I’m in the same situation, switched to timecode and will change CDJs soon (got the 350 atm)
I’m planning on buying the 850 (the new freshly released black model 850-k). I don’t need all the 900/2000 features and screen cause i got an X1 just like you. I’ll just go for 850 cause they have the same jog, and same size/ergonomy as the one i might find in clubs. That’s all.
Any CDJ would work, but even with the 850 and the auto loop section that you won’t use as CDJ is reading the timecode cd’s bpm, remember that if you don’t use the features on a regular basis, you still got the ability to, and that’s a plus if you or someone else needs it one day, or if you want to sell it later
I’ve spun on a lot of gear…controllers, turntables, every major CDJ Pioneer has made, etc.. I think the only CDJs worth buying are the CDJ-2000, and because I can’t afford them, I just don’t own CDJs.
The 850 looks impressive, but it only feels marginally better than the $300 Stantons. I don’t think the price difference there is worth it compared to just using X1s.
IF i was going to buy cdj’s i’d buy 400’s or 850’s so I could use them in HID mode as opposed to using them with timecoded cd’s. If you are buying them just to practice on I’d go 400’s because anything you use in a club will ultimately be better but they all do pretty much the same thing so will do for home use.
Well, I was using MIDI (no HID on the 350) but I switched to timecode for the mobility and comfort it provides.
Why I didn’t feel comfortable with MIDI/HID :
You have to assign a player to a channel in Traktor in the CDJs menu, ok that’s no big deal but in a rush if you forget that you are screwed.
I’ve always been afraid of sudden non-recognition for whatever reason or mapping issues.
You have to create an “agregated device” (not sure that’s the good translation) with the internal soundcards of all CDJs.
The switch between CD mode and HID mode has to be done on all players before being able to play tracks from Traktor, because (on Mac OS X) it has to be done before you check/assign the outputs on Traktor settings.
If the place you are playing at has CDJ 1000, you’re screwed
Massive amount of cables (HUB, HUB power supply, USB for HUB, USB for each player..)
Ok with timecode you’ll say there is a massive amount of cables too, but well if you are correctly prepared with rubber tape etc (for further information about how to setup really fast : Getting setup quickly in a club video)
Last but not least, many of the previous reasons lead to that last one : You can’t do a smooth transition between several DJ (CDs → HID is longer than HID → CDs)
I guess i pretty much summed up all the reason why timecode is still a very viable option. Especially for DJ playing at clubs and likely to move often. But gotta agree, for pure bedroom djing, MIDI/HID is awesome.
Back on topic, are the CDJ 850 that bad ? I really want to have a “standard size” player with a bigger jog, but I don’t want to pay that much for 900s or 2000s if I won’t use a half of the features as a timecode user.
Seriously, 3 hotcues ? My X1 gives me 8. Auto loop ? Same, and Traktor’s auto loop are even better.
What’s the reason that led you to the 2k for timecode Hoodless ? No criticism, i just wonder
Or you got a pretty big income, or there is ONE reason that i forgot, and that might apply to me and lead me to 2k too.
PS : sorry for mega post, once i start writing i just can’t stop myself
Those are good points. I see where you’re coming from, and I kind of agree with you.
Agreed. On all the points. Is the 850 that bad? If you’re using Traktor and an X1 for hot cues and loops and ignoring most (not half, most) of the features…that CDJ-850 is essentially $800 for a platter and a pitch fader. And you kind of need 2 of them. Even the response on the play button isn’t quite good enough to use (unless they’ve gotten a lot better than when I was using SSL…with like a 2ms buffer. So you’re not even using that.
I think $800 is way too much to pay for a platter and a pitch fader. And CDJs just aren’t as good at scratching as vinyl (with or without a DVS).
IMHO, it’s not worth using both…not by a long shot. And the cheaper the CDJs get, the crappier the jog and pitch fader feel until you get to the point where something like that Stanton C.324 costs about $100 more than a DN-S2000, still has fewer capabilities, doesn’t feel any better (even if the jog’s a lot bigger), is heavier, is more likely to break, and complicates the setup drastically.
I’m honestly surprised that things like the SCS.1d haven’t caught on. Maybe the thing was just too expensive for its own good. It’s certainly ugly as sin. But if I really wanted a platter and a pitch fader, that’s probably what I’d go with as long as it worked.
I’m not sure about time code, but the reason to use CDJ-2000s is that they feel really good and can do the vast majority of what actually matters to most DJs. Most people barely use hot cues…very few actually use 8 in a way that matters. With Rekordbox, you can store 3 hot cues or loops, plus one more not-hot cue for your original start point. The loop buttons do work, and they’re quantized if you use RB. The platter feels pretty darn good considering that it’s not 12", not vinyl, and doesn’t spin. Pitch bending feels really natural. And the pitch fader is huge.
Plus they don’t break.
And they can read USB sticks or hard drives.
They’re not worth $1800 each to me…not by a long shot. But they’re the only CDJs that make sense, because they’re the only ones that don’t feel like toys to my hands.
