43 Comments

1. When someone crosses this with the new Numark NV screens I think we will have the perfect controller. I was excited to see the NV screens (something I’ve wanted for many years) but disappointed it wasn’t DVS capable. Now that this unit has DVS functionality it just needs screens …. Numark will you sell them separately (like the Numark VM03) ?

   • I had expected an NV like unit from Pioneer, because that’s how these things work with Serato. But perhaps the screens are a proprietary thing for Numark. I also noted how you said “needs screens”. Does it need screens because the NV has them? Has it become an essential feature just three weeks after introduction? ;)

     • I need screens in my headphones so that other people can see what i’m listening too… Essential!

     • For me Mark it has always been a “need”, from the very first controller I built for Traktor 3 I was looking at ways of transferring laptop information to small screens above my TT’s. I’ve tried all kinds of systems and built several prototypes (none of which were good enough to use in a live environment). But to speak specifically about this unit and the Numark screen technology that has been around for a while, I am hoping that someone builds an add-on (serato accessory) that can convert any controller into an NV clone. I know the product researchers often read comments and perhaps they may release something like the VM03, usb connected, lightweight and possibly with touch / gesture capability (great for track loading) . I just don’t like having a computer on show even if it’s away from the TT’s … and the NV seemed to be the answer, but then quickly realised it was a non DVS capable controller which is a must for me ..

2. I’m hoping this means they will also introduce CDJ2000 NEXUS MKiis. Would be nice to see the screen updated.

3. now if mixvibes had that record i have been asking for years

4. Sob … In April I got the ddj-sx and now they bring out this ! And giving away the software upgrade too!!! Very ouch!

   • Ebay but expect a lot of competition. I recon you’ll get about £600. Don’t know if that’s worth the £200+ loss for you (assuming your from UK).

     I weighed up the differences and realized I don’t need to upgrade. I won’t be using any of the new features anyway.

5. I can imagine the situation at the inMusic panic room, “Hey guys, let’s look at that NS6 blueprint again. We need it DVS upgradable (and an ‘mkII’ suffix on the faceplate).”

   • I’m still not getting a clear picture on how many people want DVS with a controller. The Numark NV is for me an updated NS6. Yes it lacks the inputs and strip searches, but everything else is there. I should do a poll – I always get a clearer picture that way.

     • I have always been bugged by that question too, ever since Serato hit us with DJ and started phasing out Live and Itch.

     • Polls are always good. Go for it.

     • A DVS enabled “NV” with analogue mixer section with FX send/return loop and hardware filter would be the perfect system for me …. but then i doubt I would ever buy anything else (unless it was designed to fail every 18 months – but no one would do that would they?).

     • I think very little people want DVS on a controller. It’s a ‘niche’ thing.

       They’ll buy it, but use it? Nah.

       “Bring out the poll!”

   • Seeing as the NV is spankingly new and the DVS pack is just as new, I can imagine an upgrade coming at some point in the future. Numark must have been briefed on the roadmap of Seratos new features so will have built a soundcard good enough to take it, even if not at launch. The VCI-400 & 380 can take it via a firmware upgrade and they are over two years old so can’t see Numark not engineering in an upgrade in a few months time.

     The reason that the NV is shining is for the LCD screens and they don’t want anything to detract from that. Give it six months and suddenly they will “find a way” to give you the DVS update once the buzz dies down post-launch.

     Numark will then look heroes and everyone wins!

   • I have a feeling Numark might have another surprise up their sleeve.

6. No p lock cap. No thanks

   • Yeah. Can’t believe no P-Lock.

     Mine are always coming off.

   • You could just buy a spare one. I wouldn’t let one tiny easily fixable feature put me off a whole unit.

7. Okay… as an SX owner it’s a great bit of kit for a first time buyer, but for me, it’s just not worth the upgrade from the SX1.
   I have my SL3 for HID/Technics use and this would be enough for me as I wouldn’t fancy lugging the SX2 on flights abroad just for DVS.
   The upgrades are welcome and ideal for first time SX buyers but I think anyone that already owns one there isn’t much of an incentive to buy again.
   I’m thinking DJM 700 to DJM 750 or CDJ 900 to CDJ 900 Nexus. The enhanced features are there but KILLER features? No.

   Anyone with a four channel controller and wanting DVS is in a minority. They are there, but not mainstream. 80% of people will never buy the upgrade unless they are turntablists as they bought a controller for a reason. I have never connected my SL3 to my SX. It’s good that the option is there though and feel this is Seratos new route… all controllers now have DVS upgrade ready routes to extract more cold hard cash.

