Both the Denon DJ SC Live 4 and SC Live 2 standalone DJ controllers are pretty impressive in their own right as well as with one another. Acting as a standalone all-in-one DJ system, the two SC Lives work well with the Serato DJ and the Virtual DJ software options while also having an extensive hardware build, including internal speakers, and WiFi streaming services, as well as a really cool built-in feature that allows you to control both home and pro lights.
The controllers both use the Engine DJ OS while having very “club DJ” layout aesthetics. The combo controllers are also very competitively priced compared to other similar DJ gear. Whereas most controllers are either quality or affordable, it’s very impressive Denon was able to do that, not once but twice.
But does that mean they’re necessarily worth it? It’s obvious that these two controllers are a great offer in general, but then so too are a lot of competing options on the market.
In this review, we’ll take a look at their build, features, and everything they offer before deciding if they’re worth your time or if you’re better off getting something else instead.
Are The Denon DJ SC Live 2 and Live 4 Controllers Any Good?
Both the Denon DJ SC Live 2 and Live 4 are professional-grade DJ controllers that offer advanced features and functionality for DJs. They have large touchscreen displays, dedicated performance pads, and extensive connectivity options. Both DJ controllers are also compatible with a range of software tools and effects that allow for creative mixing and remixing.
Many users praise the build quality, performance, and versatility of these standalone controllers. However, it’s important to note that both controllers are high-end products with correspondingly high price tags, so they may not be the best choice for beginners or hobbyists who are just starting out.
Ultimately, whether or not the Denon DJ SC Live 2 or Live 4 are “good” will depend on your individual needs, preferences, and, of course, your budget.
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First Impressions
The first thing you’re going to notice about either of these Denon DJ SC live controllers is just how much plastic is involved. While I’m not quite tempted to say that it’s necessarily a “bad” thing, it’s clear that a strong cost-cutting method for them was skimping out on the metal and focusing much more on the plastic build.
Physically, the controllers are quite lightweight for their size. The SC Live 4 weighs around 13 lbs. while the Denon DJ SC Live 2 comes in at 10 lbs. Regarding dimension size, the 4 is 28 x 16 x 4 inches while the 2 is 27 x 15 x 4 inches.
Layout
Touching on the Denon DJ SC live controller layout, you’ll find that they have a setup that isn’t too far from the club layout that many of the Pioneer DJ controllers have. This may be a pretty big culture shock for most Denon fans but I’ve got to say that I kind of like it (I’m also a big Pioneer DJ fan, so there’s that too).
Still, I don’t think I’m the only one. There are four “sweep FX” features that you’ll be able to manually control with an additional BPM-tied single effect that can be assigned to the different channels, whether that be just one or all of the four.
The few exceptions are the mics, the time, the parameters, or the dialing in a beat cycle length).
Again, it depends on how you like what Pioneer DJ has been doing with their controllers. If you’re a fan, this will feel like a welcome change. Otherwise, you may be one of the people that feels they’re getting snubbed.
The SC Live 4 and 2 both use a rubberized set of performance pads. And while they’re definitely on the smaller side of things (smaller than the Denon DJ Prime performance pads) that doesn’t take away from their overall quality.
There’s a bit of a “clicky” situation there but not anything that’s too annoying or distracting.
They also have a complete set of RGB coloring and have complete control over the expected FX features you’re used to performance pads having (loops, roll, control cue, and slicer). The one area you’ll be surprised that they don’t have is the “Sampler” feature which simply isn’t included with standalone gear.
The primary Play/Pause button as well as the main Cue button are a bit different, instead defaulting to the more plastic part of the controller and thus having a stronger “clicking” sound when pressing it.
Meanwhile, the pitch sliders are both long as well as accurate. The jogwheels have a good amount of heft and weight to them, making them feel bigger than even some of the “pro” controller jogs out there. For example, the Prime 4, while still being bigger (8 inches to the SC Live’s 6) slopes inward to such a degree that they simply feel like they’re smaller.
