Pioneer DDJ-T1 - A slap in the face for Traktor users !!!

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
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Pioneer DDJ-T1 - A slap in the face for Traktor users !!!

Ok, let me start by saying that I was mesmerized when the Pioneer controllers surfaced, but all the excitement has worn down. I finally started opening my eyes.

Here are my reasons:
SLAP #1- both units are overpriced; other than the jog wheels there are no moving mechanics… F#@K what the Pioneer fanboys say!

SLAP #2-The Serato controller has XLR outs- the Traktor version has 1/4" outs. That is a slap. DID YOUR HEAR IT ???
If you know anything about professional standards, you might have heard of XLR’s…

Slap 3 - There are no visual guides on the Traktor version; aka LED lights, VU meters, readouts etc. The Serato version has more to offer.
Now, I know we have our laptop screens, but for $1300 do you think it might help.
Oh yeah, but you get one LED on each jog wheel that really is a pseudo light show.

SLAP #4 - Pioneer knobs and buttons suck. The S4 has a better feel on the fingers.
I had the Pioneer EFX machine for years and the knobs get loose and wobbily over time. That was an analog issue- it will be a disaster in the digital/midi side.

SLAP #5 - Both Pioneer models units bury your laptop keyboard, and Pioneer overlooked the most vital element for proper laptop maintenance: VENTILATION. Your mac or pc is gonna get pretty hot under there!

SLAP #6 - The Pioneer units are too big to move around for travel. I doubt they will conform to airline carry-on standards. I would hate to check it in as baggage… good luck! The S4 has a better chance to squeak by.

SLAP #7 - Say goodbye to song searches- NO QWERTY. Remember- your keyboard is BURIED! This is a fundamental advantage of digital DJing.

SLAP #8 - The Traktor Pioneer unit has it’s very own “customized” version of Traktor software. Big mistake by Native Instruments. They should stick to the program that is uniformly better. Plus, they have Traktor Pro 2 coming in the horizon. You are out-of-the-loop with customization in the Pioneer market. So what happens when we get a NEW version of software? You go out and buy a NEW controller and empty your wallet all over again!

SLAP #9 - Pioneer/NI, where are the digital outs??? No spdif or AES/EBU !!! I love analog, but we are in 2011. I would like to have the option.

SLAP #10 - The Pioneer units have one thing going for them: their reputation for being a club standard, but sadly, they have not given us their best jog wheels that made them famous. A smaller scale of the CDJ-1000 jog wheels may have made the asking price a bit more modest.

EPILOGUE: For $899, the NI S4 is a mindful investment. You are still paying a bit much by my standards (a Technics 1200 turntable goes for about $350 and look at all the mechanics and craftsmanship you get for the $$$$) OK, so I’m old school…
I am sorry, but this is where I draw the line between controllerists and CDs. Pioneer is bringing the CDJs on board to the midi-controller market, but there is one problem:
The Pioneer decks are designed for a CDJ- not a controllerist.
So if you’re a CDJ (I doubt it anyway, if you are reading this…), you might really want to do your homework in the midi-controller market if you want to cross over and make a worthwhile investment before you sell off your CDJ players and mixers.

Lastly, I want to stress one thing. I have DJ’d for nearly 3 decades. Money was easier to make back in the day from gigging. It is tough now. Be wise with your money, and spending more of it won’t make you any better. We are in the age of modest pricing- there’s a F@#&ING recession going on!!!
They are all selling chips, rubber and plastic for a lot of money, so be careful!

-AVIATORMAN

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you already wrote this in the DDJ T1 thread with the same HUGE sized font

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dude, nobody tells you you have to buy the piece…

I’m still very happy with my 2 X1’s…

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Those Pioneer controllers will be more for CDJ/TT people that are switching over than for most of the people that frequent this site.

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my mistake- I meant to start a thread - dude

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I couldn’t disagree more.

The T1 is reasonably priced for what you get, as in my opinion is the S1. All this rubbish about them being different prices because of different quality is not true, pioneer have already stated it was down to licensing.

They use more of less the same components as on their CDJ 400s / 350s, which can definately take a beating. Of course you’re not going to get CDJ 1k / 2k jogs with this unit - they still want to retain these models as the club standard and it would bump up the price even more, more controllerists (imo) would be more than happy with the 350 jogs and would resent paying more $$ for the 1/2ks.

You don’t need to put your laptop underneath the unit, you can take the legs off it, although I would prefer laptop underneath as it improves visual interaction with the crowd, unlike the S4 case mounted setup.

I’ve already mentioned elsewhere that I plan on rolling with the T1 and traktor pro using the akia LPD8 to control filters and gains (eventually sample decks) so that I can use 4 band EQ. The S4’s gains aren’t particularly nice to remapping for 4 band EQ, and I wouldn’t like to lose the filter knobs.

Just my opinion.

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the “special” version of traktor you get with it is basically duo, but with 4 decks from what i can gather.

