Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 2-Channel DJ Controller for Rekordbox & Serato

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 (DDJ FLX4, DDJFLX4) is a 2-channel DJ controller for rekordbox, Serato DJ Lite and djay that works with a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet. It has two 5.2-inch (132 mm) jog wheels, 8 back-lit performance pads per deck, a 1/4-inch microphone input and an RCA master output, and it runs on USB bus power from a laptop. It measures 18.98 x 10.74 x 2.33 inches (482 x 272.8 x 59.2 mm) and weighs 4.63 lb (2.1 kg). It is a controller, not a standalone player: the music and the DJ software live on the connected device.

Two features are there for people who have never mixed before. Smart Fader automatically adjusts the volume, bass and BPM of both tracks as you move the channel faders or the crossfader, so a transition stays together while you learn; turning it on also turns on Beat Sync. Smart CFX puts a combination of effects on a single knob. Pioneer DJ says the rest of the layout is inherited from its professional products and from the DDJ-400.

Black, white or a package: which DDJ-FLX4 should I buy?

Every option below contains the same DDJ-FLX4 controller. Buy it on its own if you already have headphones and speakers; buy a package if you are starting from nothing.

Other bundles for new DJs are in DJ starter kits.

Is the DDJ-FLX4-W different from the black DDJ-FLX4?

Only in color. Pioneer DJ lists the same specifications and the same 2.1 kg (4.63 lb) weight for the white DDJ-FLX4-W, so everything on this page applies to it too.

How is the DDJ-FLX4 different from the DDJ-FLX2 and DDJ-REV1?

The DDJ-FLX2 is smaller and lighter and has no microphone input. The DDJ-REV1 is a battle-style scratch controller for Serato DJ Lite. The DDJ-FLX4 sits between them, with a full-width club layout, a microphone input and RCA outputs.

Serato DJ Pro is a paid upgrade on all three. For the DDJ-FLX4 against the DDJ-FLX6, read FLX4 vs FLX6: the differences compared. Our 2-channel DJ controllers page compares more models.

Do I need a laptop, or will my phone work?

A phone or tablet works, but the DDJ-FLX4 always needs a connected device, because it has no screen and plays no music on its own. Pioneer DJ supports PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. A computer powers the controller through its USB cable. A phone or tablet cannot: plug a USB power adapter rated DC 9 V, 3 A, or a 9 V mobile battery, into the second USB-C port. Android devices with a Micro USB port should connect over Bluetooth, because Pioneer DJ does not guarantee a cable connection to them.

Is the software free, or is there a subscription?

The software you need is free. Connecting the DDJ-FLX4 unlocks Performance mode in rekordbox for Mac and Windows without a paid plan, which Pioneer DJ calls Hardware Unlock, and it unlocks Serato DJ Lite. rekordbox for iOS and Android, djay and Traktor Play are also free to use with it. Serato DJ Pro is a paid upgrade (license or subscription), and djay Pro is a paid app that needs a subscription. Nothing comes on a disc; download the software from rekordbox.com or serato.com.

Can I DJ with Spotify, Apple Music or TIDAL?

Yes, through rekordbox, with a paid subscription to the streaming service. Pioneer DJ lists Apple Music, Beatport Streaming, SoundCloud Go+, TIDAL and Spotify for the DDJ-FLX4. Which services work in which version of rekordbox changes over time, so check rekordbox.com before you subscribe.

What does the Bluetooth connection do?

It carries control data from a phone or tablet, not sound. Pioneer DJ's manual says sound does not come out of the DDJ-FLX4 over Bluetooth: the master and headphone outputs cannot be used, and the audio has to go from the phone itself to your speakers through a cable. For sound through the controller, connect with a USB cable instead. Bluetooth range is about 33 feet (10 m) with nothing in the way.

Can I plug in speakers and a microphone?

Yes. Powered speakers connect to the RCA master output, one unbalanced stereo pair, so a speaker with 1/4-inch inputs needs an RCA to 1/4-inch cable such as the ProX XC-PR10, and one with XLR inputs needs an RCA to XLR cable. The microphone input is a single 1/4-inch jack that accepts only an unbalanced signal. Set its gain with the MIC ATT knob on the rear panel, then ride it with MIC LEVEL on top. The controller mixes the microphone into the master output and also sends it over USB, so one device can record or stream the music and your voice together, as long as no Bluetooth device is connected. There is no booth output.

What headphones work with it?

Headphones rated 32 ohms or higher, plugged into the 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereo mini jack. Pioneer DJ's manual says USB bus power can fail with headphones below 32 ohms or with a mono plug in the headphone jack. The Pioneer DJ HDJ-X5 headphones in the laptop-stand package are rated 32 ohms.

What is in the box?

A USB cable, a Quick Start Guide, a Precautions for Use sheet and a warranty card. There is no power adapter, no audio cable and no headphones. The supplied cable connects to a computer or phone with a USB Type-C port. A USB Type-A port or a Lightning connector needs a separate certified cable 3 m (about 10 feet) long or shorter.

Is the DDJ-FLX4 a replacement for the DDJ-400?

Pioneer DJ does not call it one. It says the DDJ-FLX4 inherits key traits from the professional layout of the DDJ-400, and Pioneer DJ's own product listing shows the DDJ-400 as archived in the US.

Is it a good controller for a complete beginner?

Yes. Smart Fader keeps transitions in time while you learn, and the layout follows Pioneer DJ's professional products. For a structured start, Crossfader's DDJ-FLX4 Beginner Course is 37 online video lessons, about 5.5 hours, built around this controller. It is a course only and includes no equipment.

DDJ-FLX4 specifications

Specifications are from Pioneer DJ's DDJ-FLX4 instruction manual and product page; the jog wheel size is from Pioneer DJ's controller comparison chart. rekordbox and Serato system requirements change with each release, so check rekordbox.com and serato.com for the current list.

What case fits the DDJ-FLX4?

These are made for it: the Pioneer DJ DJC-B1 bag, the Odyssey BMDDJFLX4 EVA soft case and the Decksaver DDJ-FLX4 cover for dust. More bags, cases and covers that fit are in DDJ-FLX4 cases.