Sure, it's not
quite as legendary as the
Technics SL-1200MK2, but Pioneer's CDJ-1000 has an impressive reputation of its own in clubs the world over, and the new CDJ-2000 looks to take things to the next level with a 6.1-inch 480 x 234 LCD and the ability to play music directly off USB and SD media. That huge LCD shows waveforms, album art, and song info, and it's paired with a horizontal "Needle Pad" touchstrip underneath it that lets you drag directly to the part of the song you want -- no more endless cueing. Oh, and there's more: up to four 2000s can all share a single USB or SD music source with the Pro Link feature, there's a MIDI mode that allows you to use all 35 buttons to control your favorite audio software, a new four-beat loop cutter that autoslices loops for you on the fly, and the whole shebang is bundled with Pioneer's rekordbox music-management software. Yeah, it's steep at $2,150 -- $1,600 for the screenless CDJ-900 -- but we so, so want one. Video after the break.
posted Sep 17th 2009 11:44AM
Yay Nilay! A GOOD DJ post! No, I'm kidding.. But yeah, this is definitely very cool. I love my Serato setup for digital stuff, but 2 USB keys/SD cards is MUCH MUCH better, and these CDJ2K's will make navigating while spinning digital stuff much much easier.
However, my love of the moving platter + the fact that I already have Tech 12k's and Serato = I'll pass. Absolutely wicked looking though.
Wicked is true, but I personally will wait for the Virtual DJ skin :D
i miss my 12ks :-(
i sold them when the CDJ-1000 came out because i thought digital would be the future.
i still buy vinyl though...I have a nice marantz to listen too.
and yeah, i don't know what it is about virtual DJ, but I like it so much more than Serato. even though it's essentially the same thing
It's a hottie, but can't go into too much detail as I know crap about Djiing
All the best stuff's made in Japan.
As far as I know, the only CDJs still made in Japan are Denon's line. I picked up some DN-S3700s a few months ago and they were made in Japan too. Top quality, but there's still nothing wrong with Pioneer's products (except the price tag--yeesh!).
The CDJ-2000 was designed in the USA.
http://forums.pioneerdj.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6781012904/m/345105803
DJ-CDJing is dead. you can buy a laptop, dj software/box and 2 MK1200s for less then 2 of these.
CD-DJs brought upon first wave of "bad" DJs that couldn't figure out how to beatmatch with vinyl/ would rather burn crappy MP3s to a CD rather then pay for vinyl.
Serrato is cheaper and easier for these "bad" DJs (it even beatmatches for you)
The only reason good DJs ever even used CDDJs was for the loop features/live sampling, but now that you can do that with even the lowest grade DVS, there is no reason to waste your money on these.
Wow, great post there, Luddite.
Just because you can't appreciate the creative capacity of a CDJ doesn't mean there aren't other DJs out there who can. And no offense, but anyone who's still dragging seven tonnes of vinyl to a gig doesn't really know what DJs who are pushing them limits are doing.
You keep your Tech12s, for the rest of the world, we're moving on to something that allows us to be more creative.
While I'm a Vinyl Serato fan myself, this has its uses and advantages over vinyl timecoded stuff like Serato/Torq etc. No needles to worry about, no turntable bumping to worry about, and easier downward pitch bend. And things like virtual needle drops are a very welcome addition as well. I'm a vinyl/vinyl-serato fan till the end, but I can't deny a good thing when I see it. I'd spin on these and love every minute of it.
well, last time i checked 2 vinyls is about 40grams...
tell me what you can do on a CD-J that is "more creative" then what I can do on a DVS like Traktor...I'm actually curious.
I was more complaining about the price of these things (4000 dollars) more then anything, but if you want to turn it into something else whatever.
I can assure you with 2000 dollars i could be far "more creative" with my Abelton setup DJing then you could ever accomplish with 2 of these.
Serato beatmatches for you??? what version are you using?
GD that's what you get for mixing up your shit.
Vinyl "fans" have two sticking points: audio *quality* and table *control* (or more likely a pure artistry of turntablism).
You argued for quality by belittling playing from MP3 (and calling CDJ players cheapskates) and now you're pretending that your only argument was for control (arguing for a final scratch / scratch live setup "carrying only two vinyls").
192kbps vs VBR vs 384kbps vs ZOMG VINYL IS INFINITY KBPS is a shit argument. You (anyone who is over 21 and has spent anytime in the real world of music) can't tell the difference. Whining about how it's not a pure analog pitch-bend if you're not on vinyl is hipster shit.