I don’t get it for time code at all, but I don’t understand any CDJs for time code. If you’re sacrificing the feel of vinyl, it all seems way to complex and too expensive to not just use the CDJs by themselves.
If I could justify the expense of CDJ-2000s, I’d immediately drop Traktor. At that point, Traktor just becomes marginally easier track browsing with a better display and the possibility of a sync button…at the cost of a lot of cables, an expensive and fragile laptop, increased latency, and more of a chance of something going wrong.
If I could afford CDJs, I’d probably drop Maschine too. As much as I enjoy it, I’d drop it in favor of a hardware groove box with finer control over pitch, since it looks like Maschine can only control to the whole number of BPMs, and it’s really fiddly to get it to actually stop where it’s supposed to at that.
Damn, you got good points too. If i buy 850 to replace the 350, that would only be for the feel of a real jog, a better pitch fader and, well that’s almost it.
That can look stupid, i guess it’s the RGAS.
But i need a CD player with a good jog, without wasting money on useless features (for my personal use). Name a cd player that has a nice big jog, but has no (or the less possible) features that would be useless for a timecode user.
That’s why I was looking for 850-k, and I gotta admit the black color is sooooo much better looking than the ugly grey they had.
I would love to have like 3 CDJs 2k + a DJM 800, that must be such a different feeling than Traktor. But honestly i don’t see myself paying so much money to loose some features.
What does CDJs have that Traktor doesn’t ? Nothing. Except a certain feel, that you can get via using CDJs for timecode. Traktor for viables waveforms and complete the CDJ lack of features, but on the side of the booth so you still got that “real” feeling, and you’re not staring at your laptop.
Damn that’s a tough decision, but luckily i don’t have enough money atm so I have time to think about it
I’ve never thought of it that way, but you’re right. Not having money makes you think more carefully about where you spend it.
That was one of the arguments for vinyl when CDs started getting accepted…$12/song instead of $2 meant that you had to be 6-times more selective about your music.
And I really don’t have a better recommendation for actual hardware. But, I would seriously think about what Traktor vs. CDs will give you…what you use now, what you actually want to do…not just what you think you can do.
You’re more likely to wind up limited that way, but you’re also more likely to find what you really want and then have some awesome things happen while working within your limitations.
Everything about DJing is a compromise. Feel, quality, reliability, simplicity, capability, portability, cost…you have to figure out what works for you.
What I’m doing right now would be a lot simpler if I went back to Ableton. But then, I’d be bringing 2 big controllers everywhere I wanted to play. Not worth it.
Everything that i wanted to say has been said. But from my experience the price difference between everything and the 1000 (not including the 2000) is worth it just for the jog wheel alone. Especially the fact you can tighten/loosen the 1000 jog.
That’s just a very, very stripped down version of my opinion
Hi everyone, I also dont understand why some would use DVS with cdj’s now that they can read usb sticks or hardrives. Its too much hazzle for a couple of features.
That being said I feel the cdj-mixer set up is expensive and due to our budget restrictions we face this dilema: in which I expend more cdj’s or mixer?
Given the current options for mixers, like xone db4, or xone db2, or ecler evo 4 or 5, pio 900, I would prefer to use the cash differencebetween a cdj 850 and a cdj 2000 in a good mixer.
For me its more fun using cdj’s and I am still contemplating buying a pair after i sold my previous set, but I am waiting for Pioneer, I hope, realesing a cdj with out cd reader XD.
And so you are planning on buying a pair of 2000’s, and thus pay thousands of $/£/€ for
[quote] a couple of features[/quote] more than a cheaper 850 ?
We don’t all have the same style, the same needs, the same income. Each choice is personnal. And i’ve always followed this principle : practice at home as you play live.
When going into a club you are 99% sure to get a Pio player from the professional series. That’s why timecode user got CDJs at home, even if they don’t use half the features. And as I said before, but it seems some people post without reading the whole thread before, even if you don’t use the features, still you are able to if you want to, and having the features is a good thing when you want to sell your player.
Bought 2k’s mainly because i got a good trade in deal on the 1k’s and 850mk2’s that i had. so i wasnt paying out that much on top for the 2ks.
HID in traktor and SSL is amazing, just like using a real CD. exept i dont have to lug about two big CD folders about everywhere. USB sticks are nice, but rekordbox does my head in and you have to update them constantly.
The 850s are GOOD players! i liked them when i played with them, same jog as the 800, plus you have a nicer screen, usb stick connectivity, and HID compatible.
If you like using them as HID controllers, but also want to learn how to use CDJs (and not overpay for features you wont use) get the 850-k’s
(400s are nice too if you dont mind a small jog wheel)
Also the problem is buying that much expensive equipment, and use it like a midi controller. I’d rather use s4 or something equivalent if I am gonna use Traktor. Too much hassle like someone above said. Just bring your cds or thumb drive and ready to mix =p
