New Controller From Pioneer: DDJ-ERGO-V

Continuing with our pre-BPM launch coverage, we’re following the announcement of Pioneer’s entry into entry-level: the DDJ-ERGO-V. It’s yet another all-in-one two deck controller with a built in soundcard, and has a feature set that caters to, you guessed it, the beginner DJ. We’ve got the full details after the jump.

What does it do?

The DDJ-Ergo-V is an all-in-one two channel controller with jogwheels and the standard EQ, FX and transport controls that are expected in a controller. But the feature set gets a little bit more interesting than just the expected set:

  • Virtual DJ LE  – What many have come to expect bundled with prosumer controllers – but the included version  has been custom designed to align well with the DDJ Ergo.
  • Pulse Control – this feature is designed to be a flashy feedback to how well you’re DJing – with four different types of pulsing:
    Mix Pulse: Shows how close the phase of your mix is – the bigger the difference, the weaker the blue LED on the jog wheel.
    Beat Pulse: LEDs in the channel faders that “match the beat of the track (…) plus the strength of the light reflects output levels” – sounds like just a tweaked VU meter to us!
    Launch Pulse: When you press the load button, it shoots a light pulse towards the Jog Wheels. This is just flashy and fun.
    FX Pulse: Patterns around the jog wheels that correspond to activated FX.
  • Fully USB Powered
  • “Laptop Integration” – just like with the DDJ-T1 and DDJ-S1, you can seamlessly cover your laptop’s keyboard with the controller! We’re still not sold on this.

Why Does It Look Like This? 

Pulsing lights all over the place, rounded corners on every possible edge, product photos with a MacBook Pro, and a shiny white backing. In our opinion, this all-in-one controller would look fantastic in an Apple Store. It’s sleek and drool-worthy, but still maintains a bit of a non-professional look in the process. We expect that Pioneer wants this controller to be seen by the masses in stores – masses who might not normally see DJ equipment, but would see this and understand and connect to it. More on that below.

Who is this for?


The Ergo is a natural addition to the DDJ lineup that came out at NAMM earlier this year – instead of making gear for professional, club DJs, this controller is clearly targeted at young people who are getting into this whole DJ thing. People who want to rock a house party (or a street corner?). Exhibit one: the promotional video above.

Look at all of those fashionable young people in really cool places DJing for their peers! Just like with Serato’s DJ Intro, Pioneer is catering to a very specific, hip-minded group of people.

Show me the money

So what does Pioneer consider to be an entry-level controller cost? The DDJ-Ergo-V is going to be £429/€499 – about $690. It’s not exactly cheap, and we’re pretty sure we’ll probably see plenty of other quality offers coming out of BPM that will be in this price range (for example, the Traktor S2 is $599, and we haven’t even found out what the new 4-deck Vestax controller will cost!)

Tech specs (we know you love this stuff)

  • Bundled software: Virtual DJ Limited Edition
  • Input terminals: MIC x1 (1/4 inch Jack), AUX x1 (RCA)
  • Output terminals: MASTER OUT x2 (1/4 inch Jack x1, RCA x1) HEADPHONE MONITOR OUT x2 (front 1/4 inch Jack, MiniPin)
  • Other terminals: USB B terminal x1
  • Frequency range: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Total harmonic distortion: 0.006% or less
  • S/N ratio: 101 dB
  • External dimensions:555 mm (W) x 280 mm (D) x 103 mm (H)
    (when removing the leg : 555mm(W) x 280mm(D) x 62mm(H) )
  • Weight: 2.9 kg
BPM 2011controllerDDJDDJ ErgoDDJ-Ergo-Ventry level controllerNewspioneerPioneer Ergopulse controlvirtual dj LE
Comments (94)
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  • Frenyx

    how much would it cause for this stuff??

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  • Dirtyoldcam

    With so many controllers on the market, what matters most is what comes out of the speakers.

  • Ajitsaini92

    whats its price in india. (indian currency)??????????

    • Siko_insane

      35-40 max wit tax

  • Thatdjbrandy

    I’m not judging it. The lights would seem to be helpful. lol. I think exterior is the last thing to be worried about. *Tim Gunn’s voice* Make it work!

