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The chaps at Pioneer are at it again, having only recently unveiled the DJM-250 budget mixer, they are releasing even more consumer kit into the wild; this time it’s a new DJ controller called the DDJ-Ergo V.

The same company that ushered CD DJing into the mainstream, has already made its debut into the controller market, with the high end DDJ-S1 and DDJ-T1 models, but the Ergo V appears to be aimed squarely at a more mainstream audience.

On offer we have: Two platters, a two channel mixer with control for up to four decks, filters, FX and hot cues, which to be honest gives everyone but the most demanding users everything they need to perform a comprehensive DJ set. The inclusion of balanced TRS outputs along with the included Virtual DJ software hints at another intended market – the mobile DJ. A move that makes sense, as this is a big market in itself, and one that generally gets overlooked by the bigger names in the controller market (though plenty of offerings elsewhere).

Pioneer has a habit of blessing each new product with its own unique or trademark feature, and the DDJ-ERGO-V is no exception. This time up we see the debut of something called ‘Mix Pulse’ which is visual feedback about your mix via the numerous LEDs. Visual feedback is nothing new in itself, but Pioneer is taking it to the next level by introducing four different modes:

Mix Pulse: A blue LED on the jog wheel shows how close the phase of the mix is during a mix. The bigger the difference in pitch, the weaker the light. The closer the match, the more intense the light shines.
Beat Pulse: LEDs in the channel faders match the beat of the track in play. Plus the strength of the light reflects output levels, so you always know if a track is still in the mix.
Launch Pulse: A red light travels from the Load button towards the Jog Wheel to indicate when a track has been loaded.
FX Pulse: Various light patterns on the Jog Wheel clearly show which FX DJs have applied.

The rest of the spec is as below:

Bundled software: Virtual DJ Limited Edition
Input terminals: MIC x1 (1/4 inch Jack) / AUX x1 (RCA)
Output terminals: MASTER OUT x2 (1/4 inch Jack x１, RCA x1)
HEADPHONE MONITOR OUT x2 (front 1/4 inch Jack, MiniPin)
Other terminals: USB B terminal x1
Frequency range: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.006％ or less
S/N ratio: 101 dB
External dimensions: 555 mm (W) x 280 mm (D) x 103 mm (H) (when removing the leg : 555mm(W) x 280mm(D) x 62mm(H) )
Weight: 2.9 kg
Power: USB bus powered

The product launches in November, with an RRP of £449, which may come as a surprise to many, who will have expected a Pioneer product, with built in interface and decent connectivity to be priced at more of a premium.

The design looks sharp, innovative, and appealing, with the tilted interface no doubt making it comfortable to use, and the signature laptop docking space allowing you to tuck your computer underneath, claiming back vital surface space.

We’ll be going hands-on at BPM this weekend, and will update the post accordingly, but for now, if you were looking for a tidy bedroom DJ solution, or permanent set-up that doesn’t require lots of real estate, with a professional build, then this looks like a great contender in this market, with Pioneer seeming to pitch the features/price just right.

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