Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200From real comments

Verdict distilled from 32 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment64%
PROS 64%
CONS 36%

Rank based on 32 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You're a total beginner wanting an affordable, easy way to start DJing
  • You want a reliable practice or backup controller for gigs
  • You value a good tutorial community and simple, effective mixing controls

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need fine tempo/BPM control or a full 3-band EQ with mid control
  • You want guaranteed rock-solid Serato compatibility out of the box
  • You're bothered by a hardwired data cable or want wireless/Bluetooth connectivity

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Budget
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200
Great value for beginnersEasy to learn onWorks well as a practice/backup unitReliability and hardware faultsNo mid-EQ controlHardwired cable and build nitpicks
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200
Great value for beginners
Easy to learn on
Works well as a practice/backup unit
Reliability and hardware faults
No mid-EQ control
Hardwired cable and build nitpicks

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

An excellent value pick for absolute beginners learning to DJ. Multiple commenters describe the Inpulse 200 as a great starter deck, praising its price-to-value ratio and calling it the best money spent on DJ gear. Users appreciate that it's simple enough not to overwhelm while still teaching core skills like looping, cueing, and fader use, with several noting it helped them go from knowing nothing to feeling confident enough to buy another unit.

Software support is a mixed bag depending on which program you use. Some users abandoned bundled Djuced software in favor of VirtualDJ or Mixxx, calling Djuced 'horrible,' while others found Djuced fine for basic use. Serato compatibility works for many, requiring Stems mode instead of Roll on the original version, though loop-size extension doesn't work and some users can't get Serato Pro to recognize the controller at all.

Missing mid-EQ and occasional hardware faults frustrate more experienced users. Commenters repeatedly flag the lack of a dedicated mid-EQ knob, with one saying the filter-only setup 'killed it' for genres needing tight kick control, and another suggesting a proper 3-band EQ instead. Reliability complaints include units not being recognized by PCs, a broken filter crossing channels within a year, and buttons that don't register presses reliably.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?