5 of the Best Portable DJ Controllers: Rock the Party Anytime, Anywhere
Incredible portable DJ controllers from Denon DJ, Numark, Reloop and more!
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Unplug and take it on the go with the best portable DJ controllers in shops today.
All About the Best Portable DJ Controllers
The Best Portable DJ Controllers
Some of the most rewarding gigs I’ve played throughout my DJ career have been in places other than typical clubs. There was Burning Man in the Nevada desert, a campsite on the Central California coast, and a random rooftop party in Los Angeles that got busted by a police helicopter. It’s these kinds of places that most benefit from a DJ controller that doesn’t require mains power, one that you can use as-is or with a USB power bank for on-the-spot party starting.
With that in mind, I’ve chosen five of the best portable DJ controllers on the market today. Some of these are standalone with built-in lithium-ion batteries, and others work with a laptop or phone/tablet and USB power.
Best Portable DJ Controllers: Denon DJ Prime Go+
Let’s kick things off with Prime Go+ from upstart company Denon DJ. The two-deck standalone DJ controller isn’t the biggest system on the planet, but that makes it all the more handy, with everything that the mobile jock needs in a compact package.
This popular portable monster has all mod DJ cons, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, plus support for most major streamers, including Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Beatport, Beatsource, Tidal, SoundCloud Go+, and even Dropbox. It also offers an SD card slot plus USB.
It’s no slouch in the controls department either, with two touch-capacitive jog wheels, dual-layer performance pads, high-resolution pitch sliders, a three-band EQ, and assignable FX. It also sports a seven-inch, multi-gesture touch screen and even a Day Mode for outdoor parties.
And, as you’d expect from Denon DJ, it’s extremely affordable, making it one of the best portable DJ controllers on the market today.
Denon DJ Prime Go+ is available from our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
Best Portable DJ Controllers: Numark Mixstream Pro Go
The Prime Go+ is admittedly on the pricey side. Not everyone has that kind of dosh to play with. If that sounds like you, consider Numark’s Mixstream Pro Go. It offers many of the same functions as other leading units, but for less money.
For starters, it’s a proper two-deck standalone DJ controller, meaning you can leave the laptop at home. It’s also got an internal lithium-ion battery, capable of powering the unit sans electrical plug. The party keeps rolling with Wi-Fi and support for streaming services like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Tidal, Beatport, Beatsource, SoundCloud Go+, and Dropbox. And, although you may want to use the Engine DJ-powered operating system when standalone, you can also plug it into your laptop for use with Serato DJ and Virtual DJ.
Mixstream Pro Go has even got built-in speakers, making it a solid choice for best portable DJ controller.
Numark Mixstream Pro Go is available from our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
Best Portable DJ Controllers: Reloop Buddy
For the next entry in our list of the best portable DJ controllers, there’s the Reloop Buddy. What makes this one special – aside from its bus power and extreme portability – is the deep integration with djay Pro. Compatible with all platforms (including iOS, iPadOS, Android, Mac, and PC), it lets you go to town with djay, a highly capable application and, thanks to its device compatibility, also a very portable one.
This two-deck controller offers two jog wheels capable of scratching, eight RGB color-coded performance pads for each deck, direct Neural Mix control for stem separation, plus seven additional performance modes including touch FX, sampler, slicer, bounce loop, and looper.
If you’re already a djay DJ, Reloop’s Buddy makes a solid – and very portable – option. Indeed, it is one of the best portable DJ controllers out there.
Reloop Buddy is available from our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
Best Portable DJ Controllers: Denon DJ SC Live 4
For the second Denon DJ recommendation of this list, let’s go with the SC Live 4. This may seem an unusual choice, as it’s not marketed as a portable unit like the Prime Go+ (above). But people do indeed take it out and about and run it off a USB power brick. Needs must!
Take the plunge, and you’ll be rewarded with a very full-featured standalone DJ controller. The four-channel Denon DJ SC Live 4 is compatible with Serato DJ (with free Pro unlock), Virtual DJ and Denon DJ’s proprietary Engine DJ. It streams via WiFi from Apple Music, Amazon Music, Unlimited TIDAL, Beatsource, Beatport Soundcloud GO+ and Dropbox, and you can upgrade for stem support too.
On the hardware side, you get a 7-inch multi-touch screen, 6-inch high-resolution jog wheels, eight performance pads per side, three-band EQ per channel, built-in sweep and BPM effects, and so much more. There are even speakers on board in case you need to rock a party right now and don’t have your monitors with you.
Denon DJ SC Live 4 is available from our affiliate partners Thomann* and Sweetwater*.
Best Portable DJ Controllers: AlphaTheta OMNIS-DUO
The name AlphaTheta is pretty much synonymous with DJing. Formerly known as Pioneer DJ, the first product to get released under the new moniker was OMNIS-DUO, a portable, standalone two-deck DJ controller. At only 4.6kg/10.1 lbs, it won’t weigh you down, and thanks to the lithium-ion battery, you can play for five hours on a charge, plenty of time to take the crowd on a musical journey.
Speaking of music, OMNIS-DUO has all sorts of options to access tunes. It’s got slots for your SD card and USB stick, as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for streaming (including Beatport, Tidal, and Apple Music). Of course, you can also plug in a laptop if you need, with support for rekordbox Performance and Serato DJ Lite.
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4 responses to “5 of the Best Portable DJ Controllers: Rock the Party Anytime, Anywhere”
singer needs Karaoke type of equipment for party shows .
I just started Deejaying
I am considering the Rev 7.
what is your position on the Rev 7.
nothing compares to traktor s4mk3
Roland 707m best controller for mobile dj,s without standalone system.