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Analog mixing – Browsing tracks

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  • October 5, 2014 at 2:09 pm #2067881
    Stazbumpa
    Participant

    No, Pioneer do not make the only decent CDJ setup.

    October 5, 2014 at 3:16 pm #2067901
    Marco Solo
    Participant

    I disagree as well, the Denon CDJ’s can do more than most Pioneer CDJ’s for half the price for instance.

    October 5, 2014 at 4:18 pm #2067911
    D Pan
    Participant

    Hello again! I have to agree with the last two friends who replied saying that there are other excellent cdj systems. Generally, i think that there are a lot of brands, not only in dj systems but in a lot of products, where you pay the name more than the product. If you want my opinion about cdj systems, from the few things i know, Denons are very good, but the best value-for-money machines are Numark and Behringer, especially when you know what you want, for what puproses you buy and how much experience you have. Yes, Pioneers are state of arts but in many cases you do not need to pay “Pioneer”

    October 5, 2014 at 4:23 pm #2067921
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Guys, while there ARE alternatives (although not many more than the Denon’s you mentioned), they have the additional disadvantage that you will not find those in any clubs (or very seldom anyway) and they are no use getting the hang of working with RekordBox USB-sticks.

    Now I own a set of 2900s with an X1600 mixer, so I REALLY do dig that there is more under the sun than Pioneer. Having said that, I have to second Terry’s comment that, if you are dead-set on going the CDJ-route and you want to be RekordBox and club compatible, the Nexus setup really is the only safe bet.

    If it’s for in your own bedroom or, like me, your own set used at mobile gigs, all these disadvantages don’t count (I carry an Engine-prepped USB-stick and a small collection of CDs in a wallet for emergencies) and the Denon setup is awesome.

    With the new ownership, Denon have just launched another bit of marketing to get the 3900s into the spotlight.

    October 6, 2014 at 1:12 pm #2068221
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    I agree especially Denon are cool controllers (yes controllers). I have used the 3900s and they are awesome to use.

    However I would never consider them as a CDJ setup as advise to someone. If you are a seasoned DJ and know about them, then you will consider them and not ask it in this forum and you will know what you get into.

    For someone who has to ask, the only viable CDJ option today is a Nexus setup and if you cannot afford it, buy an all in one controller.

    October 8, 2014 at 1:32 am #2069282
    Isaiah Furrow
    Participant

    Just my thoughts…. or questions….
    What kind of controller is the OP using? What software? Would the OP not be able to get the “feel” and satisfaction of using CDJs, and also the practice so he/she’d feel comfortable using them, by just getting one media player and using in conjunction to a controller. Be it a Denon 2900/3900, or a Pioneer if Recordbox is wanted/needed?

    To Chuck and Terry, just wondering, as there aren’t really any clubs near me, but I hope to travel and check out a few sometime in the next year. Are clubs mostly ALL having Pioneer gear in them? I mean, are there any that have other than DJM mixers, such as Rane, A&H, Kontrol Z2, etc? Just mostly curiosity on this part.

    My future plans include getting some analog sources, and partly for the reasons I’m reading in the OP’s posts, to “experience” the other ways. I also would like to have some sort of backup in case my laptop decides to be on the fritz and need a reboot or something. Eventually I will likely make my TM8 a backup, and pick up a controller that can also function as a standalone mixer. Once I get that far I’ll likely have a pair of media players, and at least one turntable. These will be mainly for my own enjoyment, and not be the standard gear I set up for gigs, but the media players and a backup mixing solution will definitely be in the truck on more important gigs such as a wedding reception. I have an analog mixer already, Stanton M.203. I have access for now, to a pair of CDJs that I can borrow for such events, but will be hoping to pick up my own in the future. Likely a Denon, but I’ll have my eyes peeled for some reviews of the NDX500 when they hit the streets as well.

