Best DJ Mixers for Beginners

When you’re just starting out, finding the right DJ mixer can feel like a real challenge. We’re talking about the very heart of your new DJ rig, and it’s impossible to overestimate how much of a role your mixer will play in the way you develop your art and learn to perform. At the same time, every DJ here at Sweetwater can remember what it’s like to invest in your first DJ setup, and when you add it all up, you’re likely to spend some serious cash, so it’s important you get the most bang for your buck. That’s why we’ve come up with some solid suggestions to get you going on the right foot.


Behringer Pro Mixer NOX101

There’s a good reason why Behringer is a household name, particularly among artists new to audio and music production. They tend to deliver a ton of value for the money, and their NOX101 is no exception. As a basic 2-channel DJ mixer, the NOX101 checks all the right boxes.

For starters, both channels include separate line and phono inputs, and there are RCA and 1/4″ outputs. That means it’ll play nicely with just about any other gear you want to work into your system. There’s also a 2-channel EQ on the mic input, which is surprisingly handy in clubs with less than ideal acoustics.

There are a few things you are sure to appreciate about the NOX101 that set it apart from most entry-level DJ mixers. First, its channel EQs feature Full-Kill filters, which let you carve out high-, mid-, and low-frequency bands entirely, allowing you to combine tracks in creative ways usually reserved for more expensive mixers. The 10-segment LED meters are a nice touch too.

The NOX101’s crossfader is a contact-free design, which makes it incredibly fast and responsive. It includes a fully variable curve control, so it accommodates everything from even-power fades for standard mixing to the hard cutting you need for scratching. You can reverse the crossfader too, if that’s your style.

Finally, there are two extra-special features on the NOX101 you just don’t find on DJ mixers that cost less than a good pair of ‘phones. Both channels include independent 3-mode curve switches for soft, medium, and sharp behavior. What’s more, there’s a mini crossfader for the headphone cue, which lets you easily preview transitions in your mix. All told, the Behringer NOX101 is one amazing and affordable option for any beginning DJ.


Numark M6 USB

While Numark’s range of DJ gear extends all the way up to the professional level, few companies have been as instrumental to ushering in new DJs. Even their most affordable mixers, such as the M6 USB, are considered real workhorses. If you’re looking for an affordable hub you can grow you rig around, Sweetwater is happy to recommend the M6 USB.

Let’s start with the basics. The M6 USB is something of a 4-channel/2-channel hybrid mixer, in that it allows you to hook up four channels of equipment at once and select which two channels to mix at any given time. This is still pretty cool, because it allows you to jump from a pair of turntables to a turntable and a CD deck, two digital players, or even a computer or mobile device via USB. It also includes three sets of outputs, with both RCA and balanced XLRs on the main outs.

We’ve already touched on the USB input, but that’s just one of the cool features onboard the M6 USB. In addition to a 3-band EQ, the main microphone input includes a balanced XLR input and a Talkover function. By ducking the output volume when you speak into the mic, the Talkover function allows you to be heard without forcing you to mess with the master volume. Whether you’re announcing the newlywed couple’s first dance or laying vocals over your performance, this is an incredibly useful tool.

With so many inputs to manage, it’s important to have flexible cuing options onboard, and Numark’s M6 USB delivers. Each channel includes a cue button that lets you add or remove it for the use mix, and a balance knob lets you fade between the cue and program (main) mixes. One extra-cool feature about the cue control is the Mix/Split switch. This lets you choose between having both stereo mixes in your headphone at once (the standard way to cue mix) or sending just the cue mix to your left ear and the program mix to the right in mono.

On that note, mono summing is one of the last remarkable things worth noting about the M6 USB. Many club systems today are still set up in mono (mostly to accommodate the acoustics in large and oddly shaped dance spaces), so the M6 USB’s switchable stereo/mono output mode is actually a nice bonus. Another bonus is the user-replaceable crossfader. So if you wear it out, just give us a call and we’ll help you order a new one that you can just drop in — and as robust as it is, your M6 USB is likely to last that long.


Pioneer DJ DJM-250MK2

Many of today’s top performing DJs swear by the quality and sound of Pioneer DJ, and the company makes some the most (if not the most) popular gear on the market. For a high-end DJ equipment producer, it’s downright impressive that their unwavering reputation extends all the way to their most affordable products, such as the DJM-250MK2. It’s not just a great-sounding mixer, but it’s also a gateway to a whole new level of DJing.

Strictly speaking, the DJM-250MK2 isn’t a beginner mixer, since anyone stepping up from a budget model will immediately appreciate the sonic upgrade. The I/O is fairly standard — you get phono and line inputs for the mixer’s two channels, a 1/4″ input for your mic, and both XLR and RCA master outs. However, there’s one standout, which is the USB connection.

This USB connection is extremely cool, because it serves as a high-quality 4-in/4-out sound card (what audio professionals call an audio interface). For starters, this connection lets you record and play back audio from your computer, but that’s not all. Pioneer makes an extremely cool application called rekordbox dj, which lets you perform with any tracks on your computer and access many powerful software tools. Not only does your DJM-250MK2 include a license for rekordbox dj, but it also includes a license for rekordbox DVS.

DVS stands for Digital Vinyl System, and it’s an amazing way to dramatically expand the possibilities of your analog DJ rig. All you need is a pair of Control Vinyl records, and you can connect your turntables to rekordbox dj. What’s more, the tracking is so tight, you can spin tracks on your computer just like they were sitting on your turntables. Even if you scratch like a pro, rekordbox will keep up.

