The Pioneer DDJ-SX3 is a popular DJ controller that was released back in 2018. With the arrival of many new controllers on the market during the last few years, you may be wondering if the DDJ-SX3 is still worth buying in 2024. In this article, we will take a bit of a closer look at the DDJ-SX3 and all of its most important features to help you decide whether or not it is still a viable option for you.
- Overview of the Pioneer DDJ-SX3
- Key Features of the Controller
- The Unique Control Layout
- DJ Software Compatibility
- DDJ-SX vs. SX2 vs. SX3
- Pros & Cons
- Is the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 Still Available Anywhere?
- So, Should You Buy the DDJ-SX3 in 2024?
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Overview of the Pioneer DDJ-SX3
The Pioneer DDJ-SX3 is a professional-grade DJ controller designed for use with Serato DJ Pro software. It features two decks with capacitive 5.8 inch jog wheels, a four-channel mixer, dedicated track key control buttons, basic version of Sound Color FX controls and a feature set not far behind more modern Pioneer DJ controllers such as the Pioneer DDJ-1000.
The DDJ-SX3 also includes a built-in sound card, XLR and RCA master outputs, audio inputs for every separate mixer channel and dedicated mic inputs. With a sleek and sturdy design, the DDJ-SX3 is still a powerful tool even when compared to some of the newer devices on the market.
The device is designed with Serato DJ software in mind. The software includes powerful features like Slip Mode, Quantize Mode, and Key Sync, which can be easily used with the device. It also includes the Serato Flip expansion feature, which lets you record and save your own loop macros – the SX3 has dedicated buttons for that.
Overall, the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 is still a great controller for any DJ looking for a professional and powerful all-in-one setup. To prove it, we’ll take a closer look at the actual feature set of the device.
Key Features of the Controller
Let’s get to the most important part. Here is the list all the features of the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 that in our opinion make it a worthwhile option even a few years after its initial release in 2018.
- 4 mixer channels for full control of 4 decks + standalone audio inputs for each channel.
- DVS capabilities.
- Dual USB ports for easy changeovers between DJs.
- Dedicated track key shift buttons.
- Basic version of Sound Color FX on the mixer.
- Unlocks the full version of Serato DJ Pro out of the box.
- Velocity-sensitive performance pads with RGB backlight.
- Full size search strip on top of each deck.
- Dual deck capabilities.
- Quality sound card built in.
- Three microphone inputs.
- Convenient Serato-style audio FX control set – two separate FX banks with beat parameter controls.
- Booth outputs for audio monitoring and balanced XLR outputs for connection to professional PA systems.
- Separate controls for Serato Flip loop recording.
These features make the DDJ-SX3 hold up pretty well even today, considering some of the functions listed are considered main selling points of much newer DJ controllers from the current hardware generations.
The unique control layout
Pioneer DDJ-SX3, just like its two predecessors – the SX and SX2, features a control layout that is based around the general functionality of Serato DJ software.
The main place where this shows is the placement of two separate audio FX control sections on top of each deck. These correspond directly to the way Serato DJ handles FX in the software. All of the SX controllers also feature a convenient Search Strip placed over each deck section. You can use it to quickly and accurately browse through a loaded track. Most newer Pioneer DDJ controllers like the DDJ-1000 lack this feature which some people deem vital.
Apart from the previous SX controllers and the DDJ-SR series, no new Pioneer DDJ controllers feature this exact control layout which many Serato users still find very convenient to use. This is also one of the reasons one might want to try and get a new SX3 nowadays.
DJ software compatibility
The Pioneer DDJ-SX3 is first and foremost compatible with the Serato DJ Pro. It acts as a hardware unlock device for the full version of the software. It’s also able to work with Virtual DJ provided you have an appropriate license bought, and with Traktor DJ, if you have a compatible mapping file for it.
The most important thing to take note of here is that the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 doesn’t support Rekordbox DJ software when the previously released DDJ-SX2 did. This is mainly because shortly after its release the Pioneer DDJ-1000 came about, and it has immediately taken its place as “the” dedicated Rekordbox controller. This in turn most probably pushed Pioneer to drop the Rekordbox support for the newest device from the SX series for rather obvious marketing reasons.
See also: What Is a Hardware Unlock Device? – DJ Controllers
DDJ-SX vs. SX2 vs. SX3
The original Pioneer DDJ-SX (which by the way I still use on occasion) was a real game breaker and one of the first full-fledged professional DJ controllers by Pioneer DJ that brought digital DJs a step closer to the actual club DJM x CDJ setup experience.
DDJ-SX2 further improved on the concept introducing colored RGB pads, Serato Flip software expansion dedicated buttons and DVS support among many other improvements.
Pioneer DDJ-SX3 on the other hand brought double USB inputs, 3 microphone ins, cut-down Sound Color FX access and Pitch Play, Key Shift and Key Sync buttons available directly on the device’s front panel.
As we’ve mentioned before, while both the original DDJ-SX and DDJ-SX2 support both Rekordbox and Serato DJ software, the DDJ-SX3 doesn’t work with Rekordbox at all.
If you’re looking for a Rekordbox dedicated DJ controller released the same year the DDJ-SX3 came to the market, take a look at the Pioneer DDJ-1000 – one of the most popular flagship Pioneer DJ controllers as of today.
See also: Pioneer DDJ-1000 vs. DDJ-1000SRT (What Are The Differences?)
Pros & Cons
Let’s summarize all this info in a short pros and cons segment showing you more or less where the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 stands these days.
Pioneer DDJ-SX3:
Pros:
- Convenient audio FX bank controls.
- Search strips on each deck.
- Key shift controls on each deck.
- Serato DJ based control layout.
- Mixer with standalone audio capabilities.
- DVS compatible.
Cons:
- No support for Rekordbox DJ software.
- Doesn’t have all the feature that newer Pioneer DJ devices offer.
Is the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 Still Available Anywhere?
Is the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 discontinued? Yes. Is it still available somewhere – also yes. While the device has been officially recalled by Pioneer DJ, entered their collection of legacy DJ controllers and is no longer in production, you can still find it used, or with some luck new in music stores that still may have the very last units in stock.
Used SX3’s are also still available in many second-hand online outlets, for example there are quite a few being sold over on Ebay.
Better safe than sorry: Buying Used DJ Equipment – Things To Look Out For!
So, Should You Buy the DDJ-SX3 in 2024?
While the Pioneer DDJ-SX3 is still a great DJ controller, it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are a professional DJ who needs all the latest features and effects, you may want to consider a newer controller with more recent capabilities. However, if you are a beginner or intermediate DJ looking for a reliable and versatile controller that you can get used for a good price, the DDJ-SX3 is still a great choice in the current year.
If you already own the DDJ-SX3 and are happy with its performance and feature set, there may even be no real need for you to upgrade to a newer model, unless you’re eager to make use of the updated feature sets of the more recent devices. Rock on!
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