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Great Scott, what year is it? DDJT scratch tutor Steve Canueto explains why he felt using CDJs was like a step backwards instead of forwards compared to a DJ controller. I’m fortunate enough to be able to choose what set-up I prefer to DJ on, and I’ve just made a decision that seems to be against the flow out there at the moment: to stop using CDJs and USB sticks and go back to using software and a controller. This seems counterintuitive as there’s an unwritten expectation that suggests we should strive towards DJing on “proper” club gear, but it turns out that personally, I’d play on a controller every time. I experimented and went the CDJ / USB sticks route for a few gigs recently, and contrary to the whole “one day I’ll play on CDJs” idea, for me personally using this set-up felt like moving backwards, not forwards, like I was DJing with gear from the past instead of the present (or even the future). My DJing background First, let’s be clear: I’ve DJed on everything.
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I started mixing cassette tapes, moved on to vinyl, and then used every one of the CDJ models starting from the CDJ-500 during my time putting together and mixing club compilation albums. Then like many DJs, I took a break from DJing. The bug never left me, however, and after a few years away from the decks I started to dabble again, this time going the digital route. I never used a full digital set-up before, so I went for it: After taking advice from a friend (our very own Phil Morse), I decided on, went for the and was instantly hooked. To me, all the creative limitations of vinyl that contributed to my boredom with DJing were smashed. DJing was fun again and the possibilities were endless. I’ve DJed with cassettes and vinyl, and used just about every CDJ that’s come out since the 90s.
I honed in on the platform, mastered the techniques, and became such a passionate advocate of digital DJing that it led me to collaborate with Digital DJ Tips on the course before joining the team full time to help others learn DJing on digital gear. I learned to use all the major DJ apps and controllers, but always stuck with using a laptop.
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Until recently that is Why I tried using CDJs and USB sticks I DJ every week on a radio station called BeachGrooves and have always used either my Traktor Kontrol S4 controller or recently the Pioneer DJ with. The station has a CDJ set-up in the studio that the other DJs use (it’s an set, but you get the idea), and a few things happened that made me ditch the laptop in favour of using CDJs and USBs. First, we had a big launch for the station’s new frequency that’s broadcasting in Ibiza, and around 10 of the DJs were together in the studio. I experienced what controller DJs go through once in a while – that feeling that all the other DJs were looking down on me and my “DJ toy”. One of them even laughed and pointed to my DJ controller bag saying: “What are you doing? Carrying the whole club around with you?” I smiled proudly and said: “Well, I DJ with a controller so I have to take it with me somehow!” As much as I would like to say it didn’t bother me at all, it did.
My thoughts quickly turned to: “I can play on any gear you put in front of me, I bet you couldn’t do that. I choose to play on a controller, buddy!” The second trigger for my jump to CDJs was getting a gig at a beach club near where I live, where there were players in a bespoke DJ booth with just no room for controllers. Lastly, a buddy in the radio station I DJ at said: “Let’s do a back-to-back show one night using the XDJs,” so I thought: “I already use Rekordbox for track management so this will be easy.
I’m going to try to make the jump to being a full CDJ / USB DJ.” I DJ and manage my music library with Rekordbox. It works tightly with my Pioneer DJ DDJ-RX controller, and I love it for playlisting and organising my collection. And it was easy – Rekordbox music management is fantastic, and it just took a little rethinking and planning to create the playlists I’d need for gigs and to sync them to a USB drive.
I used our in-house CDJ set-up to practise on so I could learn how to navigate around folders quickly, how to search and sort tracks, how to set loops and cue points, and so on. Over two weeks, I played five sets using just CDJs and USB drives. They were fine with no major issues, but something just felt a bit boring. So I switched back. And I thought it would be good to share in full my final five reasons why: 5 Reasons I Prefer DJ controllers. DJ library convenience – Managing USBs and hard drives is an extra step in the workflow that requires thought and time. I prefer grabbing my laptop and hooking it up to my controller, knowing that I’ve got everything I need there.
In fact, in the few minutes before I start my set (and even during it) I can create new playlists, edit them, search for last minute tracks to add to the set, fix beatgrids, and so on. Track previews – This was a big one for me. I like to quickly skip around tracks in the browser window and preview them in my headphone cue to remind myself of the vibe and whether it’s a suitable next track. This is easy to do in Rekordbox DJ, plus you don’t need to load the track onto a deck – you just click around the waveform in the preview player, and it doesn’t mark the track as “played”.
