As a beginner DJ, if you spend a lot of money on your first controller and find out after using it that many features are not very useful for your music style or mixing skills, it’s not worth it.
So it’s best to start with an entry-level DJ controller to find out what you need, and then if you have enough budget, you can slowly get into a higher-end DJ controller.
Top 9 DJ Controller for Beginners
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX – Best For Serato DJ
The Mixtrack Platinum FX is very similar in layout and functionality to the Mixtrack Pro 3, but with one major difference: it has a central LED screen on each turntable that displays the basic track information.
This is the first entry-level DJ controller with a screen within $500, and the turntable screen is a great use of interface space. Displaying BPM information on the turntable is helpful for beginners, as finding BPM data quickly in a data-heavy software interface is quite a time-consuming task.
Mixtrack Platinum works with Serato DJ Intro (Lite), or with Serato DJ if you have bought the software.
Overall, the Mixtrack Platinum’s touch bar, a wide range of speed faders, turntable display, and other professional features give a beginner DJ the features he needs.
Software: Serato DJ Lite
Input: 1 X Microphone
Output: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- No auxiliary AUX input
- Perfect support for Serato DJ full version
Cons
- Pad function is slightly confusing
- Turntable LCD
Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 Pioneer – – Best for rekordbox dj Software
The biggest change with the DDJ-400 compared to the RB is that the effects section has moved to the mixer section. This gives the whole machine a similar feel to the CDJ/DJM, and if you have the opportunity to go to a club gig and use the CDJ/DJM, then you will find the operating feel quite familiar. The speed fader range is also much larger than RB, making it more beginner-friendly.
The included Rekordbox DJ license key makes the DDJ-400 even better value. Its powerful software features along with 8 strike pads make the playability greatly enhanced.
In addition, the DDJ-400 can use computer speakers in addition to the standard entry-level input/output methods, which other brands of entry-level controllers do not have.
Software: Rekordbox DJ
Input: 1 X Microphone
Output: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- Full DJ software included
- Supports a wide range of software features
- Industry-standard interface layout
- Larger range of speed faders than RB
Pros:
- No AUX input
Roland DJ-202
The DJ-202 is Roland’s entry-level Serato DJ controller. It has a large number of features, even including sequencers and drum machines.
In general, it is very similar to the DDJ-SB series in that it has a high-quality turntable, a good layout feel, and low latency. However, its percussion pads are not rubberized, but considering the price, this is very good.
The sequencer and drum machine are nice additions to the feature set, but a little tricky to use, with the activation buttons and percussion pads not clearly labeled.
Software: Serato DJ Lite (with the full version of Serato DJ Pro)
Input: 1 X Microphone
Outputs: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- The complimentary full version of the software
- Premium turntable
- Basic sequencer and drum machine functions
Cons:
- All plastic body
- Sequencer and drum machine functions are not easy to operate
Traktor Kontrol S2MK3
The S2MK3 is the entry-level DJ controller for Traktor software, with a changed interface layout from the previous generation to bring it more in line with industry-standard layouts. The biggest advantage is that it comes with the full version of Traktor Pro 3 software and can now be used with the mobile app Traktor DJ 2.
The S2MK3 turntable feels great in the hand and also has a level light display for each channel, while the percussion pad display makes it easier to use the percussion pad. However, the pad is not as versatile as the DDJ-400, and the effects are not as intuitive to control as its high-end counterpart, the S4MK3.
Software: Traktor DJ 2 for mobile (comes with Traktor Pro 3)
Input: 1 X Microphone
Outputs: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- Supports mobile devices, comes with the full version of software
- High quality turntable
- Industry standard interface layout
- Large range of speed faders
Cons:
- Slightly less percussive pad functionality
- Slightly fewer effects
Hercules Inpulse 300
Although the Inpulse 300 is priced at under $300, it has some features that only more expensive DJ controllers have, such as a full 8 hit pad, Slip and Quantize buttons, and a larger turntable.
In addition, Inpulse 300 also provides a guide to the beat, which helps you learn how to beat by adding LED indicators to the turntable and speed fader. These LEDs will prompt you in which direction the speed fader and turntable should move to align the tracks.