Just by the fact that you brought up DVS you abdicated any claim to greater quality. Since you whined about MP3 DJ's paying for vinyl you fucked up your own economic argument. You're a mess.
Technics are for stacking up 5 plates for a scratch-off and analog fetishists. It is a quaint art form that (while I have respect for it...) is slowly dying. All of the tricks you can do with vinyl have been done in the last 30 years of the art. It's time to use our new tools to create a new cdj-tablism art.
YES! I never even called these CD deck packing music players DJ's. Part of the DJing experience is having to lug those 1200's (heh, or the inferior, yet affordable Gemini's) along with 2-3 crates or records to the radio station, club, party, etc. Plus the ways to manipulate the record are so much more diverse than farting around with a CD. Long live the LP DJ and turntablists!
@Basic,
first off, all DVS systems play Lossless audio, I didn't even bring that up but whatever.
Secondly, I was refering to the 2 types of CD-J DJs that i know (though most of them have switched to DVS). The ones who just play music, and the "DJ as art" ones who used it for the advanced digital functions. I was saying for either party, ploping down 4000 dollars for a pair of these isn't viable.
I know many DJs who like to do it as "art" and as soon as DVS systems came out, they went that direction, not only was it cheaper then a good CD-J tables, the amount of "live" remxing one could do was also increase with the inclusion of using VSTs and other effects chaining software, midi controller, ect. DVS can be used with or without real turntables. In fact I know many people who just DJ with a MIDI controller, i was listing the "DVS PACKAGE" as a price point only.
in the end Digital is Digital, and all I'm saying that for the pice, these do not do enough to be valued at >4,000 for a pair. stop twisting my words around like I'm some sort of audiophile.
Serato does NOT beat-match for you... Rane are Serato are DJ Purists.. and would never do such a thing...
Tracktor beat-matches... and they have a different agenda.
+1, everyone hating on this kid is a jackass. Anything you can do on a CDJ, you could do better with TSP/Ableton.
However:
1. The audio quality of the pitch locking is *much* better in one of these than it is in Traktor.
2. The intended audience for this product is a club owner / system installer, and for that audience, this is a worthy successor to the 1000mk3. That is, it makes using a CDJ a little more like using Traktor.
3. If you were a pro DJ and you could pay $2k for a rock-solid guarantee that your laptop would *never* go tits-up or kernel panic in the middle of a set, would you pay it? Going high-end CDJ isn't just a feature-set thing, it's buying into a proven track record of QA and product testing.
4. Blinkenlights!
@jared
Thanks for the support.
all your points are good, however Seratto and Tracktor have gotten MUCH better at pictch locking in recent versions, its not as good as a MK1200 (which ive compared it with) if you go over +-8% but in that range its not really noticeable quality diffrence (depending on your source file of course).
I totally agree with the clubowner part.
The stabilty part is a good argument, ive had my laptop crash once on a gig (always have a backup) at the same time though, at a club using CDJ200s i got a "Load error" on one of them and it was out of commission for the rest of the night, anything mechanical can and will break at some point, its just a matter of always having a backup plan.
When dealing with high end DJ's (who these are for) price isn't much of a factor, features are. These are far more capable with SSL/Traktor/etc than vinyl with the equivalent software is. CD DJing isn't dead and probably never will completely, it will eventually become the minority, just as vinyl is (although I see most of the CD DJs going this direction where vinyl purists will stay where they are). CDs were also far more popular not because of your elitist remark (odd for someone who uses a DVS...) but because they were much easier to carry hundreds of songs.
Nilay where is the Zune HD review?
Very fancy! The only feature i really like though is the instant search...something i've missed since i've stopped playing vinyl. Oh well. I agree with Level 5 - i'm a Serato guy too, being able to ditch some of the setup hassle of that would be nice. But $2k is a bit much to make me switch anytime soon.
Hrmm...it doesn't seem to have an IPod dock...why is this on Engadget?
There's a thing called USB port where you can, and I'm not kidding, connect an iPod.
I did it in some CDJ-400, but the larger, the longer it takes for it to sweep the whole thing. On an 80GB at 40% full, it took a long time to complete scan the sucker. It did the job, but at some point it just went dead. It couldn't handle that much [coolness].
I for one, have tried Pioneer's CDJ-400, and I can say that those are pretty decent. USB integration is quite a great upgrade from CDJ-200.
Though I won't argue with vinyl supporters, these are quite fun to use. Been there for almost 8 hours non-stop.
CDJ-2000: looking good.
Yes absolutely. I love my CDJ 400's, no burning CDs, no waiting after I buy my songs from beatport. No laptop to have connected. But, I may have to upgrade to these. Out growing the 400's and these are just too damn cool.
