Most DJs nowadays carry several USB flash drives with them, even if they primarily connect a laptop to the available media players or controllers at their gigs.
If I get booked for a gig where I will only be playing a single genre of music (i.e trance or techno) then I will always play solely from a USB flash drive. If I am playing more of an open-format gig, I tend to link my laptop to the media players in the club or to my controller (but I will still have several USB flash drives with me as a backup at all times).
What qualities should I look for in a USB flash drive for DJing?
The market is absolutely flooded with different options for USB flash drives and it can be difficult to decide which one to choose for DJing.
When I am in the market for a new storage solution, I always tend to make my decision based on these factors:
- Brand
- Advertised read/write speed
- Build quality
- Physical size
Brand
If I haven’t heard of a brand being associated with storage devices before, I won’t consider purchasing one of their products. If a new brand gains a reputation for developing good products, it doesn’t take long for word to spread within the DJ community.
Advertised speed
Of course, manufacturers will always advertise the absolute maximum speeds that their products have achieved in tests. The reality for DJs transferring MP3s is somewhat different, as a single, large file will always transfer faster than multiple, smaller files.
What that being said, I still use the advertised read/write speed as a guideline to decide whether that particular USB flash drive is even worth considering.
Build quality
Most USB flash drives tend to be made from either plastic, metal or a combination of both.
Personally, I prefer flash drives which are either a full metal construction or where at least the main body is metal with a plastic housing at the top.
Dimensions
When discussing USB flash drives for DJing, size absolutely does matter!
Extremely large USB flash drives can easily be knocked when in the port of a media player or controller, while small ones can easily be lost if they aren’t attached to a keyring or lanyard.
USB 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1 – does it matter?
As you may already know, the main difference between these types of USB is the data transfer speed, but how does that affect you as a DJ?
When performing, it doesn’t really affect you at all. Even if you use a 4-deck setup and insist on playing large WAV files, this only requires a data transfer rate of 1mbps, so most USB 2.0 flash drives will handle that with ease.
The main reason why USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 are favoured is that the read/write speed is much higher, making the transfer of files/exporting of playlists from your laptop to your USB flash drive much faster.
Which USB flash drives are the best for DJs?
Opinions will always be divided when it comes to USB flash drives, with certain brands emerging as favourites for some people and others maintaining their loyalty to alternative brands.
I have owned all of the USB flash drives listed here today and none of them has ever let me down. Each one was speed tested with CrystalDiskMark, based on a bulk transfer of individual MP3 files (5gb in total).
So, in alphabetical order, here are what I consider to be the best USB flash drives for DJs on the market today.
Corsair Flash Voyager GTX
Featuring an activity LED, the Corsair Flash Voyager GTX flash drive looks like a modern piece of kit that performs well in the DJ booth.
Brand:
Corsair has been in the computer business for over 25 years and has a generally good reputation, so they are a brand that I recognise and trust.
Advertised speed:
Corsair advertises that the Flash Voyager GTX drives can reach read and write speeds of up to 440 mbps, but remember that I was testing the transfers based on how DJs typically copy our files. (My test was carried out on the 128gb version).
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 305.7 mbps | 179.1 mbps |
Build quality:
The Corsair Flash Voyager GTX housing is constructed from zinc-alloy and feels like a small brick!
It is very hard-wearing and you would need to apply a lot of pressure to cause any damage to this flash drive.
As is the standard with a lot of the solutions on the market today, Corsair flash drives ship with a 5-year warranty.
Dimensions:
The Corsair Flash Voyager GTX measures 78mm (L) x 26mm (W) x 11mm (H). While it isn’t the smallest flash drive on offer, it is definitely one of the strongest.
My opinion:
This is basically a compact SSD (Solid-State-Drive).
It is well-built, is lightning-quick and will not let you down. When playing solely from USB, this is my drive of choice. Check the latest price on Amazon
Kingston HyperX Savage
Although the size of this flash drive is larger than most, I purchased one because of the rave reviews it was getting in the DJ community.
Brand:
Founded in 1987, Kingston has plenty of experience in the flash memory market and are among the biggest suppliers in the world today.
Advertised speed:
Kingston advertises their 128gb and 256gb HyperX drives as having read speeds of 350 mbps and write speeds of 250 mbps, which would go some way to justifying their above-average price tag. (My test was carried out on the 128gb version and, as you can see below, the results tell a different story).
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 141.6 mbps | 98.43 mbps |
Build quality:
Except for the actual USB plug, this flash drive is made entirely from plastic.
