Setup
Licensing & software
This is a Serato DJ Pro hardware unlocked device, meaning it unlocks Serato DJ Pro when connected.
It is also a Serato DVS hardware unlocked device, meaning it unlocks Serato DVS functionality when connected.
Please ensure you have the latest version of Serato DJ Pro installed:
Drivers & firmware
The Pioneer DDJ-SX2 is a class-compliant USB plug-and-play device for Mac; however, it requires drivers for Windows.
Visit the Pioneer DJ Support website to download and install the latest DDJ-SX2 Windows driver
Overview
| # | DDJ-SX2 CONTROL | FUNCTION |
| 1 | MASTER OUT 1 | Balanced Master Output (XLR) to speakers |
| 2 | AUX INPUT | Connect an auxiliary input (RCA) |
| 3 | BOOTH OUT | Adjusts the volume of the Booth output |
| 4 | BOOTH/MASTER SELECT SWITCH | Choose to send RCA output to Booth or Master |
| 5 | BOOTH/MASTER OUT 2 | Master or Booth output (RCA) to speakers |
| 6 | MASTER OUT 1 | Master output (TRS) to speakers |
| 7 | INPUT/CHANNEL 2 | Connect line or phono level input via RCA |
| 8 | INPUT/CHANNEL 1 | Connect line or phono level input via RCA |
| 9 | MIC 1 INPUT | XLR/1/4" microphone input |
| 10 | KENSINGTON LOCK | Connect Kensington Lock to secure the device |
| 11 | USB | Connect a USB cable to a computer |
| 12 | POWER SWITCH | Turn the device on/off |
| 13 | DC INPUT | Adjust the volume of the Mic input |
| 14 | CORD HOOK | Secure the AC power cable |
| 15 | HEADPHONE OUTPUT | Connect headphones via a 1/4" or 1/8" audio output |
| 16 | HEADPHONE VOLUME | Adjusts the volume of the headphone audio |
| 17 | CHANNEL ASSIGN | Assign channels 1 & 2 to crossfader A, B or THRU |
| 18 | CHANNEL ASSIGN | Assign channels 3 & 4 to crossfader A, B or THRU |
| 19 | CROSSFADER CURVE ADJUST | Adjust the crossfader between a slow gradual fade and a sharper cut |
| # | DDJ-SX2 CONTROL | FUNCTION |
SHIFT |
| 1 | FX 1-3 | DJ-FX slot 1-3 Effect On/Off/Adjust Slot 1-3 FX Parameter | Slot 1-3 Select Effect |
| 2 | BEATS | Adjust Beats Multiplier | - |
| 3 | TAP TEMPO | Tap to the desired FX tempo. To return to AUTO mode, press and hold | - |
| 4 | KEYLOCK | Keylock On/Off | Toggles Pitch Range |
| 5 | LOAD | Loads highlighted track to deck | Sort library by column |
| 6 | CHANNEL GAIN/EQ | Channel gain and EQ controls | - |
| 7 | MASTER OUTPUT | Adjusts Master volume for controller | - |
| 8 | BACK | Toggles focus back between Library and Crate list | Toggle through Serato DJ Pro view modes |
| 9 | BROWSER | Library scroll | - |
| 10 | LOAD PREPARE | Loads the highlighted track to Prepare Crate | Toggle through Serato DJ Pro areas |
| 11 | FX ASSIGN | Assign channel to FX unit A/B | |
| 12 | BOOTH MONITOR | Adjust booth monitor output volume | |
| 13 | HEADPHONE MIX | Assign headphone mix Master/Cue | |
| 14 | TOUCH STRIP | Jump to track position | |
| 15 | SLIP | Turn Slip On | Toggle Vinyl/Jog platter mode |
| 16 | TEMPO SLIDER | Adjust tempo/pitch | - |
| 17 | FLIP CONTROLS | SEE SERATO FLIP FOR MORE INFORMATION | - |
| 18 | LOOP CONTROLS | SEE LOOPING FOR MORE INFORMATION | - |
| 19 | PARAMETER1 | Adjusts Parameter1 in performance pad modes | Adjusts Parameter2 in performance pad modes |
| 20 | FILTER | Dedicated channel HP/LP Filter | - |
| 21 | CHANNEL CUE | Cues selected channel for headphone monitoring | - |
| 22 | CROSSFADER ASSIGN | Assigns crossfader to channel A/Thru/B | - |
| 23 | MASTER CUE | Cues master channel for headphone monitoring | - |
| 24 | CROSSFADER | Crossfade audio between channels A & B | - |
| 25 | SAMPLER VOL | Adjust Sampler volume | - |
| 26 | CHANNEL FADER | Channel volume | Fader Start |
| 27 | PERFORMANCE PADS | SEE PERFORMANCE PADS FOR MORE INFORMATION | - |
| 28 | PLAY/PAUSE | Toggles Play/Pause on selected deck | Stutter Play |
| 29 | CUE | Cues from temp cue point/Set Temp Cue point | - |
| 30 | SYNC | Turns SYNC On | Turns SYNC Off |
| 31 | SHIFT | Used with other controls that have SHIFT modifier functions | - |
| 32 | DECK SELECT | Change Deck Layer | - |
| 33 | DECK SELECT |
Change Deck Layer Press both to engage Dual mode |
- |
| 34 | PLATTER/JOG WHEEL | Control waveform within Serato DJ Pro | - |
| 35 | BEATGRID SLIP | Enable Beatgrid Slip mode | - |
| 36 | BEATGRID ADJUST | Enable Beatgrid Adjust mode | - |
| 37 | CENSOR | Censors playing track | Enables reverse |
| 38 | PANEL SELECT | Toggles through Serato DJ panels | - |
Performance Pads
The Pioneer DJ DDJ-SX2 has 8 RGB performance pads that can be used across 8 different modes.
