Pioneer DJ DJ Controller, Black, (DDJSB3)

Product Information

Unfortunately, the REV1 can only accept headphones with the smaller 1/8th inch TRRS port. We would have much-preferred Pioneer DJ to have equipped the REV1 with the larger 1/4inch port as well as we just don’t believe all beginner DJ’s use lower quality headphones. In Conclusion Inheriting the endearing traits of many top models of the DDJ-S series, the DJJ-SB3 series has an independent Auto Loop button and dedicated play and cue buttons. DJs can craft their performances easily. Also, DJs can easily learn new skills as well as master their pre-existing ones.

The DDJ-SB3 features straightforward audio connections. Headphones connect to the front of the controller using a smaller 1/8th TRS connection. Speakers connect to the two RCA line-level outputs on the rear, labelled master. These are colour coded with the red connection for the right speaker and white being for the left. So what are some of the features that make Pioneer DDJ-SB3 DJ Controller one of the best units you could ever buy? Well, to find out, read below.Before connecting the Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB3, ensure you have the latest version of Serato installed on your computer, available here . If though, you’re looking to get into scratching and want to create routines like the best, this is a fantastic place to start. The REV1 is a solid controller with a great layout and solid jog wheels and sets DJs up nicely to continue their progress with scratching! Other controllers to consider:

The trans feature applies to a gate or transformer, which means that it switches on and off rapidly to the beat. It’s a great effect that sounds great on vocals, and there are 8 timing variations to choose from. The Jazzy Jeff ButtonFinally, the TRS microphone input with dedicated volume control is found on the rear of the controller. It is worth noting that the microphones audio is not sent to the computer over USB, meaning you won’t hear it in recordings or streams. The patterns are simple (from Baby Scratch upwards), but they work fine and are fun; again, you could just as easily do them using the jogwheel, but according to Jazzy Jeff himself (see my exclusive interview with him), that’s the point: These are here to introduce beginners to scratching, and to show them what to practise.

The 2 channel mixer features a crossfader alongside total kill 3 band EQ, trim knob and a dedicated high/low pass effects filter for each channel. Inputs and Outputs The pads are where you access Hot Cues, FX Fade, Pad Scratch (aka “the “Jazzy Jeff button”), Sampler and Transformer (“Trans”). While the sampler is a stripped down simple sample triggering affair (four slots), the same with the Hot Cues (the other “slots” in both of these settings being used for some additional transport controls including Censor), the remaining three functions are a bit more fun. That’s no different from the DDJ-SB2. However, this controller still has a lot of stability to offer. Oh, the fuss! Oh, the uproar! How dare Pioneer DJ put a button on a controller that – Heaven forbid – scratches for you? What on earth was Jazzy Jeff thinking endorsing it, and even lending his scratch patterns for Pioneer DJ to use? Surely this signals the end of DJing?Like any good unit, this geat, too, has a few flaws. The device is small and might feel mediocre to use. Some customers did not like the monotone color of the performance pads. When it comes to pitching faders, DDJ-400 has better and longer pitch faders as compared to DDJ-SB3. Moreover, the former also has more precise manual tempo matching than the former. However, it’s worth remembering that the Pioneer DJ DDJ SB3 is a beginner’s DJ controller – an excellent beginner’s controller. While the Pioneer DDJ SB2 was excellent, the DDJ SB3 is great too – offering some exciting improvements on previous generations. The capacitive jog wheels are a little small, as are the pitch-fading tools. However, everything is responsive and efficient. Ultimately, the Pioneer DJ DDJ SB3 is a good step up from the DDJ-SB2. If you read our previous review on the last generation, you’ll know that the DDJ SB3 had some pretty big shoes to fill. The SB2 was an excellent beginner controller – and it still is.

Users with USB-C iPad devices can bypass the adaptor, using a USB-B to USB-C cable. Do note this method disables the iPad charging, so keep an eye on battery levels!

DJ Mixer

The only major downside we can see here is that there’s no slip mode. Having a slip option to work alongside the pad scratch mode would have been great. Pros and Cons