Moving on
Moving on Posted on: 15.05.2013 by Ossie Pooley I've decided to make the jump from Controllers to CDJs completely now.As such, I'm wondering what to look for when I pick up a set of decks and a mixer? This is mostly to force myself to stop staring at my laptop whilst playing out and hopefully fine-tune my ear a bit more. I'm actually fairly clueless about CDJs. Like when I have to play on them, it's literally just plugging in a couple of USBs and CUE>PLAY from track A>B. No fancy effects, loops or cue points. It's a bit dull really How important is it to get a solid pair? Keep in mind they won't leave the house. Purely for home use. How beneficial is it to be able to hook them up to Traktor? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks | |
| Augustine Mitzen 18.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by hola amigos
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| Ilana Andretta 18.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by Lilac
With cdjs like 2000s and 900s you can Link between them and just use only one usb stick. You will need to prepare your music in Rekordbox which is a software. If you look after them, the cdjs will last for long time and if you decide to hook it up with traktor you don't need an external soundcard. You just plug it and use Advanced Hid mode. |
| Gaynell Rydberg 06.06.2013 | It looks like a controller, but it's an all in one standalone which is the main difference between controllers vs cdjs IMO. |
| Shan Bauerly 04.06.2013 | That R1 looks like a contender. |
| Mimi Mahaffee 04.06.2013 | if i were you i would grab xdj aero or xdj r1, price under your budget and suits your needs. its good to train your ears on since you dont have any waveforms but features rekordbox software support so you are prepared for playing in the club! just my 2 cents |
| Shan Bauerly 04.06.2013 | Especially for this price and free shipping. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=REG&A=details |
| Gaynell Rydberg 04.06.2013 | I would loveeee a pair of Denon SC2900s. They look so sexy, esp for the price. |
| Shan Bauerly 04.06.2013 | I love Technics - this is a fact. I thought I loved Traktor and my controller, but now, I consider it a transition phase. I really just wanted the digital library but quickly found myself "wave riding" and using the hell out of the phase meter. THEN... Traktor burped on me once during a show (although it only happened once in 2+ years) it was enough for me to immediately look elsewhere. It scared the living hell out of me, actually. I make my living on the decks, and software failing is simply not acceptable, not even once. So a hardware solution was the only way out. My Techs have gone by the wayside since I got my Denon 3900s and 2900s with Engine. (Honestly, I wish I had gotten 4 2900s as I don't miss the motorized platter anymore, save for nostalgia reasons.) Sadly enough, I have a mint pair of M3Ds that a guy is picking up tomorrow, they deserve to be played, not retired. The CDJ (or 2900 in my case) has changed my outlook on mixing, permanently. I feel like Engine (or Recordbox) provides a terrific interface for track prep and browsing, which is critical, and it still allows purchasing music on the fly via iPAD for requests. Best of all, and this is key - it actually looks like you're doing something other than staring at a laptop, mostly because you are. All the bennies of mixing on vinyl, none of the liabilities of turntables or a computer. All this having been said, I can whole-heartedly recommend that you get the hell away from Traktor or Serato and play music, not computers. It's a different ballgame, and it will make you a better DJ. |
| Augustine Mitzen 18.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by hola amigos
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| Alphonso Deitchman 18.05.2013 | The DJM 250 is a nice cheap alternative to the bigger DJMs. It has the same iso EQs and filters as the 900; the main drawback is the lack of FX. |
| Ilana Andretta 18.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by Lilac
With cdjs like 2000s and 900s you can Link between them and just use only one usb stick. You will need to prepare your music in Rekordbox which is a software. If you look after them, the cdjs will last for long time and if you decide to hook it up with traktor you don't need an external soundcard. You just plug it and use Advanced Hid mode. |
| Ossie Pooley 18.05.2013 | I'm definitely more focused on USBs than CDs. They just seem so much easier! |
| Alphonso Deitchman 17.05.2013 | Plenty of places still carry CDJ 1000s. |
| Federico Vilas 17.05.2013 | Don't have to burn CDs with USB option |
| Jolynn Schroyer 17.05.2013 | Burning cds is expensive. |
| Federico Vilas 17.05.2013 | The only reason I would switch is to get rid of DVS... I do not see the point of cdjs and the use of any DVDs system PERIOD. Especially if its the new ones with USB and networking options. Hybrid mode or not you can do the same thing within the DVS so why make it more complicated and use both. New mix vibes cross promo with 4 CDs and DVS in hybrid mode...WHY OH WHY I'm going to get some in the next year or so |
| Ossie Pooley 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by haze324
I'm still studying so my budget isn't massive. But I'm allowing myself 1.5k for two CDJs and a mixer.