The Denon DJ SC Live 4 and 2 both also have these incredible touchscreen displays that allow you to check out a track’s BPM as well as the amount of time that’s elapsed along with a ton of other things. We’ll go over them further down but they’re a solid inclusion for the controller.
- Pioneer DJ-based Club Layout
- Uses Engine DJ OS
- Music Streaming Capabilities
- Uses Engine DJ
- Small Touchscreen
- Build Quality is Average
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Connectivity
I’m always on the lookout for the amount of input and output ports available since that directly determines how much you can reliably use your device in relation to any of your speakers or mics.
Here, both DJ controllers offer, at the front, a pair of 1/4″ and 1/8″ headphone sockets. On the other end, the back of either controller has two mic input options – an XLR balanced connection as well as a 1/4″ jack. There’s also an RCA aux port, another XLR and RCA main out port, and a TRS booth out port.
The SC Live 4 and 2 both also have a USB slot as well as twin USB and single SD card slots, both of which are protected from an accidental pull or being knocked out. This is because they’re stored on the underside of a fixed 7-inch touchscreen (more on that later). This makes them much safer to use without having an issue, though they’re also admittedly more than a bit difficult to get to, so I’m not sure if this is a full-on win or not.
The controllers also have a power input and switch on their back. As they come with an external power brick, you’re going to need to make sure you’re near a power source to tie into the wall. The input is a 12V socket and comes with a cable grip so it’s at least not going to completely tear up on you. Still, I can’t lie and say that an IEC socket wouldn’t have been the better choice.
Design
Lastly, the SC Live 4 & 2 have both gone through a bit of a color change. Where once Denon’s controllers (namely the Prime 4 and Prime 2) were resplendent with an abundance of greens, they seemed to have done away with all of that here. Now, the SC Live 4 and the SC Live 2 have come in with a much more subtle lighting scheme, using softer blues, oranges, and whites for a less “in-your-face” look.
A Deeper Look
Now that we’ve had a chance to look over what these two Denon DJ SC live controllers have on an initial overview, let’s take a minute to check out some of their more in-depth features.
Built-In Speakers
Probably one of the first things you’re going to want to check out, the built-in speakers here are pretty solid. While not all-out DJ speakers, the speakers can get pretty loud while also having an impressive amount of low-frequency bass to push out. Pretty much, you can expect the entire unit to vibrate if you’ve got it cranked at the 75% mark. I will say, however, that it does come across a bit as “mid-bass” rather than “true bass”.
That doesn’t say its sound is bad by any means (it’s not). It’s more something you notice as you’re listening to it for a bit. The sound comes from the speakers in a veritable “middy” kind of way, having a sort of hollowness to it. Still, that shouldn’t make you feel unsure about them. As mentioned already, the sound is a solid offer and offers more sound at a better level than most other controllers out there, so that’s nothing small.
It’s also important to keep in mind that these are built-in speakers. That means, if you feel you’re just not getting enough power out of them (especially if you’re performing in a larger venue) you can always just opt for some actual speakers via the input/output options. You can even turn the built-in speakers off entirely so that you can gauge the sound quality between the two.
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Touchscreen
Jumping from audio to visual, the Denon DJ SC live controllers both come with touchscreen displays. There, you have access to most of the standard options, ranging from your various playlists and libraries to the inclusion of your tracks’ waveforms.
You’re able to switch between various waveform types and displays based on your own personal style as a DJ.
As a touchscreen display, there is multi-touch included. This is something most iPhone and Android users will feel right at home playing with thanks to the fact that Engine DJ, the included system (more on them later), has some of the best touchscreen implementation available, pretty much beating out virtually every other piece of DJ gear out there.
I will say that, because the SC Live 4 (the main one of the two I used for this review) has access to four decks, it does end up getting more than a bit cramped. This is especially true once you jump into the settings or in the areas where the track info is being displayed.
