Last updated on – Buying a new battle mixer that can handle Serato DJ/Traktor/Rekordbox DJ DVS systems can be a costly decision as they aren’t really cheap. Still, if you are serious about your craft, there is really no alternative to a good battle mixer when it comes to serious Djing. Of course, you can go with a classic two-channel mixer that doesn’t support any software, but then you are missing out on all the advantages of DVS.
The mixers we discuss below all have, at a minimum:
- Good quality faders (Innofader or better)
- Battle friendly design (enough space between the faders and the other controls)
- Software support for one of the established DVS software packages
| WINNER | |
Pioneer DJM-S9
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| RUNNER UP | |
Traktor Kontrol Z2
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| THE REST |
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| WINNER | Pioneer DJ DJM-S9 |
| IN SHORT |
 The DJM-S9 is expensive, but a fantastic Serato DJ DVS enabled mixer, with support for Rekordbox DJ DVS as well. Level: professional |
(4.5 / 5)The Pioneer DJ DJM-S9 is extremely well featured and has everything on board to control Serato DJ. It is also quite pricey, but more on that later.
The mixer looks a bit complex at first sight. It looks like a good part of a Serato DJ controller was squeezed on the mixer’s faceplate. There are the classic controls you can expect on any battle mixer: the 3 band EQ, filter, and smooth, high-quality faders and crossfaders. The crossfader is Magvel Pro fader with feeling and curve adjust, so if you cannot get your cuts right on this one, you probably won’t be able to get them right on any mixer.
The S9 is equipped with 8 performance pads per channel, controlling all performance features of Serato DJ: hot cues, slicer, and samples, plus additional features hidden under the shift button. The big attraction of this mixer is the effects. The S9 has 6 built-in effects: echo, backspin, reverb, flanger, phaser, and vinyl break. Besides that, the S9 can control up to 6 Serato DJ effects at the time. The effects are activated with a super handy paddle. If you ever used this, you know how efficient it is to activate effects.
Lastly, the S9 has a complete looping section onboard. On the back, all the expected connections are available, such as master out in RCA and XLR, and booth out in TRS. Of course, there are double inputs for both channels.
| PROS | CONS |
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| RUNNER UP | Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2 |
| IN SHORT |
 The Traktor Kontrol Z2 is an affordable but very well equipped battle mixer for Traktor. Level: mid-level to professional |
(4 / 5)The Z2 is, of course, a two-channel mixer that works natively with Traktor, and only with Traktor, at least out of the box. It’s designed to work as a standalone mixer with turntables or media players as well, but then you are missing out on all the extras such as effects, as these only work with Traktor Pro connected.
The mixer has a series onboard controls for the Traktor Pro software, most notably 2X 4 high-quality performance pads that can be used for Remix decks, or to access Traktor Pro’s hot cues. Additionally, they control the flux mode which is comparable to Serato’s loop roll.
I like the loop encoder and loop size LCD screen, it’s very handy to identify the selected loop size and avoid surprises when engaging a loop in a rush.
The Z2 gives access to Traktor Pro’s effects, including Traktor’s Macro FX.
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Rane Seventy Two
| IN SHORT |
 A direct competitor to the Pioneer DJ DJM-S9, the Seventy Two has everything to control Serato DJ, including a high-resolution color screen. Level: professional |
The Rane Seventy two is a brand new, two-channel battle mixer with full support for Serato DJ and a high-resolution screen that can display Serato DJ waveforms and other mixer data.
The Seventy Two has a new type of fader, the MAG THREE fader, fitter for both channel faders and the crossfader. Rane promises smooth, precise operation like never before, which I’m sure experienced DJ’s will put to the test once they get the chance.
There is, of course, the beautiful touch screen, but there is more. Each channel has a FlexFX module to fire off integrated effects, plus chain-integrated Serato DJ effects control. There are pads to launch effects much like the DJM-S9.
Finally, the Seventy Two has 8 performance pads per channel, unlocking all the performance functions of Serato DJ.
On the back, the Seventy Two is almost identical to the TTM57mkII.
| PROS | CONS |
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Mixars Duo MKII
| IN SHORT |
 A direct competitor to the Pioneer DJ DJM-S9, the Seventy Two has everything to control Serato DJ, including a high-resolution color screen.Level: mid-level to professional |
After a widely discussed feud with Innofader a few months ago, Mixars switch to Pro X Fade for their faders and the Mixars DUO MKII is fitted with the Galileo essential fader.
Apart from the Duo has 4 performance pads per deck that can switch between sample & hot cues, the ability to control 1 Serato DJ effect per channel at the time, a looping encoder and, of course, a 3 band EQ with a filter per channel.
On the back the Duo has all the expected outputs: XLR and RCA master out, TRS booth out, and double line inputs. On the front, there are the MIC and AUX inputs, and the crossfader curve controls, with a noteworthy Cut-in curve adjustment, to determine how far from the borders the crossfader needs to let sound through.
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| MORE BEST OF GUIDES |
*Price ranges: In order to avoid showing incorrect price ranges for the gear discussed, we work with price ranges. Click on the “check current price” link to find out the current price on Amazon.com at any time.
| Between 0 and 300 USD | $ |
| Between 300 and 500 USD | $$ |
| Between 500 and 1000 USD | $$$ |
| Between 1000 and 2000 USD | $$$$ |
| Above 2000 USD | $$$$$ |