The modes consist of:
HOT CUE mode: Pads 1-8 trigger Serato DJ Pro Cue points, and if no Cue point is present on that slot/ pad, sets a Cue point. Holding SHIFT while pressing a pad will clear the Cue point from that pad/slot. Press Hot Cue mode twice to enable Flip performance mode. Pressing pads 1-6 in will trigger saved Flips, pressing SHIFT + pads 1-6 will turn saved Flips on/off. Pressing an empty Flip slot will save any active Flip to that slot. SHIFT + HOT CUE will enable Cue Loop mode. Press pads 1-8 will play a Loop Roll from the Cue point position.
ROLL mode: When pressing buttons 1-8 you can activate a loop roll. The loop length is determined by the Auto Loop Range currently selected in the Loop section of the software, which you can change using the PARAMETER1 buttons. Press ROLL twice to enable Saved Loops mode. Pads 1-8 will trigger saved loops.
SLICER mode: A specified range (or domain) is divided into eight equal sections, and these eight sliced sections are assigned to the respective performance pads. Pressing SLICER once for the first mode, is a shifting Slicer Domain. Pressing SLICER twice, for the second mode is a fixed Slicer Domain or “loop”. Use PARAMETER1 to set the quantization for the slicer function. The quantization can be set in four ways: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1. Hold SHIFT + PARAMETER1 to set the domain. The domain can be set to one of six settings: 2 beats, 4 beats, 8 beats, 16 beats, 32 beats or 64 beats.
SAMPLER Mode: Buttons 1-8 Trigger Samples loaded in your Sample Banks. Use the PARAMETER1 Left and right buttons to cycle through Sample Banks. Press the SAMPLER mode button twice to enable velocity sensitivity. When enabled, the Sampler sample slot volume will now be velocity sensitive when played using the performance pads.
Looping
You can control Auto and Manual Loops within Serato DJ Pro, using controls on the Pioneer DJ DDJ-SX2
NOTE: You can also save a loop to the next available free loop slot in the software. To do this, click on an available loop slot. Your loops are saved to the file and recalled the next time it is loaded. They are not lost if the file is moved or renamed.
| DDJ-SX2 CONTROL | FUNCTION |
SHIFT |
| IN |
Set loop in point (Loop not active) Adjust loop in point (Loop active) |
Saved Loop slot select |
| OUT |
Set loop out point (Loop in point set) Adjust loop out point(Loop active) |
Loop Exit (Loop active) Reloop (Loop not active) |
| AUTO LOOP |
Active/Deactive Autoloop |
Activate selected loop |
| 2X |
Double Loop Length |
Loop Shift Right |
| 1/2X |
Halve Loop Length |
Loop Shift Left |
Flip
Flip is an Expansion Pack for Serato DJ Pro. Flip controls are only available once the Expansion pack has been purchased and activated. The Expansion pack can be bought via Serato.com -https://serato.com/dj/pro/expansions
Please check out our Flip User Guide for more information on using Flip.
In Hot Cue performance pad mode the Left and Right Parameter buttons are used to record and trigger Flips.
Press HOT CUE mode twice to enter Flip performance pad mode. Pressing pads 1-6 in will trigger saved Flips, pressing SHIFT + pads 1-6 will turn saved Flips on/off. Pressing an empty Flip slot will save any active Flip to that slot.
