Features:

  • The perfect DJ controller to introduce you to DJing, with Serato dj Lite included
  • Built-in sound card to pre-listen to the headphones and speaker outputs
  • Control the back lights on the base: RGB and strobe effects
  • All the essential features: bass/filter, Hot cue modes, loop, FX, Sampler, pressure sensitive jog wheels, etc.
  • Compact and easy to carry wherever you want
A professional DJ's opinion

Read some of the other reviews here, written by people who received this product from Amazon for free, who do not seem to know a whole lot about DJ hardware and what to expect from it. I am a professional DJ, and I'd like to give my two cents. I bought this controller just for fun to see how it is. I wasn't sure what to expect from it, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised. This controller comes with Serato DJ Lite, which another reviewer complained about because of the cost associated with upgrading to DJ Pro, and questioned the trustworthiness of Serato. I can assure you that Serato DJ Pro is extremely widely used and respected by pros, and although Lite has limited features and promotes upgrading to Pro, it is still very good software and its shortcomings shouldn't reflect negatively on the controller itself; especially since a Pro license is only $100, which, assuming you already have a laptop, makes your total investment $180 - an extremely reasonable price for a functioning DJ setup, seeing as a single Pioneer CDJ can cost 10x that. Anyway, upon getting the Starlight in the mail, I immediately plugged it in and got to some mixing. The knobs and pitch faders feel very high quality, not too far short of what you'd have on a much more expensive controller. The quality of the audio output is pretty good as well, not superb but no worse than an average smartphone's headphone jack. I saw other reviewers complaining about the inability to connect Bluetooth headphones; this is not a valid complaint, I have never known of any piece of DJ gear with Bluetooth output, mainly due to the lag and quality limitations of Bluetooth audio. I suppose the last thing to address would be the LED lighting, which is certainly corny, but it's a fun touch and I see how it could appeal to new and/or very young DJs. Overall I would recommend this product to anyone looking to try out DJing or to give to their children to do so (assuming they have access to a Windows or Mac laptop). Remember when buying any DJ or audio gear to take online reviews with a grain of salt. Some people don't know enough to judge whether a product is good or bad, but review it anyway, resulting in uninformed and unwarranted praise or criticism. There are lots of good websites to ask questions and inform yourself!

Game changer!

This controller is a game changer for any level of DJ. Amazing sensitivity on the jog wheel. The convenience of it when you are on the go or just chilling at home with your family. Have a small gig and don't want to haul your big controller or turntables? This thing is perfect to drag along with you laptop. Built in sound card surprisingly for the price point this controller is at sounds amazing. Work great with Serato or VDJ right out of the box if you already use one of them.

Best travel controller for turntablists, eclectic, or otherwise non-sync-button DJs

I've professionally DJed in bars and clubs for over a decade. I play a lot of eclectic setlists using a lot of music that was not made using a metronome (old funk, disco, rock). As many DJs know, a "sync" button is completely useless to people who DJ with this kind of music, because the beats never fall on steady points. Once Serato started allowing 3rd party controllers into their ecosystem, I spent a lot of time and money trying to find a portable controller that would let me scratch and beat sync the way that I'm used to - using the type of pitch adjustment and nudge functions that are available on a traditional turntable/CDJ/mixer setup. A lot have come close, but none has done it as well as this little controller has. Now I have something I can rock on the beach or on a plane, or even something I can use to test out mixes at home without setting up my whole rig. That said, there are a few drawbacks. First, not having all three EQ knobs stinks. Mixes and mashups are a lot smoother when you can target specific frequencies. And having the bass EQ also double as the filter knob can get confusing. You have to remember to reset the knobs to zero on both functions before starting another track or it's going to sound bad. Secondly, not having a dedicated library control function is kind of a bummer. Part of the whole point of having a controller is to not have to touch your computer to hit play and trigger cues. Fortunately in Serato, you can midi program some of these functions (I did a shift/jogwheel combo to scroll and shift/play to load in each deck). I'm not crazy. I realize that a lot of these functions are missing from the setup to keep the footprint small and make the controller more portable. And frankly the utility and portability of this device makes up for whatever shortcomings it may have, so it's still worth five stars in my book.

Perfect use

Got it for my roommate and he love it! I hear no complaints. He is able to do dj jobs with it. No heavy load-out.

A Must Have For Beginners and Pros!

I use this more than my pioneer ddj-1000! Great controller and works with Traktor 3 as well!

Great mini Dj controller

This is a great controller for the money. I'm a DJ with over 25 years of experience. This will be a backup controller for me but I could see this being a great "beginners" dj controller. It comes with Serato Dj Lite which has everything you need to get things going. I noticed that another reviewer stated that you would need to buy a Serato DJ Pro license to use this controller with Serato Dj Pro even if you already own the software. This is not true. If you "paid" for the Serato Dj Pro software through the Serato website then it will work with any Serato Dj Pro compatible controller. I plugged in this controller and I was able to use Serato Dj Pro without having to purchase anything. Now, if you have a controller that uses Serato Dj Pro such as the Pioneer DDjSX3 please remember that you do not "own" the software. It will only work with that controller. To fully unlock the software you have to purchase it. But once again if you are a new dj just starting off you can easily get by with Serato Dj Lite which comes free with this controller.

Fun and more than enough for my basic needs

When I ordered this little DJ controller, I didn't expect it to turn me into Grandmaster Flash overnight. With realistic expectations, I found it to be a fun little controller. The lighting effects are a neat touch, the controls aren't overwhelming and the Serato DJ Lite software is more than capable for a beginner. The Serato Lite software is actually free for anyone who registers to download it and I'm not crazy about the ads or need to log in with each use but it suits my very basic needs. There are numerous tutorials not only within the program but also online if you really want to learn the ins and outs of DJ'ing. I mainly got this controller to have some fun alone or at small parties that we occasionally throw. Although I wouldn't suggest volunteering to DJ your best friend's wedding with this little guy, it's more than sufficient for getting your feet wet as an introductory step to learning how to DJ. "Real" DJ controllers cost a couple hundred bucks or more, so it's an inexpensive way to learn to spin some tracks without relying totally on software. It's also nice and portable, so you can take it on the go for gatherings, cookouts, pool parties or other small to moderate sized gatherings.

Perfect mini controller (Serato)

Very basic controller, however, it’s ths most convenient, compact, and user friendly controller I’ve ever owned. It does the job it’s supposed to do which is to supplement and be the back-up to any big DJ system. I was impressed with its ability to scratch, play, and hook right up to Serato (a staple music programming for most DJs). Extremely convenient to travel with; I just threw it in my backpack. Took it on a thanksgiving trip to MD and it performed like a charm for the festivities.

Nice Controller for planning and backup

It’s a great product overall. And I like it’s features over the Numark (which I also have).

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