Dj Equipment For Beginners: Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System

This review will be somewhat different than all you might have heard about the Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System…in part because I’m not a fan boy – so you can trust that I’ll give you my honest and unbiased review.

Before you begin to read the review, let me clear something first – this system is pretty good! If you’re a serious dj and want all the bells and whistles, you will not find a better bargain online than the Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System. So as you get the crowd moving raising their hands and feeling the music through their bones. Along come Numark with the MixDeck Universal system with their complete DJ system with CD/MP3/USB decks, mixer, computer audio and MIDI interface, and Universal Dock for iPod – and man does it live up to the expectations!

Here are some specs:

• Play from CDs, MP3 CDs, USB flash drives, iPod, computers, and external inputs; even record your set to iPod and listen later
• Mixer with EQ/rotary kills, replaceable crossfader, and complete controls for iPod
• Beat-synced DSP effects with wet-dry fader: chop, echo, filter, flanger, pan, phaser
• Studio-quality computer interface for up to 24bit, 88.2kHz audio

Format Freedom
MIXDECK has two large, touch-sensitive illuminated platters and controls for cueing and scratching your music. Each smooth, fast, reliable, slot-loading drive works with both CDs and MP3 CDs. You can also connect a USB flash drive on each deck for access to thousands of MP3s without taking a computer or CDs to the gig.

The decks also work as software controllers. Just connect to your Mac or PC with a single USB cable and you’re seamlessly controlling the music on your computer. MIXDECK’s MIDI communication enables you to easily map virtually any DJ software for direct connection from your fingers to software. The USB connection can also receive two stereo audio channels from your computer, for mixing in software audio.

MIXDECK also has an integrated Universal Dock for iPod, so you can play tracks from your iPod and even record your set onto the popular portable music device. A dedicated iPod fader, physical transport/menu controls, and click knob mean you won’t have to touch the iPod once it’s docked.

Mighty Mixer
MIXDECK has a full-featured mixer built in. Each input channel has its own gain and three-band EQ/rotary kills (+12dB/ -INF). The mixer channels control the audio from onboard players, incoming audio from your computer, or external sources such as turntables, MP3s players and more. Two sets of stereo, switchable phono/line inputs are provided for external source, and the replicable crossfader has switchable slope and reverse so you can customize its performance based on your preferences.

You can work the room thanks to a 1/4-inch mic input with its own gain and ±15dB high and low EQ. There’s also a complete cueing section with dual 1/8 and 1/4-inch headphone outputs, dedicated cue gain, and mini-crossfader control. Keep an eye on your master output levels with dual-color stereo LED meters.

The mixer boasts a flexible output section too, with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo Main outputs, as well as Booth and Record outs for sending your mix to different locations and systems including recording to your iPod. There’s also a direct stereo output from each deck for use with time code control interfaces including Serato Scratch LIVE software or external effects processors.

Delightful Decks
MIXDECK’s advanced platters are touch-sensitive for superb accuracy and smooth control of tracks on discs, flash drives, and software. The platters’ outer rings illuminate for visual indication of deck performance and mode. You can adjust players to perform just like vinyl on turntables thanks to their independent start and stop-time controls on each deck.

FX Flavor
On top of playing all kinds of music media, each one of MIXDECK’s decks enables you to add flavor to your performances with integrated, beat-synced DSP effects that include chop, echo, filter, flanger, pan, and phaser. Each is completely adjustable and a dedicated wet-dry fader controls them all.

Pitch Power
MIXDECK contains a set of beat and pitch tools that will help you with beat matching and harmonic mixing. Start playing a track and MIXDECK automatically analyzes its BPM (tempo), and displays it on screen. There’s also a Tap tempo button for manual BPM entry. You can alter the track’s BPM by ±6, 12, 25, and 100% using the pitch fader. For each of those ranges, you can also engage Key Lock, which holds the pitch (key) of the track while you independently manipulate its BPM. There’s also a set of pitch-bend buttons on each track for quick tweaks.

Real Time Remixing
Get a complete range of remixing tools for on-the-fly creativity, including seamless looping on a set of easy-to-understand controls, sampling, and easily accessible hot cues. Numark’s familiar Bleep/Reverse gives you the ability to keep time moving forward while you cut or reverse the track.

You can play tracks from discs in single-track, continuous, and programmable playback modes for flexible performance. Fader Start enables MIXDECK to start playing the track you have cued up when you move the crossfader for effortless transitions. You can also use Fader Start with compatible CD players.

Vivid View
MIXDECK features two large, backlit displays for keeping tabs on each deck even in poorly lit conditions. You can monitor BPM, CD and MP3 text tags, navigate folders, and keep an eye on effect status on these big, bright screens.

The Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System gets full points in terms of pitch power, the format freedom capability and awesome touch sensitive advanced platters and so on. It is BY FAR one of the best dj equipment for beginners on the market in terms of all these. The only problem is that it is not that much different from the
Numark MIXTRACK PRO DJ Software Controller
in terms of platters – they just slightly more advanced! The Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System is EXACTLY for beginner dj who’s ready to move up the latter.

The Bad:

Some have reported that this does not work for all laptop (and even robust laptop configurations). There has been some complaint that Numark had inadequate service practices. So this means if you have any problems you have to be on them like white on rice before you can get help. Before you purchase this make sure you read the rest of the reviews either from Amazon or Musician Friends or wherever else you decide to buy it from.

The Bottom Line: There is no other dj equipment for beginners in this price range that offers the combination of compatibility, durability, sound quality and mobility that the Numark MIXDECK Universal Dj System does. However, if your main concern is not all the bells and whistles and the cool effects, then you can get the Numark MIXTRACK PRO that offers somewhat of a similar mixing capabilities, but for a lower price.