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Man they got u stuck dont they. More controllerist would like the 350 jogs? lol most controllerists dont use jogs. Ean golden maps his s4 jobs for effects. Laptop underneath is stupid, it hurts visual interaction. with the laptop on a stand all u have to do is look to the left or right and maybe up and there is the crowd. u dont have to look DOWN at ur controller. Plus that is gonna be killer on ur back. IMO the s1 isnt worth anything. Only the pioneer fanboys are gonna buy it

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I still stand by the fact that most controllerists would take larger jogs, even if they were to be mapped to effects. Not all controllerists are beat jugglers, some of us mix in a traditional style whilst taking advantage of laptop DJing benefits (e.g. for Traktor 4 band EQ - cheaper than a xone:92, many easily to manipulate and presave effects, fast and reliable 4 deck mixing)

I’d much rather be seen looking down at a controller that up at a laptop screen, I think most people would say the same and hence most controllers are drifting towards increased visual feedback on the hardware itself, for example the loop length display on the s4

Killer on the back? Man up! It’s nothing on carrying around a crate of vinyls. I know that portability is an inherent advantage of laptop DJing, but that’s not to say that it needs to be pushed to its extreme to sacrafice other factors, most notably build quality.

I think the T1 / S4 will appeal to laptop DJs like myself that prefer the purely digital format for the bonuses it brings to a traditional mixing style rather than offering an entirely new style of performance. Just my 2 cents

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to me id rather look at the screen..,mainly cuz my vci has to visual feedback but i see yout point.

Man up?? Haha im 6’ 4’’ looking down gets tiring quick.

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this made me laugh…

yes XLRs are a standard connector for balanced signals in professional audio…

…but so are 1/4" jacks im afraid to inform you…its still a balanced audio signal…

in fact, ive just looked around my studio and realised that most of it uses 1/4" balanced outputs and inputs…my compressors, crossover, efx, graphic eq, meter bridge, moog voyager, microkorg…

oh and its all connected via a 32 way jack field lol

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You don’t have to put your laptop under the controller. Pioneer even indicated that the legs can be removed so it lays flat.

The pioneer video I saw, the rep said the custom version allows 4 decks and fx (LE doesn’t allow 4 decks). So its an upgraded version of LE. But the video also said you can use Advanced FX if you upgrade. In other words, you aren’t locked into that specific version of traktor and you can upgrade to traktor pro 2.

Now about those VU meters… yeah I agree.

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Yeah, it can’t be that heavy. I used to take 200+ records to a gig and I would wear my back out before I even hit the decks! :stuck_out_tongue:

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Hey if you got mostly 1/4" jacks and no xlr’s in your studio then I hate to inform you that you probably don’t have the finest equipment in the analog realm.
Also, i 'd take XLR’s any day over 1/4 inch jacks in a club.
Maybe your probably comfortable with 1/4 inch because you’re an avid bedroom DJ.
I don’t know who taught you about audio but I sure as hell know the difference between balanced and unbalanced… So,why did they add XLR to the Serato version and not the Traktor version ?
Also- 1/4" has a tendency to short more… brainiac !!!

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I think Pioneer have gone from the industry standard to a step behind.. I think they made these controllers with the intention of keeping their 2000s the industry standard. Just my 2 cents..

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i wouldnt say i do have ‘the finest’, im not a millionaire nor been spoon fed money by parents, but its got me to where i am today, and thats not being a bedroom DJ…ive been at it for 12 years and have played all over the UK and Ireland…producing for 7 with releases on 4 labels…

also, id say a good 95% of studio equipment has balanced jacks..

as for the ‘taught me about audio’…my day job is broadcast engineering…which yes equipment wise is dominated by XLRs, the main reason for that is the fact they latch…oh and most broadcast CTA’s will have a patch bay made up of what…? you’ve guessed it…jacks, albeit Bantam jacks, but jacks none the less, all passing balanced audio…ur statement seemed to make out that jacks arent/cant be balanced…

why pioneer put jacks on, i dont know, maybe they were tight on space, but in reality, it makes no real odds, wont sound any different…will just be a bit more annoying to wire up in a club…but to be honest, i dont care, i wont be buying one

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If you don’t put your laptop underneath that T1 the Pioneer reps are going to come over to your gig and and beat you over the head until you do. You’re not allowed to put the laptop wherever you want! In fact, the T1 doesn’t even turn on unless your laptop is sitting under it.

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Look- this thread is not about XLR vs. 1/4" !!!
BUT, since you are on the topic:
You are mixing up the studio environment with the live environment.
I know that balanced TRS’s are the same soundwise:higher dB output with less signal-to-noise ratio, but when you are thrust into a club, you would not have to worry about an XLR’s connection as much as a 1/4".
You have to see the physical advantages of XLR’s over 1/4" plugs over the years as in the tradition of Bozak, Urei, Rane, Vestax etc.
I am also a little peckish at Pioneer for releasing 2 semi-identical units that harness the same functions, but have discriminated Traktor users by not having the benefit of solid XLR connections in the back of the unit.

The S4 has balanced 1/4’s, but if they made their next controller with XLR’s- the choice would be a no-brainer for DJ’s that understand the benefits of a live setup.
What you have in your studio will less likely be subjected to the perils of the plug-in-and-play schematic that countless bars and nightclubs have to offer.
FYI
My years of DJing paid every red cent for my studio. Nuff said!!!

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All i can say is not bad for Pioneer 1st pair of DJ midi controllers. If you dont like, hey their are plenty of traktor controllers on the market.

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fixed