Becoming a DJ today is easier than ever before. Originally, a DJ needed a ton of different things to get started. Now, all you really need is a laptop computer, some DJ software, and a DJ controller.
DJ controllers, in particular, are in high demand, with tons out on the open market.
But does that mean they’re an amazing DJ controller? We’re going to take a look at the Numark Party Mix Controller and see whether or not it’s something you should take out with you on your next gig.
Is the Numark Party Mix any good? (in short)
If you’re just starting out in your room, want something for your kid’s first DJ setup, or only planning on doing house party DJing, the Numark Party Mix definitely works and definitely has some easy mixing control capabilities. Perfect if you are starting out!
Numark Party Mix: First Impressions
Setting it up, the Numark Party Mix is pretty small (it makes an iPad Pro look cumbersome by comparison). It is a 2-channel DJ controller, with both having a tiny jog wheel.
The DJ controller also has a volume fader, a gain knob, two-band EQ, a Scratch button, a pitch fader, and four performance pad mode buttons.
It also comes with a crossfader, a Master gain output knob & volume main output knob, headphone Jack outputs, an 8-inch headphone jack port, and the headphone preview mix.
The back has a pair of RCA Master play audio outputs, a USB cable that is attached to the unit, three LED RGB lights, and a button to choose one of the four LED light arrays sync modes.
The Numark Party Mix is class-compliant on Mac OS X and Windows.
As soon as you plug the DJ controller in via USB, your computer will detect it and you will be ready to play in just a few seconds.
As you are more than likely at an entry-level, the Numark Party Mix would be ideal to run with streaming platforms like Soundcloud Go, Beatsource link, and Beatport Link, Check out our full review of Beatport link HERE.
There is a huge mix of music available (6 million tracks!) so it really is the perfect way to develop great playlists and find your perfect sound.
The controller’s included DJ software is Virtual DJ software and even a Browse knob that goes through the VDJ library.
It comes standard with VDJ LE, which is the introductory version of Virtual DJ 8.
There is also the option for running Serato DJ Lite through the Original Party Mix as well. At this stage, we would suggest you look at using the Serato DJ Lite software.
This DJ controller does not natively support IOS software such as Algoriddim’s Djay.
While I got what they were going for, I’m not really a fan of the built-in cable. Yes, they are easier in the short term.
However, I’ve had more than a few instances where it cable suffered a bad snap and I wasn’t able to replace it without having to send it back to the manufacturer. A simple plug and cable solution works better for me.
The Jog Wheels
Ok, one of the first things that immediately stood out to me was just how small the touch-sensitive jog wheels were on the Numark Party Mix.
Not only were they crazy tiny, but they were also more difficult to use with your fingertips when compared to other wheels.
I also noticed that there was this frustrating delay that kept happening. Basically, whenever you let go of the wheel, there’s almost a one-second delay before VDJ starts playing again. I even tried pushing the jog forward but that still didn’t do anything.
What makes it even worse is that the track playback will start up immediately after you’ve moved the jog wheel either forwards or backward.
It doesn’t even matter if you’ve let go of the wheel, it’ll still kick in. This is an issue because most controllers are supposed to stop whenever your hands are on the wheel.
Still, for the reasonable $100 price tag, the controller is certainly not “unusable” by any means.
It absolutely has its place in the market. Remember, it’s only 100 bucks! Many of these issues can be worked around if you’re DJ skills level is enough.
However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are a lot of unnecessary things you’re going to have to deal with if you want to use this controller and its jog wheels.
The Mixer
While it does have high and low gain knobs, don’t expect any filter knobs here. Similarly, the faders and channel gain essential controls, while weighted, feel a little “plasticky” like they’re made of some super cheap material.
The crossfader is also problematic in that it’s loose without feeling smooth. You’re probably going to have to be super deliberate when using the fader to blend compared to other controllers where you can more immersively fade up and down.
The Performance Buttons (not pads!)
The Numark Party Mix has the standard play/pause, cue, and sampling sync buttons. For the performance pads, the Numark has four buttons per deck.
None are velocity-sensitive performance pads, instead, they act as quite stiff “on” and “off” switches. The controller has four separate button/multiple pad modes ranging between Cue points, auto Loop functions, Sampler, and Effect.
“Cue” is for the hot cues while “Loop” is for setting up loop Cue points. The “Sampler” is meant to trigger different loaded samples while in Virtual DJ while the “Effect” button toggles different effects whether VDJ is on or off.
The RGB Lights
Probably the best feature f the Numark controller is the RGB lights which are made up of three LED bulbs (red, green, and blue) that are housed at the back of the party mix.
Because they are in the back, this makes club DJing and nighttime party DJing very fun with all the colorful light patterns.
The one downside to the led light show is that they move or have any flexibility. Basically, if you want them to move, you’re going to have to outright move the controller, which is kind of useless when amping up the perfect party atmosphere.
Still, that doesn’t wholly take away from the cool effects of the light strobes. There are a few different light combinations you can have absolute control over which is pretty cool.
You can have each of the lights flash one by one, have the lights come on in combination with one another, have the lights vary in their combination, or simply have all three on at the same time.
The first three options have the lights cue buttons to the beat of the music, which does make this controller fun to some degree.
The instant effects the lights give off definitely add a cool dimension to this controller and will help a house party get into the perfect party mood.
Numark Party Mix: The Verdict
So, the Numark Party Mix controller only works if you know who you are and how serious you are about being a DJ. It is aimed at the entry-level market and is perfect for that.
However, if you are planning anything more advanced or professional DJ, it’s just not polished enough to qualify.
The jog wheel is janky, the built-in USB cable is a nightmare to replace, and the backlights are only mildly interesting.
Again, if you’re just starting and looking to purchase a very basic controller to play with, I won’t knock you for getting this.
For the people that are interested in taking it to the next level, there are other better controllers with more professional DJ features in this price range.
The Pioneer DJ DDJ-200 is a solid option while the Numark DJ2GO2 also looks like it’s worth checking out.
