Numark Mixtrack Pro II Review
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Numark Mixtrack Pro II Staff Review
Numark Mixtrack Pro II Digital DJ Controller Review Video & Summary:
The Numark Mixtrack Pro II is the newly updated two-deck/two-channel entry-level digital DJ controller produced by Numark DJ Division that comes bundled with Serato DJ Intro. The original Numark Mixtrack Pro is one of the best-selling DJ controllers of all time and for very good reason. Coming in at a low price-point, the original Numark Mixtrack Pro had some accurate jog wheels and a good feature set that allowed DJ’s to really get their feet wet in the realm of the Digital DJ. The overall layout of the Numark Mixtrack Pro II is fairly similar to the original Mixtrack Pro, but this time the Mixtrack Pro II has a much sleeker appearance, thinner jog wheels, and the very popular 16-pad setup to control the main DJ functions.
The Numark Mixtrack Pro II has a very compact and mostly plastic build-quality throughout. Despite the plastic construction, the Mixtrack Pro II feels sturdy all around and it feels like it will hold up through normal use. I would be careful during transport and make sure there is a bag or case protecting it when it’s not sitting on a desk or table. The overall compact size of the Mixtrack Pro II makes finding a bag or case rather easy as it’s about the same size as a Traktor Kontrol S2 or Vestax VCI-380.
Mostly all of the buttons on the Mixtrack Pro II illuminate a very bright amber color to let the user know what is active at a glance. The transport buttons (Sync, Play-Pause, Stutter, Cue) are all hard plastic while the 16 rubber performance pads provide a good tactile feel and quick response for performing DJ's. The Numark Mixtrack Pro II does not come with a power supply and it must be connected to a computer at all times in order to run the unit with software. All of the lights are still very bright and the volumes of the headphone and RCA main outputs are adequate enough for live performance situations even while running off of only USB power.
The Mixtrack Pro II is a fully MIDI-mappable DJ controller that can work with almost any DJ software out on the market today. For this review, we only tested the unit with the supplied Serato DJ Intro software package that comes with the controller, as this is what most users will end up using when they purchase the unit. If users want more control and a fuller DJ software experience, then DJ’s can upgrade to the full Serato DJ software for only $129 extra. This upgrade will give DJ’s more cue points, more sample banks, more effects, and much more in terms of control. At the time of writing this review, there were no available mappings for Traktor on the Numark website, so if someone wants to use the Mixtrack Pro II with different DJ software, then the mapping will have to be done manually.
The setup of the Controller is very, very easy and intuitive. Inside the box, there is only a USB cable and a small paper printout that tells you to go to the Serato website and download Serato DJ Intro for your controller. Then it’s all just simple plug and play. You don’t have to load any drivers onto a Windows Machine as it will automatically load once you plug in the controller. Users don’t have to fiddle with any extra options or preferences either… It just works as soon as you plug it in and download the Serato DJ Intro file. Simply plug in your speakers through the supplied RCA outputs, plug in a headphone and microphone into the side panel of the unit and you’re ready to play your digital audio files through the software and the Mixtrack Pro II. There is only a single RCA output on the back to output your set. There are no additional outputs besides the headphone jacks located on the right side of the unit. There is a quarter-inch microphone input also located on the right side of the unit with its own dedicated volume knob as well.
The Mixtrack Pro II has lots of the main features and functions that a DJ would want on-board for mixing and beatmatching. All of the knobs (EQ’s, Effects, etc.) have a plasticy feel to them but they allow for easy and adequate adjustments that always line up with the software. The three-band EQ knobs are FULL-KILL when completely turned down and they sound good overall. In the middle of the entire unit, there is an oversized Browse knob, back button, and a Load A and Load B button for file navigation and for loading new tracks onto the decks. The Cue Gain and Cue/Mix controls for headphone monitoring are found in the middle of the Numark Mixtrack Pro II along with the two CUE buttons that are used to pre-listen to decks A and B before mixing live.
The Crossfader feels like it is of average quality but really good for mixing and fading. The crossfader has a loose feel but it has a rather long cut-in distance which isn’t ideal for scratch DJ’s but after a bit of time, I was able to pull off a modest amount of scratching from a fader-perspective... The crossfader curve can be set to either Mix-Mode or Scratch-Mode by adjusting the crossfader curve knob on the front of the unit or within the Serato DJ software settings. The Line faders have much more resistance to them and they are good enough for nice and accurate mixing. In between the line faders is a master volume fader which is a cool change from most controllers who almost always use knobs for master volume control. There are no VU Line Level Meters or Gain knobs on the unit to make sure your music is at the correct levels. The only indicator you get as to the level of your track is through a small red on-screen indicator in Serato DJ that lets you know when the mix is at the limit. It would have been nice to have either full LED meters or a Gain knob to get the levels just right, but Serato DJ Intro does an adequate job of getting most of the levels even from the start.
