Offering pro features at a beginner-friendly price, the NS4FX could be the best value four-channel controller on the market. Greg Scarth puts it to the test.
The DJ controller market can be tricky to navigate, with all sorts of different options and a wildly variable range of prices, from entry-level controllers under £100 all the way through to £1000+ pro models. Above all else, what most DJs are looking for is value for money; whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced veteran, you want the features to meet your needs at the best possible price. With the Numark NS4FX, the American brand offer what they claim are pro features at a much lower price than you’d typically expect.
The NS4FX is probably the cheapest four-channel controller on the market. For those who are new to DJing, the benefits of a four-channel controller might not be immediately apparent. You still have just two main sets of controls on each side of the unit – the jog wheels, pitch faders, performance pads and so on – but the central mixer section is similar to a four-channel DJ mixer, with four separate channels of faders, EQ and filter controls, plus cueing buttons to assign channels to your headphones. The two Layer buttons next to each of the jog wheels allow you to switch between decks, giving you control of two decks per side, but with immediate access to all four channels via the mixer. It’s a versatile setup which gives you plenty of control and allows you to perform complex multi-deck mixes.
In terms of pro features, the NS4FX isn’t just about having four channels. There are nice touches which you’d normally expect to find on much more expensive controllers, such as the balanced XLR main outputs which ensure good sound quality to your speakers or PA system. Dedicated booth outputs allow you to set up a monitor in your DJ position. An auxiliary input allows you to connect smartphones, additional media players or even a turntable, which can be mixed in using the same controls used to control the main mic input (a second mic input is also provided on the front of the unit). Much of the NS4FX’s features are standard stuff for mid-range controllers – performance pads, loop controls, paddle switches for effects – but when you consider the price it’s an impressive offering.
Everyone’s idea of affordability is different, but the NS4FX just about fits into the category of affordable controllers, coming in at just over £400. Crucially, it represents good value because of the fact that it’s unlikely you’d need to upgrade it as your skills develop. With such an impressive feature set for the price, the NS4FX is a controller which future proofs your setup; you’re very unlikely to outgrow the features of the controller quickly, which can be an issue for smaller two-channel controllers with cramped jog wheels, basic controls and missing features.
The NS4FX works with a range of different software including Virtual DJ and Algoriddim Djay, but you’ll get the most out of it using it with Serato, which integrates seamlessly with controls like the FX paddles and dedicated loop buttons. However, it is worth noting that there’s a slight catch in terms of the controller’s four-deck functionality, which is that Serato DJ Lite only allows you to use two decks. If you’re wanting to use four decks, you’ll need to upgrade to the full Serato DJ Pro version (from $9.99 per month for a subscription, or $199 to buy outright), so you’ll need to factor in that additional cost.
Comparisons with other brands are inevitable, and the obvious starting point is with Pioneer’s DDJ controllers. The closest equivalent is the DDJ-FLX6, which we recently reviewed. The Pioneer controller is compatible with the brand’s own Rekordbox software as well as Serato but comes in significantly more expensive at £539. With such a big price difference, it’s not really fair to make direct comparisons. The Pioneer has slightly better build quality than the Numark and feels a bit more professional, but it does represent a much bigger investment.
With the NS4FX, Numark have hit a nice gap in the market: it’s a controller which is just about affordable for beginners, but genuinely offers pro-level features. It’s a controller which you could learn to DJ on even as a complete beginner, but it’s also solid and powerful enough to suit experienced DJs. The NS4FX hits that sweet spot of good features and good value for money. What more could you want?
Greg Scarth
More info/buy