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REVIEWED
REVIEWED: AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2
You may have noticed a hive of activity from AlphaTheta during October. As a professional DJ, you may have missed the fact that there were not two, but actually three new controllers as well as the all-new headphones. You can be forgiven for not noticing the DDJ-FLX2 because it’s very much aimed at getting people into DJing, so not something you’re likely to want. Or might you?
You couldn’t use it for a main playout; apart from anything else, there is no microphone input. However, it’s always good to have something in the background for backup; if nothing else, you’ll have more peace of mind. But, also, the DDJ-FLX2 is something that takes mere minutes to set up, has multiple options for use, and allows you to practise your DJ skills pretty much anywhere. It could also be useful for track preparation. Yes, you can do this on a laptop without a controller, but it’s so much more fun with one. And you don’t need to drag your kit out of storage; this will take up so little space.
This all said, AlphaTheta is on a mission to recruit the next generation of DJs, and this is where the DDJ-FLX2 is aimed at. In my village, there is a lovely 13-year-old girl who was gifted a Pioneer DDJ-200.Like many of her age, India – aka DJ Maehem – loves music, and she has gone as far as playing live online several times this year. Now, it’s not hard to imagine that in a few years’ time, India's passion for music (which her parents fuelled) will have translated into her being a fully-fledged DJ.
The Pioneer DJ DDJ-200 has been in need of replacing for some time. It was actually launched in 2019 and was hugely popular with entry-level DJs. However, five years is a very long time in the digital world and it really needed to be replaced by something a little more modern. Enter the DDJ-FLX2 under the AlphaTheta branding.
This little controller, which most of us will see as little more than a toy, has a hugely important place in the industry as the cheapest entry-level DJ controller from AlphaTheta. It will be the first controller for many new young DJs who are the future of our industry, and therefore it's a really important piece of kit.
Whilst you may regard it as a bit of a toy, you’ll be surprised by just how able a controller it actually is. Firstly, it’s a hardware unlock device for rekordbox for Mac/Windows, rekordbox for iOS/Android, Algoriddim Djay Pro for Mac/Windows, Algoriddim Djay for iOS/Android, and Serato DJ Lite. These all work with no further payment, although upgrade options are, of course, available for extra features in rekordbox, Djay and Serato. Streaming music services are supported in each of these software, so the costs of building an extensive library aren’t an issue – great for any new DJ.
Let's take a look at the layout of the DDJ-FLX2. It's a very small and light 2-channel controller, which is slightly wider than an average laptop. Each channel's control surface features a jog wheel, beat sync, shift, cue and play/pause buttons, eight performance pads, and a tempo slider. This is pretty similar to the DDJ-200, but one major improvement is the provision of two separate and better-quality audio outputs, one for the headphones, the other for main output to powered speakers via independent 3.5mm jacks on the side (the DDJ-200 had a split cable which was not all that good). Another improvement is the ability to switch the pad function between HOT CUE, PAD FX, LOOP and SAMPLER, which allows better access to mixing creativity.
The mixer section features 3-band EQ, colour FX control, channel faders, a cross fader which can be unassigned in software, headphone cue buttons, and a smart-fader button to enable transitions with synced automated effects.
AlphaTheta tells us that the sound quality of the DDJ-FLX2 is better than any similar controller on the market. I was pleased to experience a reasonable volume level on the headphone port, often an issue on cheaper controllers.
On the back of the DDJ-FLX2 is a USB-C slot to provide power and connectivity, as well as a Kensington lock slot, presumably to stop your annoying siblings or even your dad from nicking your controller!
The DDJ-FLX2 has built-in Bluetooth to enable connectivity to iOS and Android devices, running DJ software such as djay and rekordbox. All you then need is a power bank or AC adapter to supply power to the USB-C port.
So, the DDJ-FLX2 is an entry-level controller from the industry leaders, which has great functionality, and carries the familiar 'DNA' of the legacy ecosystem. It's fun to play with and will provide youngsters like India countless hours of honing their skills and passion for DJing. It is clearly not suited to mobile or club environments, but could provide a low-end backup. Personally, I would have loved to have seen multi-coloured LED performance pads to echo those of my amazing DDJ-FLX10, but, then again, this is a very cheap entry-level controller, so maybe it's a way of keeping costs down. I reckon a great many will be sold to loads of aspiring DJs – the exact market AlphaTheta are going for. Oh, and India, you are the future of our great industry. We wish you all the best!
