Best DJ Digital Controllers under $300

You might want to start the new year off with a new digital turntable for your music mixing. Here are some of the best ones to watch out for and a comparison table of each of the models.

The numark mixtrack pro 2 usb DJ controller

Design

The Numark mixtrack pro 2 turntable controller features a really slimline design. It has a height of 2 inches, and features 16 backlit multifunction drum pads. The platters on the mixtrack are touch activated, and illuminated to help you see in a dark environment, such as a club. The sync, cue, play and stutter buttons are illuminated too, as well as the all important scratch button. The layout is nice, with the crossfader positioned for fast and easy movement to allow you to mix seamlessly.

Specifications

The mixtrack pro 2 has a smaller platter size than the previous model, its now 5″. This makes it even easier to accurately mix with the platters. It connects to your laptop with USB, and has MIDI communication connections too. There are headphone outputs consisting of 1/4″ and 1/8″ sizes, as well as RCA output, and 1/4″ microphone input. This is great if you want to announce anything like a birthday shoutout during a live mix.

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Performance

You can create loops, and samples easily with the mixtrack pro 2, as well as control hot cues with the 16 rubber drum pad buttons. There is the option to swap between different dj modes too. There is sample, loop, and hot cue mode. The mixer section includes a 3 band EQ, and a section dedicated to syndicating your music library, and controlling it directly from the turntable. To make your mixing really easy even if you’re a beginner, there is the pitch and sync controls. The software that comes with the turntable is Serato DJ Intro. Its upgradeable, and compatible with Serato DJ pro, if you really want to take your music mixing to the next level.

Pioneer DDJ-SB Performance DJ Controller

Design

The Pioneer DDJ SB Performance turntable has been designed with easy to reach performance pads, on the bottom half of the controller. There are a total of 8 drum pads that provide hot cue, auto loop, manual loop and sampler features. Along with a shift button you can access also the play, cue, and sync buttons too. The jog platters are 4.4″ in diameter, and are easy and responsive to mix with.

Specifications

There is a special feature of the Pioneer DDJ SB performance called the filter fade. This is a function that allows you to pass 2 tracks to the crossfader, meaning it becomes easier to mix tracks more seamlessly than without the filter fade. You are able to free up one of your hands that allows you to mix in more special effects, and really unleash your creativity with a sample, loop, and cue.

Performance

If you are a beginner DJ the Pioneer DDJ SB performance gives you everything you need at your finger tips. Its easy to pick up and use if you’re already used to mixing with vinyl. With the auto loop feature you can even make quick loops on the fly, as well as the manual loop that can be used to create a great sounding dance beat build up for an amazing effect with your music. The turntable has a solid feel to it, and is very lightweight too. You receive Serato DJ Intro edition to start with, and you can upgrade to the full pro edition for an extra fee.

Hercules DJ Console 4-MX Controller

Design

The first thing that separates the Hercules Dj Console 4 MX from other turntables, and controllers is its metal casing. The jog platters are 4.7″ in diameter, and as well as being touch sensitive, are also weight responsive too. They have been designed like this to give you unprecedented control and accuracy in your mixing, as well as seeking the right audio sample within your tracks. Also included in the design is are 2 stereo inputs that let you use an mp3 player or cd player inside your mixing with your laptop too. This means you can have an even larger collection of tracks, and if you’ve been a cd DJ, your transition will be easier, as your collection can be used too.

Specifications

The Hercules DJ Console 4-MX comes with a 4 channel output, with stereo line output for your mixing. There is a microphone input too, with a talk over function for allowing you to complete announcements easily. One of the best features that really set the Hercules apart is the ability to control 4 virtual decks with the 2 deck control and switcher. This means you can cue up your tracks, and present some really complex mixes as if you were using 4 decks at once.

Performance

One of the most customizable turntables and controllers for sale, with an ability to press the default button to reset any buttons that you have re-arranged. You also receive a special carry bag for the turntable. If you are a heavy user of the scratch function you can change the latency of this to give you a larger scratch which is great to really customise it to the way you want it to work for you. The software included with the Hercules is Virtual DJ 7 LE.