Setup
Licensing & software
This device is an Official Serato Accessory. It requires a Serato DJ Pro-supported primary device to be connected alongside it.
The links below show a complete list of supported primary hardware.
Please ensure you have the latest version of Serato DJ Pro installed:
Drivers & Firmware
The Akai Pro AFX is a class-compliant USB plug-and-play device and requires no further driver installation.
Overview
| # | AFX CONTROL | FUNCTION |
SHIFT |
| 1 | DECK SELECT | Select primary decks | Select secondary decks |
| 2 | SFX | When enabled, the touch strip adjusts FX unit parameters | Enables INT mode |
| 3 | PITCH | When enabled, the touch strip adjusts the pitch of the playing track | Enables REL mode |
| 4 | SEARCH | When enabled, touch strip skip searches through the track | Enables ABS mode |
| 5 | FX ASSIGN | Assign channels to FX units 1 & 2. Select FX routing for each channel | Secondary Deck routing |
| 6 | TOUCH | Turns knob touch-sensitivity On/Off | - |
| 7 | QUANTIZE | Turns Quantize On/Off | - |
| 8 | LCD DISPLAY | Displays 2-digit value of current Serato DJ function | - |
| 9 | TAP TEMPO | Tap to the desired FX tempo. Press and hold to return to AUTO mode | - |
| 10 | RECORD | Starts the recording of a new Flip | Turns Flip Loop On/Off |
| 11 | SHIFT | Used with other buttons with SHIFT modifier functions | - |
| 12 | PARAMETER KNOB |
Library Scroll (Turn) Push to toggle window focus (Press) |
- |
| 13 | PERFORMANCE PADS | SEE PERFORMANCE PAD SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION | - |
| 14 | BEAT MATCHING DISPLAY | Helps to show the position of transients on each track when beat-matching | - |
| 15 | TOUCH STRIP | Track search | - |
| 17 | FX 1 - 3 | Turns FX 1-3 On/Off | FX slot select |
| 16 | BEATS | Adjust beats multiplier | - |
| 18 | START | Starts the current Flip/Retrigger Flip | Turns current Flip On/Off |
| 19 | SHIFT | Used with other buttons that have SHIFT modifier functions | - |
Performance Pads
The performance pads have ten different modes you can select. The first five are activated by pressing the mode buttons once. The second five are activated by pressing the mode buttons a second time.
CUES mode: Pressing pads 1-8 will add up to 8 Cue Points. Holding SHIFT and pressing buttons 1-8 will delete the Cue Points.
Press CUES a second time to activate CUE LOOP mode. In CUE LOOP mode, pressing a cue will play from that cue and activate a loop roll. Loop roll size can be changed with the PARAMETER knob.
AUTO mode: Pressing pads 1-8 will activate Auto Loops of different sizes. Use the PARAMETER knob to adjust the size of the Auto Loop. Holding SHIFT while turning the PARAMETER knob will shift the loop.
Pressing AUTO a second time activates LOOP ROLL mode. Pressing pads 1-8 activate different loop roll lengths. Use the PARAMETER KNOB to adjust the size of the Loop Roll. Holding SHIFT while turning the PARAMETER knob will toggle the Loop size view.
MANUAL mode: Pressing pads 1-4 will activate and launch the first 4 saved loops slots. Pad 5 will set a Manual Loop In point; Pad 6 will set the Loop Out point. Pad 7 will turn the Loop On/Off, and pad 8 will retrigger the current Loop and turn the loop on (if off). Using the PARAMETER knob in this mode will Halve/Double the loop length.
Pressing MANUAL mode a second time lets you access the other 4 saved loops in your loop bank.
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 the PARAMETER knob to set the quantization for the slicer function. The quantization can be set in four ways: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1. SHIFT + PARAMETER knob will 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: Pads 1-4 trigger samples loaded in Sampler slots 1-4. Pads 5-8 trigger samples loaded in slots 5-8. Use the PARAMETER knob to adjust Sampler Volume. Holding SHIFT and using the PARAMETER knob will cycle through your Sample Banks. Holding SHIFT + Pressing PARAMETER will Mute the Sampler. Holding SHIFT and pressing pads 1-4 & 5-8 will stop the sample playing. When a sample slot is empty, pressing the pads 1-4 & 6-8 + SHIFT will load the currently selected track in the library panel to the corresponding sample slot. Press SHIFT + SAMPLER to enable Velocity mode. There are also 2 sampler modifier modes:
- Cycle Playback Type - Holding pad 4 and pressing one of the sampler slots will change the sample's playback type from One Shot to Toggle or Hold.
- Loop Sample - Holding pad 8 and pressing one of the sample slots will cycle the playback type to LOOP and Single Play for that slot. When a sample is playing and looped, the playing Pad LED should flash
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:
| AFX CONTROL | FX FUNCTION | SHIFT |
| FX A ASSIGN | Assign FX Unit A to Channel 1, 2 | Assign FX Unit A to Channel 3, 4 |
| FX B ASSIGN | Assign FX Unit B to Channel 1, 2 | Assign FX Unit B to Channel 3, 4 |
|
FX 1-3 On/Off |
Turns the effect on and adjusts effect parameters | FX slot select |
| TAP |
Tap to the desired FX tempo. Press and hold to return to AUTO mode |
Toggle FX mode |
| BEAT | Adjust FX beats multiplier | - |
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.
| AFX CONTROL | FUNCTION |
SHIFT |
| RECORD | 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 |
Press MANUAL mode twice to enter Flip performance pad mode. Pressing pads 1-6 will trigger saved Flips, and pressing SHIFT + pads 1-6 will turn saved Flips on/off. Pressing an empty Flip slot will save any active Flip to that slot.
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.
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.