There are ten scratch patterns to select and can be switched by moving the play head position displayed on the jog wheels on-jog display. With full size jog wheels, which are the same size as the flagship CDJ-3000, as well as a four-channel mixer - the first thing you’ll notice about the DDJ-FLX6 is that it feels like a step up from the entry level Pioneer DJ kit. The DJ controller also comes with license keys for the Serato FX Pack, Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Packs and TRAKTOR PRO 3 TSI file, which will be released.

The best thing about this new feature is users who are new to scratching and have never scratched before can take full advantage of it.The software options for the controller is flexible as the controller’s DJ Performance functions can be unlocked with either rekordbox or Serato DJ Pro. The new unit adds support for VirtualDJ (license available separately), and retains free compatibility with rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro. All you need to do is connect using a USB cable to a connected laptop that is running either of the music software applications, and you are ready to get DJing.

The jog wheel is divided into 6 segments and you can grab the track playing, or a sample if preferred, and then move the platter backwards and forwards in time for instant scratch patterns. Pitch bending and scratching feels natural thanks to the large jog wheels, which are the same size as those on the flagship CDJ-3000 multi player. The Pioneer DDJ-FLX6-GT introduces a new look and feel for its full-size jog wheels, which feature a graphite color plus a metallic texture on top and a rubberized coating on the outer ring for improved playability.

Originally codenamed DDJ-600 internally at Pioneer DJ, the Flex - as it’s now known – has been developed to enable complex transitions between genres for DJs whose musical taste, or that of the dancefloor, is fluid. The main feature of the DDJFLX6 is the ability to mix between genres, which is instant these days with more and more music being sourced via streaming services. If you’re using Serato DJ Pro instead of rekordbox, then Scratch Bank can be used to trigger samples through the performance pads. The new style includes a familiar layout of controls similar to how you would find them on the club-standard CDJ and DJM setups allowing for intuitive performances.

So again, I probably need only a 4 deck controller as an interface with Rekordbox and route all the audio with my external audio interface? The layout of the controls on the DDJ-FLX6-GT is the same as its predecessor, echoing club-standard CDJ + DJM setup, so you can perform intuitively. There are four slots available to you whether you’re using Rekordbox or Serato DJ, although the latter has slightly less FX available to use.

Just days after the launch of the new two-channel DDJ-FLX4 controller, Pioneer have announced an upgrade to the larger model in the versatile FLX range.