A few questions on using CDJ's.

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
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A few questions on using CDJ’s.

Completely new to DJ’ing, relatively. I’m just curious as to how
different using a CDJ is to a controller. I’ve read up alot and
basically there isn’t much other than a few minor things like the lack
of sync button - so you must learn how to beat match. I’m practicing
that the best i can on my Traktro S2. Could someone also tell me, are
all CDJ’s entirely the same? If you learn how to use on one, you can use
all of them? If so, what makes the CDJ2000 NXS better than say a CDJ
350 or some model by a manufacturer other than Pioneer.

I’m also abit confused as to how the UI looks on CDJ’s, are there ways
to see how many bars before the next drop like you can on Traktor for
example? Or is this more down to knowing the individual tracks and
having loads of practice? Also, what about cue points, can you set them
and how many can you have? Another thing, how helpful is having a laptop
when using CDJ’s? I know the phase metre and all of that can be a great
help, but are all CDJ’s compatable to work with such software, like
Traktor pro (I know there’s software which works with it, i’ve just
forgotten the name for it)? Furthermore, are you even allowed to take
your laptops with you to events? is it considered abit like cheating to
use a laptop?

I’d really appreciate answers to these because it’s driving me nuts! I
want to start practicing on them as soon as possible so if anyone could
reconmend a good starting pair that would be great, maybe second hand
(Preferably around the £500 mark, though i don’t mind going over if its
worth it.), or maybe a good pair to just rent for 24 hours and use at
home. Thanks

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The new CDJs have a sync button, but you have to use Rekordbox in order to make it work.

If you learn to use a CDJ without Rekordbox (no sync, no quantise, which would be the 1000, 200, 400, 800) then you will be able to use any CDJ.
If you start DJing with sync you will probably have trouble if, for any reason, sync is not available (happens when you don’t bring your own gear to the place, and this happens if you are a CDJ DJ. Software DJs bring their stuff, so)

CDJ 2000 Nexus, 900 Nexus and XDJ will show how many bars are left from the next cue point.

On CDJs like the 2000, 2000 nexus, 900, 900 nexus, XDJ, 850… you will have at least 10 memory points (cue points). You will have 3 more hotcues for CDJ 2000 and CDJ 2000 Nexus. IDK if there are hotcues for other CDJs.

Laptops and CDJs are good when you are using Traktor or Serato HID. You just plug one USB cable on each CDJ and you are good to go. Laptops for Rekordbox using are a waste of money IMO.

Laptops are definately not cheating. For many people (me included), they are the future of DJing, as hardware, like Pioneer’s, is not being able to evolve as fast as software, like Traktor’s.

My advice, just play around with CDJs and learn beatmatching by ear. After that just go straight forward to softwares and controllers, forget CDJs.

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Thanks alot, that’s helped a tonne! I think I’ll get a pair of preowned 800’s or something just so I know how to use any CDJ incase, for whatever reason, I haven’t got my own gear. Better to be safe than sorry.

And I’ve heard people say that laptops are abit like cheating, that you won’t get appreciated as much if you’re seen with one - I do agree though that it is the way things are going and the people that say this are probably just “old fashioned”.

Just a question about these older CDJ’s (which im gonna look into buying) what would be the best way to organise your CD collection? One track per CD or a few?