CDJs

New Video Explores The Evolution of EDM and How Technology Has Changed the Role of DJs


 
Pioneer DJ has released a video that explores the evolution of electronic dance music and how technology has changed the role of DJs. It is the third and final part of a documentary series about the company’s history.
 
The sixteen-minute piece features commentary from veterans such as Laidback Luke, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez, DJ Shadow, Skream, and Paul Oakenfold.
 
Topics discussed include the early days of DJing, the transition from vinyl to digital, how rekordbox improved the CDJ experience, and the blurring of the lines between DJing and producing.
 
We also recommend checking out the first and second parts of the series, which look at the evolution of Pioneer’s CDJ line and its various mixers. Watch them here and here.
 
Related: Quick Tips for Using Effects with Pioneer DJM Mixers

Pioneer DJ Introduces a CDJ Without the CD Drive

Pioneer XDJ-1000
 
Pioneer DJ introduced its first-ever player without a CD drive on Wednesday evening. The XDJ-1000 is the first in a new line-up of USB-only and rekordbox-ready players.
 
Many of the XDJ-1000’s features are inherited from the CDJ-2000NXS, including 206mm jog wheels, “slip mode,” “quantize” and “beat sync.”
 
New features include a full-color touchscreen, a QWERTY keyboard with keyword search, enhanced rekordbox track information, quantized “beat jump” and “loop move,” and Wi-Fi support.
 
It’s also compatible with KUVO — Pioneer DJ’s new online community, which enables DJs to provide fans with live set information in real-time.
 
The XDJ-1000 will be available in January 2015 with a suggested retail price of $1,199.
 
Watch British DJ/producer Pedestrian perform with four XDJ-1000s and a DJM-850:
 

 
For more information about the XDJ-1000, visit Pioneer DJ’s website.
 
Related: Pioneer Confirms Sale of DJ Business

How to Mix Harmonically on Pioneer CDJs


 
Shout out to our friends at DJ TechTools for this useful tutorial:
 

“Pioneer’s CDJs are some of the most prevalent pieces of DJ hardware found in current DJ booths, and mixing harmonically has become a critical element of crafting a great set for many DJs. Today, Chris Brackley goes through a few of the best ways to mix in key on Pioneer’s CDJ units — including a little-known trick on newer CDJs where they’ll use a stoplight system to let you know if an upcoming track is compatible with the playing one. Watch the full thing and read more in today’s article.”

 
Related: How to Use Pioneer CDJ’s Slip Mode Feature

How to Use Pioneer CDJ’s Slip Mode Feature

CDJ-2000nexus
UK-based DJ/producer Kutski has posted a useful video tutorial that demonstrates how to take advantage of the Slip Mode on Pioneer’s CDJ line.
 
According to DJ TechTools, “Slip Mode is currently only available on the CDJ-2000 Nexus and CDJ-900s although other controllers and softwares take advantage of it, as well as Traktor having its own version, Flux mode.”
 

 
Related: The Evolution of the Pioneer CDJ (Part One)

The Evolution of the Pioneer CDJ


 
Pioneer DJ has released part one of a documentary about the evolution of their ubiquitous CDJ turntable. The video features commentary from Laidback Luke, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, and others.
 
Related: Pioneer Confirms New Turntable

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