Digital DJ’s of urban…

[moody]

Yeah, you have to analyse your files in Rekordbox and export to USB. This gives you beatgrids, BPM, key, cue points, playlists etc

what is the process like, is it fairly straight forward, if i were to import my flac files in?

 

[moody]

with traktor, I just buy the tunes from bandcamp, download and traktor picks them up straight away, no messing

 

[RevolutionSound]

what is the process like, is it fairly straight forward, if i were to import my flac files in?

Easy enough, yes. As long as you keep on top of it.

 

[RevolutionSound]

with traktor, I just buy the ntunes from bandcamp, download and traktor picks thewm up straight away, no messing

I've never used Traktor, presumably it has to analyse the files?

 

[moody]

I've never used Traktor, presumably it has to analyse the files?

yes of course but it takes seconds.

I open the software up and the new tracks are in my library and i just load them onto a deck and it'll do the buiness right away in seconds and i can even play the track whilst its doing its thing.

 

[RevolutionSound]

yes of course but it takes seconds.

I open the software up and the new tracks are in my library and i just load them onto a deck and it'll do the buiness right away in seconds and i can even play the track whilst its doing its thing.

That's the advantage I suppose of playing off your laptop. Although from what I've read, Traktor doesn't have flexible beatgrids so is no good for unquantised music?

 

[Ted Striker]

Talking of CDJs Ive got a newb question. How do you rewind a tune on a CDJ and then press a play button so it immediately starts at the beginning. The only way Ive found to do this is to have a cue point at the start and then trigger that particular cue point but I dont think this is what other people are doing - I think there must be a simpler way, or Im doing something unusual

Do you have auto-cue set up (I think that's what it's called)? That sticks a cue point on the first beat automatically on load. Get into the habit of assigning a hot cue at the start when the track has been loaded and is stationary at the start.

But the combo of pressing cue then play in quick sucsession has the effect you need of rewinding to the start (albeit stopped), and then start playing. You already have the operation of cue and play in the muscle memory, so it's one less button/feature (hot cues) that I need to remember.

 

[moody]

That's the advantage I suppose of playing off your laptop. Although from what I've read, Traktor doesn't have flexible beatgrids so is no good for unquantised music?

I got version 3, there is a new version out, I dunno if that has but mine doesn't.

I do play a lot of eclectic stuff and often something that isn't quantised. it all depends on how tight the drums are, it is fairly good at holding it together but the looser the rhythm the worse it gets.

anyhow, I use it in conjunction with my 1210s so I can ride most stuff out but using the pitch and manipulating the record/platter. I never just play from a laptop what's the fun in that?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

ps, just looked up the XDJ-RX3 and its a controller. I much prefer stand alone decks and the ones i want are roughly the same price as the XDJ-RX3

No, the RX3 is a standalone all-in-one system.

If you want to use Pioneer gear, you basically need to use Rekordbox.

 

[moody]

I'll be getting rid of traktor once I get the xdjs

 

[ska invita]

Do you have auto-cue set up (I think that's what it's called)? That sticks a cue point on the first beat automatically on load. Get into the habit of assigning a hot cue at the start when the track has been loaded and is stationary at the start.

But the combo of pressing cue then play in quick sucsession has the effect you need of rewinding to the start (albeit stopped), and then start playing. You already have the operation of cue and play in the muscle memory, so it's one less button/feature (hot cues) that I need to remember.

No I dont , but I dont think serato has an autocue function, but that sounds like a thing others use
where do you set autocue on?

 

[Ted Striker]

so I've been going to a studio local to me that offers drop-ins for people to come and practice. they have a full dj set up with cdjs which i've been trying out and i'm impressed.

so i'm looking to get a pair of pioneer xdj1000mk2s. they're a mid level media player but most importantly for me is they support flac files of which all my music is.

apart from the cdj3000s which are like £3k each, I think these are the only other ones that support flac in the pioneer range.

I've nearly managed to save up for some and am very excited. they also have a digital output so i can, if I wanted and I do want to bypass the internal dac and run them through a better external dac for a better sound experience.

I shall report.

I have the xdj1000mk2 (as a 3rd deck for my home use with an xdj-xz). It's great tbh, I initially lamented it's lack of update (it's relatively old, and is felt in the screen), but as you say, the next upgrade is a few k more, and what else do you need it to do?

 

[Ted Striker]

No I dont , but I dont think serato has an autocue function, but that sounds like a thing others use
where do you set autocue on?

