Numark NS6 Professional 4-Channel DJ Controller with Serato

by Numark

Product Features

• Premium 4-channel digital DJ controller with rugged metal chassis and High Res MIDI
• Comprehensive input array: USB audio, (2) 1/4-Inch mic inputs, (4) sets of stereo RCA inputs, (2) selectable turntable inputs
• Touch-sensitive 6-Inch illuminated platters with industry-leading 3,600 ticks of resolution
• Strip search song navigation for blazing fast workflow
• Dedicated hardware FX controls and 3-band EQ and gain for each mixer channel
• Integrated 4-Channel 24-bit digital mixer
• Standard MIDI protocol for use with Serato and nearly any other digital DJ platforms on Mac or PC (Serato ITCH included, upgradeable to Serato DJ)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 13.2 x 2.5 inches ; 14.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 21 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B004S1PZP2
• Item model number: NS6
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,532 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #7 in Musical Instruments > DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke > DJ Equipment > DJ Sets
  • #24 in Musical Instruments > DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke > DJ Equipment > Mixers
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 5, 2011

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The most responsive, high-resolution touch-activated platters ever produced. View larger

The NS6 features multiple connection option to perfect your mixes. View larger

NS6 is a 4-channel Digital DJ controller with complete built-in mixer and four decks of software control. NS6 is the first truly pro-grade DJ controller and standalone 4-channel mixer with effects, allowing you to mix external sources with tracks on your computer. Simply put, there has never been this much versatility and control available for professional DJs. NS6's easy-to-use dual-platter system has been designed in collaboration with Serato to deliver powerful breakthrough performance to DJs of all kinds.

The Best Platters on the Planet

The NS6 platters are the most responsive, highest-resolution touch-activated platters ever produced in a DJ product, delivering an astounding 3,600 ticks of resolution per rotation. These are not "forced depression" platters that demand you press down every time you want to move the platter or scratch; the NS6 platters are ultra sensitive, responding to your touch, giving you extremely precise, high definition turntable control. With high-resolution 14-bit MIDI communication to your computer, NS6 keeps your mix super tight, erasing the line between hardware and software.

4 Decks of Crowd Control

Unlock the 4-deck power of the NS6 at the push of a button. View larger

Strip Search provides position-indicating LEDs of your track's timeline

Seamlessly mix external sources with tracks on your computer. View larger

With an all-new 4-deck version of Serato, NS6 gives you an unbelievable amount of options for performing. Serato's interface lines up vertically or horizontally for optimal viewing of the waveform alignment; you'll know exactly where you are and will easily be able to see how the tracks coincide. Layer selectors next to each platter are the keys to unlocking the 4-deck power of NS6. At the push of a button, you can switch between Decks 1 and 3 on the left side and Decks 2 and 4 on the right. Remix a track on the fly, layer effects, mix and match beats, bars and phrases from four different songs--NS6 is a true DJ's dream.

Virtual Needle Drop, Improved

NS6 was designed to blur the line between you and your music, to give you ultimate control and a truly interactive experience. NS6 takes Strip Search, the virtual needle drop technology introduced with NS7, one step further by providing position-indicating LEDs that give you a visual representation of a track's timeline, right in front of you. There's nothing like using Strip Search to instantly locate a point in the track. Now, you'll hardly have to look up.

Mix It All

At the heart of NS6 is a premium-quality fully independent 4-channel mixer that can be used with or without a computer, making NS6 perhaps the most versatile DJ controller and mixer combination in the world. NS6's four channels can easily transition between controlling Serato's four decks and controlling your external sources. Control Serato one moment; mix in your turntable, CD decks, or a mic the next. At its heart, NS6 is a software controller, but it's also ready to handle everything else you've got.

