It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro DJ with the best gear in the world or a beginner starting out. Sometimes, you just need a budget controller to get some work done. Today, we are going to share with you two of our favorite affordable controllers. Let’s do a quick comparison – the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX vs Pioneer DDJ-SB3. Which would we get if we were going to do it all over again? It’s time to find out.
Everyone can benefit from a budget controller
To help you better understand what we’re talking about, let’s start with another DJ setup – the Rane ONE controller. It’s a badass, in-demand DJ controller. It doesn’t get much better than the Rane ONE. But using the Rane ONE for every single thing we do as DJs isn’t always practical. With the pandemic still trickling to an end, the Rane ONE is almost always found in a road case ready to load out to the next event. Because of this, it’s not always available and convenient for me to pull out when an idea strikes.
For situations like this, a sub $300 controller is perfect for getting things done in the studio when your pro rig isn’t available right away. But why would a pro DJ even need a controller like this? First off – they’re smaller, more portable, and fit more easily on a production desk. If you’re a DJ who streams often, having a small controller ready to go at a moment’s notice is much more convenient. It’s also not always practical to whip out your main controller if you just need to set a couple of cue points.
Another great reason to have a budget controller? Because anything can go wrong with any piece of gear at any time. For this reason, you always need to be ready with some sort of backup option. Having something dependable and affordable can help you get the gig done when things go wrong with your main setup.
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX vs Pioneer DDJ-SB3
A good comparison always starts with similarities. Both of these controllers are compatible with Serato DJ Lite and Serato DJ Pro. They both have two channels but can support up to four decks. There is a dedicated button on each controller for four-deck support. Many other common features like sample pads and EQ are shared between the two controllers.
When it comes to the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX, a huge benefit is the screens in the middle of the jog wheels. Screens aren’t the only reason we like the Platinum FX though. The super-long pitch faders feel great and aren’t commonly seen on controllers at this price point. We are also big fans of the paddles found in the central mixer section of the controller. These are commonly seen on high-end, pro DJ mixers and are used for the effects section. Seeing them on a budget controller is a very attractive feature!
The Pioneer DDJ-SB3 is the smaller and less expensive of the two controllers. The SB3 comes in a few different colors, but that really is the only other selling point we see over the Mixtrack Platinum FX. Most of the other features it has are shared with the Mixtrack and don’t stand out like the paddles or jog wheel screen on the Platinum FX. If size and budget are your main concerns, the DDJ-SB3 may be the better option for you.
So which would we choose?
If we had to choose between the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX vs Pioneer DDJ-SB3, which one would we get? The answer for us is pretty easy – the Pioneer DDJ-SB3. Surprised? We thought so. So why is this the route we’d go?
Every time we plug in the Numark to our streaming rig, we experience a very subtle high-pitch whining noise. Because of this, we have to be very careful about how we set our levels. It’s noticeable enough that guests on our stream have noticed the noise and mentioned it to us. We are pretty sure the whine is due to some electromagnetic interference, which we aren’t a fan of. Both of the controllers are USB powered, but we don’t experience that noise with the Pioneer.
The other issue we have noticed with the Numark is with the jog wheels. When we touch them, they don’t always register right away when we make contact. This can be a real problem when we are trying to perform, especially mixing and scratching. With Pioneer, we have never experienced this problem.
At the end of the day, we’d choose the Pioneer for one big reason – reliability. Even though the Numark easily takes the cake with cool features, we have to go with something that works right, every time. Would you choose the same? Let us know down in the comments. If you have any questions about either of these controllers, be sure to chat with us. We would love to answer your questions.