However, it does feel well made and is extremely hard-wearing.
Kingston HyperX flash drives come with a 5-year warranty.
Dimensions:
The Kingston HyperX Savage is rather large. Measuring 76mm (L) x 24mm (W) x 12mm (H), it is among the biggest flash drives on the market.
My opinion:
The large dimensions of this flash drive make it easy to knock while at a DJ gig and the inflated price tag is likely to make a lot of potential customers consider cheaper alternatives which have similar performance results. I use this flash drive with my car stereo now. Check the latest price on Amazon
Patriot Supersonic Rage 2
With a rubber coating on the body of this drive, it can potentially withstand being dropped and having liquid spilt on it, which can be appealing for the clumsy DJs among us.
Brand:
Patriot has been supplying the computer industry with memory solutions since 1985, so they are well established and respected in this space.
Advertised speed:
Patriot advertises that the 128gb version of this flash drive is capable of read speeds of up to 400 mbps. During my tests, it achieved around 75% of the advertised speed, which is still extremely quick.
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 299.3 mbps | 103.8 mbps |
Build quality:
The Patriot Supersonic Rage 2 is designed with a sliding rubber case which retracts to protect the flash drive when not in use.
The rubber outer makes it feel a lot more durable than the cheap, plastic cases on some other drives in the same price point.
Patriot offers a 5-year warranty with all of their USB flash drives and their customer support is incredible, should you run into any difficulty.
Dimensions:
While I wouldn’t class this flash drive as ultra-compact, with maximum measurements of 54mm (L) x 40mm (W) x 7mm (H), it is still relatively unintrusive and is even smaller once the case has been slid back to reveal the USB plug.
My opinion:
I have had this flash drive for a couple of years now and rarely use it for DJ performances due to its size.
Having said that, the read and write speeds are good for the price, so it is still a good option for DJs wanting fast transfers. Check the latest price on Amazon
Samsung Bar Plus
The first entry in this list for Samsung, and it is a full-metal flash drive.
Brand:
Samsung needs no introduction in the tech world and is well respected in each sector it is involved in. Their USB flash drives are no different and I am particularly impressed by their Bar Plus range.
Advertised speed:
Samsung claims that this drive can achieve read speeds of 300 mbps. (I tested the 128gb version).
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 218.2 mbps | 54.96 mbps |
Build quality:
This is a solid offering from Samsung, with a full-metal case and key ring attachment. This model offers a 5-year warranty based on them being shockproof, waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof and magnet proof.
Dimensions:
Size-wise, this USB is middle-of-the-road. Measuring 40mm (L) x 16mm (W) x 12mm (H), it isn’t so big that you will knock it during performances and isn’t so small that you will easily lose it.
My opinion:
I carry this flash drive with me everywhere on my keys. The curved design at one end makes sure that it doesn’t get squashed or bent out of shape. Check the latest price on Amazon
Samsung MUF
Boasting a metal body with plastic outer, the Samsung MUF USB flash drive is compact, sturdy and has a powerful performance to reinforce its good looks.
Brand:
As stated previously, no questions need to be asked when it comes to the reputation of Samsung.
Advertised speed:
As with the Bar Plus range, Samsung advertises that the 128gb and 256gb versions of this flash drive are capable of read speeds up to 300 mbps. (My test was carried out on the 128gb version).
I understand that these speeds will be slightly less for the 64gb and 32gb versions, but these drives are definitely quick.
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 294.7 mbps | 97.43 mbps |
Build quality:
The body of this drive is metal and is topped with a plastic cap.
While I personally prefer an all-metal drive, the metal part of this drive does get hot during use, so the plastic cap saves your fingers from the unpleasant heat.
All of the MUF drives from Samsung have a 5-year warranty based on them being shockproof, waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof and magnet proof.
Dimensions:
The Samsung MUF range is one of the more compact drives available on the market.
Measuring just 23mm (L) x 18mm (W) x 8mm (H), you can be sure that these fit snugly into the USB slot on the media players at your gigs or into your controller or laptop with minimal risk of them being accidentally knocked or ejected.
My opinion:
As I prefer more compact USB flash drives for DJ performances, this is one of the drives that I currently use at some of my gigs. The read and write speeds are very good and the price is extremely reasonable. Check the latest price on Amazon
Sandisk Extreme Pro
One of the more famous flash drives within the DJ community, the Extreme Pro range from Sandisk have been well respected for some time now.
Brand:
Sandisk was already one of the largest manufacturers of flash memory and had been in business for almost 30 years before they were acquired by Western Digital in 2016.
