![]() The Numark NS4FX fits a definite gap in the market for a mid-price, mid-range Serato controller. In practical terms, that means that you can livestream by “hijacking” the audio via the USB cable and the NS4FX’s built-in audio interface, and it’ll contain your mic/aux sources as well as the Serato music, negating the need for a serarate USB mic or audio interface when livestreaming via your DJ laptop. Read this next: Ultimate Guide to DJ Livestreaming One cool “hidden” feature is that both the mic/aux and the mic inputs, while not strictly routed through the software, are “sent” down the USB cable, which means whatever you’re using on those two inputs gets blended with the output signal. That said, there is only one effect to be selected at any one time. We particularly liked the separate hardware looping controls, and also enjoyed the immediacy of the paddle FX, which apart from the odd choice of duplicating the filter effects on the buttons as well as the per-channel knobs, offer a good blend of immediacy (paddles are fun!) and control (you get a wet/dry and a beats control for them, plus there’s a tap button for those tricky BPMs). The build quality is great for the money, and you wouldn’t look out of place playing on this in many public places. Mixing on the third and fourth decks is achieved as it is with all such controllers by the use of a “layer” button to switch between decks – it’s a bit fiddly but it gets the job done. ![]() There is a key lock, although if you want to shift key, apart from using Pitch Play you’d be doing so with the mouse on the software screen, and also while we’re talking about “missing” hardware controls, there’s no sampler volume on the unit or slip button – again, you can trigger these on the screen with the mouse though. If you upgrade to Serato DJ Pro (and you should – it’ll cost you $249 extra though, so look out for their offers like Black Friday sale etc) you also get “Pitch Play”, slip roll, slicer and “Scratch Bank”. The pads have the expected functions, eg hotcues, auto loop and sampler, and there’s also a “fader cuts” option which is basically a transform effect (like cutting the crossfader in and out rhythmically, at your choice of eight speeds). The layout is good, making this fun to DJ on – we just wish it had better VU meters, and RGB pads. Serato is a great software platform of course, but the NS4FX also works with VirtualDJ and Algoriddim’s djay Pro AI. Most of the controls feel good notwithstanding the slightly cheap feeling crossfader, and the in-jog displays are great for basic info like BPM, key lock indicator, time elapsed/remaining and other useful such items, including a nice motion ring. Overall, it’s a solid controller to DJ on. Once you’re up and running, there’s lots to love here. ![]() The unit has to be powered, ie it doesn’t run from USB from the computer, but this is a good thing because it means nice, bright LEDs and in-jog displays, plus loud, punchy 24-bit audio. There’s a useful clamp to hold the power socket in place, a choice of 1/4″ and 1/8″ headphones sockets, and physical crossfader assign switches, all of which add up to a pretty decent unit for the money. The aesthetic is slightly different to the Mixtracks (the NS4FX is lighter grey, and the pads glow white, not red), but it retains all that marks the Mixtrack Pro FX and Mixtrack Platinum FX out from lesser budget controllers, such as the long-throw pitch controls, weighted jogs, and separate looping controls. Particularly, note the booth outputs and the cord clamp on the back – good features for mobile DJs. The build quality and components (faders, jogwheels, knobs, buttons, paddles) are all the same as the Mixtrack FX units, but that’s no bad thing, as these days all Numark controllers are very well built for the price. Learn to DJ using ANY gear: The Complete DJ Course Coupled with its 24-bit audio, these features mean this unit could easily be used in bars, lounges and public events. You get a mic/aux input with tone control, a second mic input (again, with volume and tone), and balanced XLR outputs alongside the more usual unbalanced RCAs. The front of the unit, showing the second mic input, crossfader controls and headphones sockets. It’s deeper, wider and longer than the Mixtrack Platinum FX, but as well as that, it has some features that move it up a rung from its stablemates lower down the range, namely better inputs and outputs. This is a four-channel Serato DJ controller, which comes with Serato DJ Lite software, and is essentially a bigger take on the popular Mixtrack Platinum FX.
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