It’s a different story on a CDJ: you have to load each track and manually search through it. It’s more time consuming, and causes me to “settle” for a tune because I got bored repeatedly loading tracks and running out of time to make my choice. And if I played the track I was previewing for longer than 45 seconds, it marked it as “played” whether I decided to play it in full or not. You don’t get this with the preview in Rekordbox DJ.
Track search and sort options – In fairness to Pioneer, the track search functions on the Nexus and Nexus2 systems are much better than CDJs of old, but searching using the touchscreens is still nowhere near as convenient or intuitive as searching on a laptop with a full Qwerty keyboard You can search tracks in your collection by whatever tiny piece of information pops into your head and you’ll get the result instantly. Also, I can configure the browser section on the laptop screen to show me whatever I need all at the same time: artist, title, BPM, key, cover art, comments, energy level, all sortable with a single click.
The CDJs’ screen size means they just can’t offer this and getting all this info is clunky and too many clicks away for my liking. Built-in recording capability – I like to record all my DJ sets. I like the raw recording of the music, meaning no voice overs and jingles, just a pure “internal” recording as mixed in the software.
This just isn’t possible with a CDJ / DJM setup. You can only record the mixer output and you have to have an external recorder to be able to do it. When using a laptop / controller, it’s a “set and forget” affair with just the touch of a button. Added performance features (eg Slicer / FX options / samplers) – Again, CDJs are getting better, but there’s only a tiny percentage of clubs that have the full Nexus / Nexus2 set-up, so for the most part the only options you have for performance are loops, slip mode and reverse, and whatever FX the mixer has. Even then you’d be lucky if it’s all connected by Pro DJ Link and beatsynced. Doing two hours of house tunes with only these features to play with can get pretty boring (at least for me), so the power of having all the performance features that DJ software and controllers have to offer in one unit is something I find far more interesting and exciting DJ controllers are in my future I decided to go back to using controllers because I liked the tight integration with my current laptop software of choice (Rekordbox DJ), plus I like the convenience of playing from the same computer that I use to manage my library, which ensures all my tracks are present. I can create playlists right before or even during my DJ set if needed.
So I decided to go back to using my DJ controller, and will continue to use it apart from in situations where I don’t have the option to do so. I know there are incredible DJs out there who have mastered the CDJ / DJM set-up and do amazingly creative stuff with it, but even with the CDJ-2000NXS2s (which are the closest to a full-featured DJ controller that Pioneer has got to), I felt handcuffed in certain areas. The whole experience was quite inconvenient, and I felt limited both in track choice and in creative performance options. You may be asking: “But what about using CDJs in HID mode?” HID promises plug and play connectivity of your laptop running DJ software to be controlled by the CDJs and mixer, which should really be the answer to most of my gripes listed above, and it works OK with the Nexus2 system and Rekordbox DJ (though not currently with Traktor or Serato) but the most surprising thing about it is that it’s even less “integrated” than using a USB stick. Pioneer’s Rekordbox DJ is a fantastic piece of DJ software, and works flawlessly with native controllers such as the DDJ-RX and, but hook it up to a full Pioneer CDJ / DJM Nexus set-up?
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It’s not great: no waveforms on the CDJs, track search is more limited than using USB, and no control over internal FX or performance functions. Hopefully, Pioneer DJ is working to improve this, but at the time of this writing it just isn’t a wholly satisfying experience compared to using Rekordbox DJ with a controller. Finally So what’s the lesson?
Well, if you aspire to play on CDJs and a mixer, go ahead! You’ll rarely be “caught out” in any DJ booth as this gear is pretty standard in this day and age. Likewise, if you are DJing creatively with a controller, our advice is as it’s always been: Don’t concern yourself with “getting to CDJs one day”, just continue to concentrate on the important stuff of being a great DJ using whatever set-up you have – and don’t be afraid to insist that you use your controller at gigs.
Or better still – learn on both! For me, I actually like to know I can jump on a set of CDJs and play a decent set if it’s required of me – but it sure wouldn’t be my choice for my most creative or spontaneous performances. What are your thoughts on this? Have you gone on to CDJs from using DJ controllers? What’s that been like for you?
Or would you rather DJ with controllers above all else? Let us know below. Portability is a huge issue for me and most places I play don’t have CDJs. The DJs are expected to bring their own and I’m not lugging CDJs and a mixer all over creation. I can replicate all the features of a CDJ set up with a mac air and Native Instruments X1 and Z1.
Such a light set up allows me to bring other interesting devices like my F1, Maschine, Novation Circuit, Volca beats all of which can fit in one backpack and are still easier to transport than CDJs. Of course I bring rekordbox on a USB if Read more ».