You couldn’t use it for a main playout; apart from anything else, there is no microphone input. However, it’s always good to have something in the background for backup; if nothing else, you’ll have more peace of mind. But, also, the DDJ-FLX2 is something that takes mere minutes to set up, has multiple options for use, and allows you to practise your DJ skills pretty much anywhere. It could also be useful for track preparation. Yes, you can do this on a laptop without a controller, but it’s so much more fun with one. And you don’t need to drag your kit out of storage; this will take up so little space.
This all said, AlphaTheta is on a mission to recruit the next generation of DJs, and this is where the DDJ-FLX2 is aimed at. In my village, there is a lovely 13-year-old girl who was gifted a Pioneer DDJ-200.Like many of her age, India – aka DJ Maehem – loves music, and she has gone as far as playing live online several times this year. Now, it’s not hard to imagine that in a few years’ time, India's passion for music (which her parents fuelled) will have translated into her being a fully-fledged DJ.
The Pioneer DJ DDJ-200 has been in need of replacing for some time. It was actually launched in 2019 and was hugely popular with entry-level DJs. However, five years is a very long time in the digital world and it really needed to be replaced by something a little more modern. Enter the DDJ-FLX2 under the AlphaTheta branding.
This little controller, which most of us will see as little more than a toy, has a hugely important place in the industry as the cheapest entry-level DJ controller from AlphaTheta. It will be the first controller for many new young DJs who are the future of our industry, and therefore it's a really important piece of kit.
Whilst you may regard it as a bit of a toy, you’ll be surprised by just how able a controller it actually is. Firstly, it’s a hardware unlock device for rekordbox for Mac/Windows, rekordbox for iOS/Android, Algoriddim Djay Pro for Mac/Windows, Algoriddim Djay for iOS/Android, and Serato DJ Lite. These all work with no further payment, although upgrade options are, of course, available for extra features in rekordbox, Djay and Serato. Streaming music services are supported in each of these software, so the costs of building an extensive library aren’t an issue – great for any new DJ.
Let's take a look at the layout of the DDJ-FLX2. It's a very small and light 2-channel controller, which is slightly wider than an average laptop. Each channel's control surface features a jog wheel, beat sync, shift, cue and play/pause buttons, eight performance pads, and a tempo slider. This is pretty similar to the DDJ-200, but one major improvement is the provision of two separate and better-quality audio outputs, one for the headphones, the other for main output to powered speakers via independent 3.5mm jacks on the side (the DDJ-200 had a split cable which was not all that good). Another improvement is the ability to switch the pad function between HOT CUE, PAD FX, LOOP and SAMPLER, which allows better access to mixing creativity.
The mixer section features 3-band EQ, colour FX control, channel faders, a cross fader which can be unassigned in software, headphone cue buttons, and a smart-fader button to enable transitions with synced automated effects.
AlphaTheta tells us that the sound quality of the DDJ-FLX2 is better than any similar controller on the market. I was pleased to experience a reasonable volume level on the headphone port, often an issue on cheaper controllers.
On the back of the DDJ-FLX2 is a USB-C slot to provide power and connectivity, as well as a Kensington lock slot, presumably to stop your annoying siblings or even your dad from nicking your controller!
The DDJ-FLX2 has built-in Bluetooth to enable connectivity to iOS and Android devices, running DJ software such as djay and rekordbox. All you then need is a power bank or AC adapter to supply power to the USB-C port.
So, the DDJ-FLX2 is an entry-level controller from the industry leaders, which has great functionality, and carries the familiar 'DNA' of the legacy ecosystem. It's fun to play with and will provide youngsters like India countless hours of honing their skills and passion for DJing. It is clearly not suited to mobile or club environments, but could provide a low-end backup. Personally, I would have loved to have seen multi-coloured LED performance pads to echo those of my amazing DDJ-FLX10, but, then again, this is a very cheap entry-level controller, so maybe it's a way of keeping costs down. I reckon a great many will be sold to loads of aspiring DJs – the exact market AlphaTheta are going for. Oh, and India, you are the future of our great industry. We wish you all the best!
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 129, Pages 80-81.
