Numark NS4FX in review

The Numark NS4FX is a four-channel Serato DJ controller that fills a clear market gap in the mid-price range.

While it doesn't have "professional" features like standalone mixer capability, comprehensive FX and RGB performance pads, it does offer two microphone inputs, an aux input, symmetrical booth outputs, and a nice feature for livestreamers, making it easier to use a microphone while streaming sets.

The controller makes appropriate compromises overall, and we believe it will position itself well in the market - though one must consider the significant cost of Serato DJ Pro if not already owned.

First Impressions / Setup

It is a four-channel Serato DJ controller that comes with Serato DJ Lite software and is essentially a larger version of the popular Mixtrack Platinum FX. It is deeper, wider, and longer than the Mixtrack Platinum FX, but it also has some features that set it apart from its little brother - namely, better inputs and outputs.

Numark NS4FX Back and Front

It offers a microphone/aux input with tone control, a second microphone input (also with volume and tone control), as well as symmetrical XLR outputs alongside the usual unbalanced RCA connections. Along with the 24-bit audio interface, this device can be easily used in bars, lounges, and public events.

The build quality and components (faders, jog wheels, knobs, buttons, paddles) are the same as those found on the Mixtrack FX controllers, which is not a concern as all Numark controllers are very well made for their price.

The design differs slightly from that of the Mixtracks (the NS4FX is brighter gray, and the pads light up white instead of red), but it retains everything that sets the Mixtrack Pro FX and Mixtrack Platinum FX apart from budget controllers, such as the long-throw pitch sliders, high-throw jogs, and separate loop controls.

A convenient clamp for securing the power connection, 3.5mm and 6.3mm headphone jacks, and physical crossfader assignment switches make the DJ controller a fairly well-equipped device for its price.

Practical Use

The device requires separate power, meaning it doesn't run off the computer's USB power, but that's a good thing as it allows for bright LEDs and in-jog displays, as well as a loud, punchy 24-bit audio interface. Once the device is ready for use, there is much to explore.

Overall, it's a solid controller for DJing. Most controls feel good to use, except for the slightly cheap-feeling crossfader. The in-jog displays show basic information like BPM, key lock, elapsed/remaining time, and other useful things, including a nice motion ring.

Serato is undoubtedly a great software platform, but the NS4FX also works with Virtual DJ and Algoriddim's djay Pro AI.

The pads have the usual functions, such as hot cues, auto loop, and samples.

There is also a "Fader Cuts" option, which is essentially a transformation effect (rhythmic fading in and out of the crossfader at eight different speeds). When upgrading to Serato DJ Pro, you get "Pitch Play," Slip Roll, Slicer, and "Scratch Bank" as additional pad functions.

There is a key lock, but if you want to switch keys, you have to do that with the mouse on the software screen, except for Pitch Play. And speaking of "missing" hardware controls, there is no sampler volume on the device or a slip button, but these can also be triggered with the mouse on the screen.

Using the third and fourth decks is achieved, like with all controllers of this type, through a "layer" button that allows you to switch between decks - it's a bit fiddly, but it works.

We particularly liked the separate hardware looping controls and the immediacy of the paddle effects, which - apart from the odd decision to place the filter effects on both the buttons and the knobs per channel - offer a good balance of immediacy (paddles are fun!) and control (there is a wet/dry and a beats control, as well as a tap button for tricky BPMs). However, only one effect can be selected at a time.

Hidden Feature for Livestreamers

A cool "hidden" feature is that both the microphone/aux and microphone inputs are "sent" via the USB cable, meaning that anything used with these two inputs is mixed with the output signal.

In practice, this means you can livestream by "hijacking" the sound via the USB cable and the built-in audio interface of the NS4FX. The signal then includes both the microphone/aux sources and the Serato playback, so when livestreaming via the DJ laptop, no separate USB microphone or audio interface is needed.

Conclusion

The Numark NS4FX definitely fills a market gap for a mid-priced Serato controller. Frankly, we weren't sure what to recommend to people looking for a mid-priced Serato controller until now, as the best current recommendation would be the Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT - but it's more than twice the price of this one and is currently being phased out!

While the Numark NS4FX doesn't have "professional" features like standalone mixer capability, comprehensive FX and RGB performance pads, it does offer two microphone inputs, an aux input, symmetrical booth outputs, and the convenient livestreamer workaround that makes it easier to use a microphone while streaming sets.

We would have liked to see LFO high-pass/low-pass filters in the six fixed effects since the selected filters don't make much sense when you already have "manual" filter controls on each channel. Additionally, the level indication is not optimal (no channel-specific level display or the ability to switch the master level indicators to channel-specific level indicators). But these are relatively minor things considering what you get for your money.

You could also consider the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 (the only real competitor to this device, which, when factoring in the purchase of the full version of Serato, has roughly the same price). It is larger and has better jog wheels, but overall has a weaker feature set, and the Serato mapping is not as comprehensive as with Numark controllers.

The NS4FX makes appropriate compromises for the money, and we believe it's well-suited for home DJs and beginners, as well as for party/bar/lounge DJs and even for semi-professional mobile DJs, mainly as a reliable backup device.

Although it's the best mid-priced Serato controller, keep in mind that an upgrade to Serato Pro will cost you around €200 extra, which should be considered if you want to fully utilize the device.

Related products
Numark NS4FX
Numark NS4FX
From €429.00 €599.99
Available immediately