Pressing the central button in the centre of the dial activates Merge FX, and twisting the outer dial will start to apply an effect. One Merge FX is made up of four categories Build FX, Build Sample, Release FX and Drop Sample, which include 41 types of effects, all of which can be united to create over 9,000 different patterns.

Serato users sadly are limited to the preset default four effects with no ability to create custom mappings, a considerable drawback.With full size jog wheels, which are the same size as the flagship CDJ-3000, as well as a four-channel mixer - the first thing you’ll notice about the DDJ-FLX6 is that it feels like a step up from the entry level Pioneer DJ kit. All new on the DDJ-FLX6-GT is the jog cutter, this allows you to add professional scratch sounds without having to actually scratch yourself – aiding learning of how scratch works. I had trouble with crab and transformer scratches on the fader, which is a considerable factor for scratch DJs. 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.

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”. We recommend looking at the slightly more expensive Pioneer DDJ-SR2 or Numark NS6II for superior connectivity and build quality. The layout of the controls on the DDJ-FLX6-GT is the same as its predecessor, echoing club-standard CDJ + DJM setup, so you can perform intuitively.

Although similar in appearance to the CDJ units, these jog wheels are capacitive rather than mechanical. 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 compact DM-50D desktop monitor speakers from Pioneer DJ bring excellent audio quality to your home setup whether you're a DJ, producer or just a music lover! This controller is compatible with Traktor in the same way that every MIDI controller is compatible with Traktor. Sample Scratch is a new pad mode found within rekordbox that allows you to select sounds assigned to the sampler and then load them onto the decks, allowing you to scratch with your favourite sounds.

When you get into the non-rekordbox software packages, “Merge FX” don’t really exist, so they try to offer an approximation. As the Flex is dual platform, the unit offers Dual Deck Controls – making four deck mixing and transitioning simple and effective.The FLX6 feels like a cross between the DDJ-1000 and DDJ-400, offering four channels and full-sized jog wheels by forsaking build quality and connectivity options. Instead of a standalone mixer section and a metal-reinforced body (like the SR2), the FLX6 sports four channels and full-sized jog wheels – two very enticing features that are generally only found on higher-end Pioneer DJ gear. With just one-hand and 10 different scratch patterns, you can make pro-sounding effects within your mixes. The unit is bus powered and, when connected over USB, it will unlock whichever included software platform you choose.

Pioneer DJ supply the DDJ-FLX6 with both Rekordbox (the Flex is a hardware unlock device) and Serato DJ Pro. The effect will either create a build-up or break down depending on the direction the DJ turns the dial. 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. 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.

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. No matter the BPM or key of the next track, add drama to your set by using the Merge FX feature to mix different styles of music. The controller provides creative freedom when selecting and mixing tracks and eliminates the worry of seamlessly merging two tracks from different backgrounds. While this feature seems useful for EDM DJs as well as a way to recover lost time from a mistake, they can sound quite garish and almost too intense for more minimalist genres like house.