Numark Mixtrack Pro 3 Vs Pioneer DJ DDJ-400: which one is The Best for Beginners?
Planning to start your journey to the DJ world? You must need to be equipped with the ideal setup before you begin to explore. No matter how much you make or how well you think you know what you’re doing, the best way to learn about DJing is to start with a basic controller. Trust us when we say that you don’t want to be “jumping ahead” on what’s hard when you can start with something simple as you work your way to the top.
Before entry-level controllers are a big waste of time and money, they were almost assumed to be useless by DJs in mixing music. Moreover, professional-grade DJ controllers then are a headache, with too many features that are complicated to utilize. For years, DJs have struggled to find the right balance of simplicity and efficiency with DJ devices. But in today’s modern era, they’ve finally found many options in the market.
With that, if you’re looking for the two best options for being simple and efficient, you can’t go wrong with Numark Mixtrack Pro 3 or the Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 as your first choice. Below, let’s weigh down its pros and cons.
Pioneer DJ DDJ-400
If there’s one thing we know about Pioneer, it would be that they always aim for the highest quality possible. The Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 embodies that trait and is seen in how smooth and how excellent it is for beginners. This DJ controller has several features that make it complete more so than anything else. In terms of its size and shape, the DDJ-400 is 18.98 inches wide, 2.3 inches tall, and 10.72 inches deep.
Advantages:
Excellent Build
As mentioned, you really can’t go wrong with Pioneer due to its high-quality products. Not only is the controller built to last longer and more durable, but everything about it feels real instead of fake. It is also meant to look like it’s a professional-grade controller, perfect for those who are also looking for the perfect aesthetic.
Compatible with Rekordbox Software
Serato DJ may be the best for DJs, but Rekordbox software is perfect for those who are still starting. It is getting more and more famous due to Rekordbox being easier to use and having a better interface than Serato, which has a lot going on at the same time.
A Lot of Available Features with Free Tutorials
One of DDJ-400’s greatest advantages is its free tutorials that novice DJs can turn on their learning. Tutorials are great for learning different DJ techniques while learning the basics of the Rekordbox Software. Moreover, a lot of available features are also present (such as Beat FX structure) that aren’t available on Numark Mixtrack Pro 3.
Disadvantages:
More Expensive
Like most Pioneer products, the Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 also comes with an expensive price tag. Most DJs that are starting are still looking for affordable controllers to start, so this might be a disadvantage for DDJ-400. But if you’re willing to shell out more for its quality, then this bargain is a great one for you.
Two Channels Only Available
This might be a dealbreaker for most people especially if you’re spending more for a DJ controller. You can find cheaper alternatives with 4 channels available already, yet Pioneer, unfortunately, did not include this option with their DDJ-400 model.
Numark Mixtrack Pro 3
Another one of the well-known brands in the DJ product market, Numark set a standard when they released their model, Numark Mixtrack Pro 3. Even though the Pro 3 doesn’t have as many features and benefits as the DDJ-400, it boasts itself of its affordability while still maintaining quality. It’s equipped with 5-inch platters and is quite lightweight. The Mixtrack Pro 3 has a width of 21.6 inches, a height of 9.1 inches, and a depth of 1.1 inches.
Advantages:
Impressive Jog Wheels & Some Features
Numark may be mid when it comes to quality, but we’re here to tell you that they’ve done a great job for Mixtrack Pro 3. Its 5-inch jog wheels are quite capacitive which is good, and its 3.9-inch pitch sliders are impressive for its ability to adjust effectively. Moreover, it also has a Prime Loops Remix Tool Kit that lets you mix your music with a variation of features.
Compatible with Serato DJ Pro Software
As mentioned earlier in this article, Serato is often hailed as the best DJ software in today’s DJ demands. Numark made sure that the Mixtrack Pro 3. With Serato, users are gifted with the privilege of more diverse features from the software, and versatility with DJ controllers.
Affordable Price
One great thing that’s good about the Mixtrack Pro 3 is that even though it doesn’t have everything you could want, it’s still a very useful tool that does a lot more than what you’re paying for. For those who are starting to get hooked on DJing and in need of a good controller, this one’s for you.
4 Channels Available
Compare Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 to Numark Mixtrack Pro 3 and you’ll notice that the latter has 2 more channels to offer than the former. It’s a useful tool that, when used correctly to open and include more than just two music channels, can make a huge difference in how good your performance is.
Disadvantages:
Lesser Quality Than Pioneer
This is particularly evident when compared to the DDJ-400, but it’s also true when looked at by itself. Even though the Pro 3 is pretty durable, you can still see that little priority was put into making it. You get what you pay for this matter, so you can’t talk badly about it.
Lacking Features
Perhaps due to its affordability, Numark Mixtrack Pro 3 had lacking features available in the controller. It has some basic features needed for mixing/producing music, but the flashy qualities that give it a “wow factor” aren’t there. This is in contrast with Pioneer which has some advanced options such as Beat FX.
Takeaway
When setting up an ideal setup for your DJing dreams, it’s important to list out your needs first and weigh in on the options on your prospective DJ controllers. If you want to follow a strict budget for an affordable controller, you should pick Numark Mixtrack Pro 3. But if you can afford something more quality (but comes with an expensive price), pick out Pioneer DJ DDJ-400. The decision will always depend on your needs, so you must choose wisely.
