Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX: FX Paddles for Serato Beginners
· re:union Radio editorial · 3 min read
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX: 6-inch jog wheels with displays, FX paddles and Serato DJ Lite. What the entry-level controller offers and where its limits lie.
With the Mixtrack Platinum FX, launched in May 2020, Numark replaced the 2016 Mixtrack Platinum – and rethought the effects above all. Instead of small buttons on each deck, there is now a central FX section with two paddles, the kind you know from battle mixers. Filter sweeps and echo tails sit right where your hands already are while you mix.
At a glance
- Serato controller with deck switching for four decks – although four decks require Serato DJ Pro
- 6-inch capacitive-touch jog wheels with a colour display in the centre
- Six paddle-triggered effects: echo, reverb, flanger, phaser, high-pass and low-pass filter
- USB bus power, 24-bit audio output
Paddles instead of button rows: how the FX section works
The paddles are vertical switches with an off position in the middle. Push one up and the effect locks on; pull it down and the effect runs only while you hold it, springing back when you let go. Above them, six buttons select echo, reverb, flanger, phaser, high-pass or low-pass filter.
You also get a dry/wet knob, a Beats knob for the effect's cycle length and a Tap button in case the software has misread the tempo. According to Digital DJ Tips, you control one chosen effect across the whole controller. DJ Times points out that the effects are post line fader and post crossfader: pull the fader down and your echo still rings out.
Jog wheels with displays and pads with Fader Cuts
The capacitive jog wheels measure 6 inches. High-resolution displays in their centre show BPM, platter position, time remaining, pitch and key. According to Digital DJ Tips, these displays and the four-deck switching are what set the Platinum FX apart from the cheaper Mixtrack Pro FX.
Below the jog wheels sit 16 performance pads, eight per deck, with dedicated mode buttons for Hot Cues, Auto Loop, Sampler and Fader Cuts. Fader Cuts chops the track rhythmically like a gate – Numark describes it as emulating a flare scratch of up to four clicks. The catch: in Serato DJ Lite the lower four pads handle transport functions, leaving you four cue points. Only with Serato DJ Pro do all eight become full performance pads.
Specifications
| Decks | 4 via deck switching (2 in Serato DJ Lite) |
|---|---|
| Jog wheels | 6 inches, capacitive, with colour display |
| Performance pads | 16 (8 per deck) |
| Hardware effects | 6, controlled by paddles |
| Mixer | 3-band EQ and filter knob per channel |
| Audio | 44.1 kHz, 24-bit |
| Main output | 1 × RCA stereo pair |
| Headphones | 1/4" (6.35 mm) and 1/8" (3.5 mm) TRS |
| Microphone input | 1 × 1/4" (6.35 mm) TS |
| Power | USB bus power |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 53.6 × 24.6 × 5.1 cm |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
| Software | Serato DJ Lite, upgradeable to Serato DJ Pro |
Who the Mixtrack Platinum FX is for
Numark aims the controller at beginners, small events and parties. Serato DJ Lite includes demo music and an onboarding tutorial; if you like, you can stream tracks from TIDAL or SoundCloud, which requires a subscription. Numark also includes a two-month trial of the SoundSwitch lighting software. A microphone is not included.
Factor in the limits from the start: four decks, all eight pads per side and a record function only come with the paid Serato DJ Pro. According to Digital DJ Tips the housing is plastic throughout, and the supplied cable uses a classic USB-A plug – on a USB-C laptop you will need an adapter. Whether a controller is the right way in at all is covered in our article DJ controller vs. CDJs: which is better for you?.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Mixtrack Platinum FX have a built-in sound card?
Yes. Numark lists a 24-bit, 44.1 kHz audio output, an RCA output for powered speakers and two headphone jacks. You do not need an external audio interface.
Can I use four decks with Serato DJ Lite?
No. According to Digital DJ Tips, four-deck control only works after upgrading to Serato DJ Pro.
Does the controller need a power adapter?
No. It draws its power from the computer via the USB cable.
Source: Numark, Digital DJ Tips, DJ Times