   “Apparently its insides are all wrong to make such a thing happen, which in fairness to Pioneer wasn’t an issue when the SX was announced.”
   The SX is under two years old and running USB 1.1… wow, just wow. The VCI 380 & 400 are getting DVS via firmware and they came out first. The SX had poor soundcard technology when released but was okay for use “as is” with Serato DJ. The plan must have been flirted about during development regarding future-proofing the SX but thrown into the bin when someone suggested “we’ll just bang another version out less than two years after the first version to compensate for it! Keeerchiiiing”.

   I like the SX2 a lot but they won’t get my cash unless mine goes bye-byes. I’m waiting in the hope of a Twitch 2 (which you’d have to pry the Twitch 1 out of my cold, dead hands before I give it up).

   I know I may not be right but it’s just my 2p worth (or cents).

   • They needed something to put an mi2 model out. I guess this is going to be the norm now. Yearly updates.

   • Haha… you said future-proofing in a DJ technology context. In 12-18 months time, all this incredibly cool stuff will be looked down up as vintage tech by the gear hungry masses.

     • Yeah. Its’s a shame that the technology was there but they chose not to go with it to give us an 18 month product cycle.

       Business, eh? ;)

   • Also, I find it interesting it’s an “SX2” and not an “SX MKII”.

     A number “2” by my perception would mean a redesigned model with enhanced features whereas a “MKII” version would indicate same layout but with some feature enhancements and slight tweaks.

     I think it’s just my perception and not necessarily what others think as I’m going by the Technics / CDJ line of thinking.

   • I disagree I have wish many times that SX had DVS support this was a bummer forme since and for me I would had to lug around a mixer and SL box now… I can use this for multi purpose events

     Thank you Pioneer for listening!!

     • Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m all for it and think it’s great.

       My beef was with the feeble soundcard in the SX that came out under two years ago.

       I just think that a minority of DJs will use it as they have a controller with four decks already. It’s the right direction for Pio and Serato and expect all the top end controllers to have it now.

       Out of all the hundreds of thousands of SXs sold, what is genuinely the percentage of people wanting them to hook them up to turntables? 10%? 20%? Do one in every 10 want DVS? I have 1210 MK3s and an SL3 and can say I’ve never hooked it up to the SX… but whatever works for one doesn’t for another. It’s great they are giving us options now for the small percentage that do want to use TTs 10 feet away from each other :)

       It will be interesting how many DVS packs they sell for existing controllers as if you’re on TTs then most people have a DVS box and REAL mixer, not this lightweight MIDI mixer in the SX. Anyone taking these out are doing it because they are light compared to TTs.
       Clubs have equipment already in them most of the time.

       Now the real killer “add on” plugin for me would be to open up the soundcard in the Pioneer CDJs. That is what would bring value to the DVS pack. I’d buy that in a heartbeat for $99 as 2 x USB cables and SDJ is all you’d need in the club.

       • Best example is this….. I am going to do an event in two weeks I have SX at home in which I use a lot for private events and weddings … Now I got a performance event where I need to impress people I would like to show up with just my SX but I can’t I need to do is some scratching techniques which is easier for me on Vinyl and people always have this awwee thing when they see somebody using turntables than midi controller (sorry but its true its a respect thing??)… I sold my Original SL box and mixer because I got the SX and I hated the weight of carrying around turntables, mixer, sl box and then hooking everything up

         I alway love the simplicity and versatility that’s where SX help me a lot. I carry a lot less now, no need to plug in cables just an AC cable and USB cable thats it. Also The SX came in handy sometimes these private events can go wild you never and I always like to use jog wheels or something that would emulate the feeling of scratching on vinyl

         But there was other times where I wished I did not sell the SL box and Mixer because I had where I call these performance show event where turntables is needed (Like mentioned above)… Many times i said I hope serato releases and updated or a firmware patch to fix this but then I realized that even by doing that its not possible because SX is handicapped when it comes to DVS. So I can stop asking people to borrow their 57’s, or sixty two mixers..

         Now I have an event in two weeks and I need to ask my buddy to let borrow his sixty two again!

         Trust me If I had the money I would get a sixty two but I can’t justify spending 2000 on a mixer where I would just use two or three times a years the see it collecting at home at home using space.

         Also many of the clubs i go play at (Im from NYC) and they already has 57 or sixty two mixer with either CDJ’s or Turntables ready for me to just plug in…

         However like said before I love simplicity and versatility the less and easier is always better :)

         • Totally agree. You fit into the category that will appreciate the added DVS and you are the target crowd (someone that uses TTs occasionally). A $99 plugin is a bargain over a 2k mixer but that’s if you didn’t already own the SX2.