It Sounds As Good As It Looks

DJing is all about music, and music is all about sound. NS6's audio interface has been engineered to sound authentic and full, retaining the integrity of your music. NS6 is built around a genuine 24-bit mixer that sounds as good as you would expect from a professional audio interface. Pro-grade circuitry and premium inputs and outputs ensure your mix will sound punchy and strong night after night. As you would expect from a professional controller, NS6 has locking XLR outputs for a balanced signal path that will relay your mix reliably even over long distances.

Serato has been developed and refined to deliver a fully integrated DJ experience. View larger

NS6 provides instant crate control via a simple click knob. View larger

Slice and dice your tracks with NS6's assignable hot-cue buttons. View larger

Simple. Seamless. Solid. Serato.

Serato has become synonymous with intuitive, stable, powerful DJ software. Designed for DJs and built for live performance, Serato has been developed and refined to deliver a fully integrated DJ experience that is solid and reliable. You shouldn't need an instruction manual in the booth with you, so the interface of the 4-deck version of the software included with NS6 is clean and straightforward. Not only is it built to look and feel like true DJing, it was designed specifically for NS6 to ensure completely seamless performance. Free upgrades that constantly add new features and enhancements ensure that when Serato advances, you do too.

Dual FX, Limitless Possibilities

Interacting with the music is what DJing is all about, and NS6 opens creative doors in every direction. Two banks of assignable effects with parameters you can manipulate on the fly empower you to make the same track into a different track every time. NS6 takes it even further by allowing you to layer and blend effects. Choose from Delay, Crusher, Braker, LPF, HPF, Repeater and more. Each bank has 12 effects ready to mangle, warp and shape your audio.

No Keyboard Required

NS6 continues in the tradition of NS7, NS7FX and V7 by giving you complete, tactile control and real-time visual feedback of your set. You'll spend more time performing, less time looking at the computer screen. NS6 provides instant crate control via a simple click knob and large, backlit buttons to navigate through your music library.

Twisted Loops

With NS6 you get three ways to loop. Manual Loop gives you full control to set the ins and outs wherever you want. Auto loop uses parameters you assign to create a perfect loop at the touch of a button. Both Manual and Auto looping are perfect for creating intros or outros, and either can be divided, multiplied or shifted left or right in the track. NS6's third loop function, Loop Roll, enables dynamic stuttering effects while the track continues to play. Use it to build energy when you're coming out of a breakdown or simply want to interact and have fun with a song. NS6 is a DJ's instrument allowing you to squeeze, stutter, or hammer away at your mix.

Chop Shop

Slice and dice your tracks with NS6's assignable hot-cue buttons. This NS6 feature can be the key to creating unique and electrifying mixes as you assign hot-cues that express your style. Hot-cue-assign buttons on each deck digitally mark your cues on the track and act like on-the-fly samplers, enabling you to jump to different parts of the song. Build an arsenal of cues, then mix and deploy them as you improvise, build the mix, tear it down and energize the crowd.

Navigate your tracks and stay on the beat with the Skip button. View larger

Search In Sync

The Skip button on NS6 is an all-new feature you'll have to hear to believe. By depressing the Skip button and turning the platter you can get to any point of your track in seconds while staying on the beat. Miss that part you wanted to loop or set a cue at? With this powerful feature, you can go back and no one will ever know. Plus, if you need to get out of a track quickly, this is your escape hatch. Your mix loses no energy and your audience hears no rushed transition. It's like a musical time warp. You're just there.

Never Miss A Beat

During a live show, anything can happen, and NS6 was built to give you the tools necessary to respond. NS6's Beat Grid function gives you the ability to manually adjust the beat grid of any song. If you have a track where the drums aren't exactly perfect, like those with live drummers, the Beat Grid function enables you to go into the track and line up the beat perfectly. With the beat lined-up you can then use the Auto Loop, Beat Sync Effects, or Serato's 4-layer deck sync on the track and everything will be seamless and tight.

