
A few DJ controllers, most notably the Novation Dicers, are designed to be used with timecode vinyl. Some controllers are designed to be used either for live PA performances with software such as Ableton Live or with DJ software. Some DJ controllers break from the conventional two jog wheels and a mixer layout and are designed to be easily mapped however the user wants. Also, DJ software allows users to remap the components of controllers to perform different functions than the controller manufacturer intended. Unlike turntables, controllers can take advantage of the flexibility of computer software, for example, by allowing the DJ to store multiple cue points with music files. Indeed, the average price of a DJ controller is around $800.


However, DJ controllers are much cheaper than two turntables or CDJs plus a mixer. Modern DJ controllers emulate two turntables/ CDJs and a DJ mixer. Most DJ controllers use the standard MIDI or HID protocols to communicate with the computer via USB. Many DJ controllers also have a built in sound card with 4 output channels (2 stereo pairs), which allows the DJ to preview music in headphones before playing it on the main output.
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They do not mix audio signals like DJ mixers rather, they send signals to a computer to tell the DJ software running on the computer how to mix audio.

DJ controllers are microprocessor-based control surfaces used to provide easier and more precise control of the software than the computer keyboard and touchpad on a laptop, or the touchscreen on tablet computers and smartphones.