Ah, I'm talking in xdj language tbh. I guess the same button is in rekordbox, no idea on Serato.

 

[moody]

I have the xdj1000mk2 (as a 3rd deck for my home use with an xdj-xz). It's great tbh, I initially lamented it's lack of update (it's relatively old, and is felt in the screen), but as you say, the next upgrade is a few k more, and what else do you need it to do?

I doubt I'll be using hot cues so the screen wont be getting as much action as some.

It is a shame there aren't the pads on it that are on other decks.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Unless you’re specifically wanting a “club standard” separates system, but you want Pioneer, I don’t really see the point of buying anything other than an RX3 (if you want two channels) or the new AZ (4 channels).

To get the most out of the separates (pitch/tempo synch, quantise, beat fx etc) you need one of their mixers, plus have to faff with a network switch and associated cables. For less money just buy the all in one box.

Unless I’m missing something

 

[moody]

Unless you’re specifically wanting a “club standard” separates system, but you want Pioneer, I don’t really see the point of buying anything other than an RX3 (if you want two channels) or the new AZ (4 channels).

To get the most out of the separates (pitch/tempo synch, quantise, beat fx etc) you need one of their mixers, plus have to faff with a network switch and associated cables. For less money just buy the all in one box.

Unless I’m missing something

the decent ones are the same money or more

 

[moody]

plus I don't like the mixer section, I much prefer allen & heath

 

[RevolutionSound]

plus I don't like the mixer section, I much prefer allen & heath

You will lose some functionality using Pioneer decks without a Pioneer mixer.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

plus I don't like the mixer section, I much prefer allen & heath

I’ve got an Xone:96 that’s used with our 1210’s at my work, and it is a lovely bit of kit. But using it with CDJ’s means you lose a shitload of functionality that you’d get over a 900 Nexus.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

The (sad I guess) reality is that modern DJ manufactures have created “ecosystems” you need to buy into, somewhat like Apple/Android did with phones and tablets. Mixing and matching means you’ll be missing out on a great deal of the advantages these things have over old school vinyl setups.

 

[moody]

You will lose some functionality using Pioneer decks without a Pioneer mixer.

for example?

 

[moody]

using an xone 23 atm but was planning on getting an xone43 so I can use my 1210s along side them

 

[RevolutionSound]

for example?

Syncing beat fx is the main one I can think of, I think the newer Pioneer mixers also have a cue preview where you can preview a track without loading to a deck.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

the decent ones are the same money or more

An RX3 is approx £1700. That give you two current spec decks (with pads!) and what is basically a two channel version of the latest pioneer flagship mixer.

XDJ-1000’s are approx £1000 each. Plus the cost of a mixer, and network switch.

Hell, you could get the 4 channel AZ for less money (£2500 ish iirc) than 2 1000’s and a decent mixer.

It’s your money, your choice, but…

 

[moody]

ok. that's a shame. I really want tov avoid pioneer mixers as they have quite bad phono pre amps and I want to start buying more vinyl

 

[RevolutionSound]

ok. that's a shame. I really want tov avoid pioneer mixers as they have quite bad phono pre amps and I want to start buying more vinyl

Phono pre amp in the XZ sounds fine to me!

 

[moody]

An RX3 is approx £1700. That give you two current spec decks (with pads!) and what is basically a two channel version of the latest pioneer flagship mixer.

XDJ-1000’s are approx £1000 each. Plus the cost of a mixer, and network switch.

Hell, you could get the 4 channel AZ for less money (£2500 ish iirc) than 2 1000’s and a decent mixer.

It’s your money, your choice, but…

I've been looking and I can get two xdjs for around 1600/1700 quid.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

ok. that's a shame. I really want tov avoid pioneer mixers as they have quite bad phono pre amps and I want to start buying more vinyl

Would you honestly notice though?

 

[Ted Striker]

or the new AZ (4 channels).

Slight footnote to this statement, you should get the XDJ-XZ used for decent money as everyone migrated to the Opus quad and the AZ.

If you are dying for 4 deck mixing (I am/was), an extra XDJ XZ (and settle for 3 decks not 4) is much more easier to use, i.e. with a 'proper' 3rd platter rather than a button to swap each side whether it does 1/2 or 3/4 (which is a pretty shit experience in practice).

 

[moody]

Phono pre amp in the XZ sounds fine to me!

tbh, I've bot heard one latley but it's widely reported that most of the newish mixers or controllers have poor phono pre amps.

something to do with pioneer wanting people to buy more digital stuff which i find kinda strange as they also do a range of turntables