Today I review Numark’s DJ2GO2 Touch DJ Controller. In my work as a professional musician, I often see DJs at my gigs. I am always curious to see their setups, which always include a DJ mixer or controller. DJs generally have a compact and portable setup, so when Best Buy asked me to review the DJ2GO2 Touch pocket-sized DJ controller, I was happy to accept the task.
In this review, I explore the many features of Numark’s DJ2GO2 Touch. As I examine each feature, I will give my impression of the quality and functionality of the DJ controller.
What’s included in the DJ2GO2 kit
Inside the box, you will find everything you need to connect and start mixing your tracks. First and foremost is the DJ2GO2 Touch DJ controller. Second, are two cables. A mini-USB cable connects the controller to your computer. Another 1-8 to RCA cable connects your output sound to whatever sound mixer or console you use to broadcast the music to the party. Finally, there is a download card for Serato DJ Lite, a DJ software that is fully compatible for use with the DJ2GO2 Touch.
I start by downloading Serato DJ Lite. Next, I begin to explore the DJ2GO2 DJ controller.
DJ2GO2 Touch is small and lightweight
The DJ2GO2 Touch is a portable DJ controller designed to give DJs everything they need in an extremely portable format. It is USB-powered and connects to my laptop computer with ease. The DJ2GO2 is also class-compliant. There are no driver requirements to make everything work well.
The DJ2GO2 is remarkably small! Numark calls it “pocket-sized”, which is arguable if you take the term literally. However, there is no disputing that the unit is compact. It is manufactured from plastic, making it lightweight. Plastic construction is more fragile than metal, but if you are careful with your DJ equipment, the DJ2GO2 should stand up to heavy use. When you consider weight, portability, and price, the tradeoff is easy to make.
The design of the DJ2GO2 is such that it fits over the trackpad area of most laptop computers. This means that the footprint of your laptop is exactly how much space your entire DJ setup will require. I expected to find myself tripping all over my laptop keyboard as I used the unit, but surprisingly this did not happen. There are two reasons for this, the first is that you do not need to access your keyboard once you are DJing. Secondly, the DJ2GO2 is very unobtrusive. Besides, if ever you really need to have clear access to the keyboard, the DJ2GO2 module is very easy to move aside.
Standard DJ features within a classic layout
Despite its small footprint, the DJ2GO2 finds room for all of the classic DJ deck features that you expect from larger more expensive DJ equipment. There are two identical Decks (Decks 1 and 2), each of which features jog wheels, four cue pads, play buttons, cue buttons, volume knobs, and a sync button for matching tempos between Decks 1 and 2.
In the centre, you will find the crossfader, and a selector for choosing the “pad mode”, which toggles between Cues, Auto, Manual and Sampler options. The centre panel also features a Browse knob, which is useful for scrolling through your music library to find the next track you want for your mix.
Jog wheels are quite small
The DJ2GO2 has a jog wheel for both Deck 1 and Deck 2. The jog wheels work fantastically, but it is here I find one small drawback. Proportionally, the jog wheels seem to be the same size you find on other DJ controllers. However, the jog wheels are smaller on this controller and the difference in the circumference results in a jog wheel that is very sensitive to the movements you make with it.
As I try to scratch and manipulate the audio, it takes some time to adjust to how rapidly the jog wheel scrubs the audio. This is a small note to make, as things feel out of control at first. Like any instrument, the more you use it, the more comfortable you will become with it.
Pitch Faders and Crossfader are good quality
The Pitch Faders for Decks 1 and 2 work well. They offer a small amount of resistance that you want to feel in this sort of fader. The Crossfader is also nice and free-flowing, a necessity for this element. Nevertheless, the construction is still plastic, so you might want to be careful about getting too energetic with the crossfader, as it could weaken easily.
Cue mix options at the touch of a button
Each of the Decks features a Pre-Fader Listen (PFL) button, allowing you to listen to a cue mix of the corresponding deck. Listen to the cue mix via the 1/8″ headphone output on the right side of the unit. You will find the volume for the cue level in the Deck 2 controls and it is easy to spot as it is coloured grey.
Connect to sound console or mixer via 1-8″-to-RCA output
The DJ2GO2 sends audio through a 1/8″-to-RCA cable, which you will find in the box. Plug this into any mixer or sound console and you will have your party happening in no time. It is very easy to set up.
Serato DJ Lite software is perfect for your needs
The default DJ application for the DJ2GO2 Touch is Serato DJ Lite. It is included as a download with the package and it is fantastic to get you started on your DJ journey. For a starter version, DJ Lite has a surprising amount of features. DJ Lite is also optimized to work with the DJ2GO2. All of the buttons do exactly what you expect them to as they are well-mapped to the software.
If you already have a preferred DJ app or software, DJ2GO2 Touch contains a midi-mapping option to communicate with most other DJ software available. There is no obligation to use Numark’s software!
Tidal integration … but not Spotify or Apple Music
When it comes to building your music library, the DJ2GO2 offers support for the streaming service Tidal. It does not offer support for other major players such as Spotify or Apple music, however. At first, this may seem frustrating, but there is a good reason for this.
Tidal guarantees a high-quality stream for your music. This makes it ideal for DJs because there is never a question of having a lower-resolution .mp3 file in your library. The other streaming services vary in quality and often are limited to a much lower resolution than Tidal.
When I listen using headphones, I may not notice the difference in resolution. However, the difference is very noticeable when you broadcast a lower-resolution MP3 over a large booming sound system. It is my opinion that Numark limits your options simply to ensure that you have the best sound available when you are making the dance floor bounce!
DJ2GO2 Touch is impressive for its size!
My time reviewing Numark’s DJ2GO2 Touch portable DJ Controller was wholly pleasant and fun. It is easy to set up, easy to use and appeals to my aesthetic sense due to its compact size. It is very affordable, making it a great option for new DJs, a first DJ controller for kids, DJs who are in need of a more compact setup, and travelling DJs. You could even use the DJ2GO2 Touch as a practice tool, as you prepare for that next big gig!
Get your Numark DJ2GO2 controller today or explore the large selection of DJ Mixers and Controllers available on bestbuy.ca. Take a look, you are sure to find what you need!
