Question about the CDJ-2000 Nexus
Hey DJTT,
I’m opening for Paul Oakenfold this weekend and I’m going to have to play on 2 CDJ-2000 Nexuses. This isn’t the setup that I normally use and I haven’t played on CDJs in a few years, so I’m a bit out of the loop (pardon the pun). I want to play on a USB stick. If I want to use the link and sync functions, do I have to use rekordbox? I do a lot of sampling and use the loop function often, so sync sometimes comes in handy.
Thanks in advance,
Paul
Yes you need to grid and tag your stuff in Rekordbox for sync/link to work. It’s not a really difficult thing to do…just slow until you get the hang of it.
Also i’d avoid using any tools to “automate” it for you–as in export Traktor library to Rekordbox. Just get the tracks you know you will play done first…can always add to it later.
Good luck and hope you have a blast!
Thanks for your help, space monkey. I downloaded rekordbox a few hours ago, but noticed that Pioneer won’t be sending anyone license keys until the new rekordbox is available. Do you happen to know when it’ll be released?
I’m not into the technicality of the 2000s, but I’ve used them several times at gigs and I dont have recordbox. I’ve just sorted my music in folders. I have no idea how it works, but I’ve put the USB in and pressed link on the other CDJ and it works.
However, recordbox’ing your music is probably not a bad idea
You can’t prepare your tracks (i.e. beatgrid them) without rekordbox and he wants to use sync, so rekordbox is recommended.
However, since rekordbox doesn’t seem to be available, you can just put your tunes on a usb stick (like Dohjo mentioned) and use the BPM readings instead of using sync, they’re quite accurate.
If you’ve got an iPhone I ‘think’ you can use the ios Rekordbox app with the nexus 2000’s if that’s a help ? You can analyse, set beatgrids and loops and cue points and it’s free. When I (sadly briefly) had a 2000nexus it came with a USB cable that connected to the iphone.
Def double check though as I could be wrong (I’m more of an AERO user these days)
ps - that’s awesome you’re opening for Paul Oakenfold !! 
Paul opening for Paul 
update: yep, it looks like you can connect an iphone/ipad directly to the Nexus if you’ve got the Rekordbox app installed via a USB cable if that’s a help
Check page 14 of the manual
In all honesty consider yourself lucky not only that you are opening for a legend but that you also dont have to bother with such an utter piece of crap named Rekordbox. It has been nothing but a headache and obstacle for me in the past. Beat matching on CDJs is smooth and easy and I would highly recommend you simply go that route…avoid Rekordbox altogether and burn CDs dude. You may feel that you are cutting your set, embellished with samples and such, a bit short but in the end heed this:
Rekordbox is completely unreliable and you run the risk of showing up for your show with no tunes to play. Also, the above advice to simply have an external drive with nested folders is golden.
OK, let me re-iterate just to make it clear. Do not rely on Rekordbox to grid your tracks before a big event just for the convenience. You run the risk of having your database corrupted (has happened to me twice) and will ultimately end up using the pitch and jog anyway on loops because some sort of error the 2000s tend to make when looping gridded tracks.
In any case if you have any other questions or comments on using the 2000s i’ll keep an eye on this thread.
Cheers!
Cool, thanks! I’ll look into that. Why’d you have your CDJ for such a short period of time?
Noted! I appreciate the advice. My dilemma is this. I played on a pair of CDJ-400s and DJM-400 for roughly 5 years, so I know how to use them. I recently switched to the X1; I just use that, my laptop, an Audio 6 sound card, and whatever mixer the venue provides. To set a perfect loop on the X1, all you have to do is press down on the necessary rotary–that’s all. I’ve gotten so accustomed to it that 99.9% of my mixes involve loops in some way, which you can hear if you check out my mixes on my SoundCloud page:
https://soundcloud.com/paulmargiotis/may-2014-podcast
Now, setting loops on a CDJ compared to an X1 just seems unnecessarily complicated. I’ve watched demos on it and not only is it more challenging, but I don’t have the equipment to practice on. For these bigger shows, some artists prohibit any and all extra gear–even if it’s an extra RCA cable plugged into the mixer. That’s why I’m curious about rekordbox and some of its functionalities. I won’t be able to utilize it before the gig, anyway, because they’re temporarily withholding all license keys until their new product is released. Long story short: I’m having to compromise but doing my best to adapt. It’d be cool to mix the way I normally mix with my X1 + 4-channel mixer but on CDJs instead, and to be able to roll up to the club with headphones and one or two USB sticks, but it’s just unlikely. If Pioneer integrated a more user-friendly loop function on their CDJs/mixers, I’d be a very happy man.