Features

• Premium digital DJ controller
• Four decks of Serato control
• Touch-sensitive 6" illuminated platters with industry-leading 3,600 ticks of resolution
• Strip search song navigation for blazing fast workflow
• Dedicated hardware FX controls
• 5 assignable hot-cue points for dynamic song manipulation
• Modular crossfader with user-adjustable slope control
• (2) Long-throw pitch faders
• (2) 1/4" mic inputs
• RCA inputs for each mixer channel
• Dedicated 3-band EQ and gain for each mixer channel
• Integrated 4-Channel 24-bit digital mixer
• Mouse-less music library controls
• Simple connection to your computer via a USB cable
• Standard MIDI protocol for use with Serato and nearly any other digital DJ platforms
• Mac or PC

What's in the Box

• NS6 Controller
• USB cable
• Power supply
• Serato ITCH software CD (upgradable to Serato DJ)
• Quickstart guide

Choose the Premium Numark DJ Controller That's Right For You

	NS6	NS7FX	4TRAK
Decks of Control	4	2	4
External Audio Mixer Channels	4	n/a	4
Platter Size	6"	7"	6"
Platter Type	Touch-sensitive, illuminated	Motorized, true vinyl top	Touch-sensitive, illuminated
Hot Cues	5	5	5
Wheel Resolution (per rev)	3600	3600	3600
Bit Depth	24-bit	24-bit	24-bit
Pitch Fader Length	100mm	100mm	100mm
Mic Inputs	2	1	2
Stereo RCA Inputs	4	1	4
Selectable Turntable Inputs	2	1	2
Replaceable Crossfader
Housing	Metal	Metal	Metal
Included Software	Serato ITCH	Serato ITCH	Traktor 4TRAK Edition
Wheel Illumination Detail	Illuminated ring: track position, deck state	n/a	Illuminated ring: track position, deck state
Strip Search
Communications	High Res MIDI (10X normal MIDI)	High Res MIDI (10X normal MIDI)	High Res MIDI (10X normal MIDI)
Loop Control	Manual & Instant w/ Size/Move, Loop Roll	Manual & Instant w/ Size/Move, Loop Roll	Manual & Instant w/ Size/Move, Loop Roll
Effects Controls
Song Select Controls	Rotary select, Loading, Views, Sort	Rotary select, Loading, Views, Sort	Rotary select, Loading, Views, Sort
General MIDI Support
1/4" (6.3mm) Headphone Output
1/8" (3.5mm) Headphone Output
Weight (lbs)	14	36	16
Size (inches)	23.8 x 13 x 2.5	30 x 15.9 x 3.9	23.8 x 15 x 3.5

Product Description

NS6 is a 4-channel Digital DJ controller with complete built-in mixer and four decks of software control. NS6 is the first truly pro-grade DJ controller and standalone 4-channel mixer with effects, allowing you to mix external sources with tracks on your computer. Simply put, there has never been this much versatility and control available for professional DJs. NS6's easy-to-use dual-platter system has been designed in collaboration with Serato to deliver powerful breakthrough performance to DJs of all kinds. The NS6 platters are the most responsive, highest-resolution touch-activated platters ever produced in a DJ product, delivering an astounding 3,600 ticks of resolution per rotation. These are not "forced depression" platters that demand you press down every time you want to move the platter or scratch; the NS6 platters are ultra sensitive, responding to your touch, giving you extremely precise, high definition turntable control. With high-resolution 14-bit MIDI communication to your computer, NS6 keeps your mix super tight, erasing the line between hardware and software.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent all in one dj package March 21, 2012

By R. Freiberger

Amazon Verified Purchase

My background is dj'ing with vinyl, then Serato Scratch Live, and most recently moving to controllers. I'm self taught, mostly from trial and error plus some group time with friends who dj'ed. While years ago I was highly interested in dj'ing, due to space and time, my gear is collecting dust in storage. I really enjoyed dj'ing and wanted to get back into the hobby, so I checked out the market for controllers. Last time I checked the market, the controllers were very toy like, jog wheels the size of Oreos, and faders were awful. Basically they were not up to my requirements of something I could actually scratch with, also have something at least close to Serato Scratch Live, or any digital vinyl system (Traktor included). What I really wanted was something I could get the same performance but replacing the turntables with a smaller item.

