#Serato vs traktor features full#
#Serato vs traktor features software#

The REV-1 is designed for use with the free Serato DJ Lite – which is a polite way of saying you don’t get any software licenses included.

That said though, the REV-1 is well equipped with performance pads and a mic input. The mixer section is roughly based on Pioneer’s DJM-S range of battle mixers, although it’s slightly more cramped and less stylish looking. While the REV-1 is relatively compact, it boasts larger than average jog wheels – which is one of the main areas where budget controllers tend to let scratch DJs down. The REV-1 is a two-channel controller in battle configuration, meaning the pitch faders are placed above, rather than beside the jog wheels. However, with its new REV-1 controller, Pioneer DJ is aiming to change that. Turntablism requires precision and dexterity and cheaper controllers generally aren’t up to the job. ‘Budget’ and ‘scratch’ aren’t two words that tend to go well together. It works great as an authentic-feeling addition to a DVS-ready mixer setup though, and can be paired with anything from a second Twelve deck to a sampler or pad-based controller. The obvious downside here is no mixer functionality, meaning you’ll need more gear to complete your setup. The deck is compatible with the likes of Serato and Virtual DJ via USB, but also outputs DVS audio via an RCA port, which is compatible with most major digital vinyl systems. While most DJ controller jog wheels tend to feel – at best – similar to a club-standard CDJ, with its aluminium platter and “true vinyl-style” drive the Rane Twelve is as close as you can get to mixing with wax without using the real thing.

#Serato vs traktor features full#

Rather than replicate a full DJ setup, with two or more players and a mixer, this controller is designed specifically to replace a single vinyl turntable. Traktor heads, meanwhile, are well served by the 3rd gen version of Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol S4 with its ‘haptic’ jog wheels.įor scratch DJs, at the affordable end, Pioneer’s new REV-1 (opens in new tab) is commendable, while the pricier Rane Twelve MkII offers the closest you’ll get to a real turntable in controller form.Īs is probably evident from looking at it, the Rane Twelve is somewhat different from many of the controllers on this list. If rekordbox isn’t your thing, it’s worth giving a nod to the Denon MC8000 for Serato users. This cut-down Pioneer device still captures much of the CDJ workflow but at a more convenient and attainable price. That said, it’s a sizable device and probably too expensive – and unnecessary – for a lot of at-home setups, in which case the smaller and affordable Pioneer DDJ-400 is an excellent choice. All tracks prepared in rekordbox are ready to be loaded onto a USB and taken out to a club too – meaning this is probably the closest compatibility you’ll find between home controller setup and DJ booth. Its meaty, pressure-sensitive jog wheels have the heft of mixing on one of the brand’s industry-standard CDJs, and the mixer section is effectively a trimmed-down DJM-900. In fact, the 1000 is the closest thing we’ve found to condensing a club CDJ setup down into controller form. That said, for our money Pioneer DJ’s flagship DDJ-1000 (opens in new tab) and the company’s rekordbox software are the perfect pairing. Head to the bottom of the page for more buying advice on choosing the right controller for you.Īt the risk of sounding like we’re hedging our bets, the best DJ controller ultimately comes down to what sort of DJ you are and what software you’d like to use. Here though, we’re focusing on units designed primarily as controllers and specifically with DJs in mind. Many standalone ‘players’ can also be used to control DJ software, and numerous non-DJ-specific MIDI devices can be used, in one way or another, to mix with. Now, the lines around what counts as a ‘DJ controller’ are blurring a little. Whether you’re after something to replicate the feel of traditional turntables, mixers, and CDJs, or a modern pad device designed for sample triggering and effects manipulation, the best DJ controllers in this guide offer skin-tight integration with your preferred mixing software of choice, so you can properly get hands-on and expressive with your library or tracks. Some are designed for use with just desktop machines, while others can be used with your mobile device. There are controllers specifically designed to take advantage of the latest features of rekordbox, Serato, Traktor, or Virtual DJ, and others that will work with a multitude of applications. From so-called ‘battle’ devices – aimed at scratch DJs and turntablists – to complex rigs that emulate the functionality of top-end club setups. Even just within the realm of the best DJ controllers, there’s no shortage of variety.