There's no denying it's a nice piece of kit, but at the end of the day, I'll just stick with a pair of SL1210s and a copy of Traktor.
looks a lil over the top, but i still want 1
Beautiful looking CDJ's but sadly it can't beat Scratch Live with timing vinyl.
I look at that thing and I think I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now, what I'm with isn't it, and what's "it" seems weird and scary to me.
That thing scares me.
Pioneer makes the best digital turntables! Period!
Well this at least decrease the quality of the music, yet far worser than the cd quality, no comparison to vinyl at all.
Yes it has many new features, yes it has a cd drive in it, but tell me who lower-class dj won't mix his 128-192 kbps internet-pirated crappy quality song?
One step ahead in technology, two steps back in real life
i only pirate in 320kbs dawg
;)
Vinyl? CDs? Somewhere between 128 and 192 digital pirates? I don't know what all that means and I'll stick to my 8-Track tapes and take you all on!!!!
:D
I like the "needle search" feature, wish my MK3s had that.
Now THAT's thinking with your turntable, Jimmy!
It's a great looking piece of kit but Pioneer are basically reacting to the laptop DJ software and controllers out there on the market - there are options that are frankly better and cheaper than this. You are basically paying an extra grand per unit for a screen, bar the needle drop and a loop maker (something that traktor has been doing for ages) slider there are frankly no actual improvements to the 1000mk3. The whole free laptop software is totally pointless, so pointless that the guy didn't even explain it.
This is silly. You get the same kind of functionality with a simple midi controler you can purchase for 200$ + decent software like m-audio torq, as you get with a pair of those + a good mixer for 6-7000$. Sliding though a waveform is hardly groundbreaking, I've done it years ago on my pc!!! Or a loop button, this is silly, certainly not groundbreaking
I would call these machines beautiful dinosaurs!
wow great new decks! After saving up - i'll just get these instead of the CDJ-1000 mk3
You can also plug in the Tonium PaceMaker into the USB port:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTKmrv5brLQ
Imagine the price of used CDJ-1000MK3's now
"Yeah, it's steep at $2,150 -- $1,600 for the screenless CDJ-900 -- but we so, so want one. Video after the break"
Get your facts straight engadget, the CDJ-900 isn't screenless ;)
machine looks great. agreed there are slight improvements over the CDJ1Ks but in all honesty what is there to really improve that will benefit the target audience- DJs playing in a club/lounge or DJs playing on tour. The common thread is that the music is being blasted to an majority inebriated audience who can't hear the difference much less find their coat OR over a loud PA setup to fill a venue where you can't tell the difference beyond hearing the song.
there are markets for both. i still use my technics but at times have used a CDJ setup and found it simple (other than the cue annoyance) and my back also enjoyed it when I had to move my setup to an event.
Give it a couple months and this will become a club staple for those either looking to replace the inhouse gear, have the latests or starting a new build with some $$$
Seems like you guys spend an awful lot of money to do wedding receptions and house parties.
You know, i've always loved Pio. I even have CMX-3000's in one rig, but they are way to pricey. If i'm running something digital like Serato or Traktor or VirtualDJ, what does this give me? A midi controller at $2,100 a pop? If CD's were still the staple of DJ's it would be one thing, but to much stuff has gone digital and this price is just to high.
I think I'll stick to my Denon 3700's.
What's to stop you from using one of these and plugging a vinyl turntable into your mixer?
Don't understand this black or white mentality. The mixer is there to allow for multiple sources-doesn't stipulate that they have to be "matched".
Seems many people don't understand the intended market for this product. If you're running a big club-you want a workhorse that's going to go 24/7 with fog, smoke, beer, sweat, etc...That's what the Pioneers deliver. Even a mac can only hold up for so long. If it crashes-which they are wont to do, you look like an amateur.
Unless it can do WAV through the USB it is another pointless update. The CDJ-400 cant, so I suspect this cant either.
It can and does.
if these are anything like the old version they should be out of this planet. I've played with the previous set and I dont think there was anything that I could not do. my buddy used to DJ in london with these and connect them to his laptop which was using tractor. that way he had everything from a great feel for ease of mixing and lookins sweet to good sound quality and loads of music to to choose from.
Where the hell is Technics in all this DJ tech advancement. Mastsushita's Audio engineers need to answer some questions.
By the way I know Panasonic is the new corparate name but I don't like the switch, It sounds cheap.
I think Technics prides themselves in staying with what they have. They have done a few neat things in the M5G but too much change and the vinyl purists wouldn't buy.