It just gets tight for me, to the point that I’m having to strain to catch all the smaller words. Simply put, while I do like it in theory, in practice it needs more space for it to not devolve into more of a chore experience.
Streaming Services
Heading over into the musical side of the Denon DJ SC live controller and what they have to offer, the controllers have access to online streaming services. These are entirely built into the controller as a feature and can be accessed so long as the WiFi is turned on.
As with many other controllers, they primarily use TIDAL as well as Beatport Streaming, Amazon music unlimited, SoundCloud Go+, as well as Beatsource Streaming. In addition. the SC Live 4 & 2 support Amazon Music Unlimited, giving a wholly unique option that few other controllers have available.
This gives DJs instant access and you’re going to be spoiled for choice when accessing your music playlists via a streaming service.
And while I can acknowledge that using music streaming sources isn’t ideal for a DJ in comparison to their own music files, I can also acknowledge that we’re progressively moving in that direction. Not only that, but it’s simply a very easy and accessible option to the point that you could potentially perform entirely through the use of streaming services and their music instead of your own library.
When your starting out it also gives DJs ultimate creative freedom when it comes to finding their sound. Streaming tracks is an excellent option; DJ integration will only get more slick and powerful with time.
One of the great selling points here is also the fact that not only are you getting more streaming service options, but you’re using one of the most impressive internal software types available, the Engine DJ.
- Pioneer DJ-based Club Layout
- Uses Engine DJ OS
- Music Streaming Capabilities
- Uses Engine DJ
- Small Touchscreen
- Build Quality is Average
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Engine DJ
Engine DJ OS is a software type that is used to internally power controller units. It runs as an app for both Mac and Windows computers and is designed to make playing music on either the SC Live 4 or the SC Live 2 much simpler and easier.
The general idea when it comes to the Engine Prime DJ OS software is that you can do a complete analysis of any music files you upload to the system. This means that you can analyze their key as well as the beats per minute (BPM).
The Engine DJ software app also allows you to add cue points and loops to a track as well as build up a playlist entirely on your laptop. From there, you can export that music to either a USB connection or the aforementioned SD card option. It’s actually because of this that these systems are so often given the “all-in-one” or the standalone phrase.
While it’s been out for a while up until now, the Engine DJ system has seriously only improved itself over time to the point where it’s easily one of the best operating systems for DJ gear, outstripping virtually all of the competition.
Essentially, what you can do with the SC Live 4 and the SC Live 2 are things that you’d normally only be able to do with a controller several times more powerful and expensive. And keep in mind that, as it’s growing and improving, it’s still only in its relative beginning stage and is still making serious improvements and upgrades over time.
Importing Music
If you want to add your music to the controller’s playlist, you’ll need to export it from your laptop to an SD card or USB thumb drive. From there, it’s just selecting the right driver as a source before going in and accessing the rest of the playlist as you normally would.
The process is fairly simple and doesn’t take a lot of time. It’s so simple that you can actually throw a playlist together entirely on the fly right then and there.
While it won’t save into your master library, it’s a great way to put a list of tracks together that you know your current audience will want to hear rather than some of the safer and more generic options you may have in place. Also, because it’s tied into the WiFi, another simple method is simply using Dropbox and sending it that way.
It’s also worth pointing out and noticing that the controllers don’t come with a SATA drive bay, something that you were almost guaranteed if you were using most of Denon’s Prime various controllers or DJ gear.
Still, when you consider you can use Dropbox as well as the fact that most USBs and SD cards have some pretty high storage amounts, it’s more of an annoyance at the lack of rather than anything especially detrimental to your experience.
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Overall Performance
What We Like:
Takes Bold Steps: It’s clear that, with the SC Live 4 and the SC Live 2, Denon DJ is serious about trying out some different designs for their brand. Here, it seems like they’re creating a subset of controllers that appeal to the live streamer DJ or DJs that perform from home rather than just strictly for those performing at the professional level. I can understand why some may be put off by this, but I think adding more options and variety only brings people in. As I said, I’m a fan of the Pioneer DJ-based club layout, so this only makes me more excited!
