I am mainly a controllerism DJ, but for versatilities sake I would like to learn to DJ on normal CDJ’s.
No sync button, no waveforms, just straight up mixing song A into song B.
What would a good kit be? Mind you it won’t be my primary kit so something relatively cheap, but quality. Was looking at a Pioneer 850-K kit but I noticed the Pioneer 350 series too. The 350 seems like a great deal to me, but is there anything similar but cheaper?
I’d recommend you the CDJ-350 kit as well, or if you don’t mind burning a few CD’s you can always look into some used CDJ-800’s or 1000’s; way cheaper! As for a mixer. You could think of a DJM-250 or DJM-600 for a cheap Pioneer mixer or a DJM-700 if you want something newer and more versatile. Not sure what your budget allows, however, the resale value of Pioneers is really good so.
The CDJ-200s are very good for learning, because they are the worst ones, if you can beatmatch with them you can beatmatch with any CDJ. I’ve learned with them myself an today I have zero fear of playing with anything.
The 350s are good because of the USB port, but to really learn it’s good to not use rekordbox because it makes things pretty easier.
If you want to be versatile I would recomend Pioneer stuff because you won’t find any other brand on clubs, so it’s good to be used to the club standard stuff.
Also it’s a good idea to have a good mixer, don’t even think about DJM-350 or lower, you need something that at least has effects for single channels (DJM-400 or better).
Just took a look at these, they look pretty nice actually and not a bad price either. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it in my OP but I would like to be able to use Rekord Box or CDs so I can get used to both systems.
I was looking at the DJM-250 as well because it has a filter on each channel. I want something fairly simplistic so I can learn with just bare bones so if I come across a CDJ-2000NXS I can use it and appreciate all it has to offer, but also if I come across as CDJ-1000 I can still use it too. I’m also a whore for buying new, not used. It’s a bad habit.
I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, looks like you need a mixer.
I have no pitch faders or platters on my current kit is the problem though, and if I go for the CDJ-350//DJM-350/250 I can use them as Traktor controllers or as CDJ’s with Rekord Box. I see where you are coming from though.
Why do you suggest NOT using Rekord Box? I really like the way it seems to work! I’d either go DJM-350 or 250 it seems like, I love the 350 for all its cool features with USB recording and all that, but I love the 250 for the XLR outs and a filter on each channel.
Can’t argue that!
Another reply above said learn without Rekord Box, why is that? I plan on using these with Rekord Box drives, non-Rekord Box drives (if that’s a thing, I think it is) and with actual burned CD’s.
I own a XDJ-R1 and it was my unit of choice because it is cheaper than 350s (bought it used for 50% off the retail price), supports rekordbox and has a brilliant set of features. Of course you won’t get everything for only $450, but it only has a very few downsides (like smaller pitch faders: not too much of a deal for me, and no manual looping (only auto beat loop), which is fine with me as well) and some great features (like hot cues, which can only be found on CDJ 2000s and the XDJ-R1!). Just have a look at it on pioneerdj.com and ask any remaining questions
All I did was buy 800’s, use em with CD and Traktor and I have my tunes loaded into Rekordbox on a few flash drives. Learned to beatmatch with CDs, now I can plug and play with a usb and it works out well. Never had the cash for a set of CDJs that take USB yet lol.
The way it seems to work is absolutely perfect. I would love if it worked so flawlessly like it seems, but, very sadly, it doesn’t.
You said you wanted something cheap, so the 200s were the first thing that came in my head, as I don’t see rekordbox as a valid way of playing in a real-life-crowded-club situation, why? Because I’ve had many problems with it, and saw many people having many problems with it too.
Today I use no-rekordbox usb sticks and never had any problem ever, with any usb-stick or any cdj, with any track (using WAV).
If money is not such a problem then buy the 350s and test rekordbox. But be aware that the rekordboxed USB-stick that you may use flawlessly on your 350s may not work fine (or even work!) on the clubs CDJs, which will most probably not be 350s.
So if the big reason of all this is being versatile I would focus on not using rekordbox, because, if anything goes wrong, I can guarantee you a FAT-32 formatted USB-Stick filled with WAV and no-rekordbox WILL NOT let you down
Rekordbox is the standard application for about every professional DJ out there that doesn’t use software or vinyl, so it should be good enough for the OP as well…
Personally, I’ve never had any problems with it and I also can’t remember reading/hearing about DJs having trouble mid set on any festival/club stage due to Rekordbox errors.
So if you want to go the CDJ route, get some CDJ 350 and probably a DJM 250, which will give you the opportunity to practice and learn everything important about CDJs and Rekordbox.
If you should decide to completely switch to CDJs you can still upgrade your kit.
You probably should consider buying used. Pioneer gear is pretty sturdy, so the stuff you buy should be fine, also the prices are quite stable, so you won’t lose too much money if you should decide to upgrade in the future.
I’ve had the pleasure to be inside the booth with some big names such as 2manydjs and gramophonedzie and you would be surprised to know how many times I saw that beautiful red alert of the CDJs saying there is no rekordbox info in the USB-stick.
I’m not saying it’s a complete disaster, but some people just don’t want to be on a situation where things don’t work.
One funny fact that grinds my gears is that Rekordbox is actually made by Mixvibes, the company that makes the Cross DJ software. And you can see here: Key Detection Software Comparison: 2014 Edition that the key detection of the iPad (!) version of Cross DJ is significantly better than Rekordbox’s one…The software that is the responsible for all the advanced features of the new CDJs has a worse key detection than the iPad app from the same company. Also Rekorbox’s key detection happens to be one of the worst around…
Yes, I now see what you mean! I want to be completely away from Traktor and all that, just straight CDJ’s.
Now THAT is interesting, from your point, how does it differ from using separate CDJ’s and a mixer?
Personally I’d be pretty nervous about never getting to test those drives until a show. I LOVE the idea (called me old school or superficial) of seeing a DJ flip through a little book of CD’s though, i really want to learn to mix on CD’s.
That is actually a question I have, how would things like the “Beat Grid” and “BPM Lock” work with NON-Rekord Box USB’s?
I’ll look around for some used stuff maybe! I asked the guy above you, as I want to learn Rekord Box USB’s, NON-Rekord Box USB’s and CD’s, HOW do NON-RB USB’s behave in a CDJ???
I don’t use key mixing a whole hell of a lot but if I do want to, would I run them through say MIK and then put them into Rekord Box for better Key Dect?
You shouldn’t be concerned with grids and BPM info if you’re trying to learn how to mix on CDJs.
Non-RB USBs generate their waveform and BPM as you progress through the track. You also have to browse the file structure rather than browsing by metadata in the tags.
It’s a bad habit.
