The Roland DJ 202 is an option meant for those that are huge fans of Serato DJ Pro but not interested in shelling out some crazy amounts of money to play with it. The Roland DJ 202 two-channel, four-deck controller comes with a three-band EQ, two large jog wheels to play with, transport controls, eight dedicated pads (per channel), and a connectors mic input that comes with Roland’s FX feature. The DJ controller also has a build-in drum machine that has several samples from the TR-606 to TR-909 Roland’s legendary drum kit.
Overall, the Roland DJ-202 has a lot of features and traits that make it appear as a stellar entry-level beginner controller deck, particularly for DJs that want to focus on either house parties or techno modern music. It’s presented as a great option for those that love to emphasize loop layering and sample layering while performing to crowds.
But is the Roland DJ 202 a good option? There are also reports that, while it has several potential upsides, there are also many complications that come from using the controller, namely that the controls can be a bit of an issue, as the sequencer is pushed very much to its limits.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Controller Has A Good Amount of Connection Ports
- Jog wheels Are Very Nice-Feeling & Weighted
- Professional Vocal FX Feature Is A Blast
Cons
- The Performance Pads Are Very Stiff
- Build Quality Is Very Light And Hollow-Feeling
- Drum Pattern Sequencer Isn’t As Good As Either The 808 Or 505
Roland DJ 202 Controller: Our First Impressions
Coming fresh out of the box, the Roland DJ 202 is an entry-level model controller that falls in line with the rest of Serato’s DJ Pro controller setups, listing amongst others like the DJ-808 or the 505. The 202 bears a remarkable similarity to the DDJ-SB2 from Pioneer DJ, with both hosting two sets of jogwheels on either side of the unit, both hosting a full complement of pads, FX section, and transport controls.
The Roland DJ 202 has a two-channel mixer along with a three-band EQ, complete with a total of two filter knobs and a trim pot. The Roland DJ 202 has a few additional features mixed into it, with a mic input that includes FX, a built-in sample, and a pattern sequencer. While the sequencer holds some different sounds available, the most impressive is none other than the legendary drum kit sounds of Roland himself.
Build Quality
In terms of overall size, the DJ 202 is roughly the same size as Pioneer DJ’s DDJ-SB2. The unit is very light – almost to the point of feeling hollow – with much of its structure being made from plastic. This, unfortunately, means that you’re not going to want to play too roughly with this, at least not as much as you would either the 505 or the 808.
Still, while it doesn’t feel particularly dense or sturdy, that doesn’t mean it feels particularly cheap where it matters. As an example, the Roland DJ 202’s jogwheels feel nicely weighted while having more than their fair share of pull and resistance to them, making them great for those that are fans of scratching. Meanwhile, the DJ controller has several deck select buttons that it uses for controlling both decks 3 and 4 through the Serato FX software.
The Roland DJ 202’s pitch faders also seem like a strong comparison to the DDJ-SB2’s, even complete with being that extra bit flimsy and unstable. It’s kind of weird that they would marry things together with the SB2 that much, especially since they didn’t have to get it “that” close.
Luckily, the rest of the high quality controller feels impressively quite solid, from the transport buttons down to the mixer knobs, to the cross/volume faders.
Performance Pads
One area that needs its segment is the pads. While it’s great that both sides get a full eight pads, the problem comes that they are more than a bit too stiff. This makes hot cue juggling and speedy finger drumming much more difficult than with a more comfortable and responsive set of pads. Since you’re most likely going to want to manually trigger some samples while using the pads, particularly outside of just standard sequencing, the fact that they are so stiff can be a very real problem. Beginner DJs that are interested in pad drumming may find this very intimidating while DJs that know their stuff are likely going to just go back to their much more responsive pad options.
