Numark Scratch 2-Channel Review: A Serato DVS Scratch Mixer

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Numark Scratch 2-Channel is a dedicated two-channel DJ mixer built for scratch DJs who already run turntables, CDJs or a timecode-based digital vinyl system. Rather than bundling decks or jog wheels, the listing focuses entirely on the mixer's scratch-specific controls and its bundled Serato software.

Central to the pitch is an InnoFader scratch crossfader with reverse and slope control, paired with dedicated instant looping knobs and 6 direct access effect selectors fired through dual paddle launch triggers with Dry/Wet FX control. Connectivity covers phono and line inputs, a combo mic input, a balanced XLR output, a booth/zone output and dual headphone cueing.

The included software package adds real value on top of the hardware: Serato DJ Pro with a DVS license, a Prime Loop Sound Pack, and a 2 month SoundSwitch lighting control subscription. Weight, power consumption and deeper audio interface specifications are not published, so those remain open questions for this lower mid-range mixer.

Decks, Jog Wheels and Performance Controls

This category does not apply in the usual sense, since the Scratch 2-Channel has no jog wheels or onboard decks. It is a mixer designed to sit between a pair of turntables or CDJs, or a DVS-equipped laptop setup, rather than a replacement for them.

The meaningful performance control here is the InnoFader scratch crossfader, which the listing describes with adjustable reverse and slope settings, the kind of fine tuning serious scratch DJs look for when dialing in cut timing and resistance to match their technique.

Dedicated instant looping knobs sit alongside the crossfader, letting a DJ capture a loop quickly without digging through a menu, while filter knobs are described as creating audio sweeps across the mix. Together these controls form the direct-access performance toolkit that replaces jog wheels on a product built this way.

Software and Compatibility

Serato DJ Pro ships with the mixer, and critically, the listing confirms a DVS license is included, which means the mixer is ready to control Serato NoiseMap Control Vinyl or CDs the moment a DJ purchases either of those separately. That removes one of the more expensive line items DJs often have to add when building a scratch setup.

Beyond the core DJ software, the bundle adds a Prime Loop Sound Pack for additional production material and a SoundSwitch lighting control subscription that runs for 2 months before it needs renewal. Both are extras layered on top of the mixer rather than requirements for using it.

The listing does not mention Virtual DJ, rekordbox or any other third party software compatibility, so this mixer's software story is built entirely around the Serato DJ Pro ecosystem and the NoiseMap DVS system that pairs with it.

Mixer Section, Effects and Audio Quality

As a dedicated scratch mixer, this section is really the core of the product. The InnoFader crossfader anchors the mixing side, while 6 direct access effect selectors with dual paddle launch triggers and Dry/Wet FX control handle the creative side without requiring a menu dive mid-set.

Filter knobs for audio sweeps and the dedicated instant looping knobs round out the in-person controls, giving a scratch DJ several ways to manipulate a track beyond basic volume and tone shaping. The listing frames these as performance driven design choices rather than incidental extras.

Audio quality specifications such as converter resolution, signal-to-noise ratio or distortion figures are not published in the listing. What is confirmed is the physical input and output path, which at least tells a buyer what can be connected, even without measured performance figures to back it up.

• InnoFader scratch crossfader with reverse and slope control
• 6 direct access effect selectors with dual paddle launch triggers
• Dry/Wet FX control
• Dedicated instant looping knobs and filter knobs for audio sweeps
• No published audio measurement figures such as signal-to-noise ratio

Build, Design and Portability

Weight, dimensions and chassis materials are not published in the listing, so this review cannot confirm how sturdy the mixer feels in hand or how it compares to heavier club-standard mixers in the same price range. Buyers who care about desk footprint or rack mounting should request those figures directly from Numark before ordering.

The control layout, with the crossfader, looping knobs, filter knobs and the paddle-triggered effects section, suggests a design built for quick access during a live scratch routine rather than a deep menu-driven workflow. That layout philosophy matters more for a scratch mixer than raw physical weight, since fast in-person access is the whole point of the control surface.

No case, cover or travel bag is mentioned as included, so a DJ who moves this mixer between gigs regularly should plan for separate protection, especially given the InnoFader crossfader's moving parts and the exposed paddle triggers on the effects section.

