DDJ-SR or NV?

Hi Kyle,

Read some of the articles here on the process of picking a controller. Apart from it being a highly personal choice, making it hard for anybody to give you more than their own opinion, which might not be the same as you would feel, there are a lot of things to ask yourself before committing.

Assuming you will continue to use the software you already are using and that you have a workflow mapped out for yourself, the next question is what features you are lacking now, either to complete or improve your current workflow and/or that would let you add new things to your workflow. Next thing is budget, what do you want to spend.

The SR is a nice controller, don’t think many people can already comment on the NV. Personally, I am aiming towards lowering the time I spend looking at displays, I have moved my laptop from front and center to one side and I try to only look at it sporadically/when necessary. The one thing that I wouldn’t mind having per player is an indication of time remaining, but a peripheral look on the laptop gives me that clear enough too.

Apparently you don’t need 4-channels (or you’d be looking at the DDJ-SX), yet you contemplate spending 50% more on the NV which is 4-channel. That raises the question “what does the NV offer in your eyes that the SR doesn’t, that makes it worth the extra 50%?”.

In short, easy question, hard answer.

If you can narrow your concerns down, ask more specific questions, it will be easier for our readers to help you make your decision.

I re-post my answer in another thread, as it seems fitting:

I do not particularly like the NV as it cannot do much more than an N4 and has screens.
I consider the integration of screens into a controller a waste. Even from the pics they are very small and actually looking down at a controller if you are in a DJ booth is something, when you are familiar with your controller, that is rarely done as you break eye contact with the audience and it looks not cool.
I always setup my laptop (slim MacBook Air or MacBook pro) the way that it does not block me from the audience but at an angle where I can glance at the screen without having to move my face away from the audience much, so I can stay in contact.
Also even at 13” and displaying everything on one screen, my laptop screen and resolution is WAY better than any included screens. If you are prone to what the industry called “Serato Face” then you will stare at the screens anyways, if they are in the controller or on your laptop does not matter.
I saw this actually when I moved from CDJs to controllers. I got response from some fans that I seem to be more connected to them as looking at the CDJ screens was much worse than having the laptop there, even with some CDJs on stands.

Most definitely. More bells and whistles, different build quality (although there is nothing wrong with the MTP2, especially at it’s price point). I currently have the DDJ-SX and although I like it a lot, I am still missing my Denon MC6000 (and wanting the new mk2), but that is because as a mobile DJ I miss a few specific things, mainly stuff like seperate mic channels, split cue and such).

I went from the Pro II to an SR, it’s very much an upgrade. The Pro II only comes with Serato DJ Intro, but the SR literally has a Serato DJ license in it. That does mean you won’t be able to use the full Serato DJ with your Mixtrack unless you plug in your SR.
Plus, the feel is just so much better. All knobs have metal posts under them, the faceplace is metal, the pads are velocity sensitive, etc, etc.