The design looks good and follows a similar club-standard CDJ and DJM setup, so it allows for intuitive performance.

Jog Cutter allows you to jump between one of six sections on your wheel to trigger different scratching experiences. According to Pioneer, there are around 10 different scratch jog cutter patterns to explore by moving your play head position, as shown on your on-wheel display. In Rekordbox, it at least has some potential – you can alter the volume (pressing shift and turning the Merge FX knob does that), and there is a panel built into the software where you can choose your samples and effect combos to come up with your own choices.Pitch bending and scratching feel natural on the DDJ-FLX6 thanks to the large jog wheels, which are the same size as those on the flagship CDJ-3000 multi player. Each one features an On Jog Display too, so you can keep an eye on the playhead position. It doesn’t have the mobile-friendly features of the new DDJ-FLX4– While we suspect that when the Rekordbox for iOS & Android DJ app is launched in early 2023, there will be a way to get it working with the FLX6, but it won’t be as easy as with the DDJ-FLX4 that’s just been announced. That’s because the FLX-4 has USB-C connectivity and a USB-C charging port, neither of which are on the DDJ-FLX6-GT, sadly

There’s very little to grumble about when it comes to the sound quality of this device. You’re going to get an experience very similar to most consumer DJ controllers. A bit of history is worthwhile here. You see, as of the Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000, Pioneer DJ abandoned the “controller” paradigm when it came to effects. It’s the first new Traktor-compatible controller to be announced for three years– This is in itself worth noting, because while we’re still waiting for Native Instruments, the owners of Traktor, to announce new “official” gear for the platform, it shows that the team is active and working on integrations for the software

Jog-wheels and Intuitive Performing

From a control perspective, this certainly isn’t the most advanced option on the market. There are a few things missing, such as key shift hardware or sync buttons.

Pioneer DJ’s DDJ-FLX6 is a bedroom-oriented controller focused on performance features. With full-sized jogs, four channels, and a plethora of new (albeit slightly confusing) performance features, the FLX6 is very enticing for hobbyist DJs who want features without breaking the bank. The unit’s Serato and Rekordbox compatibility is also quite exciting. But the very best jogs are only really important if you are a scratch DJ, and with seemingly much of the budget for the DDJ-FLX6 having gone on the jogs, that other essential part for scratch DJing – the crossfader – is very average on this unit. Sure it works, but the pair of them are a huge mismatch. The jogwheels are excellent – a great feel to them, full sized. So why is the crossfader so ordinary? It has also been announced as working with Virtual DJ– This is good news, but then, it always did work with Virtual DJ in its previous DDJ-FLX6 incarnation. Maybe this is just exactly the same mapping made official and announced by Pioneer DJ, or maybe there are improvements (we’ll no doubt find out soon enough) If you found the Slicer function confusing when it arrived on DJ controllers, this is not going to be for you. Basically, it is a way of “scratching” without actually scratching, and I just didn’t get it. It still works best with Rekordbox– Despite all the talk about “flexibility”, this is still primarily a Rekordbox DJ controller, and some of the features – Merge FX, Jog Cutter, Sample Scratch – don’t work as well or at all with other platformsDespite a couple of grumbles, the DDJ-FLX6 is still impressive in its own way. There are a few advanced functions that you won’t get anywhere else. Pioneer also boasts a new aesthetic for this DJ controller, but we’re not sure how much of a benefit that is at first glance. It’s the first ever Traktor-compatible controller with full-sized jogwheels and a club layout– the DDJ-FLX6-GT has a club-style mixer layout, and CDJ-sized jogwheels, which mean it feels similar to using club gear (like the ever-popular DDJ-1000 controllers). Traktor owners jealous of users of other software with access to these units now have a unit they can use themselves with these features When Pioneer DJ launched the DDJ-1000 controller, it changed things up. Instead of having controls as I just described, the controls were more like those found on club mixers, such as the DJM-900NXS2.

You’ll also find VU meters in all four of the channels here, but there’s no master VU meter available. The meters are a little dim, however, so make sure you’re equipped to see them properly if you’re DJing in outdoor festivals with a lot of sunshine. D DJ FLX6 : The Verdict As a Rekordbox controller, the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 fills a gap for a reasonably priced, four-channel model. And on the surface, it looks nice – great jogs, decent size, lots of lights. It is going to look good on livestreams and it is going to look good on social media videos. It can instantly sound impressive too, as some of the noises you can make with the Merge FX do indeed sound epic.

Sample Scratch - the all-new pad mode

That said, the FLX-6 is a Rekordbox unit first and foremost, as its Serato DJ integration isn’t nearly as tight – there’s no MIDI mapping and less customization over features like Merge FX. I did, however, find the unit to be more responsive with Serato DJ, but that may just be due to the fact that Serato DJ has traditionally optimized as a lighter program designed for turntablists. I/O connectivity This is a software-only DJ controller, so you can’t plug in extra equipment, even if you bought your CDJ or turntable directly from Pioneer themselves. Noticed that the DDJ-FLX6 has a fresh look? It’s the first Pioneer DJ unit released in a new dark gray matte finish, and its jog wheels have a unique design to complement the aesthetics. Watch the introduction video or find out more about the new DJ controller. Most controllers do follow an exhausting trend of only using an exclusive single-software support option. It’s nice to see more than one option on one device. The controls on the DDJ-FLX6-GT are set up the same way as on its predecessor, which is a club-standard CDJ + DJM setup. This makes it easy to perform. But the new matte grey body and graphite jog wheels give it a more elegant look. Virtual DJ Support