truly busy.
TECH VERDICT8.5/10
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