Primo DJ Controller/Mixer for Serato DJ

Vestax "pioneered" the DJ controller market with their VCI line in the early 2010s. Their VCI-380 set the standard for a compact, durable, high quality device with brilliant sound. Unfortunately, Vestax went bankrupt in late 2014 before they could release a new product. Numark evolved into the entry level and midrange controller market, while Pioneer took up the mantle of the higher end.Unfortunately for many, no one paid much attention to the DJs that had come to appreciate what Vestax had done with the 380: a high quality, heavy duty construction DJ controller, with killer sound and compact design. Numark's devices have a plastic, "My First Controller" look and feel to them, and don't have the durability to stand up to week after week of club use. Pioneer's devices just keep getting bigger and bigger, and while they try to emulate the layout of the CDJ, for some DJs the workflow simply isn't there. They also have a lot of plastic to them, and they lack the sound quality that many DJs crave, particularly for those who slaved over vinyl setups to squeeze every last ounce of clarity out of their wax.The Mixars Primo debuted originally at NAMM 2017 and has been described as the "spiritual successor" to the Vestax VCI series. It was supposed to come out a few months later in 2017. A few months turned into about a year and a half, but eventually it hit the market in the spring of 2019, and for many it was worth the wait. The Primo has a feature set that hits all the high notes for many working DJs and studio DJs alike: heavy duty construction; clean, intuitive control layout; 24 bit sound reproduction with external power; built in DVS; and a compact form factor.I want to pay particular attention to what Mixars brings to the table in terms of sound. This is, without a doubt, the best sounding DJ controller I have ever encountered. The built-in 24 bit, 96 khz "sound card" is of outstanding quality, rendering your tracks with exacting precision. The optional (but included) 5v power supply means that, should you choose, you can plug the deck in, instead of running it off of USB power; your output will have full power to your mixer or amplifier, ensuring a great signal between you and whatever sound system you're driving. In addition to the typical unbalanced RCA "booth out" outputs found on most decks, Mixars includes not one but *two* pairs of BALANCED outputs: XLRs and quarter-inch jacks! I use the XLRs to drive my powered PAs directly and one of the quarters to drive my sub. The XLRs are controlled by the "Master" volume control, while the quarters are controlled by the "Booth" volume control, giving me separate control over my tops and my bass. The result is incredibly clean sound - and that's what it's all about, isn't it?Let's talk about digital vinyl. Perhaps you are a vinyl DJ who is still on the fence about going digital, or perhaps a digital DJ interested in the old school way of doing things. To do DVS, you would normally need a "Rane box" or other DVS "sound card" which captures the input of your turntables and sends that audio information to Serato (or Traktor, Mixxx, etc). The Mixars Primo has dual Phono/Line level inputs which you can attach your turntables to and, with the purchase of a Serato DVS license, can act as a DVS device without any additional hardware. It's a great setup for hybrid DJs, involving a lot less cabling and resulting in significantly less audio signal degradation as a result. As a bonus, if you do go DVS, the Mixars turns into a four-deck controller, though you can only do so much with two line faders, etc.The Mixars Primo isn't the smallest controller on the market, but for a full scale Serato DJ controller, it is still one of the more compact devices available today. It is significantly smaller than the typical Pioneer DDJs, and its control layout feels elegant without being cramped. Despite being smaller than the Pioneer offerings, it still has a full suite of effects knobs, seek touch strips, huge wheels, and sixteen performance pads that do a splendid job. The pitch faders have a very long throw, giving fine control over tempo, and they're nice and tight, too.One of my few criticisms of the Primo is that the crossfader it comes with isn't the best. It started bleeding after maybe six months of regular use. I'm in the process of replacing it with an Innofader, which is an involved process to say the least; it involves thirty screws and a hair dryer to loosen the glue of the top plate.The Primo is a well built, featuring heavy duty construction and nicely rounded corners. It has a good heft to it without being too heavy; it doesn't feel like a toy, but it's not a brick, either. Still, while I used to carry my VCI-380 in a bag, I did buy a hard-sided case for my Primo.Long review? Yes. I have used this controller almost every day for close to a year, and I can say conclusively that I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. The Mixars Primo is an outstanding controller for new DJs and experienced selectahs alike. It may be Mixars first entry into the controller market, but they have been making DJ equipment in Europe for years, and the design and function of the Primo reflect this in spades. Buy it.

My DDJ-SR started malfunctioning (i.e., pressing buttons would change decks, open menus etc). Since it was likely to cost as much to repair the unit as buying a new one, I started looking around. I liked the Denon, which sounds much better than the Pioneer, but didn't like the layout. The Mixars is similar in layout to the Pioneer but has long throw pitch faders, dual mike inputs and a number of other features not on the SR2. Most importantly, however, the sound quality is far superior to the Pioneer. The Pioneer always sounded muddy to me and plain louse when compared to the Rane mixer at the club. In contrast, the Mixars sound has depth and clarity and is far superior to the Pioneer.

I highly recommend the Mixars Primo controller. Great quality and sound. Worth every penny! For use with Serato and Virtual Dj 2021.

I’ve owned dozens of midi controller and mixers over the years. This is the only one that I’ve ever had connection problems with. It refuses to connect to serato. I’ve gone through all the trouble shooting tips. I contacted serato support and they said it’s a hardware issue. I contacted mixars and they haven’t responded after 24 hours. I’m returning it. Very displeased.

This is definitely the best compact DJ controller you can get. The features that make this so good include the following:- great sound card 24-bit/48kHz- very responsive platters- great cue buttons- booth out with a 1/4" jack- volume knob for sampler- censor button- great build qualityThe mixars primo is replacing my Vestax VCI-380. I only use a small controller for smaller events but I still want to use a controller that's fun to play on with great sound quality. The mixars primo won't disappoint you. Stop thinking about it and just buy it.