Pioneer XDJ-R1 or Traktot S8

Hey fellow Dutchie.

Frankly you are throwing more eggs in one basket. The controller goes and that is the end of it.

I have a controller that does stand alone also, two media players (always hooked up, loaded with USB track or CD and ready to go) and usually an iPod/iPhone hooked up to an aux channel. If the laptop goes south or the software acts up, I can quickly switch to the CD’s and reboot the PC if necessary.

In the less likely but not impossible case that the controller gives up, I have a spare iPad controller with me that I can hook up in about 60 seconds. And while 60 seconds of silence is nasty, it beats no sound at all. And after all, this would probably be a once in a career event.

While I wouldn’t mind lugging less stuff around myself, we have to face the fact that it’s a) hardware = technology which can go down at some point in life and b) software that WILL go down at some point. So all you can do is be redundant and then redundant again.

My personal (and it IS personal) opinion on the R1 is that it’s effectively a CDJ350/DJM350 set. I have worked with a setup like that and it wasn’t my finest hour. It’s clearly the low end of the Pioneer spectrum and I just can’t get used to tiny screen and rotate/push button operation for track selection. If the R1 is as slow (even with RB prepped tracks) as the 350s it hails from, it is also not very fast with slightly bigger HDs hooked up to the USB.

As for the S8, I think you have to be a real avid Traktor user and preferably heavily into Stems to really get most out of it.

If you are looking at another controller I’d gladly spar with you on that one. Off-hand I’d say the Denon MC6000 mk2 still rules when compactness and road-rugged build quality are an issue. Highly versatile with two seperate mic channels and semi-matrix input switching to mention a few. Also one of the few available controllers on the market with split cue operation and booth monitoring without the mic sound. I owned the mk1 and am still sorry I sold it, even though the DDJ-SX is a good controller also. Serato, VDJ and Mixvibes Cross support is a given. General advice is to not use non-NI gear with Traktor or the other way around, so you would have to switch software.

A few thoughts from a XDJ R1, and VDJ8.1 user.

The XDJ R1 is without doubt a descendant of the CDJ350/DJM350 set, however it has many pro features such as balanced XLR outputs, along with the Color effects from the more expensive Pioneer equipment. Remotebox can be used to vastly enhance the poor display, and Rekordbox prepared tracks complete the units pro grade Pioneer capabilities.

The Windows operating system is vulnerable to USB problems, hence the single XDJ R1 USB connection to enable laptop DJ software usage is vastly superior to any pair of USB cables from two CDJ players (in my opinion).

It’s stable, and works well with VDJ8.1 (perhaps some mapping modifications are required).

A mobile dj needs to wear many hats, often I’m required to play a clients CD, or USB stick.
The XDJ R1 is ideal!

The thing which really impresses me is its ability to smoothly change from CD, to USB stick, then to laptop software. One player can be using a CD, whilst the other is running VDJ 8.1.

It seems to be the ultimate mobile DJ hardware.
Remember compactness is important, if anything it may be a little big, however it provides a comprehensive backup system for the digital DJ.

If the XDJ R1 has any disadvantages, then one must be the less than perfect product support it has received.
It needed multiple Pioneer firmware upgrades to make it stable, and although its a great VDJ8 controller there is little documentation, and it is not really plug, and play. A VDJ8 manual to guide you in its use does not exist.

I’ve used it for a month now, and I’m more than happy.
However a longer trial period is desirable.