As for the rest of the DJM-250MK2 mixer, there’s plenty to get excited about. First there’s the Magvel crossfader. Magvel crossfaders are a kind of magnetic contactless fader design, and the name Magvel is revered throughout the industry. These crossfaders hold up to millions of movements and are so light on the fingers that today’s top scratch artists swear by them. The channel faders are similarly responsive, giving the DJM-250MK2 the feel of an instrument instead of mere hardware.

There’s more to putting together a creative mix than just fading. As we mentioned before, equalizers like the 3-band Isolator EQs on the DJM-250MK2 allow you to carve out frequency ranges, allowing you to pull off tricks like dropping everything from the bass and kick up from one track, killing the low end of the other, and then meshing the two together.

The DJM-250MK2 takes frequency-based mixing one step further, with Pioneer’s Sound Color FX filters. These let you apply highpass or lowpass filters to either channel with the twist of a knob. Add to that an adjustable resonance control, and you have instant access to many of the most essential DJ transitions.


Allen & Heath Xone:23C/Xone:23

Winner of a DJ Mag 2015 DJ Tech Award for affordable mixers, Allen & Heath’s Xone:23C is widely recognized as one of the best deals in DJ performance gear. The Xone:23C shares many of its main features with the rest of the mixers we’ve outlined here. Nonetheless, it offers some specific benefits that make it an exceptional choice for anyone looking to put together a starter rig or even upgrade from a basic mixer.

Let’s start with the I/O. At first glance, you see the standard selection of line and phono inputs along with three sets of outputs — all totally useful. Something you won’t notice until you look closely at the top panel is that you can actually use all four inputs at once, balancing the phono and line inputs on either channel via the input trim knobs. On top of that, you also get a stereo send/return loop. This is extremely cool if you want to hook up something like a Korg KP3 Plus to add a bit of extra excitement to your mixes.

Next, there’s the USB connection. The only real difference between the Xone:23C and its sibling, the Xone:23, is that the “C” version includes this impressive 4-channel, 24-bit/96kHz sound card. This is ideal for recording your mixes at studio-quality resolution, and it also provides the connectivity you need to take advantage of the included Mixvibes Cross LE DJ software. You can even use your Xone:23C as part of a DVS system, if you pick up compatible control vinyl.

On the mixing side, you get a great set of controls. Allen & Heath’s 3-band Total Kill EQs are great for isolating and carving out frequency ranges for fun mixing tricks, but that’s not all. The Xone:23C also features an impressive Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF) system. Toggle highpass and lowpass settings and assign channels to the filter with simple button controls. A central knob lets you sweep the frequency spectrum, and with a resonance control that runs from Mild to Wild settings, crafting exciting transitions is a piece of cake.

There are a couple of additional Xone:23C features that you’ll want to know about, especially if you plan to expand your rig. First, the already awesome replaceable crossfader is compatible with a high-performance Innofader made special for Allen & Heath. This is one of the best faders in the world of DJing, and as your skills develop, this aftermarket option will let your rig provide the added performance you need.

Finally, you can expand your system with additional Allen & Heath gear, thanks to X:Link, an Ethernet-based MIDI system shared by other compatible gear, such as Allen & Heath’s Xone:K series controllers. Connect the pieces together, and you get a total control platform that lets you establish an impressive hybrid analog/digital DJ system.


Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2

Among the several popular digital DJ platforms out there, Traktor is one of the most popular, and many of us here at Sweetwater have been using it faithfully since it first came out. One of the biggest advantages of Native Instruments DJ hardware is that it almost always comes with Traktor software, such as Traktor Scratch Pro 2, in the case of the Traktor Kontrol Z2 mixer. What’s more, it includes a pair of Control Vinyl records, so you’re ready to hook up your favorite turntables right out of the box.

The first thing you need to know about the NI Traktor Kontrol Z2 is that it’s not a traditional mixer, at least, not in the typical sense. To use it correctly, you’ll need to use Traktor software, which means making your laptop part of your rig. That said, Traktor provides all the standard DJ functions plus effects and a whole lot more.

Before we get into the software, let’s take a look at the Traktor Kontrol Z2 hardware. For starters, this hybrid mixer/controller includes all the I/O you’d expect from a quality 2-channel DJ mixer. There are the essential line and phono RCA inputs, a mic/aux in, and both unbalanced RCA and balance XLR outs. You have to appreciate the smooth action of the faders, particularly the crossfader. Equally impressive are the solid-feeling knobs and encoders, which are nice and grippy, even if you’re working up a sweat.

On to Traktor Pro itself. This software is simply amazing. It’s actually a 4-deck DJ platform, which means you can spin a couple of records (analog or control vinyl) and still tap into two additional software decks. These decks can be straightforward music playback, but you can also launch loops, samples, and more from Traktor’s Remix Decks. Other highlights include onboard effects, channel filters, and Flux Mode, which keeps the music going as you scratch or juggle, making it easy to play with advanced techniques in real time. What’s more, you can access all of these right from your Traktor Kontrol Z2 hardware.

The bottom line with the Traktor Kontrol Z2 (and any hybrid DJ rig, for that matter) is that while the software allows you to pull off incredibly complex techniques, you don’t have to get bogged down in features you’re not ready to use. In fact, any seasoned DJ will highly encourage you to start off slow inside the software, methodically develop your basic chops first, and then gradually add in whatever extra features you want to explore. The rewards are well worth putting in the time and investing in the gear.

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