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Hi everyone,
I am a considerably new DJ and have so far DJ’ed using my controller (Traktor S2) along with Traktor Pro and it was both great and satisfying. However, I now wish to progress by learning how to use Pioneer equipment which is a standard in most clubs – therefore, is a must to be able to.
What I would like to know is what is needed to use Pioneer CDJs + a Pioneer mixer along with Traktor software.
For example, I know that it is possible to use the latest model of CDJ’s (2000’s nexus) + DJM900/2000 perfectly along with Traktor Pro 2, i.e. it is possible to control the software by using the hardware and also see the songs in the CDJs.
In the case above, am I right to assume that the only thing needed is to use USB cables (to connect each CDJ and the mixer to the laptop) and a CDJ aggregator?In another case of having for example 2 CDJ’s 1000 MK3 and DJM 800 – what is needed to connect these with a laptop and efficiently use Traktor?
I have searched a lot through the internet but I’m kind of confused so would be thankful if someone could enlighten me.
Thank you,
Anakin/what-is-little-snitch-for-mac.html. Edit: Moved to correct forum
- This topic was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by .
In another case of having for example 2 CDJ’s 1000 MK3 and DJM 800 – what is needed to connect these with a laptop and efficiently use Traktor?
CDJ 1000 dont have the HID support, therefore it cannot be used to control Traktor
On the other hand, CDJ 2000 Nexus do support for traktor, all you need is to plug in your 2 cdj 2000 NXS to your laptop, theres a little setup thing you need to do in CDJ 2000 for both of em and thats it, you can fully control traktor from your CDJ, no need to plug the mixer to the laptop (altough you can use DJM 900 NXS to control traktor, but I dont think its that necessary, if you already hooked your 2 CDJ’s to it)
Keep in mind if you running Traktor in Windows, you need to download ASIO driver for your traktor, the reason is so u can split the sound from Deck A and from Deck B
BTW, CDJ 1000 can still control traktor but not with the method you mentioned (with USB cables), You would need an audio interface such as an Audio 6, timecode CD’s and Traktor Scratch Pro 2, so yeah its not really a cost-effective one and time & space consumed
Also the DJM 800 is total bogus for controlling software.
Get a NI S4 and control Traktor with that if you like Traktor… makes more sense than a CDJ setup.
Mind you explaining in a little more detail how would I need to connect CDJ’s 1000 in order to be use them along with Traktor?
Its more complex, first u have to purchased a good interface sound cards, then you have to twiggle around with the cable plus connection then you need to get the timecode CD’s, its a LOT of mess, be more convenient just do as Terry suggested imo
PS : I forgot to mention with the CDJ 1000 you need to BUY the Traktor Scratch Pro, the Traktor Pro 2 wont worked with the time-code CD’s so that another $$$ to waste
For any non-usb/midi media player (like CDJ1000s) this is the way to hook up a system:
*) You need a (certified in case of Serato or Traktor software) external soundcard with at least two inputs/two outputs.
*) You need timecode enabled software (like Traktor Pro 2 Scratch)
*) You need timecode discs for each player
*) You hook up the audio output from each player (RCA) to the input of the sound card
*) You hook up the audio output from the soundcard to the input of the DJ Mixer (same channels that the players were originally hooked up too)
*) In the software you set it to listen to timecode on the inputs of the sound card and to send the output from the decks to the sound card outputs
*) You load a track in your software deck. Now you can use your player to start/stop and do other stuff.Greetinx.
And then we can all tell you: Welcome to the stone age of DJing…
I don’t buy this Terry I am afraid. Do you think clubs will ever move away from having CDJs (or whatever the next iteration of this is) together with external mixer set ups installed?
Having a industry standard style set up ensures that whatever DJ turns up to play they can jump on the clubs installation with minimal fuss. If every DJ has to brings their own kit, sets up in between slots, things will end up going t*ts up at some stage.
That’s why the current Pioneer system suits pretty well if the DJ uses Audio CDs that is fine, If they use Record Box that’s fine also, If they use Traktor that can be catered for and even Serato with the SL box is doable. Even someone turning up with iToys can link up in some way.
Now not every club is going to have the newest whizz bang Pioneer set up so if a DJ turns up to play and they are au fait with the the CDJ workflow and they have the appropriate media with them (Audio CD, USB drive etc) happy days play on!