  • DLotus

    bsfkjahfaifla OMG im so buyin this. it’s goin to be my christmas gift now.

  • DLotus

    bsfkjahfaifla OMG im so buyin this. it’s goin to be my christmas gift now.

  • Djsana13

    I just used it for a gig and had no flaws. It was a gig where new type of music was requested so I had my I pad hooked with internet also. It is flashy and very convenient. My set up was very simple and still rocked the venue. Pioneer Ergo hooked up to (2) QSC K-12’s, Macbook Pro, and 2 external hard drives. I been using Scratch Live and love it, but VDJ did work for me that night. It is very easy to use I have to say. I have no complaints yet.

  • Djsana13

    I just used it for a gig and had no flaws. It was a gig where new type of music was requested so I had my I pad hooked with internet also. It is flashy and very convenient. My set up was very simple and still rocked the venue. Pioneer Ergo hooked up to (2) QSC K-12’s, Macbook Pro, and 2 external hard drives. I been using Scratch Live and love it, but VDJ did work for me that night. It is very easy to use I have to say. I have no complaints yet.

  • Djsana13

    I just used it for a gig and had no flaws. It was a gig where new type of music was requested so I had my I pad hooked with internet also. It is flashy and very convenient. My set up was very simple and still rocked the venue. Pioneer Ergo hooked up to (2) QSC K-12’s, Macbook Pro, and 2 external hard drives. I been using Scratch Live and love it, but VDJ did work for me that night. It is very easy to use I have to say. I have no complaints yet.

  • Ismael

    quien me ayuda a descargarlo a mi compu me gusta mesclar

  • Punpkomg

    gimmicky. overpriced. ugly. limited. it ticks none of the boxes in my opinion

  • Punpkomg

    gimmicky. overpriced. ugly. limited. it ticks none of the boxes in my opinion

  • Punpkomg

    gimmicky. overpriced. ugly. limited. it ticks none of the boxes in my opinion

  • Jayce_147

    Quite expensive considering that there is the Hercules DJ Console 4-MX that is a brilliant console for 399 euros. Is this Pioneer really better?

  • Jorge Dorado

    Madrid
    HiFi Dj Experience en colaboración con Pioneer España , sortea el nuevo
    controlador Pioneer DDJ-ERGO , con el lema ” El Primer DDJ-Ergo no se
    venderá en España, lo REGALAREMOS “….Suerte a todos

  • Jorge Dorado

    Madrid
    HiFi Dj Experience en colaboración con Pioneer España , sortea el nuevo
    controlador Pioneer DDJ-ERGO , con el lema ” El Primer DDJ-Ergo no se
    venderá en España, lo REGALAREMOS “….Suerte a todos

  • Pete

    I hate the look of all the pioneer controllers and those monitor speakers in the video. Look like toys.

  • Westman

    Piece of crap . 100 bucks controller for the christmas tree

  • Bart

    In the promo video, the people are walking around with the controller under their arm, but no laptop in sight. Where does it suddenly come from?

    Also, if you’re playing in a busy street like that, with your laptop carelessly put on the ground where you can’t even touch it, it’s not unlikely that it’ll be snagged up, and stolen, within minutes.

  • Bart

    In the promo video, the people are walking around with the controller under their arm, but no laptop in sight. Where does it suddenly come from?

    Also, if you’re playing in a busy street like that, with your laptop carelessly put on the ground where you can’t even touch it, it’s not unlikely that it’ll be snagged up, and stolen, within minutes.

    • kamilman

      within seconds 😉

  • Quenepas

    Wow this thing was looking bad and then watched the video… embarrassing… 

  • DJ Many ?

    LOL Look what Dre started SMH If Dr. Dre Indorsed This It Would Sell Like Crack In Brooklyn!!!!!

  • DJ Many ?

    LOL Look what Dre started SMH If Dr. Dre Indorsed This It Would Sell Like Crack In Brooklyn!!!!!

