So I started out on a controller but I’ve got a club spot coming up in a couple of weeks where I’m going to be playing on CDJs (out of choice) - I’ve mastered manual beat matching, but one thing that I’m having trouble with is setting up cue points for mixing out songs…
I understand the concept of beats, bars and phrases but when using my controller/laptop I had the ease of setting up my cue points on the waveforms prior to playing and using these to bring in/out tracks. However, on most CDJs the waveforms are a lot less detailed (if even there) - so, should I used rekordbox to set up the cue points on my tracks (I’ll be exporting my tracks via rekordbox anyway) or just count out the bars - slightly more risky considering this is going to be my first time playing on CDJs… I know this would be the ‘better’ option, but I’m thinking practically, if I can import cue points from rekordbox to the CDJs I’d prefer that - is this an option?
I’d learn to count out the bars personally. After a while, it just becomes second nature or by feel. What happens if the waveforms aren’t displaying properly or there are no waveform displays on the CDJs you’re using?
do you have somewhere where you can practice on CDJs? have you never used them before?
^agree with two previous responses
as for rekordbox, you can export your tunes to a USB stick using rekorbox, complete with cue points, BPM and what not.
however
a) make sure the CDJs you’re rekordbox compatible, if you turn up to a club that has CDJ1000s with nothing but your usb stick, you’re fucked.
b) don’t use rekordbox as a crutch and just learn to listen to and feel he tunes, much more useful in the long run
Rekordbox can help you here. There are 10 memory points and and 3 hot cues so you can use that to set up markers. Have a look at this screen shot of rekordbox http://www.pioneer.eu/images/news/REKORDBOX/2Pain_Big.jpg You still need to know the music of course.
A trick that could help you with CDJs is to set a loop (16 beats long) with rekordbox at the beginning of the track ie on the first beat. As this is 4 bars long, if you drop it in phrase early on in the track and let it loop away it means you can make sure the tracks are not drifting too much and also it means you can drop it in phrase (you will end up either in phrase or 4 bars out so make sure you know where you are). Also helps you drop the next track in where you can’t beat match eg over a vocal or something for example.
This can also be manually done by pressing the cue button on the first beat and then pressing loop out within that first beat. Cue point is automatically the loop in point. Pressing 4 times on the cue loop recall > button will get you 4 bar loop. Have a look at the CDJ 2000 manual on pages 17 and 18 for more info.
I remember the first time I played out on CDJs, I was nervous. But there is no substitute for knowing the music and also a little knowledge of how the CDJ works. I am no expert but if the technology can help you why not use it.
I’m quite new to DJing using CDJ’s so I’m still learning. A lot of people say the best thing to do is learn the music…while I agree that this is something I should be doing, isn’t it hard to do this for a large music library and just memorise everything (where to cue in/out etc?).
Some people might say this is cheating, but using Rekordbox I always write the time of when I should mix out in the ‘comment’ section so that it displays on the CDJs, just as a reminder…
I know several fairly well known DJs who each own upwards of 10,000 records (not files, actual records) and they don’t seem to have any problem. While I don’t think you will memorise every nuance of every track, it’s amazing how much seeps in.
As a slightly ranty aside, If people aren’t interested in listening to their music, what the hell are they doing this for?