Uses Engine DJ: The Engine DJ software is a serious game changer when you consider everything that it offers on the backend. As mentioned, it’s meant to be a standalone “all-in-one” feature that starts to encroach a bit on some of the features you’d expect to see in DJ software. Not only that, but it’s progressively getting better and more impressive, meaning that what we see in the next set of controllers may be considerably more impressive than what was seen here.
Good Built-In Speakers: Built-in speakers on a controller are often seen as more of a joke than anything to take “too” seriously. After all, you’re most likely going to just put on some headphones or hook them up to a monitor or set of speakers. That’s still going to be the case here, however, it’s also true that, if you’re not able to grab a set of DJ headphones or are otherwise away from your speakers, or if this is simply the first bit of DJ equipment you’ve purchased, the speakers aren’t bad. They aren’t “amazing”, no, but they also aren’t bad. You can use these for even some very low-profile performances to show off and practice with your friends, which I suppose adds to the new and bold departure Denon is making with these controllers.
Music Streaming Capabilities: One of the features that are worth remembering is music streaming. As mentioned already, online music streaming is the way we’re headed. It simply is. While I’m still partial to having your own library, the reality is that most semi-professional DJs are already sourcing the majority of their music via platforms like TIDAL and Beatport Streaming. The fact that the SC Live 4 and 2 both have all of these platforms available as well as additional access to Amazon Music Unlimited shows that they’re serious about jumping in with both feet rather than being the old man waving their stick at change.
What We Do Not Like:
Touchscreen Is Too Small: Probably one of the bigger issues I had was the smaller touchscreen. Now, based entirely on what it has to offer, the display is very nice. The issue I found was that it simply was too small to adequately cover all of the information it was trying to offer. Even in a casual review setting where I’m not trying to stress test these things, it felt like I was straining my eyes and spending more time focusing on the display than I should have. I can only imagine how crazy that would be while performing.
Build Isn’t Great: While certainly not “bad”, there is a lot to be desired with the SC Live 4 and 2’s build. As mentioned, one of the things they did here to cut the price was to make the most of it with plastic. This is a far cry from something like the Prime 4, which used considerably more metal in its build while only charging about $600 more. In fact, when you start comparing pad quality, screen size, mics, channels, and even mixer capabilities, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that the SC Live is the kid brother of the two.
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Denon DJ SC Live 4 & SC Live 2: The Verdict
So Denon DJ’s SC Live 4 and SC Live 2 standalone DJ controllers are a very interesting set of DJ controllers to grade.
On a personal level, I’ve got to say that they’re both a blast to play with. While not perfect, what they offer is an overall engaging performing DJ experience while at a price that’s not too outrageous for most people that love to perform.
Objectively speaking, there are some note-worthy setbacks here that can’t necessarily be overlooked. For example, while the build’s design and the smaller touchscreen can be a serious issue, the bigger question is whether the actual layout’s departure from the standard mold is good for Denon DJ as a whole.
Since they’ve curated this reputation as being a “professional only” DJ brand, the fact that they’ve started to dabble more into the “DJ hobbyist” realm could be something that many people have an issue with.
Personally, I think that, when you consider the price being where it’s at, most DJs that are interested simply have to ask the question of whether they want to be a professional performing DJ or someone that enjoys playing around and not taking it “too” seriously.
If you’re someone that wants to see yourself performing in the top venues as a DJ, then you’re better off saving up a bit more for the Prime 4 since that’s the objective superior in almost every way.
On the other hand, if you’re not quite ready to make that big of a leap, or even are a pro DJ and just want a great DJ controller that you can play around with, then I’ve got to admit that I like a lot more of what the SC Lives have than hate what they don’t.