  • Marco Garcia

    As a self professed Denon fan boy I can actually say I like it! I don’t know why all you gear snobs are hating on it because it has a stylish ergonomic (AKA ERGO) design. That’s the main selling feature of the thing, if you would like a boxy version you can get the DDJ-T1 or DDJ-S1. It has all the main features I look for in my controllers, I think many of you will end up eating your words later.
    The promo video however is pretty gay!

  • D Holling

    i wonder why the Xone K2 isn’t breaking news and this shit is.

  • aara

    this looks very tacky, and bundling it with VDJ LE instead of Traktor LE is a huge mistake. The promo video was terrible and bedroom dj’s are better off with a great controller from Vestax, Numark, or NI

  • erkron

    compact my XXX!  features are cool and all, but price as usual is ridiculous, if this is aimed for the rich kid who doesn’t know much about djing, then they have a really small market… seriously if they were going the entry level way they are out of their mind…for 100 bucks more you get the denon with a REAL mixer and four channel sliders/knobs, and i think the footprint is smaller… the putting your laptop under thing is nonsense as well, imagine when you want to connect more than the RCA outs… anyway forget that…
    I’m not a pioneer hater at all, but wow for being one of the top DJ equipment companies, they have been smoking too much, something.

  • alpha_5_

    an ugly and expensive beginner’s controller, to be used with Virtual DJ?

    Good luck pioneer.

  • Baxxie

    Not very cheap, but it should live up to its expectations. Looking forward to seeing it in action!

  • Anthony Woodruffe

    At £429 the Ego…  er sorry ERGO is well within the budget for the average British family, who spend on average over 4,000 on Christmas. It’s the cost of a new PC yet certainly carries more cache with a Pioneer label splattered across it.
    Personally I think everything would be fine with this controller if it didn’t look like a toy which will be slung on the corner after a few weeks of bashing buttons. Maybe Pioneer should just rip all the workings out and sell it as a toddler-toy for the under 3s. So when the child pushes the decks it makes a scratchy sound and the cue buttons become sample decks that make pig, cat, dog and cow noises.

    It seems obvious that Pioneer do not understand that what the up coming DJ wants from Pioneer is the CDJ 2000 for half the price of this controller, not a flimsy, plastic backed piece of trash. Sorry Pioneer you’ve lost the plot.

    Get back to making professional looking equipment. Remember quality over quantity always wins. 

  • Anthony Woodruffe

    At £429 the Ego…  er sorry ERGO is well within the budget for the average British family, who spend on average over 4,000 on Christmas. It’s the cost of a new PC yet certainly carries more cache with a Pioneer label splattered across it.
    Personally I think everything would be fine with this controller if it didn’t look like a toy which will be slung on the corner after a few weeks of bashing buttons. Maybe Pioneer should just rip all the workings out and sell it as a toddler-toy for the under 3s. So when the child pushes the decks it makes a scratchy sound and the cue buttons become sample decks that make pig, cat, dog and cow noises.

    It seems obvious that Pioneer do not understand that what the up coming DJ wants from Pioneer is the CDJ 2000 for half the price of this controller, not a flimsy, plastic backed piece of trash. Sorry Pioneer you’ve lost the plot.

    Get back to making professional looking equipment. Remember quality over quantity always wins. 

  • Anthony Woodruffe

    At £429 the Ego…  er sorry ERGO is well within the budget for the average British family, who spend on average over 4,000 on Christmas. It’s the cost of a new PC yet certainly carries more cache with a Pioneer label splattered across it.
    Personally I think everything would be fine with this controller if it didn’t look like a toy which will be slung on the corner after a few weeks of bashing buttons. Maybe Pioneer should just rip all the workings out and sell it as a toddler-toy for the under 3s. So when the child pushes the decks it makes a scratchy sound and the cue buttons become sample decks that make pig, cat, dog and cow noises.

    It seems obvious that Pioneer do not understand that what the up coming DJ wants from Pioneer is the CDJ 2000 for half the price of this controller, not a flimsy, plastic backed piece of trash. Sorry Pioneer you’ve lost the plot.

