PIONEER DJ

For Bedroom & Beyond

By DJ Deets

With wind chills dipping below minus-30 and meteorologists using words like “bomb cyclone,” my DDJFLX4 review unit from Pioneer DJ couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Whether I liked it or not, given the weather, I was going to be a bedroom DJ – and, as it happens, that’s quite possibly the target audience for this nifty, new controller.

A Little Background: The FLX name first appeared on Pioneer DJ’s 4-channel DDJ-FLX6, and the FLX4 borrows a few design elements from its larger sibling. It’s also similar to the company’s popular DDJ-400, but it takes things in a different direction from the turntablism-oriented DDJ-REV1.

Layout & Features: The DDJ-FLX4 controller is constructed out of plastic, and – although I wouldn’t put it through a torture test – it seems sturdy enough for frequent home use and occasional gigging. The layout is typical controller fare: two deck sections flanking a central mixer section. Each deck section has a 4.4-inch jogwheel – the wheels feel acceptable, maybe with a touch too little resistance for my taste. Missing are any jogwheel displays, like those seen on the larger FLX6 or the rival Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX.

Above the jogwheels are CDJ-style looping controls and a sync button. The looping controls will be familiar to anyone who has previously used Pioneer DJ’s classic CDJs or other Pioneer DJ controllers. Below the jogwheels are transport controls, eight performance pads, and the pitch slider. The rubber performance pads are on the smaller side and click when pressed. I never found them to be too small, and I’m especially happy to see them included on a controller of this size. I especially can’t complain, given some other controllers in this segment have even smaller pads. The pads can toggle between hot cues, pad-based effects, beat jump, and the sampler. I’m happy to report the pitch slider has a reassuring click when centered, which I’m a big fan of.

The mixer section is straightforward and easy-to-use. There are two channels, each with line faders, 3-band EQs, a sound color effect knob, and a trim control. The line faders and crossfader are nothing crazy, but they get the job done just fine. The sound color effects knob can work as a combo high/low-pass filter or can be assigned to other effects in the software.

There’s a “Smart CFX” mode, which adds a bit of extra pizazz to the usual high/low-pass filter by combining it with other effects. That being said, I was surprised to see the sound color knob identical to the regular EQ controls. I prefer when the filter knob has a different shape or texture than the regular EQ controls. This allows me to quickly know what knob I’m touching, based on feel alone. Thankfully, the trim knob at the top is skinnier than the rest of the EQ controls.

Above the EQ section, there is a small knob for browsing through playlists and two load buttons for each channel. The left side of the mixer has controls for the microphone level, headphone cueing and vol ume, and a button for activating the “smart fader” feature (more on that later).

It’s really cool that the microphone input feeds through to the USB, meaning mic sounds can appear in recordings. It seems like this is becoming the new standard for controllers, as recording mixes for posting online becomes more popu lar. The left side of the mixer has the master level control and the effects section.

Admittedly, the effects section here is a little sparse. There is a switch that can assign the effects to either channel or the master, two buttons for changing the beat settings, a single effects knob, and an on/off button. By contrast, Pioneer DJ’s similarly-priced DDJ-REV1 takes things to the next level by triggering effects with spring-loaded paddles.

At the front of the unit, there is a single headphone connection on a headphone jack (1/8-inch connection). I, personally, like to have both sized headphone connectors, as this allows someone else to simultaneously listen to the cue output if I’m playing back-to-back. If I bought this unit, I would definitely invest in a separate headphone splitter so I can have the same functionality.

On the back, there is a single master output on RCAs, an unbalanced TRS mic input, a connection for a Kensingtonstyle lock, and two USB Type-C connectors. When the unit is plugged into a laptop, it draws power from the laptop. However, there is a second USB Type-C connection for power only for situations where the controller is plugged into (or connected wirelessly through Bluetooth) a smartphone or tablet.

Full smartphone functionality through the upcoming rekordbox mobile app is set to be released in a few months, and connection via MIDI Bluetooth will be possible. I personally prefer the peace of mind that comes with having my hardware directly plugged in through a wired connection, but it is a cool feature. Interestingly, this is one of a handful of DJ products that uses USB Type-C instead of the usual USB Type-B. USB C ports are much smaller than USB B ports and are becoming more popular, so I wouldn’t be surprised if more pieces of DJ hardware end up using USB C connections. Pioneer DJ’s DJM-S5 battle mixer is another notable example.

In Use: The controller works out of the box with Pioneer DJ’s rekordbox DJ and Serato DJ Lite; it can be upgraded to Serato DJ Pro with a subscription. On both platforms, it performs exactly as expected, and

Let’s dive into that.

When activated, moving the crossfader from one track to another automatically adjusts several parameters – including BPM, volume, and amount of bass – to facilitate a smooth transition. In my testing, I found it more of a cryptic gimmick than a real game-changer. Personally, I preferred to just mix tracks than hope the algorithm has a goodsounding plan figured out. Having said that, I could see some DJs finding use in the Smart Fader feature if they need to quickly change songs without a transition planned.

Pioneer DJ seems to be setting up two pathways for progression through their DJ ecosystem. There’s the scratch/ turntablism style of DJing – DJs can start with the DDJ-REV1 then graduate to the larger, motorized DDJ-REV7 controller or one of Pioneer DJ’s battle-style mixers. And, then there’s what some call “club-style” DJing. The apex predator in this world is two to four CDJs and a DJM mixer, and the FLX4 might be a gateway.

For that purpose, the DDJ-FLX4 does well. With a few months of time on this unit, a DJ should be able to play on a larger, professional-level piece of hardware. For that reason, the FLX4 (priced at $299) might be a good choice for an aspiring DJ with club ambitions or as an additional controller for an established DJ.

By Stu Kearns

Marlborough, Mass. – There was a time when Ken Cosco once advertised in the Yellow Pages, so… yeah, he’s been around a while.

But talking with the veterans is where you’ll some wisdom, and Cosco, running four systems as the owner of A Touch of Class DJs in Marlborough, Mass., dispensed some of it to us in a recent conversation.

DJ LIFE: You’ve run A Touch of Class DJs for over 30 years now. How do you differentiate from the competition?

Ken Cosco: A Touch Of Class is a full-entertainment company. We offer DJs, MCs, lighting, and photo booths, but we also don’t listen or take direction and they get destructive… In bar/bat mitzvahs, that can be a real issue. So, specifically for bar mitzvahs I book, I charge an extra $1,000 if they want me personally to MC it. I’ll book my other guys for the normal rate. I’m hoping this trend will go away in a couple of years. Kids will get back to wanting to have fun and follow direction. and I am at home. Since we book so many options now, the business owner part takes more of a priority.

DJ LIFE: Let’s talk gear. What’s your set-up?

Cosco: I have all custom-build computer sound systems with over 100,000 songs and touch screen foldup monitor, two wireless mics – one handheld Shure concert series, and