Numark NS4FX Review

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

While it may not feature "pro" capabilities like standalone mixer ability, comprehensive FX and RGB performance pads, it does come with two microphone inputs, an aux input, balanced booth outputs, and a nice feature for livestreamers that facilitates the use of a microphone while streaming sets.

Overall, the controller makes the right compromises, and we believe it will position itself well in the market, although one must consider the significant cost of Serato DJ Pro if not already owning the software.

First Impressions / Setup

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

There's a microphone/aux input with tone control, a second microphone input (also with volume and tone control), and balanced 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, jogwheels, knobs, buttons, paddles) are the same as the Mixtrack FX controllers, which isn't a problem since nowadays all Numark controllers are very well constructed for their price.

The design differs slightly from that of the Mixtracks (the NS4FX is a lighter gray, and the pads illuminate white, not red), but it retains everything that distinguished the Mixtrack Pro FX and the Mixtrack Platinum FX from budget controllers, such as long-throw pitch faders, high-throw jogs, and separate loop controls.

A handy 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 money.

Practical Application

The device needs to be powered separately, meaning it doesn't run off the USB power of the computer, but that's a good thing because it means nice bright LEDs and In-Jog indicators as well as a loud, punchy 24-bit Audio Interface. Once the device is ready for operation, there's a lot to discover here.

Overall, it's a solid controller for DJing. Most controls feel good, except for the slightly cheap-looking crossfader. The In-Jog displays show basic information like BPM, Key-Lock indicator, elapsed/remaining time, and other useful things, including a nice motion ring.

Serato is, of course, a great software platform, but the NS4FX also works with Virtual DJ and Algoriddims djay Pro AI.

The pads have the usual functions like Hot-Cue, Auto Loop, and Samples.

There's also a "Fader Cuts" option, which is basically a transformation effect (like rhythmic crossfader in and out at eight different speeds). Upgrading to Serato DJ Pro also gets you "Pitch Play", Slip Roll, Slicer, and "Scratch Bank" as additional pad functions.

Although there's a key lock, if you want to toggle a key, you need to do it - except for Pitch Play - with the mouse on the software screen. And speaking of "missing" hardware controls: there's no sampler volume on the device or a slip button - though these can also be triggered with the mouse on the screen.

Mixing on the third and fourth deck is achieved, as with all controllers of this kind, 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 also the immediacy of the paddle effects, which - apart from the odd decision to put filter effects both on the keys and on the channel faders - offer a good mix of immediacy (paddles are fun!) and control (there's a Wet/Dry control and a Beats knob plus a Tap button for tricky BPMs to handle). However, only one effect can be selected at a time.

Hidden Feature for Livestreamers

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

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

Conclusion

The Numark NS4FX definitely fills a market gap for a mid-range Serato controller. Honestly, until now, we weren't quite sure what to recommend to people when they asked for a mid-priced Serato controller, as the best current recommendation would be the Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT - but that's more than twice the price of this one and is currently also phasing out!

While the Numark NS4FX doesn't have "pro" features like standalone mixer capability, comprehensive FX and RGB performance pads, and full Serato hardware control, it does have two microphone inputs, an aux input, balanced booth outputs, and the handy workaround for Livestreamers that makes using a microphone during set streaming easier.

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

You might also consider the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 (the only real competitor for this device, which, considering the purchase of the full Serato version, has roughly the same price). It's larger and has better jogwheels, but overall a weaker feature set and the Serato mapping is not as uncompromising as for Numark controllers.

The NS4FX generally makes the right compromises for the money, and we believe it's suitable for home DJs and beginners, but also for party/bar/lounge DJs and even for semi-professional mobile DJs, albeit primarily as a reliable backup device.

Although it's the best Serato controller in the mid-price range, it's important to consider that an upgrade to Serato Pro incurs an additional cost of about €200, which needs to be factored in if you want to fully utilize the device.