    Get back to making professional looking equipment. Remember quality over quantity always wins. 

  • Anthony Woodruffe

    At £429 the Ego…  er sorry ERGO is well within the budget for the average British family, who spend on average over 4,000 on Christmas. It’s the cost of a new PC yet certainly carries more cache with a Pioneer label splattered across it.
    Personally I think everything would be fine with this controller if it didn’t look like a toy which will be slung on the corner after a few weeks of bashing buttons. Maybe Pioneer should just rip all the workings out and sell it as a toddler-toy for the under 3s. So when the child pushes the decks it makes a scratchy sound and the cue buttons become sample decks that make pig, cat, dog and cow noises.

    It seems obvious that Pioneer do not understand that what the up coming DJ wants from Pioneer is the CDJ 2000 for half the price of this controller, not a flimsy, plastic backed piece of trash. Sorry Pioneer you’ve lost the plot.

    Get back to making professional looking equipment. Remember quality over quantity always wins. 

  • Anthony Woodruffe

    At £429 the Ego…  er sorry ERGO is well within the budget for the average British family, who spend on average over 4,000 on Christmas. It’s the cost of a new PC yet certainly carries more cache with a Pioneer label splattered across it.
    Personally I think everything would be fine with this controller if it didn’t look like a toy which will be slung on the corner after a few weeks of bashing buttons. Maybe Pioneer should just rip all the workings out and sell it as a toddler-toy for the under 3s. So when the child pushes the decks it makes a scratchy sound and the cue buttons become sample decks that make pig, cat, dog and cow noises.

    It seems obvious that Pioneer do not understand that what the up coming DJ wants from Pioneer is the CDJ 2000 for half the price of this controller, not a flimsy, plastic backed piece of trash. Sorry Pioneer you’ve lost the plot.

    Get back to making professional looking equipment. Remember quality over quantity always wins. 

  • Airxone22

    @ 113 theres a tag behind the kid that says brand new shit lol

  • Airxone22

    @ 113 theres a tag behind the kid that says brand new shit lol

  • Airxone22

    @ 113 theres a tag behind the kid that says brand new shit lol

  • Alldayspam

    hah like the man said just one more fail and pioneer is out… it really looks like apple controller.. shame…

  • Damien ArcLyte

    Wow!  Pioneer is getting into the toy business.  Who knew?

  • 4real

    Saying this is breaking news is like saying Casey Anthony is a upstanding citizen

  • Pioneersuxhard

    very stupid video , hate that dubstep gone that far …

  • Anonymous

    cute toy

  • 303bassline

    horrible. really fecking horrible.

  • Anonymous

    Well, between the last 3 product introduction videos I’ve seen here the last few days, I must say, Ean’s S2 Video is the best.:)

    And at 555mm wide, the DDJ-Ergo is 5.5cm (or about two inches) wider than an S4. Oh my….

    scamo

  • kevinmcq

    looking at the hi-res image of the controls, this has all the must have features… its what the s2 should have been (except for the somewhat strange layout of having the two decks mirror eachother instead of being symmetrical, and all the damn lights)… i think the controls offered on this will become the model for all future controllers designed on the two deck implementation 

  • Dj

    expensive toy, ridiculous video

  • NotSoSiniSter

    Interesting design. Instead of putting the pitch bend on the left side of the left deck, its on the right side, like a pair of CDJs would be. Bold move? 😛 Should have had 4 volume faders though…

    • Dritch

      Looks like it would be easy to hit the pitch fader when adjusting the volume fader… That would not be good.

    • Dritch

      Looks like it would be easy to hit the pitch fader when adjusting the volume fader… That would not be good.

  • Miguel

    I think this unit deserves some more attention… I think
    Pioneer positioned this controller for bedroom DJ’s, just to avoid screwing up NI
    sales with the S2 …Ean, can you please try it out with Traktor Pro 2 and let
    us know your feelings? I would like to have it compared with the S2. As far as
    the specs go and just by looking to the pictures, the Ergo seems to do a lot
    more than the S2 does… Here are the goods and bad’s of the Ergo (in
    comparison with the S2):

     

    The Goods:

    – 2 Dedicated Filters Knobs

    – Ability to switch decks (can mix 4 full decks!)