Advertised speed:
Sandisk advertises that the Extreme Pro can reach read speeds of 420 mbps and write speeds of 380 mbps. I have the 128gb model and yes, the results below are accurate! (I tested it twice to make sure as I couldn’t believe my eyes!)
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 301.7 mbps | 268.4 mbps |
Build quality:
The majority of this drive is metal. Only the port slider and key ring attachment are made from plastic. It feels like a premium item.
This range of drives from Sandisk comes with a lifetime warranty.
Dimensions:
With measurements of 71mm (L) x 22mm (W) x 12mm (H), this certainly isn’t the most compact flash drive on the market. With the extra size comes extra power, so it is definitely worth the trade-off.
My opinion:
This is one of the, if not the fastest flash drive available at this price point. Tracks load incredibly quickly when using this with the Pioneer CDJ range of products and I use this drive for a lot of my genre-specific gigs. Check the latest price on Amazon
Sandisk Ultra Fit
This is the most recent addition to my collection of flash drives and surprisingly, it is fully plastic.
Brand:
As previously stated, Sandisk are a flash memory behemoth.
Advertised speed:
Sandisk claims that the Ultra Fit can achieve read speeds of 130 mbps. (My test was carried out on the 128gb version).
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 94.47 mbps | 47.86 mbps |
Build quality:
This latest version of the Ultra Fit is made solely of plastic. The previous version (which I still own) was made mainly of metal with just the top edge made of plastic, but it got EXTREMELY hot!
Despite the fact that this flash drive is fully plastic, it still feels well made and hasn’t given me any issues yet.
The Sandisk Ultra Fit range is backed by a 5-year warranty.
Dimensions:
Boasting a tiny profile of just 18mm (L) x 12mm (W) x 5mm (H), the Sandisk Ultra Fit is the smallest USB to be featured in this list. If you buy one of these, I highly recommend attaching it to a small-diameter keyring or lanyard to minimise the risk of losing it (Yes, they are that small!)
My opinion:
If you want to minimise the risk of knocking your USB while in use, then this is the flash drive for you. The performance isn’t going to win any speed records, but it is fast enough for most DJs. Check the latest price on Amazon
Transcend JetFlash
My love of full-metal USB flash drives persuaded me to buy this one for my DJ gigs.
Brand:
Transcend have been around since the late 1980s and now have offices all around the world.
Advertised speed:
Transcend claims that their drives can achieve read speeds of 90 mbps and write speeds of 24 mbps. (My test was carried out on the 64gb version and the write speed massively exceeded the advertised figure).
| USB Rating | Read Speed | Write Speed |
| 3.1 | 86.74 mbps | 64.97 mbps |
Build quality:
The Transcend JetFlash is another one-piece, metal offering.
I have read some reports that people have unable to fit this drive into the USB port on their computer. While I agree that it is a tight fit, I feel that it creates a solid connection.
A 5-year warranty is provided by Transcend.
Dimensions:
With tiny dimensions of just 23mm (L) x 12mm (W) x 6mm (H), the Transcend JetFlash is ideal for those DJs looking for a small, yet solid flash drive.
My opinion:
This was my go-to flash drive for quite a while. However, with other full-metal options now available with superior read and write speeds, I mainly use it as a back-up. Check the latest price on Amazon
Are SD Cards Better Than USB Flash Drives?
I always have at least one SD card with me as a back up at my gigs, but I don’t remember a time where I have actually used it.
Personally, I always opt to use my USB flash drives, but I guess it comes down to user preference.
A major plus-point for SD cards is if you are sharing the DJ booth with other DJs during the gig, the likelihood of them ejecting a USB flash drive by accident is a lot greater than them ejecting an SD card.
There are many great solutions on the market, so don’t ignore SD cards as an option, but the most popular device is definitely the trusty old USB flash drive.
What about connecting an external hard disk drive?
I have worked with a lot of DJs who used to plug an external hard disk drive into the CDJs at a gig, mainly because they allowed for greater storage capacity than a USB flash drive.
However, with the price of large-capacity flash drives being slashed in recent years and the read/write speeds being on a par, there really is no need to carry large devices around.
Of course, if your personal preference is to use an external hard disk drive, use whatever solution you feel most comfortable with.
Conclusion
Whatever your budget is and whatever your performance expectations are, there should be a USB flash drive in this list that ticks all of your boxes.
Flash storage is always coming down in price and as I purchase and test more devices, I will keep this list updated.
If you have had a good experience with a particular brand or model of flash drive that I didn’t include in this list, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