I pretty much gave up for a few years and most recently looked at the market again, starting with some research and buying a Native Instruments Audio 2 DJ with Traktor LE. I was impressed enough with Traktor 2 LE enough to buy Traktor 2 Pro, plus a Vestax VCI-400SE (Ean Golden edition from DJ Tech Tools). But what I found was the controller jog wheels didn't have the response I wanted out of the box. The delay wasn't huge, you could still beat mix using the jog wheels but they didn't have performance close to a digital vinyl system that I was looking for. A few people mentioned that this is a tuning issue, where you can manually adjust the jog wheel settings but I wanted something more basic, just plug and play.

After debating and researching some more, I took another look at the Numark NS6.... From many Youtube videos, the Numark NS6 had many positive reviews, was more solid feeling at the store, plus this was using Itch over Traktor (more on this later). I decided to order the Numark NS6 and use it with my Apple MacBookPro 13" base model (late 2011). Receiving the controller I found a nice surprise that the box mentions "Made in Taiwan" instead of China or other countries. It's a moot point but I rather see USA or Japan but these days it's rare to just see something not made in China.

Opening the controller, first thing I noticed is the weight. It's not a bad thing but the controller weights more than other controllers, giving a very solid over feel. If you're coming from turntables, it's going to feel feather light, if you're new to dj'ing, it's going to feel like a stack of magazines. Checking the hardware, I really liked the crossfader (very light like a Pioneer mixer) and the knobs all felt solid with just a slight amount of slack. The jog wheels are larger than the normal sized jog wheels (larger than the Kontrol S4) and have a nice weighted feel to them. Overall they are plastic but very solid, I hardly felt any play in the wheels when I pressed down on one edge. If you're used to vinyl, this helps with the transition, as with these jog wheels you can back spin the wheel for a few seconds. If you're used to CDJ's like the Pioneers, then this may not feel as natural. One of my favorite features of the NS6 is the long pitch controls, these are not as long as the Technics 1200 pitch adjustments, but much longer than on other controllers.

As mentioned earlier, this controller works with Serato Itch, software from the markers of Serato Scratch Live, but designed for controllers. If you're new to controllers in general I would highly recommend you decide if you like Itch or Traktor as they are very different in design and function. Just to give you a very very short summary (based upon my short experience), if you want something basic go for Itch, if you want extras go for Traktor. You can use this controller with Native Instruments Traktor 2 but reviewers have mentioned it's a rough change and not a tight integration as with Itch. Also at this pricing, if you want to run Traktor, the Kontrol S4 is a better choice.

The installation of Itch went very smooth on my Mac, I also installed this on a Windows 7 Professional 64bit machine with no issues. A slight problem I had was running the install program as "Administrator", I noticed this problem installing Serato Scratch Live as well. After installing, I plugged in the controller to the laptop, and updated the controller firmware as recommended. Since you can download Serato products without any registration, I would recommend going to Serato first, download the latest version of Itch instead of using the CD. After a few minutes of firmware updating, I was able to use the controller by loading up tracks.

From Itch, the interface is very simple, if you're moving from vinyl dj'ing, or a new dj, this will be a recommended choice. It's hard to describe the application in words but you get a clear view of the tracks playing (up to 4), a waterfall graph showing multiple tracks playing next to each other (great for beat mixing), a effects section showing current settings, and finally a music browser. Since Numark designed the NS6 to work with Itch, integration is done extremely well, the browser feature of the NS6 is nice, access to the effects is clear, also you have dedicated buttons for cue points, and Sync/Cue/Play buttons. There is also a not often mentioned button which I found extremely helpful, the two buttons below the pitch control which allow you to slight bend the pitch of a song very slightly. If you ever mixed on a pair of Technics 1200's, you could do the same trick by holding down the "33" button, then tapping the "45" button to push the track. Another nice feature is the strip search, basically a laptop style touch pad that allows you to scroll through a song. This works very well and you can somewhat pin point the drop where you want.