I never tried cdj’s it would be a interesting expierence but as a mobile I don’t do much mixing or tricks I fade scratch in drop on the one or patter on genre and bpm changes if they wont flow together but that’s neither here nor there. I would love to try vinyl just really cant afford to get all of those setups I use my pioneer sb2 with serato and I am happy. As a mobile you got to setup quickly and tear down quickly and all that extra weight with the coffin cases and such slows a person Read more ».
In 1992, I started off on Technics 100’s, then moved up to 1200s in 1993. I remember jumping into Final Scratch around 2002. I remember buying a pair of CDJ-1000 MK2’s a few years later, but selling them around 2007 because I felt I was using them purely for timecode, and my 1200s did the same job.
Then I went and bought an Xponent, since I was on Torq, and kept using it when I moved over to Traktor, but now moved on to the Behringer CMD modules. To this day I can’t fathom going back to “analog” thinking of Read more ». Totall totally agree with Steve Canueto, I use a similar setup for exactly the reasons Steve highlights.
For me, as for anyone, it’s a personal choice thing, but for the gigs I do these days (wedding receptions, private parties / events etc) a laptop / software (your choice) / and a contoller (your choice again) is just the best. I seldom get caught on special requests, never if I have a good Wi Fi connection at the venue, and now that I have doscovered the most reliable software (Virtual DJ), having literally purchased licences for most of the others, I’m Read more ». About the same history for me – 1994: 2x SL1200’s, around 2006: 2xCDJ1000’s added. The CDJ2000’s came out shortly after I got the 1000’s.
I felt a bit stolen. The last couple of if years I got so tired of burning cd’s, I needed to do something. But I wasn’t going to buy a nexus system for the home studio, nor was I going to get the ‘poor man’s’ Pio. Setup, as I always reach for quality and I was used to use quality equipment. (I always and still buy aiff’s, for example too).
2012 – simply put Read more ». I totally agree!
Having djayed on vinyl & cdjs I totally perfer the laptop/software setup! Mostly for the 5 points you’ve stated. Djing in local bars I noticed that most of them don’t have nexus pioneer kit.
Many have old cdjs that don’t even have usb sticks! I was forced to burn everything to cd which I’m officially OVER!
Also, buying the traktor s8 last year hipped me to the fact that the cdj just couldn’t do what I could on the s8 & software in general. People also asked “Why do your mixes sound so good?” It’s because it’s Read more ». I love my DDJ-SX2, but I hate having to lug and my laptop around to gigs; I learned to use CDJs just on this simple fact alone. It’s just so much more easier to just bring my USB stick and my headphones. But if I have to bring my gear, I will! And I always make sure the equipment I play on at clubs/bars is fully operational before I even decide to bring my own. Nothing’s worse than going to a gig and find out that their gear doesn’t work to your standards.
It’s good to learn to use CDJs Read more ». Steve you mention Traktor and how more recently you use Rekordbox DJ and a DDJ-RX. You seem to give a lot of praise to the Pioneer controller / Rekordbox DJ combo. Would you say you prefer that setup now to Traktor and the Kontrol S4. I’ve been looking into new options myself and have researched just about everything. I concluded that a CDJ setup was not a route I wanted to take when I discovered that using one with Rekordbox DJ is less complete than using a CDJ setup standalone with a USB stick. I don’t understand why waveforms are Read more ».
I’m a mobile dj, I started in the 80’s with vinyl, move on to cdj’s, and now I’m using laptop/controllers. I don’t care what anybody says, when it comes to going back on technology it is NOT progress, all the new improvements came along for a good reason. Much better, (no need to repeat all the benefits). What I don’t understand is why dj’s are so divided, everybody has the right to play on the setup of their choice without being laugh or fingers pointed at them.
And not everybody can afford to have “one of each” to Read more ». A well written piece by Steve. I agree with the premise that you need to be comfortable on both and then opt for what you feel like depending on the circumstances and what kit will be available. I play on controllers SR SX2 on serato and RB DJ and off RB prepared USB on CDJs.
Starting to use vinyl DVS too. I also agree that when the HID is sorted out better with Rekordbox DJ and Serato on the newer CDJs then you will have more creative flexibility particularly if you chuck in an SP1 but effectively then you have Read more ». I completely agree with you Steve and actually went almost through the same pace, but I am using Serato now, which is almost Rekordbox anyways ? Also some people ask my why I am sometimes so passionate about pointing it out, that for me CDJs are a step backwards and I consider them outdated gear.