The eight rubberized performance pads found above each jog wheel are very nice indeed! These pads have nice feedback which makes DJ’s want to perform with them. These pads are not velocity-sensitive, nor do they light up different colors but they do a great job of indicating when something is active or inactive with its solid illumination. The top four pads are used for effects and autoloop lengths while the bottom four pads are used for the main playback and extra functions that DJ’s use during sets. The different modes that the bottom four pads can be in are Loop, Sample, and Cue.
In order to cycle through the different modes of the bottom pads, the user must press and hold the shift key while pressing the appropriate pad to activate the particular mode. When in Loop Mode, the first two pads are Loop In and Loop Out, while the third pad is a reloop button and the fourth pad is used to grow or shrink the loop count. The top four pads will also act as autoloops when pressed along with the shift key. The first pad is 1-bar autoloop, second is 2-bar autoloop, third is 4-bar autoloop and the fourth is a 16-bar autoloop. When in Sample Mode, the four bottom pads correspond to the four sample decks within Serato DJ Intro that allow the DJ to trigger samples on the fly. When in Cue Mode, the first three pads are now hotcue triggers that can be set by pressing the button when the track is at the correct position and deleting them by holding the fourth pad and pressing the corresponding hotcue pad. The top four pads are used to activate and de-activate the three effects per deck. Simply press the pad to start the effect and press it again to turn it off. There are also parameter knobs above each of these pads to control the wet/dry of the effect that is currently applied. You are allowed to apply three pad effects at one time.
The Jog wheels on the Numark Mixtrack Pro II are pretty good overall and seem to be just as good as the original jog Wheels found on the first Mixtrack Pro in terms of one-to-one operation. Overall, the jog wheels are very thin and only stick out about an inch from the top of the controller itself. They don’t really shake or wobble and they react well to the touch. The top is touch-sensitive plastic surface with a ribbed feel while the silver sides are used for nudging and slowing down the music for beatmatching. The Jog wheel performance for scratching is fairly decent for normal scratching techniques, but when doing super-quick movements with the jog wheel, I noticed that the software didn’t always keep up. The Jog wheels can be in either Scratch Mode or Mixing mode depending on the style of play that is favored. You can toggle between the two modes by pressing the Scratch button next to each Jog Wheel. The Tempo sliders work nicely for beatmatching and they have a good amount of tension to them and a center-click and LED indicator to let you know when you are at absolute zero. The tempo sliders are a bit on the small side, but they are accurate and you will get used to it with time.
In Conclusion, The Numark Mixtrack Pro II is a very compact and lightweight controller with newly updated and sleek build quality and lots of easy-to-use features right out of the box. The Numark Mixtrack Pro II has one of the easiest setup procedures I have ever come across making this a great candidate for beginner or entry level users. The Mixtrack Pro II comes bundled with Serato DJ Intro and is fully MIDI mappable to any DJ software the user wishes to configure. The Numark Mixtrack Pro also has these cool and fun to use 16 Rubber Performance Pads that control Samples, Cues, Effects, and Loops. On the downside, there are no Gain knobs or Line Level Meters to show a DJ exactly where the volume of each track is while in the mix. It would have been nice to see one or the other in practice here, but Serato does a decent job of getting the levels right within the software. The Numark Mixtrack Pro II also has a limited number of inputs/outputs and an all-plastic construction which much be protected during transport to avoid any serious damage. Overall, the Numark Mixtrack Pro II is a welcomed (and successful) update to the previous Numark Mixtrack Pro, with the addition of the 16-performance pads and the sleek new updated look and feel make this a very worthy upgrade to the original. We are going to recommend the Numark Mixtrack Pro II Digital DJ controller to any new or beginner DJ’s who wants a sleek and compact unit with everything needed to start DJing right inside the box.
