Buying a DJ Controller

Choosing the right DJ controller can be daunting for beginners, and there a lots of decent options on the market. However, for most beginner and intermediate DJs who do not wish to invest a substantial amount of money, I recommend the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4.

This is for a number of reasons:

  • Acclaimed controller with a great number of features and great usability for its price.
  • You get to use Rekordbox Performance Mode with it for free, as it is one of Pioneer’s hardware unlock controllers with which you can use virtually the full version of their Rekordbox DJ software for free as opposed to having to pay £10 per month. Rekordbox in my opinion is the best DJ software at the time of writing (see more on this below).
  • It mimics the industry standard DJ setup you find in nightclubs of two Pioneer CDJs and a Pioneer mixer. If you DJ in a club, bar or festival in future where you have to use the in-house equipment – particularly likely if you play electronic music – there’s a good chance you’ll be using a variation of this setup, and by getting the DDJ-FLX4 you’ll be used to the layout already.
  • Connected to the last point, the software you’ll be using, Pioneer Rekordbox, is the software that links into CDJs, so if you DJ on CDJs your music will be ready to use with playlists, beatgrids and hot cues as you had prepared within the software. In comparison, if you are using another software you’d have to transfer your music over to an unfamiliar software and then prepare your tracks again which can be a long and tiresome process. All of this means that by buying the DDJ-FLX4 you future proof yourself more than if you went for a similar priced alternative.
  • The DDJ-FLX4 is compatible with both Rekordbox and Serato, the two most popular DJ software.

The DDJ-FLX4 costs around £280 at most retailers at the time of writing (summer 2025), however, I have seen second-hand ones sell for around £220 on Ebay. Reputable sites I have bought from in the past that stock it include westenddj.co.uk, juno.co.uk and thedjshop.co.uk. It is also usually available to buy on the Argos, Currys and Amazon websites, subject to their stock.

A very similar alternative option is the Pioneer DDJ-400 controller, which is essentially the old version of the DDJ-FLX4. The main difference is that it is only compatible with Rekordbox. You might be able to buy this second-hand slightly cheaper, however, on Ebay the prices are usually comparable to the DDJ-FLX4.

What is a DJ controller and are there alternatives?

A DJ controller is a piece of equipment that allows you to DJ by connecting to a computer to control DJ software, and cannot be used as a standalone device. There are various alternative DJ set-ups such as CDJs and a mixer, turntables and mixer, and standalone all-in-one DJ systems. However, these are generally more expensive and don’t necessarily give you more functionality. For a beginner, a DJ controller usually easiest and best way to start DJing. For more information on different DJ set-ups, here’s a good article on the subject.

DJ software

Every DJ controller connects to DJ software, therefore, when you choose a controller you are also choosing which software you will be using. There are a number of DJ software to choose from including Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor and Virtual DJ. The reason I recommend Pioneer’s Rekordbox is because, firstly, for me it is the best DJ software at the time of writing in terms of features and functionality, but also because it links into Pioneer CDJs.

As alluded to above, the CDJs plus mixer setup is the industry standard for DJing in bars, nightclubs and festivals where you are expected to use the equipment provided (as opposed to taking your own DJ controller and laptop). If you are planning on playing electronic music it is more likely you will come across this than, say, if you only play hip-hop or commercial music. Whilst using Rekordbox does mean you are locked into using Pioneer products, they have a wide range and some of the best DJ controllers on the market. However, if you doubt you will ever DJ on CDJs, you may prefer one of the alternatives and different DJs have different preferences. This article discusses DJ software in more depth.

Other mid-range DJ controllers

Having said all this, there are a number of good alternatives to the DDJ-FLX4 and another controller and software might be good for you based on your circumstances and personal preference. Here are few good roundups of the some of the best mid-range DJ controllers:

Cheaper DJ controllers

If you are looking to spend less, the controller I would recommend is the DDJ-FLX2. This is because you get to use Rekordbox Performance Mode for free with it via hardware unlock and the controller still somewhat mimics the layout of the industry standard setup in clubs of Pioneer CDJs and mixer, albeit with less features. It costs around £160 at most retailers at the time of writing, however, I have seen second-hand units sell for less on Ebay.

Do be aware, however, that any controller under around £200 will not give you a particularly good DJ experience: they have fewer features and have to make compromises with a lot of features they do include. This will restrict you fairly soon into your DJ journey and if you do take DJing further than the basics, you will inevitably want to upgrade soon.

If you have a question on this subject feel free to drop me an email!