           Would be more cost effective to buy an Akai AMX for the TTs as that would look better for the ‘respect’ thing than a controller? I’d like to see a real mixer there so fit’s that bill perfect as we like to see a mixer there and not a controller.

           The Akai AMX fits this bill perfectly for a lot less dollar and more portable too. People that want the latest ‘shiny shiny’ will go for the upgraded SX2. I could but, like you, the clubs have the gear I need. Anything smaller where they don’t have I take my SX or Twitch (like to the beach)

           My theory was that the technology was there when designing the original SX but Pio’s engineers decided not to include it. Shame really but we wouldn’t have the news we have had today so it’s all good :)

       • “Now the real killer “add on” plugin for me would be to open up the soundcard in the Pioneer CDJs. That is what would bring value to the DVS pack. I’d buy that in a heartbeat for $99 as 2 x USB cables and SDJ is all you’d need in the club.”
         I agree 100% – This is my wish too!

       • I doubt DVS is that difficult for Serato to implement with an AISO type interface, as long as the interface is “standard”: i.e. 24-bit, 96khz and has enough channels, it should be a matter of just mapping the correct channel to the DVS engine for that particular piece of hardware.

         Even if the % is low, it costs them essentially nothing to add more hardware support to the “expansion” and every additional device supported likely is a decent number of additional licenses sold.

         As for the SX2, itself, I don’t think people are going to run out a buy it in droves like you said. It just provides some good updates for non SX owners like myself that were on the fence and for old SX owners when their equipment bites the dust.

         DVS is what sealed the deal for me. Something like this and a Numark V7 would be perfect.

8. Not wishing to rain on anyone’s PR parade, but doesn’t the Akai Pro AMX have dedicated Flip controls too?

   • I did think that when I first read it. Bless ’em.

   • No, the AMX does NOT have Flip but the AFX does…

     • I stand corrected. This week has been nothing but a blur of three letter products.

9. just spent the last few days studying every review and video on the original one, now the good news of this appears, well good news for me anyway because it could mean the original drops in price and saves me some money. as nice as those new features are, I’ve got no need for DVS and i can’t really see myself using the Flip feature, ill stick with my saved loops and cues, also I’m not that fussed about pretty lights either. so hopefully i can pick up a better deal on the original one

10. I knew it haha I called it two days ago and just saw this when i came back from Vacay! woot woot! Time to sell the SX

11. Also remember current DDJ-SX owners. If you want some of these features just purchase the Akai AFX as an addition to your SX controller and viola.

12. Does anyone know if the Cue-Looping etc will be coming to the original SX via firmware update? or is the original SX essentially abandoned as far as feature updates go?

    • I wouldn’t hold out much hope. While Pioneer has been known to filter down new features to older products, they probably want you to upgrade to get more button features.

    • I think it should be possible if U watch closely on the first video’s serato put out on their site about flip? U can actually see someone using it with a regular SX? so maybe some kind of easter egg feature will be available in Serato, but obviously… Pioneer wants You to upgrade so I’m not sure if they will put it out there public, then again maybe once U come to love the new flip feature eventually You will love to upgrade to the new controller U know how the human mind works hahaha

13. At this rate it’s going to be a new controller every day, how many time between this and it’s predecessor? Someone? It’s a joke and it’s gonna be worse. Nobody takes this things to clubs and they stick with the CDJs+mixer combo in booths, there’s a big difference in sound, CDJs win hands down and that’s very noticeable in clubs also this all-in-one look always quite unprofessional and are quite expensive only to be at home despite they are cheaper than a pro rig which is what you should learn if you aspire to play in front of a crowd, I don’t see any point for buying this things anymore, maybe people is realizing as well and that’s the reason for more turntables, some “just do your job” mixers, vinyl and DVS for controllers :), the trend could be fading because it’s a nonsense anyway

    • First of… i do agree that the current djm range of mixers have better sound quality, but in the DDJ-SZ, Pioneers flagship controller, they have already shown they can fix that. But my guess is not to dismiss this as a trend, the clubs would probably be happy once more and more dj’s will bring their own rig it would save them a shit load a money, As for looking unprofessional? that does sound like a lotta crap. U can easily out do any USB dj once U have learned to use all the features of a kick as controller like this. I think it would raise the bar for the art of djing and will force dj’s to be real dj’s again using all their skills instead of just mixin track A to B and back and forth. with stuff like this U can do live mashups, play 4 decks, do 10 finger drumming and U can still scratch (beatjuggling is a bit more challenging) but hey? its a start to bridge the gap between production and live djing. let’s just embrace al the new technology and see where it leads the true artform of music. anyone can mix record a to b? in my opinion that art form was already lost when every production went from live drummers to totally quantized electronic production? let’s just see what the future brings

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