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The Numark Scratch is an excellent 2-channel Serato DJ mixer at a fantastic $499 price point. This review covers:
- Build Quality: All-metal design, compact, sturdy, built to last
- Innofader: Buttery smooth, tiny cut-in distance, perfect for scratching
- Effects Paddles: Echo, delay, flanger, reverb — same as high-end Serato mixers
- Performance Pads: 4 pads per deck for hot cues, samples, and rolls
- I/O: Master XLR, booth RCA, 2x phono/line inputs, mic input
- Downsides: No control vinyl included, only 2 inputs, no RGB pads
I'm here to give you guys a really quick rundown review of the brand new Numark Scratch Serato DJ 2-channel mixer. It's been a while since Numark came out with a new DJ mixer.
Numark used to make cool scratch mixers back in the day — the DXM Pro and the SMX, and they had a whole lot of other cool 2-channel scratch mixers. But this new one comes at an excellent price point of only $499 and it comes bundled with Serato DJ Pro.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | 2-channel DJ mixer |
| Software | Serato DJ Pro (bundled) |
| Crossfader | Innofader (replaceable) |
| Effects | Echo, delay, flanger, reverb, V.echo, phaser |
| Performance pads | 4 per deck (hot cue, sample, roll) |
| Price | $499 |
Setup
Setting this up is simple — just plug in a USB cable. It will work with most computers without any additional drivers. Windows users might need to download drivers from the Numark website.
Go to the Serato DJ website, download the latest Serato DJ Pro, and it'll just instantly work with it. You don't have to enter any licenses or anything.
You do need to supply your own timecode vinyl — they don't come with any Serato timecode vinyl. Whether you're using turntables or CD decks with timecode CDs, you'll have to get those on your own. At the $499 price point, it's hard to argue with that choice.
Build Quality
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Design | Nice and compact |
| Sturdiness | Very sturdy |
| Materials | Metal design all the way around |
| Feel | Built to last, high quality |
Overall you have a really nice design — it's nice and compact, very sturdy, has a nice metal design all the way around, and it just feels like it's definitely built to last.
Inputs and Outputs
Back Panel
| Port | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Master output | XLR balanced | Main PA connection |
| Master RCA | RCA | Alternative master output |
| Booth output | RCA | Separate booth monitoring |
| USB port | USB-B | Connection to computer |
| Channel 1 input | RCA | Line or Phono switchable |
| Channel 2 input | RCA | Line or Phono switchable |
| Ground post | Screw terminal | For turntable grounding |
| Mic input | XLR/TRS combo | Single microphone input |
Front Panel
| Port | Type |
|---|---|
| Headphone 1 | 1/4" |
| Headphone 2 | 3.5mm mini |
One downside: it doesn't have any auxiliary inputs or additional inputs beyond the two main channels. You're limited to the two inputs for your CDJs or turntables when using timecode.
Crossfader — Innofader
On the front, you have the Innofader scratch fader. Very good fader — everybody's used these before, and by now you know that they're very buttery smooth.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Innofader |
| Cut-in distance | Very small — perfect out of the box |
| Adjustable | Yes — open it up to change cutting distance |
| Feel | Buttery smooth |
| Replaceable | Yes |
You can open this thing up and change the cutting distance, but the factory cut-in distance is so small that I think it's going to be perfect for most DJ users right out of the box.
Slope Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Slope button | Quick press to toggle between fade and sharp cut |
| Crossfader reverse | Reverse crossfader direction |
You have slope controls between the faders. It's a quick press so you can go from a fade to a sharp cut really quickly. You also have a crossfader reverse.
Line Faders
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Feel | Nice and smooth |
| Speed | Very fast |
| Resistance | Not much resistance |
| Comparison | Similar to Innofader but not quite as smooth |
| Hamster | No hamster function found |
The line faders are not Innofaders, but they feel nice and smooth, are very fast, and don't have much resistance. About the same resistance as an Innofader but not quite as smooth — really good faders nonetheless.
Performance Pads
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number | 4 per side (8 total) |
| Backlight | Not RGB — single color |
| Feel | Click-y, very responsive |
| Drumming | Dual-finger drumming works perfectly |
The pads are not RGB backlit unfortunately, but that's okay at this price point. The buttons have a clicky noise when pressed, and they're very responsive. You can do dual-finger drumming and still get all your hits as soon as you press these pads.
Pad Modes
| Mode | Function |
|---|---|
| Hot Cue | 4 hot cues per deck |
| Sample | 4 samples per side |
| Roll | Loop roll — change loop length by corresponding pad |
Effects Controls
The effects section features cool paddles that everybody loves:
| Effect | Type |
|---|---|
| Echo | Standard echo |
| Delay | Timed delay |
| Flanger | Sweeping flanger |
| Reverb | Room/hall reverb |
| V.Echo | Vinyl echo |
| Phaser | Phaser effect |
How the Paddles Work
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Press down (momentary) | Effect is active while held |
| Hold upward | Effect stays continuously engaged |
When you press them down momentarily, you get that really cool effect. When you hold it upwards, the effect stays continuously acted upon the track for as long as you have it in that position. These paddles usually only come on upper-range Serato DJ mixers.
Other Controls
| Control | Location |
|---|---|
| Effects wet/dry | Above the effects select |
| 3-band EQ | Per channel |
| Gain/Trim | Top of each channel |
| Filter knob | Top left per channel |
| Master volume | Center panel |
| Booth volume | Center panel |
| LED strip meters | Center panel — see your mix levels |
Mic Section
| Control | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mic input | XLR/TRS combo on rear |
| Tone control | Simple tone/EQ |
| On/Off | Switch |
Loop Controls
| Action | Function |
|---|---|
| Press in | Enact a loop |
| Turn left | Shrink loop |
| Turn right | Grow loop |
| Shift + turn | Browse tracks/folders in Serato |
The loop controls double as browse controls when you press shift — making track selection easy without reaching for the laptop.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent $499 price point | No control vinyl included |
| Built-in Serato DJ Pro (no license needed) | Only 2 inputs — no aux |
| Innofader crossfader (buttery smooth) | Pads are not RGB backlit |
| Effects paddles (like high-end mixers) | No hamster for line faders |
| Solid metal construction | — |
| Compact and portable | — |
| Booth output with separate volume | — |
| Loop controls double as browsing | — |
Conclusion
The Numark Scratch DJ mixer is an excellent purchase for anyone in the Serato DJ market who doesn't want to spend an arm and a leg on a mixer that already has Serato DJ built-in.
What It Does Well
- Price — $499 for a Serato DJ Pro mixer with Innofader is incredible value
- Build quality — Metal construction, feels like it's built to last
- Innofader — Buttery smooth, tiny cut-in distance
- Effects paddles — Same as upper-range Serato DJ mixers
- Loop/browse controls — Browse tracks using the loop knobs with shift
- Booth output — Separate volume control
What Could Be Better
- Control vinyl — Would have been nice to include in the box
- Inputs — Only 2 inputs, no auxiliary
- Pad backlighting — Not RGB, but acceptable at this price
Numark has a really quality mixer here. It really feels like it's built to last, it's really well made. It has the pads, it has Serato DJ built-in — there's not too much more you can ask for at this price. An excellent mixer by Numark.