To say this is the stone age seems a bit odd as it covers all eventualities, something a club business should be doing.
To the OP the minimum CDJ for HID contol is the CDJ900 , mixer wise you could take your pick if you run through an NI Audio 6 (or above) or a DJM 850 as a minimum with a sound card built in.
Personally I would take a look at the XDJ-R1, it does Audio CD, does USB and works with Traktor, the main thing with it though is it emulates the CDJ work flow without the expense and more complex setup.
Ok, it’s really quite simple. If you are not using a controller when playing out, you can pretty much forget about hooking up the mixer to your PC. Even if it’s technically feasible, you’d have to have all the right drivers and mappings and be able to know how to use midi functions on a DJ mixer (as this is hardly ever as simple as it is on a controller).
What you do is hook up the CDJs to your laptop, 1 USB cable each. The CDJs remain connected to the mixer with RCA or digital cables. All the features on the CDJ work the same as they would when you were playing from a CD or USB stick. If you are lucky the display will even let you scroll through the tracks on your laptop. If not, you have to do your track browsing on the laptop, then load to deck A or B. Once loaded, you can use the player EXACTLY like you would with a CD or USB track loaded. Nothing more, nothing less. For the rest you just use the DJ mixer as it is. You could use keyboard shortcuts or mouse to do things in your DJ software, but I never do. The mixers usually have a few FX if I need them and filters and EQ’s.
Wrapping it up: in a club with midi-enabled CDJs, connect them with USB to your laptop. Use the mixer in “traditional” mode.
Greetinx.
I do actually think that in 10 years we will not see the standard CDJ setup anymore. The arrival of the club-oriented DDJ-SZ by Pioneer is a very clear writing on the wall.
Another reason is that more and more DJ/producers are moving towards performance pads, ableton and all kinds of stuff like that. Or they use controllers more and more.
And your argument about setting up doesn’t hold ground if you say that you could use an SL to use Serato. I don’t see how that differs from flopping a controller on top of the existing gear and plugging into the PA.
I think the point Terry is trying to get across, especially since this is a digital DJ forum, is that any setup incorporating CDJs and an analogue mixer is more hassle and almost always offers less functionality than a controller does.
And nice as a CDJ2000/DJM900 Nexus setup is to play with (and I do that on a semi-regular basis), there is nothing I can’t do with my 19″ MC6000 controller, but there is quite a few tricks I CAN’T do with the Nexus setup.
If you are a controller DJ, be good at it. Sure, if you get the chance, play around with CDJ’s, but at the end of the day it’s not much different from your controller. A few buttons you need to find, sure. But they all have play, cue, hotcue, loop, jogwheel, pitchfader, etx.
Greetinx.
What Terry meant by the stone age is because, the setting up CDJ-1000 and Traktor is just that “stone age”, we Digital DJ embraced more to the simplicity, so why bother with the complicated setup, if the more easiest solution available
Well in my last 2 years of DJing (from the 20+ years I am doing this), I think I played well over 90% of the club gigs on my controller.
Every club has enough room (still) beside those CDJs to fit those CD crates, since I do not have any, enough room to put your controller.
Hook that up to 1 of the line inputs of the mostly common Allen&Heath mixer (yes most have A&H mixers with Pioneer CDJs, the DJMs are actually only about 30-40% but you can do the same) and transition from the last CDJ song of the prev DJ to your controller manually via the club mixer.
Sometimes you even have another controller DJ before your set makes it even easier to manually switch over via the house mixer.From the sets I played via CDJs this actually was only because they had a full Nexus setup and I was too lazy to setup my controller since it was a lame Top40 gig anyways and so I simply used my backup USB stick and be done with it.
DJing with CDJs is no rocket science and if you do not let yourself being intimidated and are able to manually beatmatch I do not see why you should have CDJs over a controller at home. It is the stone age and in the next 10 years it will go away.
I see smaller clubs are even starting to have ZERO gear in the DJ booth. I had 2 gigs where only a small PA mixer was present in the booth and they expect you to hook up your thing… and I think that will be the future of smaller venues and our biggest club is already eyeing the SZ…
Djm 850 K
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