Buying guides
How to choose your first DJ controller
Start with the laptop or phone you already own. Depending on what you use, your first mix could cost nothing.
Think of two songs you’d love to hear back to back. As the first chorus ends, you start the second song quietly, then bring it up as the first fades out. You’ve just mixed two songs.
A DJ app lets you do that on screen. A DJ controller gives you real play buttons and volume sliders for the same job. You still use your laptop or phone to run the app.
If you’re starting on a laptop
For a first controller on a Windows laptop or Mac, we’d start with the Hercules Inpulse 200 MK3. Its lights help with one of the trickiest things to hear at first: whether the next song is playing a little faster or slower than the one you’re listening to.
Follow the lights as you adjust the speed. Once you can hear the beats line up, switch the lights off and try again by ear. DJUCED and Serato DJ Lite are included for compatible computers, so you don’t need a paid DJ app to start.
If you’re starting on an iPhone or iPad
On iPhone or iPad, you can try mixing before buying anything. Open the free mode in Serato DJ for iOS on a compatible device. Load two songs you own and practise fading between them with your finger. That’s a good way to find out whether you enjoy it.
Ready for real buttons? Both starter controllers work with Serato on supported iPhones and iPads. If you like Serato and want to learn by ear, we’d pick the ₱7,195 Hercules. Check your device and cable first, particularly if your iPhone has a Lightning port.
Can I use a DJ controller with my Android phone?
Yes, if your phone supports the DJ app and can connect to the controller. For the AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2, a good place to start is an app called rekordbox. Serato’s mobile app is for iPhone and iPad only.
Open Settings on your phone and search for Android version. The rekordbox app lists Android 13, 14, 15 and 16. If yours is listed, try mixing two songs in the app before buying any gear.
Some phones can run rekordbox but still have trouble connecting to the FLX2 by cable. Before you buy, tell us which phone you have so we can help you check. Already have the FLX2? See how to connect it to your phone.
What does the extra ₱6,295 get you?
The DDJ-FLX2 costs ₱13,490. The Hercules Inpulse 200 MK3 costs ₱7,195. If your Android phone works with the FLX2 and you like rekordbox, the extra money buys you physical controls for the app you’ve just tried. Its Smart Fader can adjust the speed and volume for you as you slide from one song to the next.
If you already have a compatible laptop or iPhone and want to learn to match the beats yourself, we’d save the ₱6,295 and choose the Hercules. Its lights show you when to speed up or slow down.
What do you need besides the controller?
Start with headphones you already own. If they’re wired and the plug fits your setup, use them. They let you listen to the next song privately while everyone else hears the first. DJs call that cueing. If you need a pair, the Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 is a wired option.
Speakers can wait. You can practise in headphones if your app lets you hear the whole mix through them. When you’re ready to connect speakers, check the sockets first. The Inpulse 200 MK3 takes a red-and-white RCA cable if your speakers have matching sockets. The FLX2 uses a round 3.5 mm socket instead.
Do you need to spend more?
If you’re learning to mix two songs at home, either starter is enough. Pick the one that works with your device and try it with two songs you love.
One reason to spend more is if you’ll also be making announcements at parties. The Hercules Inpulse 500 (₱20,995) has a socket for a microphone, so you can speak over the music.
Still unsure what fits your setup?
Tell us your phone or laptop model, what headphones or speakers you already have, and your total budget. That’s enough for us to help you choose a controller and check whether you need a cable or adapter.
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Already have a controller and want to practise with someone? Explore DJ lessons at Silent Noise.
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