Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6-GT 4-deck Rekordbox and Serato DJ Controller - Graphite

Product Information

Pitch bending and scratching feels natural thanks to the large jog wheels, which are the same size as those on the flagship CDJ-3000 multi player. Adding flare to sets and mixing between genres, no matter what the key or BPM of the next track is, can be flawless thanks to the new Merge FX feature. The unit is bus powered and, when connected over USB, it will unlock whichever included software platform you choose.

Plug and play capability is available via the in-built soundcard and DJ Performance functions with either rekordbox or Serato DJ Pro. Press it to engage the effect, turn it to alter the speed to add tension to the music, and press the knob again to release the effect. While there’s no jog wheel adjustment, like that offered by the DDJ-800 and DDJ-1000, the tension setting feels just right – especially if you’re upgrading from the smaller DDJ controllers. Operation couldn’t be simpler – just tap the button in the centre of the Merge FX control and then twist the outer ring to set the intensity. The software options for the controller is flexible as the controller’s DJ Performance functions can be unlocked with either rekordbox or Serato DJ Pro.

Scratching and pitch bending feels natural, and the inclusion of on jog display ensures vital information can be seen at a glance. The DDJ-FLX6-GT includes all the features of the original unit including Merge FX, which makes it easy to hype up the audience and mix songs from totally different genres. There are four slots available to you whether you’re using Rekordbox or Serato DJ, although the latter has slightly less FX available to use. Simply press the knob and turn it as fast or as slowly as you like to start building up the tension in the music. The fresh design of the DDJ-FLX6-GT introduces a new look and feel for its full-size jog wheels, which feature a graphite color plus a metallic texture on top and a rubberized coating on the outer ring for improved playability.

The beauty is that it can be done at any point throughout any track and then play can be selected on the other deck to introduce the next track (from any genre with a different BPM) flawlessly. Sample Scratch is a brand-new pad mode in rekordbox which enables you to choose sounds you’ve assigned to the sampler and load them onto the decks. The new style includes a familiar layout of controls similar to how you would find them on the club-standard CDJ and DJM setups allowing for intuitive performances.The controller gives any DJ an edge when it comes to performing, and is a great way to keep the crowd's attention and take them on a journey they will not forget. Turn on Jog Cutter and simply move the jog wheel to apply a professional-sounding scratch effect to the last Hot Cue or playback position you used on that deck.

The four-channel DDJ-FLX6 is to be replaced by the FLX6-GT, the GT apparently standing for Graphite in reference to the new colour scheme. VirtualDJ is compatible with the updated unit (licenses available separately), which also offers free use of the rekordbox Core plan and Serato DJ Pro. There are ten scratch patterns to select and can be switched by moving the play head position displayed on the jog wheels on-jog display. The DDJ-FLX6 has two really powerful features to help DJs jump from one BPM range to another Merge FX and the Jog Cutter.

This is where sounds that have been allocated to the sampler can be loaded on to the decks, which in turn can be used with the Jog Cutter function. So, when you want to create a live remix of a track, or simply add some texture to the music, you can scratch with your favorite sounds. In the new Merge FX section in rekordbox (PC/Mac), you can customize each effect type and the samples used in each pattern to create your own variations.

With a built-in sound card, all you need to do is connect the DDJ-FLX6-GT via USB cable to a laptop that’s running a compatible software and you can start DJing right away. The new unit adds support for VirtualDJ (license available separately), while retaining free compatibility with rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro.

Energetic and intuitive performances come with ease, thanks to the layout, inclusion of full-sized jog wheels and brand-new Jog Cutter feature on the DDJ FLX6. Pioneer DJ supply the DDJ-FLX6 with both Rekordbox (the Flex is a hardware unlock device) and Serato DJ Pro. Its full-size jog wheels now feature a graphite colour plus a metallic texture on top and a rubberized coating on the outer ring for improved playability. I was leaning towards a second-hand ddj flx6 for ~450€, but then I read on reddit that it's not a good controller with terrible sound. The DJ controller also comes with license keys for the Serato FX Pack, Pitch 'n Time DJ Expansion Packs and TRAKTOR PRO 3 TSI file, which will be released.