Pro's:
-Very Compact/Lightweight and Sleek Build
-Very Easy Setup Procedure
-Comes bundled w/Serato DJ Intro & Is Fully MIDI-Mappable
-Nice 16-Rubber Performance Pads for Sample, Cue, Effects & Loops
Con's:
-No Gain Knobs or Level Meters
-Limited Inputs/Outputs
-All Plastic Construction
Numark Mixtrack Pro II Features
The world’s #1 DJ controller is now even better.
From Numark, the world’s leading creator of DJ technology, comes Mixtrack Pro II—now with a streamlined design and an expanded layout of professional controls, including 16 backlit multifunction drum pads and illuminated touch-activated platters. With Mixtrack Pro II, you get everything you need to DJ with your computer: hot cues, looping, and effects controls, a built-in professional DJ audio interface, plus Serato DJ Intro software.
LEAN, MEAN, AND READY TO HIT
Mixtrack Pro II comes tailor-made for dynamic performance. Create loops, launch samples, and control hot cues with the 16 backlit rubber drum pads. Instantly switch between Loop Mode, Sample Mode, and Hot Cue Mode. Mixtrack Pro II’s new slimline low-profile design is made to be played with a complete mixer section, precise crossfader, 3-band EQ, and dedicated music library navigation controls. You’ll be able to spend more time interacting with the music and less time staring at the computer screen. Pitch and Sync controls are onboard for seamless and easy mixing and 16 dedicated effects controls let you add and manipulate flanger, phaser, echo, and more.
HOT WHEELS
Get precise control over every track and every transition with Mixtrack Pro II’s advanced low-profile platters. Both are capacitive and dual-zone, giving you the ability to scratch or stop a track simply by touching the top of the platter, while at the same time allowing you to adjust the pitch by manipulating the platter from the side.
TOTAL SERATO CONTROL
Mixtrack Pro II gives you comprehensive control over its included Serato® software. Plus, it’s class-compliant with both Mac and PC, so you’ll be able to plug in and start mixing your music right away—no drivers or complicated set up necessary.
Serato DJ Intro is all about parties and mixing music.
Simply plug-and-play—Serato DJ Intro and Mixtrack Pro II take the hassle out of setting up: connect your speakers to your Mixtrack Pro II and connect your Mixtrack Pro II to your laptop—it's that simple.
Mix it up—Beatmatch and scratch music files from your computer like a pro with Serato DJ Intro's groundbreaking colored waveforms.
Get creative—Cue Points and Loops let you mark, access, and repeat specific parts of a song, while Serato’s DJ FX infuse your tracks with a range of professional effects like flanger, phaser, echo, and more.
Drop it—Drop air horns or entire tunes; the four-slot sample player will help you layer individual sounds to add even more fun to your sets.
Create professional sounding mixes at home or performing live at parties, functions, and clubs. Mixtrack Pro II operates via standard MIDI, so it’s compatible with virtually any popular DJ software.
AUDIO TO GO
With its built-in audio system, Mixtrack Pro II is ready to go right out of the box. Plug in your headphones, microphone, and PA system and start mixing right away with no external audio interface needed. Plus, Mixtrack Pro II has two headphone jacks, making it easy to mix with friends and fellow DJs or tradeoff in-between sets.
Start mixing today with the system used by DJs all over the world: Mixtrack Pro II.
FEATURES
16 backlit rubber drum pads with Loop Mode, Sample Mode, and Hot Cue Mode
Touch-activated illuminated platters for precise scratching and control
Complete mixer section with a crossfader, 3-band EQ, and music library navigation controls
16 dedicated effects controls to add and manipulate flanger, phaser, echo, and more
Built-in audio system for headphone cueing, microphone input, and PA system output
Pitch and Sync controls for seamless and easy mixing
Serato DJ Intro software included
Standard MIDI for use with most popular DJ software
Class-compliant with both Mac and PC; no driver required
USB-powered; no power adapter required
1/8" and 1/4" headphone inputs
INCLUDES
Mixtrack Pro II
USB Cable
Quickstart Guide
Serato DJ Intro Software Installation Instructions
SPECS
Dimensions: 10.4 x 18.3 x 2.0 inches
Weight: 4.7 lbs
Power: Bus powered (USB)
Outputs:
RCA, unbalanced
1/4" headphone
1/8" headphone
Inputs: 1/4" microphone input
Communication Protocol: MIDI
Best Price for the Numark Mixtrack Pro II
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Member Reviews and Ratings
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
  Crossfader curve knob? What knob? There is no crossfader curve knob on the front of, or anywhere else on the MixTrack Pro II.
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| Posted on Mar 29, 2013 |
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