That’s very, very frustrating given how expensive CDJs are! Well, I suppose I can create a backup USB with my tracks on it should my primary USB with rekordbox malfunction. Anyway, sorry for being so long-winded. Thanks again for your input.
Rekordbox is a pain in the balls, but in all honesty, it’ll help you use the features of using cdjs without sounding like a dumbass. I’ recommend showing up before the show to test out the music you have from your USB/HD, you run the risk of your cue points and music being corrupted if you transferred them incorrectly or because rekordbox just decided to ruin one of the most important openings of your life, so take your laptop with you!!! Either you do the USB/HD route or just take cds and use them ears for the loops. If you use sync then have quantize on in the main menu of the cdjs, if you save your music from rekordbox you can have the quantize mode activated automatically through rekordbox settings, it’ll automatically import with your music. Just make sure your beatgrids are on point or else you run the risk of sounding like a dumbass, even with sync. Good luck mate, post up vids and pics of the performance for us!!
Really? Press ‘In’ to start the loop and ‘Out’ to set the end point. press ‘Exit’ to leave the loop.
There’s lots of other advanced loop functions on the CDJ but the above is all you really need to know for your gig.
If you can’t get a rekordbox licence key in time then just burn some CDs as a backup.
Don’t believe all the bad press about rekordbox, it’s not the best program in the world but it’s perfectly fine if you use it as a librarian to manage and transfer your files. Looking forward to seeing what improvements the new version has…
Thanks for your input! I’m just going to play it safe and throw some tracks on a USB and just do “standard mixing” (no loops or anything fancy).
Yeah, but the difficult part for me is adjusting the loop if I get the timing wrong. I’ve watched videos, but I just don’t feel confident enough to attempt anything like that on the fly. What other advanced loops functions are there?
Cool, thanks. And I’m looking forward to checking out the new version, too.
Loops can be quantized on the Nexus if you analyze your music in Rekordbox.
There are many guides on Youtube on using the various features on the Nexus:
no probs and glad to have been a bit of help. Intrigued as to what Pioneer have in mind with the new Rekordbox (and if any new gears about to drop)?
Sadly with the CDJ 2000 nexus and only having it a few weeks, I was building up my gear working a bar each week and scrimping and saving. Managed to get an RMX 1000, then an exdemo CDJ 2000 just as they were dicontinued. Then managed to put a deposit on a simiar exdemo DJM 2000 (again just as the Nexus version arrived). Saved for both that and a CDJ Nexus 2000 which I loved - and was hoping to get a 2nd so I’d have 3 decks. But just as I managed to get my cdjs and djm setup, a festival I’d been working on for a 9 months promoting didn’t do so great and had to sell the whole lot to try an cover some of the loses. Heartbreaking but it happens.
So I’ve been slowly getting gear back again piece by piece, this time all in white (apart from my current CDJ 1000s which I’m selling on next week and the ecler mixer - going to get a pair of 850s to use with Mixvibes Cross 3 and use my Aero as a mixer, then hopefully a DJM850 and finally a pair of Reloop RP-7000 turntables. So still lots of scrimping and saving ahead - but it’s all good)
Good luck with your set and hope you have an awesome time and as others have mentioned, have some CDs as backup too (always handy to have plan B’s)
Tell Oakenfold to suck it. Use Traktor.