This does not mean that there is no problem. Jog wheels are ineffective at best. They're helpful for finding your place in a song, but I can't imagine trying to scratch or do any real DJ tricks with them. Limiting its usefulness in a live setting is the fact that there is no mic input, and the only two audio outputs (cue and main) are 3.5-mm TRS jacks. This will work if you just want to practice at home or DJ a small house party, but if you go to a club with it, you'll definitely get some looks.
excellent integration
Chances are, no matter what your favorite DJ app is or whether you're using an iPad or laptop or even an Android phone, the DDJ-FLX2 should work with your setup. I tested it with a MacBook Pro, a six-year-old Dell XPS, a 2021 base-model iPad, and a Google Pixel 7. I encountered few problems when connecting over USB-C (besides the port on my Pixel being extremely flaky).
Connecting to the iPad over Bluetooth could have been a little more seamless, and I never managed to get it to work with my phone. That being said, due to the latency introduced by Bluetooth, it's not really ideal for DJing.
Alphatheta says it is compatible with DDJ-FLX2 recordbox, Algorithm DjAnd serato dj liteAlthough I only tested it with the first two. Since Alphatheta also makes Rekordbox, it's not surprising that the integration is the tightest there. It works exactly as you'd expect out of the box, and the labels on the hardware mirror the terminology you'll find in the app. If you haven't committed to a particular DJing platform yet, Rekordbox is worth a look as it has a surprisingly feature-rich free version. Plus, if you're still building your library at this stage of your DJing career, it supports streaming from SoundCloud, Beatport, Beatsource, and Tidal.
However, I mostly used it with Djay, because that's the software I was trained on when I joined Maker Park Radio So many years ago. Plus, it has Apple Music integration, making it easy for me to add things to my rotation in less time and with less fuss. The FLX2 worked out of the box with Algorithm's DJ Pro software without any problems, although labeling and naming conventions don't always line up which can cause some confusion.
usable in real life
Photograph: Terrence O'Brien
In addition to practicing at home, I DJed a few episodes of my radio show with the FLX2 and even experimented with broadcasting short uninterrupted blocks of dance music. The smart fader function made it easy for a novice like me to transition between tracks with the help of filters and echo effects while smoothing out small inconsistencies in tempo. And when I wanted a little more time to make sure I had everything organized or wanted to do a short mashup in the next track, the loop pad worked like a charm. I wouldn't say I'm ready to DJ at a big venue, but I'm feeling a little more confident now incorporating dance mixes into my shows.