Connectivity and Outputs

Input options are thorough for a mixer in this class: phono and line inputs cover both turntables and line level sources such as CDJs or a secondary playback device, while a combo microphone input accepts either an XLR or a 1/4 inch connector for announcements or live vocals during a set.

On the output side, a balanced high output XLR connection is confirmed for professional PA connections, alongside a separate booth or zone output that lets a DJ send a monitor feed independent of the main mix, a feature club and mobile DJs both rely on when the booth monitor needs a different level than the room.

Headphone cueing runs through dual outputs in 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch sizes, covering both standard DJ headsets and smaller consumer headphones without needing an adapter. That range of confirmed connectivity is one of the stronger, better-documented parts of this listing, and it covers nearly every connection a working DJ would expect to make on a given night.

Setup and Daily Use

Getting started means connecting turntables or CDJs to the phono or line inputs, or setting up Serato DJ Pro with the included DVS license if Control Vinyl or CDs are being used, then routing the main output to a PA or booth system through the XLR or booth/zone outputs. Installing the Prime Loop Sound Pack is a separate step handled inside the Serato software itself.

During a set, the InnoFader crossfader, looping knobs and the 6 effect selectors with dual paddle triggers sit within easy reach, letting a scratch DJ move between cutting, looping and triggering effects without stopping to navigate a screen or menu. The dual headphone outputs make it straightforward for a second DJ to cue up a track at the same time.

The SoundSwitch lighting subscription, once activated, can sync a venue's lighting to the mix automatically, though daily reliance on that feature past the included 2 month period would require a separate subscription renewal that is not detailed in the listing. Buyers who do not run lighting rigs can simply ignore that part of the bundle without losing any core mixer functionality.

Who Should Buy It

Scratch DJs who already have or plan to buy turntables or CDJs are the clearest audience, since the InnoFader crossfader and the dedicated looping and filter knobs are built specifically for that style of performance rather than for a standalone laptop set.

Serato DJ Pro users who want to add digital vinyl control without buying a separate DVS license will find real value here, since that license is bundled directly with the mixer rather than sold as an add-on purchase later.

Mobile and club DJs who need a confirmed booth/zone output, a combo mic input and dual headphone cueing in one unit also fit well, since those connectivity details are thoroughly covered in the listing and match what most working DJs already expect from a club-ready mixer.

Alternatives Worth Considering

DJs who want decks and a mixer in one box rather than a standalone scratch mixer should look at an all-in-one controller such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 or the Numark Mixtrack Pro FX, both of which integrate jog wheels directly into the unit instead of requiring separate turntables.

Buyers newer to scratching who want a lower cost entry point into mapped software control might also consider the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300, though it will not include the DVS license or the InnoFader crossfader this mixer offers, and it folds the mixer and decks into a single lighter unit.

For headphone monitoring during practice, a closed-back reference pair such as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x pairs well with the dual headphone outputs on this mixer, though that headphone is sold separately from this listing and would need to be added to the total setup cost.

Verdict

The Numark Scratch 2-Channel is a focused tool built for DJs who already have decks and want a serious scratch mixer rather than another all-in-one controller, and the listing backs that focus with real detail on the InnoFader crossfader, looping knobs and effects section.

A bundled Serato DJ Pro DVS license is the standout value here, removing a common added cost for DJs who want to run Control Vinyl or CDs, and the connectivity list covers the inputs and outputs a working DJ actually needs.

Weight and power are not published, which keeps the build score modest, but for a scratch DJ with existing turntables or CDJs, this lower mid-range mixer is a solid, purpose-built choice.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Pioneer 4-Deck

Professional and semi-professional DJs who want a laptop-free four-deck system with a large screen and wireless headphone cueing.

Read the Pioneer 4-Deck review →

Pioneer DJ DJM-900NXS2 4-Channel

Venues and serious DJs who want the club-standard four-channel mixer with per-channel Sound Color FX and X-Pad Beat FX.

Read the Pioneer DJ DJM-900NXS2 4-Channel review →

Denon DJ PRIME 4 G2

Mobile and resident DJs who want a laptop-free four-deck system with stems, zone outputs and built-in lighting control.

Read the Denon DJ PRIME 4 G2 review →

Questions Buyers Ask