The DDJ-SX2 also has dedicated Flip controls.
| DDJ-SX2 CONTROL | FUNCTION |
SHIFT |
| SLOT |
Cycle through the available Flip slots |
Save the current Flip to next available Flip slot |
| REC |
Starts the recording of a new Flip |
Turns Flip Loop on/off |
| START |
Starts the current Flip /re-trigger Flip |
Turns current Flip on/off |
DJ-FX
The FX panel button is displayed in the top left area of the main Serato DJ Pro screen, click on this to toggle the DJ-FX panel.
With the DJ-FX panel open, you have control of two DJ-FX units, and if your hardware supports it, Channel FX, which can be applied to tracks played through your connected Serato DJ-hardware.
Both DJ-FX & Channel FX can be controlled with your mouse, by using dedicated controls on your hardware (where available), or by MIDI mapping controls to the respective software functions.
Learn more about how to use DJ-FX & Channel FX:
| DDJ-SX2 CONTROL | FX FUNCTION | SHIFT |
| ON (SLOT 1) | Slot 1 Effect On/Off | Slot 1 Select Effect |
| ON (SLOT 2) | Slot 2 Effect On/Off | Slot 2 Select Effect |
| ON (SLOT3) | Slot 3 Effect On/Off | Slot 3 Select Effect |
| FX KNOB 1 | Adjust Slot 1 FX Parameter | - |
| FX KNOB 2 | Adjust Slot 2 FX Parameter | - |
| FX KNOB 3 | Adjust Slot 3 FX Parameter | - |
| TAP |
Tap to the desired FX tempo Hold to return to AUTO mode |
- |
| BEATS KNOB |
Turn to adjust Beats Multiplier |
- |
| FX ASSIGN | Assign the selected FX panel to deck 1 or 2 | - |
Beat Jump
To activate Beat Jump, open the Setup screen, navigate to the DJ preferences tab and turn on “Show Beat Jump Controls”.
When you close the Setup screen, you will see Beat Jump controls underneath the existing Auto Loop values on each deck. Checking this box will turn on Beat Jump features in the deck area and let you control Beat Jump from your supported Serato DJ Pro hardware.
When the Beat Jump option is enabled, performance pad modes AUTO LOOP or ROLL mode (where applicable) will use the bottom row of 4 pads (pads 5-8) as Beat Jump controls. This is designed to mirror the change in the deck Auto Loop area (from 8 Auto Loop sizes to 4 Auto Loop sizes + Beat Jump controls).
MIDI
The MIDI feature in Serato DJ Pro allows you to remap Serato DJ Pro software functions to your primary Serato controller, interface or mixer. You can also assign controls to a secondary MIDI controller to further enhance your performance.
For more information on MIDI mapping with Serato DJ Pro, click here.
To remap your supported Serato device, open the SETUP screen and click the MIDI tab. If your Serato device supports hardware remapping, it will appear in the MIDI DEVICES list.
Select your connected device from the MIDI DEVICES list and check the Allow Serato Hardware Remapping option.
Once checked, the MIDI assign button at the top of the main Serato DJ Pro interface will become available for you to start remapping.
You can save, edit or delete MIDI presets in the MIDI tab of the SETUP screen. Clicking Restore Defaults will erase any custom mappings for all connected devices and revert their functions back to default.
DVS
When a Serato DVS license is purchased and activated, this paid upgrade to Serato DVS device allows you to use connected turntables, media players or CD players to control Serato DJ Pro using NoiseMap™ Control Tone.
NOTE: Serato DVS is only available once the Serato DVS expansion pack has been activated in the Expansions window, under the My Account drop-down. Make sure Vinyl / CDJ Control is then checked in the Expansion Packs tab of the Setup screen.
Find our more about Serato DVS:
Note: Due to the controller's configuration, DVS control is only available through channels 1 and 2. Channels 3 and 4 are reserved for THRU mode only.
Help
Show Tooltips
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Show Tooltips to enable Tooltips. Tooltips provide a handy way to learn the various features of Serato DJ Pro.
Move the mouse over a section of the software to bring up a context-sensitive tooltip that describes the feature.
Click on the Help button again to turn off Tooltips.
Show Shortcut Keys
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then click Show Shortcut Keys to launch a pop-up window displaying shortcut keyboard combinations.
These shortcuts can help you perform various actions quickly, such as triggering specific deck functions, controlling playback, or navigating the library.
Watch Tutorials
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Watch Tutorials to launch
your default internet browser and watch tutorials to help you get familiar with Serato DJ Pro.
Get Support
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Get Support to launch your default internet browser and navigate to the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base, where you can find helpful articles and guides on Serato DJ Pro. Alternatively, type keywords in the Search Help box to search the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base for specific, related topics.