Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6-GT Review – Hands-On Deep Dive

Product Featured

Model: Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6-GT
Release Price: $649 (contact by livechat, phone or email for discount)
Released: November 11th, 2022

This Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6-GT review was produced by David Michael at The Passionate DJ Podcast.

Introduction

The DDJ-FLX6-GT is a 4-channel DJ controller which is USB-powered and driverless, supporting Rekordbox, Serato, Virtual DJ, and Traktor. While the original FLX6 was advertised as being for Rekordbox and Serato only, it now supports Virtual DJ and Traktor as well. 

Pioneer’s marketing makes it look like the GT model does something the original doesn’t, but that’s not actually true. The GT is, quite simply, an FLX6 with a different paint job and slightly upgraded jog wheels. Therefore, I’m essentially reviewing both models, here.

The graphite grey finish does look nice (though it’s a lighter color in person than in photos), and the jog wheels have a new rubberized finish. The wheels are impressively sized: they are the same size as the ones you’d find on a CDJ-3000 or Pioneer DDJ-1000.

The FLX6 is designed around the concept of Merge FX, which is a transition-based FX that helps you get from one song to another regardless of BPM or genre. To the top-right of each deck is a rather chunky knob with a button in the middle, used for engaging these FX.

Merge FX

These help you transition between tracks regardless of BPM or genre. The effect starts and ends by hitting the button in the middle, and you adjust the effect by twisting the knob (for example, making the snare roll faster while a filter and delay are applied).

This transition effect will basically go on forever at the current parameter setting until you tell it to stop by hitting the button. The idea is that you could build out of one of these tracks, and then just drop mix straight into the next deck by hitting play.

This feature is much easier to demonstrate than to explain, so check the video above for several examples of Merge FX in action.

Within rekordbox, you can customize your Merge FX presets to your own liking. Each preset is built around four drop-down menus:

  • BUILD FX (the audio effect applied once you hit the button)
  • BUILD SAMPLE (a rolling sample which will play faster as you turn the knob)
  • RELEASE FX (the effect applied when you turn Merge FX off)
  • DROP SAMPLE (a sample played after everything else is done)

The presets are based around “risers” and “drops” (risers use a build sample, drops use a drop sample). Merge FX presets are easy to overdo, and some of them can be cheesy. However, they also act as a great tool for getting from one place to another in your set via drop mixing (rather than beatmatching). This is particularly useful for multi-genre (open format) DJs.

Jog Cutter

The jog cutter allows you to move the jog wheel back and forth between 6 defined sections, and “a professional scratch effect will be applied to the last Hot Cue or playback position you used on that deck”.

There are 10 different scratch patterns that can be accessed by simply moving the playhead position (on the jog wheel’s display), and when you lift your hand, the track will continue to play as normal.

In practice, I found Jog Cutter to sound unnatural and was not fun to use. This is my least favorite feature of the FLX6. See the video above for Jog Cutter examples.

Software Compatibility

This product is advertised as being compatible with Rekordbox, Serato, Virtual DJ, and Traktor, and the software I recommend you use for it is in precisely that order. 

When you get into the non-rekordbox software packages, “Merge FX” don’t really exist, so they try to offer an approximation.

Serato fared the best during my tests. It was just as plug-and-play compatible as using it with rekordbox (just start it up and go). Serato does its best to imitate the Merge FX from the true rekordbox version, but it’s not quite the same.

What’s happening is that Pioneer is using custom mappings, macros, and built-in features of those software packages. So if you combine loop rolls and reverbs and turntable brake FX (for example), you can get something that kinda works like the original Merge FX. But, it’s not nearly as good, nor as customizable, it’s immediately obvious that it wasn’t really meant to do this.

Next I tested Virtual DJ, and it was a similar thing. When you activate Merge FX, you can see the software engaging built-in FX and sampler to try and simulate the sound. Again, I see what they’re doing, but it’s not as good as the rekordbox version.

Virtual DJ worked overall without too much hassle, but if you want to use these Merge FX at all, you will need to go into the settings and install a custom extension.

As for Traktor, there is literally a two-page guide on how to get this working, and it was not exactly intuitive. And, it’s the same sort of thing: built-in Traktor FX and functions to make an approximation of Merge FX, with weird quirks that don’t match the other software.

Jog cutter doesn’t seem to do anything, here, and generally speaking, non-Native Instruments Traktor controllers that are MIDI-mapped in this way are notoriously laggy. 

This controller is compatible with Traktor in the same way that every MIDI controller is compatible with Traktor.

So, the fact of the matter is: this is a rekordbox controller, and a decent Serato controller too (considering it does unlock that software and doesn’t require you to configure a single thing). When dealing with anything else, your mileage may vary.

Who I Recommend it for

The FLX6 and FLX6-GT are great options for DJs who like mixing wildly different styles or tempos and need a way to get from point A to point B. In this sense, Merge FX could be a lifesaver. My only concern there is that you may become reliant on them, only to not have them when it comes time to upgrade your gear.

Generally speaking, this is a sturdy and handsome controller which offers a lot of features for the price. It makes for an excellent rekordbox or Serato controller. I’m less enthused about using it for Virtual DJ or Traktor.

Being a midrange controller, there are compromises. For example, there are no external inputs, nor balanced XLR outputs on the device. There are some features found on other controllers (like the DDJ-1000) that won’t be found here, like a track skip button or tension adjustments.

But with enormous jog wheels, the unique Merge FX feature, and full control over four decks, this is one of my top recommendations for a DJ controller at this price point.

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One Comment
Discussions from the Community.
  1. Tony Nas says:

    This is a disgrace to any real dj!! Horrible, I wanna merge my fist with this piece of crap

  1. […] Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6-GT Review – Hands-On Deep Dive […]

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    […] Pioneer DDJ-FLX6-GT | $649 […]

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