    This is a topic with many angles and viewpoints, and I agree mostly with everything said above…. It is an expensive venture to get Pioneer gear. Only the person buying it can really make the call as to whether it is a good decision for them. The mods are just trying to make sure that you know what you’re getting into, and also the limitations of such a decision. If compatibility to Pioneer is what you’re after, DJM mixers aren’t cheap, and from what I’ve seen, they’re the only thing that is going to give you that specific workflow. Recordbox CDJs aren’t just ANY CDJ, and from what I’ve seen, I would DEFINITELY NOT BE HAPPY with a Pioneer CDJ, for the price it just doesn’t offer nearly as many features as the Denon players, or others.

    I’ve toyed with the idea of a host of different setups, but have yet to find/research any that swayed me from wanting my controller always at the center of my setup. For my personal situation, having Recordbox or familiarity to Pioneer gear and workflow isn’t a biggie. If I ever have an opportunity to play a gig on CDJ/DJM type setup, I’ll burn my crates onto CDs and have a go on a borrowed set of CDJs to make myself ready.

    I still however, have a want for analog players as a backup, as well as for personal enjoyment and such. I WONT pay the price of Pioneer, for one, the price is ridiculous compared to the feature list. I also don’t want something cheap, so won’t just jump onto the NDX500 without a bit of skepticism. I have a feeling that some Denon players are in my future, just have to decide if I want the 2900 or 3900. Maybe one of each….LOL

    Best of luck to the OP…. keep us posted…..

    October 8, 2014 at 2:25 am #2069361
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Pioneer is club-standard? Yes, it is. I have run into just about ANY kind of equipment, from DAP and Behringer to the highest-end Pioneer gear. From brand new, to falling apart. But today, Pioneer is predominant in the clubs, period.
    For reasons that have been discussed ad nauseum here 😀 .

    I understand people trying to find what works for them best. I have 2900s because I like the big jogs and buttons after using many smaller devices (MC6000 and before that the Numark D2Director). But they are controllers and double as backup devices, I am not interested in their analogue capabilities. I use them and it’s sometimes handy to have, but not a necessity.

    But I can see myself moving back to MC6000 mk2 shortly and getting a pair of those new Numark 500s as backup.

    Whatever gear choice you make, it’s all good as long as you don’t lose sight of what’s most important, the music, the party.

    Our point is that digital offers such a wealth of possibilities compared to analogue (and we have both been there – a lot!), that is just makes little sense from that perspective to go “back” to analogue because it was the club standard (and rapidly changing, and it would be even faster changing if the gear in clubs didn’t need to last 10+ years because it was so ridiculously expensive to buy in the first place).

    I do mobile work, bring my own gear, which clients pay for. Gear failure is a disaster, backups essential. For that reason only I will always have two mediaplayers set up and my controller will always have standalone functionality. And I carry a small DJ mixer in the car as a spare (or my iPad iDJ Pro controller). And I’ll just use the players as extra controllers for channel 1 and 4 (deck 3 and 4). And I can play anything they throw at me, be it CDs or USB sticks that often accompany those nice little songs and sketches that get done at weddings and birthday parties.

    But at the core of things, I prefer having my laptop, DJ software and a controller. As long as that functions properly that is where my preferred workflow is.

    October 8, 2014 at 2:43 am #2069371
    D Pan
    Participant

    Santa Creek congrats for the headset, we have the same one 😛 In my opinion also, It’s very important experiencing other ways and sources of mixing when you have already get used not only to the basics, but also when you are advanced in different ways of mixing, looping, beatmatching etc. A very good start for an upcoming DJ is a cheap but reliable MIDI (Mixtrack Pro was my first own mixer,snif) and when he is and feels ready he can make the next step to a more advanced MIDI controller or look for other ways, like me. I think that’s the way it goes!

    As for different CD players, as i said above, money don’t always make the quality. You have to choose wisely and always for your own good and skills. The best is what Vintage does: a good first-team controller with his laptop and a very good substitution, often in a good combination 😉 that’s the way a good DJ should work, having a lot of choices and use them for any situation.