    – 2 Dedicated Sample Volume Knobs

    – Illuminated Jog wheels (gives visual representation of beat
    sync, effects, on-air warning, track load, etc…)

    – Independent Sample & Hot-Cue buttons (can also be used
    to trigger Hot-Cues 5-8!)

    – Loop Recorder Knob with 2 functions (shift mode can enable
    2 additional functions)

    – Can be mapped to control effects units 3 and 4

    – Clean and  well
    placed transport controls

    – Price (Pioneer has finally made a cost effective unit)

    The Bad’s:

    – Traktor Pro 2 not included (but I have it already!:)))))

    – Possibly no HID mapping of the jogwheels in Traktor Pro 2,
    although MIDI mappings can sometimes achieve some good results (i.e. DENON
    DN-MC6000). I would like to get EanGolden’s thoughts on this topic.

    – Funny placement of the pitch sliders (although one can get
    used to it, though)

    So, Ean, could you please try it out at Birmingham BPM (with Traktor Pro 2) and let us
    know if it’s worth our attention?

    I believe this can be more than a lot more than bedroom toy…

    Regards,

    Miguel

    • derek richard

      Thats somewhat of a contradicting statement, 

      “Pioneer positioned this controller for bedroom DJ’s, just to avoid screwing up NIsales with the S2 …Ean, can you please try it out with Traktor Pro 2 and letus know your feelings? I would like to have it compared with the S2. As far asthe specs go and just by looking to the pictures, the Ergo seems to do a lotmore than the S2 does… ”

      If it was for bedroom dj’s (im assuming as opposed to club/gigging dj’s) and pioneers goal was not to screw up S2 sales wouldn’t it make more since that the ergo had LESS features than an S2?   

      Also, I highly doubt that pioneer created this controller the way they did to avoid screwing up s2 sales. There competitors, pioneer would want to gain as much of the market as possible, no@twitter-136356853:disqus  gracefully share it with NI. If anything this controller is pioneers answer to the S2, just as the DDJ-T1 is the answer to the s4.

      Sounds to me like you may be on Pioneer’s pay roll Miguel.

      Sorry for the rant, i’m just not a big fan of promoters trying to sneak marketing posts into DJTT topics.

  • Dmitry Corax

    looks like part of shit. and virtual dj….sucks

    • Johnathon Robert Flores

      And tell me why Virtual DJ sucks. I can do the same that I used to do with VDJ that I now do in traktor, hell in VDJ you can do more , so please, dont be so ignorant and a trend follower when you say VDJ sucks, because frankly, you dont sound intelligent enough to know the different between a VCI and an APC40

    • Johnathon Robert Flores

      And tell me why Virtual DJ sucks. I can do the same that I used to do with VDJ that I now do in traktor, hell in VDJ you can do more , so please, dont be so ignorant and a trend follower when you say VDJ sucks, because frankly, you dont sound intelligent enough to know the different between a VCI and an APC40

      • Benikun

        I think you mean ‘difference’ .

    • Dandyrandy88

      thank god i’m not the only one that thinks so. for that much money i’d prefer to have something better than a plastic toy

  • Eeeeeek

    “omg bro i’m rolling balls my controllers giving me a light show” – future Frat House DJ 

  • Muzicfreq

    The lights duuude…
    But seriously that looks pretty neat but the design of it turns me off.

  • Vinicius Hoffmann Bernardes

    It’s ugly for me, and overpriced as every pioneer controler is.

    For $599 you can get the S2 plus the Full Version of Traktor Pro 2 software
    I think the S2 is a no brainer between this Ergo toy-thing…

    A message from the coach: “Just one more fail and you are out Pioneer!” 😛

    • KHX

      Yes, I agree, hard to beat S2 with that price point.

    • KHX

      Yes, I agree, hard to beat S2 with that price point.

  • Bianca Diaz

    Better build quality than the DDJs? Still waiting for the Vestax bombshell.