Questions about USB functionality on CDJ 2000's

Questions about USB functionality on CDJ 2000’s

Hey guys,

I’m a Traktor user but can’t be bothered to setup my gear for a 1 hour slot this coming Friday. I’m just going to be bringing USB keys instead. I’ve never used USB keys on CDJ 2000’s before so I’m just wondering if there’s anything I need to keep in mind when transitioning from the prior DJ. Is it as simple as just inserting my USB key and pressing “USB” on the CDJ and that’s that? I may also use the link, can I just press link while on of my tracks is already playing and on which cdj must I press the link button? Anything else???

Dunno about how it particulary works… but I suggest running all your tracks through rekordbox if you want quant capability.

i don’t need quant capability. it’s a short set.

ok perfect. thank you. do i need to press link on the cdj that has the usb, or the one that doesn’t have the usb? and is it an issue pressing link while a track is already playing?

also, how can i even use quant capabilities on cdj 2000’s if i use recordbox? how does that even work?

edit: upon further review, quant may be a good idea. how do i get quant to work on the cdj? what button must i push to engage the quant feature?

ok thanks. well i want to use the link so that i only need to bring 1 usb key and just link the tracks over to the other cdj.

how to i ensure quantize is enabled? i saw that i can do it through the utility menu by turning quantize on, but do i need to enable anything through the info menu as well? i read somewhere that i need to ensure quant is enabled in both utility and info menus.

Also I would bring two USB sticks just in case they don’t have them linked via ethernet which I have seen. That and or an ethernet cable.

good tip. thanks.

Also make sure your USB sticks are formatted as FAT, FAT32 or HFS+.
One of them should be default but I always used to format my USB-sticks with NTFS since a single file on FAT32 can’t be bigger than 4 gigs.

I’ll post some pics when I’m at home at what you need to press to link them up. Trying it out before the show would be the best for you though.

cool i’ll check that when i get home.

you need to make sure quantise is enabled on the cdjs (it usually is by default but better check just in case). there’s a menu button just by the top right of the big screen…

As promised here are the shots on how to link 2 CDJs.
Press USB on the CDJ containing the usb-stick.
Then press ‘Link’ on the other, select usb (should be selected) and press the encoder as I do in the 2nd picture.
That’s all. Easy as pie.

wow, you killed that explanation. thanks! so i push link on the inactive cdj (the one without the usb) and ALSO push the encoder down?

i press and hold the menu button for a second or 2 to get to the utility menu if i’m not mistaken?

Yeah, the encoder is used to scroll through lists and selec items (like songs or the link-option).

In case you wonder the “DJM 2000”-option lets you put samples on the CDJs you previously recorded with the DJM 2000.

oh ok, i get it now. i thought you meant that i needed to push link, and then push the usb button, when in fact i only need to push link, select usb with the encoder and push the encoder. got it.

ok, so i downloaded recordbox and analyzed all the tracks i want. now all i do is export them? am i missing anything??? this way i can set quantized loops? keep in mind i didn’t beat grid anything…

edit: also on the rekordbox site, it says i need to “put a check in the information box for the song i want to use and then turn on quantize function…”…so it seems i need to turn quantize on in 2 places?

edit edit: why does rekordbox not just export the tracks but instead exports each individual track into a new folder?

you guys are a great help!

so i exported everything to my usb key. basically it put all my tracks in a folder called “contents” (which i renamed) and then each individual track was put into its own individual folder within the “contents” folder. is this normal? why is every track in a separate folder within the main folder? did i do something wrong?

nope. def no rekordbox db file. all i see is the files in their folders…

well, i tried #1 already. but putting them on the key and then analyzing directly from there could be a good idea. i’ll report back.

Look what I found :