Moving to the jog wheels, they are very easy to work with. These are the dual mode wheels, where the top can be configured in scratch mode (emulating vinyl, music will stop), or pitch control (music never stops, pitch is changed upon movement). The sides of the jog wheels allow for small adjustments, and I found it was very easy to transition to this from vinyl. I would highly recommend which ever controller you buy, look for one with these type of jog wheels, cheaper controllers usually have single mode jog wheels where you loose the ability of touch the side for small adjustments. Another nice plus is the rotating LED on each platter, which is also color coded if you're using deck A/B/C/D. Very handy.

Getting to the overall performance with the NS6, it's a great controller to work with. The jog wheels feel very responsive and have near vinyl performance. The weighted feel of the jog wheels reminds me of the feel of vinyl. Sound is excellent with a good loud headphone amp, master and booth outputs, something rare these days. The buttons are made of a harder plastic (feels similar to buttons on a gaming controller) but I didn't have any issues with the feel, it's very solid and clicky. The pitch adjustment is done very well, I noticed better pitch tracking than on other controllers, which is great if you're not using Sync. The eq section has a nice cutoff as well, it's not 0db but enough to kill the levels as needed.

In a few minutes without reading the manual, I was able to get myself going with a few mixes and playing with the effects as well. After reading the manual I experimented further with the effects section and looping using the buttons on the controller. Basically, every function in Itch is hard mapped to a button on the controller. While it's a simple interface, there's enough to get really deep into mixing or making new cue points. Also if you're frustrated by controllers and trying to find a certain part of the song, the strip search feature is great, and works very well.

On to the not so nice issues of the NS6, and this was hard to write. First off, off all the controllers I played with, this is a very impressive item. But I felt there could have been some improvements. One issue is the master levels, I could not figure out how to display the output instead of volume output. The problem is it's set to output, so if I increase the volume, so does the master levels. Normally, the master levels are showing the output before the volume, so there's no effect on how little or lot you adjust the volumne. Now this isn't a big deal with the auto gain feature of Itch but still annoying. Another item is when you cue up one channel, it will automatically enable that channel on the jog wheel. Now this is handy but I could not find any way of disabling this feature.

A down side I also found was the effects in Itch, which I personally felt they are a few steps below the effects in Traktor. I mention this as most likely you'll be using Itch with the NS6. I tried all of the effects with various types of music but I could never find something that worked, most of the effects sounded too processed. I also tried to add a smaller amount of mix, as you have a nice wet/dry control, still getting this weird "hall" effect.

This brings up an important difference between Itch and Traktor. With Itch, it's very simple to configure and use, think of this like the Apple iPhone, it's not designed to change the settings internally, it designed to work out of the box. The down side is if you want to reassign a button, that's not possible. With Traktor, you have more options with the configuration, like an Android phone but also there's more customization issues that may have a problem with. The big difference here is that Itch only supports Itch approved hardware, but Traktor can be configured with different vendor midi controllers. Personally this is really a preference for your needs. As mentioned before Itch is a simpler interface if you're looking for basic features, where as Traktor allows for great customization but with a slightly larger processing performance hit.