Simply because I see some young DJs, that have not even completely learned the trade, feel compelled to buy CDJ gear at home so they have “pro gear” to train on. Which results in 2 szenarios: 1. They get old used CDJs and DJM where Read more ». We have a similar story. I started mixing on cassettes as a roller skating rink DJ in the early 90’s, moved on to vinyl, CDJs then Traktor. This is where we part ways.
Image is a big part of entertainment and walking into a booth with your controller makes you look like a noob. This shouldn’t be the case but it is, and you can’t just ignore the fact. But, like you I prefer a laptop, I hate browsing on CDJ screens and if you DJ open format, forget about it! Lucky there is a middle ground, DVS, or really Read more ». I agreed with 1-4, but 5 seems not that reasonable. To have more control on CDJ setup, we can add gears like Toraiz Sp-16, RMX500 to have more control.
The setup is all hardware based (they are made to do their main job only which means less bug/failure compared to Laptop computer) and i believe you get more detailed sequencer & sampler & FX functions compared to you get from rekordbox DJ. Controllers are good because they are much much cheaper than hardware gears and get more functions than just simple CDJ+DJM setup, however if we aren’t worrying about money, Read more ». I started DJing a couple of years ago. I started out with a Stanton SCS.4 which is a standalone digital system. I liked everything about it except for the small screen that didn’t really have a good workflow, then I got the Stanton SCS 3 system, which is 3 separate, all-touch, controllers that I used with VirtualDJ and Traktor, but one night one of the deck controllers just decided to stop working. So I then decided to do some research into different controllers, but found nothing that I liked and looked like would suit my workflow.
I then looked into Read more ». Hi Steve, Agree very much with you in many points! – I’m from similar background: tape edit vinyl CDJ-500 ( 1991) Keyboard DJ with PCDJ (1999) Controller DJ with VDJ (2004) until now. – “Then like many DJs, I took a break from DJing”: Oh yes, I was blank in DJing between 1992 and 1996. – I also mentioned in VDJ forum that their “Preview play” function is actually their competitive edge.
– and thanks for the controller course I don’t own and didn’t know how to use CDJ 2000 with Rekord Box then around two Read more ». We used to stick up our noses at the THOUGHT of using CDJs at our events rather than Tech 1200s. Now CDJ jocks stick up their noses at jocks using controllers. With my DDJ SX2 I can do everything and more that I can on almost all CDJ set ups. I can also beat match, cut, scratch, quick mix, juggle, etc on 3 Tech 12s. The art of DJing without using the synch button on most of any equipment is about the art and the music playednot what it’s played on. One of my fav performances recently was Read more ».
I started on vinyl, then moved to CDs, but I truly love playing with digital files because (to me) it’s a lot more like producing. Controllers make playing digital files easier, and that’s really the point of any tool: to make doing what you’re doing easier/more efficient. The first time I played on a computer, I noticed right off the bat, I could easily tell the RMS, and while BPM wasn’t perfect, it gave me a ballpark range I could easily use to beat match (like I did with vinyl) but unlike vinyl, I found out I could load more Read more ». I’m gear agnostic. I enjoy the flexibility and portability of controllers, and really enjoy making (and using) my own custom mappings. The only reason I don’t use CDJs is that I can’t afford them!
However, learning to play on CDJs is a useful skill for a DJ, because they are everywhere. I think the bigger problem is not price, but library portability. If there was a unified library format, compatible across all DJ software and hardware, life would be much easier.
We wouldn’t have to commit to one platform and stick with it. Having to maintain two separate libraries is Read more ».
One problem I find with the cdjs is the analysis of songs. I pay for ALL of my music, not only to support the artist but also for the quality etc. Certain tracks are analysed fine by rekordbox but a lot of the time I find myself constantly having to slip a track to keep it in time when I am mixing as the bpm fluctuates so much with some tracks. Not a major problem in the long run but when you compare rekordbox to traktor, I personally think native instruments are ‘pioneering’ when it comes to software, hardware and Read more ». It’s clear that Pioneer have become huge player in the DJ software space. The dual purpose (library management and performance) design of Rekordbox is the most versatile out there. One could get a high-end controller for performances, or get an entry level controller just for prep and practice while taking a USB stick out to the gig, or even set up a full blown DVS system.
And don’t forget you can even link your laptop into the DJM – CDJ network with an ethernet cable for full library search, using the CDJs for playback, no soundcard required. I cant think Read more ».