Pioneer DJ is really busy announcing new products lately! This time Pioneer announces the new DDJ-SP1 USB MIDI controller that is designed to work in conjunction with the new Serato DJ 1.5.0 software so users can trigger new effects and samples with the 16 velocity-sensitive performance pads, buttons, and knobs in a nice compact package.
The DDJ-SP1 is designed to be used as a “sub-controller” that works in conjunction with a primary Serato DJ controller or Mixer+DVS setup to offer the advanced features found on the Pioneer DDJ-SX controller to all Serato users. The DDJ-SP1 can also be used with the newly announced DJM-900SRT mixer for a dual-controller style setup to trigger advanced features in the Serato DJ software. The DDJ-SP1 has a nice compact size but is still made with a metal body for great durability.
The DDJ-SP1 has lots of the controls found on the DDJ-SX controller including the 16-velocity sensitive pads that are used to control hot cues, samples, loops, roll, and samples. When added to a setup, many of the advanced DDJ-SX controller features will now be accessible via the auxiliary DDJ-SP1 controller. The DDJ-SP1 can manipulate up to four different decks via a layered deck button control scheme. There is a sampler volume fader knob in the middle to control the volume of the SP-6 sample player in Serato. The DDJ-SP1 also has the Slip-Mode function to add a little more flare to your mixes. There’s a file navigation section in the middle to with an oversized knob and buttons to browse and select music while the top of the controller has control knobs and buttons for effects. The DDJ-SP1 also has a dedicated Serato Video Mode that allows users to add effects and transitions to the Video mix.
Even though the DDJ-SP1 is designed to work with Serato DJ 1.5.0, it is still a class compliant MIDI controller meaning it can be programmed to work with any MIDI-compatible DJ software out there and Pioneer will even have a Traktor .TSI mapping file ready to go when its released. We’ll be sure to get DDJ-SP1 sub-controller in the lab for a review at the same time we get the Pioneer DJM-900SRT, so be sure to stay tuned for lots more from Pioneer and Serato in the coming weeks. Peep the press release and performance video for more information.