Numark Mixtrack Pro II - Quick Review!

So after picking up DJing around August 2015, I decided to purchase the very sleek and aesthetically pleasing Numark Mixtrack Pro II, along with some decent speakers and headphones. Used in conjunction with DJing programmes like Virtual DJ or Serato Itch, the well priced 150 pound controller is already becoming a favourite device of mine.

As an overview, the Mixtrack II has 16 backlit rubber drum pads which can be used for loop, sample and hot cue mode, A 3-band EQ with crossfader and pitch/sync controls. It's also USB powered and, unlike the Mixtrack Pro I, it has a built in sound card which makes it easier to connect the controller to output speakers and PA's. Along with this, the drum pads can be used for effects such as flanger and reverb and has Serato DJ software included. In terms of aesthetics, I think it could look a bit more professional but when the lights are on, it looks a lot more like the real deal.

In terms of usability, I was very impressed from the start. The turntables are very easy to spin and scratch, but some may say that it's too easy to spin compared to other controllers, so it's not as realistic - but in my eyes, as a novice, I was very happy with the movement. I think the faders and knobs for the effects should have a 0 and a maximum value as this confused me a little, but when i found out you can use the drum pad below each one to reset it, I got used to the idea, but as I've always been used to hardware, it took some getting used to. The crossfader, however, is very user friendly and a good size for my fingers.

As for the drum pads, I was very pleased with the responsiveness, as I didn't have to press very hard at all to start or end a loop or add an effect onto a track. This was a very big thumbs up from me as it means I don't have to worry about the velocity of my pressing. The EQ knobs are also very user friendly and make for a very clean transition between tracks, if you want to get rid of a certain frequency or boost one.

The most useful bit for me when learning to use the Mixtrack Pro II was that when you cue in one track, if it's not bang on the beat it needs to be, you can tap the sync button in time with the tempo and it automatically locates the beat. This means that im not having to use the turntable to get the beat back on track - this is the best feature in my opinion. It saves a lot of hassle, and as most DJ's like a drink, I can imagine it help a lot of people who are 1 or 2 counts out when it comes to intoxicated tempo accuracy.

As a DJing novice I could not rate the Mixtrack II higher as its useability is excellent, it was easy to pick up and due to it's reputation, there are countless videos and tutorials online where you can pick up and acquire new skills all the time. A definite must-buy for those thinking of going into the world of DJing.

4/5 stars. ****

Available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Numark-Mixtrack-Controller-Serato-2-Channel/dp/B00BCL96T2

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