There’s also a smart music assistant that suggests tracks based on your collection and colors them according to mood (from blue to red) so you can easily find the ideal track to play next.
Software: DJUCED
Input: None
Outputs: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- With pair of shooting guide and music assistant function
Cons:
- Smaller range of speed faders
Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB3
As an upgrade to the SB2, the DDJ-SB3 lists the play/cue buttons separately, guaranteeing the independence of the 8 strike pads. Although Pad Scratch is quite controversial, for beginners, it is your role model for practicing Scratch.
The DDJ-SB3 works with Serato DJ Lite, but you’ll need to spend $99 for Serato DJ so you can unlock the features offered by the gray logo on the body. In addition, the SB3 can trigger 3 effects at the same time, and after upgrading to Serato DJ Pro, you can switch Decks to control 4 tracks of music.
Software: Serato DJ Lite
Input: 1 X Microphone
Outputs: 1 X RCA main out, 1 X headphone out
Pros
Support for upgrading to Serato DJ
High-quality turntable
Smaller speed fader range
Pad Scratch function for scrubbing practice
Cons:
- The full software is sold separately
Numark Mixtrack Pro 3
If your budget is under $250, the Mixtrack Pro 3 is more than worth your attention. In addition to not having the turntable display of the Mixtrack Platinum, it also offers good practice features for beginners, such as a large speed fader range and the standard 8 strike pads.
In addition, if you purchase the full version of Serato DJ Pro, it works quite well with the full version of the software.
Software: Serato DJ Lite
Input: 1 X Microphone
Outputs: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros:
- Super low price
- Plastic body
- Great range of speed faders
Cons:
- Plastic body
Hercules Jogvision
The biggest feature of Jogvision is the large CDJ-style turntable, a feature that adds a lot to it. The turntable also has an LED ring that indicates the progress of the track and an LED pointer that indicates the position of the turntable. These features are very convenient to use, and they can help you get rid of always staring at the computer.
But the layout of this DJ controller is very special, and the whole Loop and effects section above the turntable is rather complicated to operate, so you need to get the hang of it to use it well.
Software: Serato DJ Lite
Inputs: 1 X Microphone, 1 X AUX input
Outputs: 1 X RCA master output, 1 X RCA monitor output, 1 X headphone output
Cons:
- Air effects
- Excellent input/output
- Extra-large turntable
Cons:
- Effects, inconvenient operation of Loop
Pioneer DJ DDJ-WeGO4
DDJ-WeGO4 has a very different design in that all of its performance functions such as Cue/Play, Effects, and Loop are laid out around the turntable, which controls these performance functions in addition to the traditional ones. It supports iOS and Android mobile devices and also comes with a Rekordbox DJ license key.
But it only has two EQ bands, high and low, by default, and you can also add the Filter knob to turn it into a three-band EQ. Besides that, it has a relatively small range of speed faders, which doesn’t seem to be a big problem considering it’s mainly for entertainment-level users.
Software: Rekordbox DJ, mobile version of djay Pro, mobile version of WeDJ
Input: 1 X microphone, 1 X AUX input
Output: 1 X RCA main output, 1 X headphone output
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Simple and clear design
- Great flexibility, supports different mobile devices and computers
Cons:
- Entertaining interface layout that is different from traditional DJs
Best Entry-level DJ controller What to Look For
Suitable turntables:
Most DJ tricks require two turntables, which is essential if you want to learn Scratch.
Standard mixer section
2 or more channels, 3-band EQ equalizer, separate volume gain knob to control the channel, guaranteed quality channel vertical push as well as smooth horizontal push, separate channel level light to ensure that the volume is not always on the red light is important for the development of DJ habits.
Built-in sound card
entry-level DJ controllers on the market today are built-in sound cards, most of them are sound through the controller sound card, but some models of controllers can be sounded through the computer speakers, which need to be based on your speakers to make a choice.
Can monitor separate channels or the main output of the headphone output
This is also one of the necessary features, to monitor the next track to mix, headphones monitoring each channel separately is essential.
Effects and percussion pads
All modern DJ software has a large number of built-in effects and performance features, and beginners will also need some knobs and percussion pads to control them.