    Personally, as i have already said, after working with MIDI’s for 4-5 years, i am in the way of discovering analog world, 3 days before i bought my Behringer DJX750 and trust me, for home and some events is a great value-for-money, i give it 4,5/5 stars because i wanted a better built-in FX system. I hope i’ll have my CD’s till Christmas 😀

    December 2, 2014 at 5:15 pm #2100791
    The Ari
    Participant

    The Problem with controllers is the big computer screen you have to look at. We remember the old days with vinyl, when we were able to look into the eye of the audience and not into a “TV-Set”.

    On the other hand CDs are still very present everywhere in society despite the digital music tracks that specialized DJs indeed need. It´s a great advantage to buy one track only online. But on a gig you need the possibility to also use a CD. You have to be flexible.


    @DJ     Vintage: The vinyl recordbox ist substituted by digital tracks. That´s nice! But look at the extra gear you have to carry with you as a backup! That´s the price of the improved functionalities.

    I a desperately looking for a digital system with CDs but without a computer screen in my setup.

    December 4, 2014 at 3:41 pm #2102221
    siddharth.jha.email@gmail.com
    Participant

    I’m one of those DJs who hate peering at their laptop screen while playing. I’ve got a Mixtrack Pro 2, and a tablet running android. For the last gig I played, I had rigged it so that the tablet showed me the browser of my software. And the tablet was placed in front of my Mixtrack. The laptop was kept aside with the lid closed. I’ve never had to look at my screen till date, and it works pretty well.

    I beatmatch manually (not perfect, but learning), I’ve set “reset EQs on load” and “reset effects on load” to “false”. My hotcues are placed so that I can find my way around the track easily. I’ve never needed to use the “sync” button either. Only recently, I’ve mapped it as a deck-switcher, I hit “sync” and the Left deck of my controller becomes Deck-3 and if I hit it again, it becomes Deck-1 again.

    For the effects, I use only 3 effects: Phaser, Flanger and Reverb. All of them are incredible sounding free VST plugins. So I don’t need to look at the screen to see which effect I have currently.

    This has worked pretty well so far, I’ve yet to test the Deck-switching thing as I’m not used to it yet. I personally feel that it gets me as flexible a setup as a pair of CDJ2000 Nexus at a tenth of their price.

    December 4, 2014 at 7:43 pm #2102271
    The Ari
    Participant

    Nice idea!

    More details about your setup?

    Tablet?
    Software?

    December 5, 2014 at 12:35 pm #2102671
    siddharth.jha.email@gmail.com
    Participant

    Tablet: Lenovo A1000 running Android Jelly Bean

    Laptop: Lenovo G450 running Windows 7 Ultimate

    Display: I’m using iDisplay, it has both Android and iOS versions which can be linked up with the PC/Mac application to create an additional touch-enabled screen through Wifi, there is a bit of lag though (not much, it wont bother if you’re a DJ, but it is noticeable when you’re gaming)

    DJ: I’m on Virtual DJ 7, where it has the option to expand the browser to full screen. I click on that and simply drag the entire window over to the second display (The Tablet screen, in this case)

    And it’s touch-enabled too, so if I wanna look at the screen, all I’ve to do is tap the browser-collapse button on the 2nd screen.

    Simple, yet effective. Maybe I could write an article about this one 🙂

    December 5, 2014 at 10:09 pm #2102961
    The Ari
    Participant

    Connected to the same Wi-Fi meaning:

    Do you need a Wi-Fi Router or is a direct connection between Tablet and Laptop possible.

    Thinking of club usability…

    December 6, 2014 at 9:44 am #2103101
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    If all you are trying to do is remote control a laptop with a tablet or smartphone, an ad-hoc wifi network should be enough, no router necessary.

    December 6, 2014 at 9:56 am #2103131
    siddharth.jha.email@gmail.com
    Participant

    I use the inbuilt Portable WiFi Hotspot feature for Android to do it, no router necessary.

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