Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200 MK2 — Ideal DJ Controller for Learning to Mix

I’ve been using the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 for several months now, and it has significantly enhanced my DJing experience. The Beatmatch Guide is an invaluable feature, offering LED indicators that assist in manually syncing tracks, which is perfect for those learning the art of beatmatching.The 5.5-inch touch-sensitive jog wheels have a smooth rotation and a larger detection zone, making scratching and cueing more precise and enjoyable. The 16 performance pads are responsive and versatile, allowing for hot cues, loops, and samples across various modes.Compatibility with both Serato DJ Lite and DJUCED software provides flexibility, and the inclusion of the Intelligent Music Assistant (IMA) in DJUCED offers helpful track suggestions based on key, tempo, and energy level, streamlining set preparation.The controller’s build is sturdy yet lightweight, making it portable for gigs and practice sessions. The integrated audio interface delivers clear sound through RCA outputs and a headphone jack, suitable for home setups and small venues.

I recently acquired the Hercules InPulse 500 DJ Controller and have been absolutely impressed with the quality and features it offers. From the moment you unbox it, you get a sense of robustness and a sleek aesthetic that does justice to professional-grade equipment. If you've been following a steady learning curve with the InPulse series from 200 to 300, this is the most obvious choice for you. It is infinitely more rewarding with the extra features not found on it's predecessors and is a logical purchase to progression.One of the outstanding aspects of the Hercules InPulse 500 is its intuitiveness. If you're a beginner, the InPulse 500 comes with Beatmatch Guide and Intelligent Music Assistant features, helping you make the first steps to learn quickly. For more more comfortably capable DJs stepping beyond the realms of first steps or seasoned DJs with gigs already under their belts, these features can be easily turned off, providing the unfettered freedom that professionals seek.The build quality of the InPulse 500 is undeniably sturdy. It speaks to a device built to last, equipped with high-quality jog wheels, responsive RGB backlit pads are excellent quality, and the ability to choose the colours your pads are is great for planning your cue points. The controller layout is also ingeniously designed, providing easy access to filters, EQ, level meters, and browsing controls that make the DJ experience all the more gratifying.In terms of connectivity, the InPulse 500 excels. Among other features, the outstanding ones are the microphone input and the master outputs that have ensured tremendous versatility for different gig setups. Compatibility with Serato is also a notable point making the InPulse 500 a great choice for DJs who wish to expand their software options. The only caveat with Serato lite is that if you've been using Djuced, which gives you pretty much everything you'll need straight off the bat, you'll immediately notice a lot of differences with Lite and Djuced. There are other options, all sadly involving spending more money on the software if you want to make the most of it. Serato is a bit of a system heavy piece of software and if you've only got 8 gig of RAM, I personally wouldn't recommend using Serato in Lite or Pro format. You could however easily get legacy versions of the software which should run on your system.One can't fail to admire the ‘Energy’ feature, that allows you to choose tracks that match the event energy, creating a seamless experience for your audience. The embedded light guides are a wonderful addition too, making the learning process more accessible and augments hands-on control in live gigs.In conclusion, the Hercules InPulse 500 is a fantastic device that strikes a balance between the needs of an amateur DJ and that of a more experienced professional. The blend of intuitive features, solid build quality, and versatile connectivity options makes it outstandingly suitable for a variety of users.If you're contemplating venturing into the world of DJing or enhancing your DJ prowess, the Hercules InPulse 500 is certainly worthy of serious consideration. I have been exceptionally satisfied with my experience thus far and I believe that if you've already begun DJing with Hercules equipment there is no good reason not to continue your journey with this controller in order to progress further. If it's going to be your first controller as a beginner, this is probably the best product to start off with.My only complaint about this controller is that the paintwork for the crossfader marker points came off pretty quickly within the first month of using it - and seeing as I'm not wanting to wait for a replacement, it still functions as it should.

This a great dj controller that is ideal for both pro and beginners, had a problem that I finally sussed out , it’s a decent size for both home and out and about , easy to install and good sound quality with the built in sound card functionality is as you would expect from hercules

This controller and the full course that comes with it are exactly what I needed to overcome the lack of faith in myself to learn something new in my 40s, but this controller helped me make take huge steps into djing and I'll never forget it.Taking down a star because the software that comes with it, DJUICED, is very limited and does not offer any kind of smart suggestions on organising playlists or tracks with common BPM and Key to be able to mix easily. Loading tracks is impossible without stopping the current track, there are issues with SoundCloud their support referred me to SoundCloud, and there is no preview option without loading the track - all available in Rekordbox that comes with Pioneer controllers.But the fact that it got me to a place where I went from not knowing if I'll ever know how to use a controller to being ready for the next one (Pioneer DDJ-FLX4) is amazing

I am a new DJ About a month in and I started on the starlight and decided to upgrade. I did my research and found that this controller suited my need and when it arrived I was not disappointed. The build quality is amazing and has everything you need including 8 performance pads and large amount of options including beat jump modes. Only issue is the fx buttons how they override the frequency filter but sometimes it can work in your favour depending on your set. I love the beat matching guide and it was a big selling point for me and has allowed me to make far better transitions than before and without the hassle of looking at YouTube tutorials on how to beat match. LEDs are amazing and really give a nice feel to the controller. If your looking for something which has everything you need and is beginner friendly this it it.

I use Pioneer and NI S5 on Pc and the Hercules for practice on an iMac. It has most functions of the pro decks and is a compact fit on my desk. Sound quality is acceptable so if you’re a beginner DJ then this is all you need to learn to mix. It works with DJuced or Serato Light but also Tractor , Mixx and others with either a midimap or setting it yourself.For the price it worthwhile getting. Output is RCA or headphones so will work with most speakers.