’re looking for a new DJ controller, yo u h ave ew number of models from a range of manufacturers with a wide variety of sizes, price points and features. Your dilemma is choosing one which ticks as many boxes as possible. Whilst your controller needs may be different to other DJs, the Reloop Mixon 8 Pro should deliver most – if not all – of what you need, and do it in style. 84 Taking the controller out the box, the first thing I noticed was its weight and sturdy build, both signalling top quality and Reloop’s use of metal parts.

There’s nothing worse than flimsy faders, rattly play and cue buttons, or spongy control pads. Also in the box was the all-essential power lead and adaptor, instruction manual, and (unusually) a decent USB cable. The layout of the deck is logical and only a degree of intuition is needed to work out where everything is. It’s surprising and a bit quirky to see a mirrored deck layout for a professional controller, but this has become common practice for many controllers.

The rear panel section catches the eye immediately and it’s apparent this is a very well-connected controller. Starting from left to right, there is not one, not even two, but three output options: XLR, 6.3mm jack and RCA. All four channels have phono inputs, of which channels 1 and 2 have the additional earth pole should you wish to connect media players and/or turntables. There are two USB connection ports for changing between laptops.

You also get a USB C/iOS port to connect an iPad, for which there is even an integrated slot – nice touch! The power button, PSU input and a microphone port (XLR/TRS) round off the back panel. These connection options make the Mixon 8 Pro extremely versatile. Powering on the unit results in a short burst of activity as the controller boots up.

The decks are in a mirror layout configuration, which may be different to what some DJs are used to, but the brain quickly adjusts. The cue and play buttons feel sturdy and have responsive action, whilst they are, thankfully, brightly backlit. Switching to decks 3 and 4 could not be easier with well-placed buttons positioned near the jog wheel – handy for the multi-deck mixing DJ or busy wedding DJ in need of multiple tracks cued. The jog wheels are a good size and feel very responsive – Reloop hasn’t given us the ability to adjust the feel but the selected setting is good to work with overall.

The height of the jog wheels seems an improvement on other models within Reloop’s range and allows for better-controlled pitch bending. The in-jog displays are a very welcome addition and crammed with information like USB and deck assignment, time, pitch, BPM, and a virtual play head offering a clear, bright and easy to read display. RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO Nestled around the jog wheels, FX to be the performance mode section of by pre ssing eight pads controls the hot cue, spring-loaded loop roll, saved loop, and sampler, upwards for with access to a second layer by on the selected pressing the shift button for pitch industry first: play, saved flip, slicer, and scratch onboard FX bank.

These were a lot of fun to tactile control play with and can add creative and providing added imaginative flair to a set. your DJ set. Above the cue is the sync, Moving to two-parameter buttons (which mobile DJs will control the parameter functions channels, dependent on the active mode – flexibility to shift param 1 controls the second or an external level of parameter functions), volume, cue pitch in/out/select and auto loop control pots switch, pitch range and key sync of the mixer buttons – all capped by a decent out and labelled.

100mm tempo slider with a lightbottom is a up zero position indicator. The detail is really impressive. Meanwhile, above the jog wheel is the FX section with three FX control pots and the on/off button. These are complemented by the FX paddles found on the mixer board and allow for an RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO dropped momentarily navigates through your music down on the libraries and a press of the encoder paddle, or clicked confirms selection.

Pressing the FX to stay held ‘shift’ and turning the browse deck. This is an encoder activates fast browsing the four sturdy and quick search facility. Pressing paddles allow instant ‘shift’ and pressing the encoder of all the effects, toggles between waveform and value in shaping library view. It’s great to see an innovative approach to how controls and switches are used. the mixer section, love having four Below this is the main volume VU giving you greater meter, which is a good length, and add turntables, CDJs the crossfader, which is sturdy player.

The master and not too tight or loose. There and sampler volume are four channels on the mixer run down the middle position in the customary 3, 1, 2, 4 and are nicely set configuration, with a load button Sitting at the for each channel atop a multibrowse encoder which switch selector. On channels 1 and 2, the selector of Serato DJ Pro switches between USB A/B, phono djay Pro AI, you can and line, whilst channels 3 and 4 immediate DJing have the addition of switching decks simultaneously. the channels to mic 1 on channel platform approach 3 and mic 2 on channel 4 (the the flexibility to input for mic 2 is on the front different software, panel via a 6.3mm jack socket). platforms for PC, Below this are high, mid and low or iOS.

The control pots and beside the gain software include control is a short VU meter. The performance modes, PFL cue button is small but it does Scratch Bank support have a bright backlight to indicate (to instantly access which channel you are listening and Neural Mix™ to – press shift and the PFL cue for djay Pro AI (to in time to the music to determine drums, and instruments the track’s BPM. time). The Mixon includes extensive Ultimately the Mixon 8 Pro will pad as well as EQ be connected to your laptop – using the switch on and it works very well – but just you can instantly remember to install an ASIO knobs into dedicated driver.

The controller really has controls. the feel of being developed from the ground up, with clever use Looking at the of tech to create the smoothest the unit, it offers co of t w a re output, 6.3mm jack integration possible, right out (TRS), RCA master the box. Thanks to the plug ’n’ RCA inputs (phono/line), play technology, and a choice inputs (line), one 86 or Algoriddim (XLR/jack (TRS)), and one mic easily unlock input 6.3mm jack (TRS).

There’s with up to four also one USB-B, one USB-C/USB-B, This multiand headphones (6.3mm/3.5mm gives you jack). All this in a unit that weighs perform with 5.7kg and measures a reasonable devices, and 657 x 68 x 391mm. It’s also worth MacOS, iPadOS, noting that the docking station industry-leading measures 320 x 9mm, so even a s exclusive 12.9” pad will fit perfectly. such as for Serato The Reloop Mixon 8 Pro is fun to scratch tools) use whilst delivering a powerful AI technology tool for most DJ situations.

It’s isolate vocals, fair to say its most practical in real use will be within the mobile DJ 8 Pro also market, but whilst testing out the controls for the controller in a bar setting, I found mode, and by its size and aesthetics gave the the controller impression of a more substantial turn the EQ DJ controller – it looked great Neural Mix™ behind the booth! I also love the affordable price technical side of point, especially given the number an XLR master of features available.

I’ve listed a booth output few that stand out, but do drop output, two into a local DJ store and try out two RCA the Mixon 8 Pro – it may just be the combo-mic input next controller you are looking for. RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO Novopro Ltd is the manufacturer of the NOVOPRO product range and also the UK distributor for ORTOFON DJ products