Rekordbox and traktor controller s411/24/2023 ![]() It’s worth noting that rekordbox DJ is part of a larger, continually expanding ecosystem for Pioneer DJ. Clearly, it’s not as versatile as the ‘proper’ four-channel setup of the DDJ-1000, but it’s a good compromise if you really wanted to do multi-deck mixes, you’d go for the DDJ-1000 as a matter of course. ![]() Channel 2 can be switched to the second phono/line input, deck 2 or deck 4. ![]() As such, channel 1 can be switched to a phono/line input (on shared RCA sockets), deck 1 or deck 3. The mixer section contains small slider switches to select the inputs for the two channels, which also include the external inputs on the back of the unit. Virtual decksĭespite the fact that the 800 is billed as a two-channel unit, each of the jog wheels actually relates to a pair of virtual decks in rekordbox. It’s a logical deviation from the standard CDJ layout and all the better for it. On the other hand, the pads below each jog wheel aren’t present on CDJs and do genuinely add significant value to the rekordbox experience, allowing you to access hot cues, beat jump/loop, beat effects, trigger samples and so on. It might be relatively small on the basic CDJ-850 compared to the big touchscreens on the CDJ-2000NXS2 and CDJ-TOUR1, but the DDJ-800 only has the small screens in the centre of the jog wheel, meaning you’re reliant on looking at your laptop. The most obvious discrepancy is the fact that CDJs all have a screen above the jog wheel for browsing tracks and viewing waveforms. There are some substantial differences, of course, but nothing that feels particularly jarring in practice. ![]() However, it has certainly got it right in the case of the DDJ: if you’ve come to the DDJ from CDJs and a DJM mixer, you’ll feel at home, and vice versa. The crossover of control placement and feel is a real selling point for Pioneer products, but it’s one that hasn’t always been as straightforward as you’d expect. To state the obvious, that process is a lot easier if you don’t have to relearn a new set of controls. It’s not such a big deal if you intend to stick to the same DJ setup forever, but the reality is that most DJs will change at some point, whether it’s when they eventually upgrade to new hardware or simply playing on another DJ or club’s setup. Furthermore, the crossfader is a simpler type than the Magvel unit found on the DDJ-1000, while the LED rings have disappeared from the cue and play buttons.Īlthough the DDJ-800 can be used as a standalone mixer without being plugged into a laptop, the mixer effects won’t function (presumably because they’re processed in the software rather than the hardware itself).įundamentally, the DDJ’s layout and controls feel very similar in use to the industry standard CDJs, which is a crucial point. Elsewhere, the mixer section is slimmed down, which has the fortuitous bonus of allowing a few subtle changes to the layout of other controls, giving a little more space to adjust controls like the headphone cue mix and levels of headphones, master and booth outputs, and sampler. Most obviously, the jog wheels are smaller, cheaper units than the CDJ-2000-spec ones you find on the DDJ-1000. You can also see where features have been dropped from the DDJ-1000 to make a smaller, more affordable unit. Out of the box, it’s immediately apparent that the build quality of the 800 is decent, if understandably not quite up to the standard of Pioneer’s range-topping gear. There are no slots for CDs, USB sticks, SD cards or any other kind of removable media on the DDJ, but it does act as an audio interface, so there’s no other hardware required except your laptop and a pair of headphones. Despite similarities in appearance, it’s important to note that the DDJ controllers only work in conjunction with the software, not standalone if you want standalone, laptop-free operation you’d need to look to alternatives in the company’s CDJ and XDJ ranges. For DDJ users, rekordbox can be seen as a rival to the likes of Serato, Traktor or VirtualDJ: the software on which the whole platform runs.
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