Originally Posted by robbyluca
Yeah, I agree that Pioneer are definitely the way to go. I'd obviously prefer the 900s over the 850s but every so often someone sells a pair around here for under 800 so I don't believe I can pass them up |
| Emelina Paglia 17.05.2013 | I own CDJ-850s and a DJM-700. From what I read, you should only look into getting the 350, 850, 900 or 2000. 350 and 850 are more "bedroom" gear . The 900 and 2000 really separates itself from that category. They're a lot more professional. Honestly though, choosing a mixer is a lot more important in my opinion. Really look into what you want. What features do you want? Do you want to manually use effects or it doesn't bother you if it's automatically synced with the bpm? Because only a hand full of DJMs you can actually manually control the filter. Here's a comparison list of the 850, 900 and 2000. http://www.djresource.eu/Topics/stor...parison-Chart/ |
| Ashanti Andreacchio 18.05.2013 | I play out using my DDJ SX and sometimes a pair of cdj2000 (mostly in advanced hid mode) I have my laptop to the side never straight infront of me. When on CDJ2000 I never look at the Laptop screen because I can brows on the CDJ but when I use the DDJ SX I only look at the laptop when looking for a song. My advice is stop looking at the screen look at the crowed try to make contact with them. You'll have more fun and after some time you forget the laptop and will become natural to only look at it when finding songs. |
| Carlee Pickard 18.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by sgtscarfy
I made the jump from my S4 (first piece of kit I ever owned) to CDJ's and let me tell you something. After 15 minutes or so of figuring out how to use the CDJ's I fell in love with them. I felt (and feel) a different connection to my music. I could go on for a while, but I absolutely loved the switch and I am happy I made it. And at first the screen and browsing bugged me on the 850's but I realize now that having less functionality on the CDJ's and less fancy shit on the 850's is an amazing training wheel, because now when I go to a club and they have their 2000's my performance will only be cleaner, and I can have more fun with the features while knowing I can hold down a great set even without them. Jus my two cents . My setup: CDJ 850-K's, DJM-850-K. |
| Donny Vonbargen 17.05.2013 | I made the switch from S4/Traktor to CDJ 2000's and a DJM900Nxs. For 'me' the switch was amazing cause I now enjoy playing music more. I dont ride the wave, I use my ears more, beatmaching has improved and I dont have anymore problems with traktor sometimes skipping my tracks. The 2000's screen retains the advantages of a large screen(similar to laptop) with only a basic waveform. I know others wont get the same satisfaction out of it but 'to each their own'. If your on a budget(who isnt right?) I would go with the 850 or 900 used. I got my 2000's used for an amazing price cause im not a rich dude. To know what to expect in the mean time, leave the browser screen on in traktor and mix with your ears. |
| Malka Wickerham 17.05.2013 | The CDJ 850's are great and you can find them for under $600 a piece new. If you want to do a lot of looping then go for the 900s or better. The newer Denon decks are nice as well but I don't like that you only get one line of text on the screen, hard for scrolling through larger playlists. Don't get any other CD decks besides these. BTW this guy was asking about CDJs and not Traktor vs CDJs. If you got the dough. Go for it. |
| Julissa Serrone 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by Nicky H
What is your budget? |
| Meaghan Machold 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by Nicky H
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| Janyce Henningson 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
OP you sound confused buddy - what are your reasons for wanting to change? The only one you gave above was to stop yourself staring at your laptop - seems a weird reason. |
| Doreen Schurle 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by Lilac
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| Margaretta Hebenstreit 17.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by matrick
thats what i did and it made me stay with controller&timecode vinyl |
| Bethann Olortegui 16.05.2013 | why not burn some cds, tap up your local sound rental company and hire a pair for the weekend. |
| Ossie Pooley 16.05.2013 |
Originally Posted by makar1
Originally Posted by Big Panda
I mean, with durability not really being the issue since I won't take them outside. How much better are they than other brands for just mucking about on? My main goal is to explore what I can do with CDJs, are pioneers that much better than the alternatives? I've never used anything other than 1000s and 2000s at clubs so I have nothing to compare them to |
| Dedra Kreinbring 16.05.2013 | I know how yo feel. Wanted to make the move myself, but I can't afford it at the moment / I am saving up some some technics and DVS system. My advice is buy some new generation ones. 350's, 850's 900's second hand, but wait until you see them going for cheap on ebay or gumtree. Use them for a few months until you are comfortable with them, and then sell them on for the same if not more than what you bought them for. And if you really love them and believe they are worth the money you spent on them in the first place then keep them |
| Alphonso Deitchman 15.05.2013 | There is no benefit to switching from controllers to CDJs if you're going to use Traktor anyway. |
| Jenna Skeem 15.05.2013 | CDJ & Vinyl community
, you will find many threads that answers your questions. But to get you started. 1. if you want to force yourself to stop looking at your laptop, without spending lots on CDJ's traktor Preferences > decks > change deck size to micro. also turn the phase meters of. this will stop you from using the phase meter and looking at the waveform cause there wont be one and move your laptop a few feet away to the side so its not directly infront of you. 2. When Djing with a simple 2 CDJ and mixer setup, unless you have some state of the art CDJ's and or mixer, you will not be able to do fancy things such as sampling or even effects. also if you are new to CDJ's all your time will be concentrated on Beat matching therefore giving you less time to play with effects, once beat matching is second nature you will then discover all this free time in which you can go crazy with. 3. Some mid range CDJ's Pioneer and Denon are both very good brands for CDJ's. such as CDJ 400's or even some american audio ones. 4. If your only going to be using your CDJ's at home and don't play any gigs its most probably not that beneficial to purchase CDJ's at all, might aswell just use an ordinary controller with traktor. However if you play out requarly in clubs with installed hardware purchasing a traktor box is useful as it means you dont have to drag a controller into the booth and whatnot... thats the basics ..... some simple searches can go more in depth. |
| Harley Zitka 15.05.2013 | What's your budget, and what kind of music do you play? |
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