If you're looking for a near vinyl feel, or used to Serato, I would recommend a look at this controller. It's smaller than two turntables but also big enough it doesn't feel like a toy. If you're new to dj'ing, this is a great starting point, it's simple enough to get started but no over complex where you're goingt be lost. Plus there's room to grow when you move to hot cues and other features. The NS6 might not be best controller, but really there is no best controller, just what fits you're needs the best. The effects are a low point of the NS6 but the build quality and important features work well which makes this a great choice. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Controller! November 7, 2011

By ben baker

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was completely satisfied with the Numark NS6! It was a great piece of hardware, and worked perfectly with the included software. The included version of serato itch is very user friendly and easy to understand. The platters are amazingly responsive feel great to use. The NS6 includes a feature that helps you to match the beats of multiple songs without even looking at your laptop. The effects area, and library navigation are very useful and helpful. It is an overall wonderful piece of equipment! I would recommend it to any and everyone, of all DJing levels.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NS6 is awesome!!!!! December 30, 2012

By Dwalker

Amazon Verified Purchase

My NS6 arrived a few days after ordering it. The item was used but came in it's original packaging with the instruction manuals. It did not come with Serato Itch cd but I was able to download the software. The mixer works great and I am well on my way to becoming a "real" Dj thanks to the NS6.........?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Controller but to much issues with Win 7 August 24, 2012

By Dj Hooligan

Amazon Verified Purchase

It's a wonderful dj controller but i'm having to much issues with windows 7.
The sound is very very good, the scratchers are so responsive, the mixer is wonderful!! The controller is heavy and it is so powerful, I'm so happy with it. The effects are very nice and with this mixer/controller you can Mix music like a Pro Dj or Club Dj.

Notes:

- It seems that this controller works with serato but works better in a Mac than a Pc with windows 7 or vista.
- I recommend this controller/mixer if you are a club dj or pro dj.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars O.O Wowza! April 13, 2012

By Walter St. Clair

Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow. Just, wow. The NS6 is amazing. There are so many features on this thing it's ridiculous. It's built like a tank, the buttons are made to be mashed on, the platters are spot on for scratching, the crossfader is customer replaceable, it works perfectly with ITCH, you get free access to WhiteLabel.net... It's just wonderful. If you are thinking about getting a mixer/controller, then look no further, this has it all and in a weeks time you will be making studio sounding mixes like a pro.
Have fun!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Like a glove March 2, 2013

By Mark Roane

Amazon Verified Purchase

I had been searching for a controller that felt solid and natural to use like turntables. I finally decided to go with the Ns6. Its controls are very intuitive and I feel like Im using turntables again in a virtual setting. My only complaint is that the software is not stable with computers using AMD processors, so now I have to get another laptop. I didnt give it the full 5 stars for this reason.

Dj P_LO Detroit

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing DJ Controller November 24, 2012

By Josh

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an amazing DJ controller. I have been using it for about 6 months now and i couldn't be happier with the product. High Quality and very durable, this should last me for years to come.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SPEECHLESS October 2, 2012

By bigd

Amazon Verified Purchase

i can't put it in to words but i feel obligated to add my 5 star rating to this. absolutely perfect "beginner's" setup. i use the beginner term extremely loose as you can check out any of the numerous reviews on youtube and you'll see it has equal potential to produce great mixes as any CDJ out there. i didn't want a toddler's toy to begin with where i'd master it in a few weeks, and this is far from it. you can easily take this to a professional level.

the interface is awesome, perfectly laid out. i'm only a week into it and i've mastered loops, cues and beatmatching (i refuse to use the sync button). most of my quick success is due to the ITCH software, also fantastic for a beginner. i have read several reviews it isn't the greatest software available, and the Numark struggles with other midi software, but i'm totally satisfied with it. it does all i need for my level. by the time i'm qualified to produce my own tracks from scratch i'll be long since upgraded. but for now, this thing is awesome.

there's also tons of tutorials on youtube and even more articles. plenty of resources to get you going. the instruction manual is only 3 pages per language and i love it. basically like a newborn baby, figure it out for yourself. and i have done just that. in less than one week.

craftsmanship is amazing. it's solid. i've read some complaints about the weight but i simply don't see it. the thing is light but not too light. easily transportable.

i'm running win7 x64 and have had zero issues with skips or latency, even with many other programs and services running.

great, great buy.