Connection Options
In terms of different connection options, the Roland DJ 202 has a USB port that connects on its rear that is used for connecting to your laptop. Also along the rear of the unit is a Midi-OUT port that is used for connecting to any other Midi-enabled gear, like the different drum and synth machines by Roland’s Aira line. The high end controller also has an RCA stereo outputs jack as well as a 1/4th-inch mic input with a level knob. Meanwhile, the front of the controller has a 1/4th-inch headphone jack.
Taking A Deeper Look – Features & Effects
Now that we’ve gotten a chance to look over some of the different physical aspects of the controller, we must take a look at some of the standout features included in the Roland DJ 202.
Drum Pattern Sequencer
The Roland DJ 202 has with it numerous sounds from four of Roland’s electronic drum kit: the TR-606 up to the TR-909. These legendary sounds are used in records throughout music, ranging from dance to pop, to hip-hop. They are heard all around the world and are a part of countless songs and records. What’s great is that the DJ-202 has all of those sounds built into its unit.
This is both good and also not so good.
The Good
The reason why having so many sounds available is so good is because you don’t need to install any additional DJ software to use them. As they are a part of the unit itself, you’ll be able to access them directly from the controller. This means you won’t need to be online or even to be plugged into Serato DJ Pro to access them.
The Bad
On the other hand, while there are a lot of perks that come with having immediate access to these sounds, you also suffer from being locked into whatever controls are available to you from the Roland DJ 202. That means that, if you want to edit, trigger, save, or playback any sounds, patterns, or drum samples, you’re essentially only allowed to do it a certain way.
This isn’t that much of an issue when it comes to the higher-end models, like the 505 or the 808, due to them having specific and dedicated controls that can be sequenced (like the 16 buttons per the 16 steps in the Pattern Sequencer, or knob modifying samples).
While you technically can do the same things with the sample triggering and pattern sequencing with the 202 in theory, the reality is that the overall experience is going to be much less fluid or enjoyable, while also being considerably more frustrating, especially if you’re a new DJ.
Vocal FX
The DJ-202 has several FX features added to it. Things such as delay, onboard reverb, noise gate, or a low cut channel filters (which is used for reducing “extra” noises like bumps or thuds) are all useful FX features that make the controller very useful overall. It comes with a “System Settings” mode that involves pressing the “Load” button to either plug or unplug the unit.
It’s not a super user-friendly tool and isn’t quite as simple as just clicking on a dropdown feature with your mouse, but it does the job well enough overall – provided you aren’t doing things in the middle of a set, that is.
Hit or a Miss?
Roland’s DJ-202, while certainly a fun and interesting controller, isn’t necessarily a perfect one. This becomes even more apparent when squared against its larger siblings, the 808 and 505. Most of the features that are included here seem more of a forced inclusion than anything organic or essential, which is unfortunately unique to the Roland DJ 202 alone.
All in all, when asking the question, “Is the Roland DJ-202 Controller hit or a miss?” the answer isn’t a pretty one.
Realistically, there are a few fun factors that come from this controller. The problem comes in that those factors are equally bogged down by the fact that they are almost forced to be there so that people can say that they’re there. Again, this isn’t the case for the DJ-505 or the DJ-808, which makes me believe that the 202 was only put there as a means of catering to those DJs that needed something at a lower price range.
This does mean, however, that you’re getting an impossibly clunky and only passable product that isn’t worth most DJ’s money, no matter where they sit. If you’re just starting, there are better entry-level controllers out there. If you’re a fan of Roland’s DJ controllers, invest in either the DJ-505 or 808. If you’re a seasoned veteran or professional, this controller isn’t even worth considering.
Roland DJ 202: The Verdict
The Roland DJ 202, on paper, really had it all. Unfortunately, much of its features were inorganically forced in place to the point where they seemed to actively weigh the controller down in terms of its use, as opposed to building upon it.
Ultimately, while I wouldn’t necessarily say that the Roland DJ 202 is “bad” or “useless”, I would say that it’s not worth your time when you consider that there are other, better options out there. If you get it, you “probably” won’t be asking for a refund after a month or two, however, you’ll also be looking to upgrade your controller as soon as possible.
