Numark Mixtrack Pro: The Best DJ Controller Under $200?

As exclusively revealed on Digital DJ Tips six weeks ago, the Numark Mixtrack Pro is Numark’s latest DJ controller, taking its successful Mixtrack DJ controller and adding a two-channel sound interface to make an all-in-one DJ controller that knocks the socks off the competition at this price point.

When we first saw our unit for this Numark Mixtrack Pro review, we weren’t surprised to see it had had a subtle rebrand with silver rather than black knobs and faders, Of course, it also adds sound and headphone outputs, and there’s a microphone input too. (The sound interface is presumably going to be good quality as Numark also makes the excellent budget DJ IO sound interface. We didn’t hear it properly as we were at the BPM Show when we got our hands on one.)

In a surprising change, Virtual DJ LE is the included software. Not surprising because they’ve decided not to bundle Traktor (Traktor is harder to use than Virtual DJ and at this price point, and with a controller of this sophistication, Virtual DJ is better suited to the task at hand), but because Numark has its own branded version of Virtual DJ already, called Cue. Is this the end of Cue? Could be…

At this keen price point and with this level of convenience and usability, the Numark Mixtrack Pro is our favourite beginners or hobbyist’s controller. It is not professional quality despite its name, but the important things – the jogwheels – are brilliant. The sound quality should be great, and we already know it is great fun to use, as there’s no change from the original Numark Mixtrack there.

Plus it is excellently suited to controlling Virtual DJ software, which for DJs who are more interested in replicating vinyl or CDJ performances but with digital (which is most of us) rather than the complicated performances of “controllerism”, is a proven and reliable choice of software, that’s also great fun and easy to learn. And of course, now with the sound card built-in, it couldn’t be easier to set up and transport. One to beat.

What do you think? Will you be buying a Numark Mixtrack Pro? Or is another budget controller catching your eye? Let us know in the comments.