PioneerDJ
Latest
Pioneer's DJ app can upload your mixes directly to SoundCloud
DJs make up a huge part of the SoundCloud user base, uploading long mixes and gathering original electronic music to include in live performances. Pioneer is taking advantage of this fact with an update to its iOS mix recording app, DJM-REC. The company has just made it possible to record and share your DJ mixes directly from the app to your SoundCloud account.
Pioneer's DDJ-400 controller will help you learn booth basics
DJ'ng, like playing guitar, is one of those things that looks simple until you actually try it yourself. To help make your two-turntable-and-a-microphone dreams a reality, Pioneer DJ will release another low-cost controller very soon, but this time it's one that'll teach you the basics of mixing and beat matching. The DDJ-400 will set you back $249, and it comes with a free license for Pioneer's RekordBox software. That last bit is key to you want to learn how to spin. "Even if you're a complete beginner, you can learn how to DJ," Pioneer boasts.
Pioneer and Canada partner to ensure musicians get paid for DJ play
Pioneer DJ wants to make sure electronic artists get paid for the remixes you hear at the dance club. The company's Kuvo entertainment service has partnered with Canada's performing rights organizations (PRO) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) to beam music metadata into other PROs, according to a press release. Apparently this won't cost DJs or venues a thing, either.
Pioneer's new turntable digitizes your vinyl collection for $350
Sony's PS-HX500 turntable caught our eye at CES for its ability to catalog a vinyl collection as high-res digital files. It's a steep investment at $600, but now Pioneer DJ has a more affordable alternative. Pioneer's $350 PLX-500 also features a USB connection that converts your records, but the company touts the device's ability to serve two purposes admirably. Sure, you can set it up in your living room for spinning records at home and archiving new vinyl purchases, but DJs can also expect to employ it in the booth.
Pioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formats
Pioneer has enjoyed a fairly tight grip on the upper-end of the DJ market, but if you step out of the professional DJ booth, and into the bars and bedrooms, the competition starts to heat up. So when we heard about the XDJ-Aero and its curious new WiFi functionality, we were interested to see how this $1,399 controller would be received. That's not to say the DJ mainstay doesn't hold its ground in this busier market -- it does -- but as the far more frequent product release schedule will attest, the industry standard crown is still up for grabs. There's the other issue of software to consider, also. Pioneer has remained fairly neutral so far, releasing controllers for the big two platforms already, with the paint barely dry on its latest addition. The XDJ-Aero, however, hints at a new approach. One where you don't need to choose your software gang colors to be involved. This isn't the first bit of kit that lets you play direct from USB drives or skip the laptop, but it's the first from Pioneer that clearly heads out in its own direction. Ditch the Traktor, wean yourself of Serato, even forget CDs and just get on with the mixing. That seems to be what the XDJ-Aero is about, but does it hold its own? We popped a few of our favorite ditties on to find out.
Pioneer cues up DDJ-SX Serato controller, adds performance pads to the mix (video)
Pioneer's had a little bit of a new-product spree of late, and it isn't over yet. The latest slab-o-buttons? The DDJ-SX. For those of you familiar with the firm's naming convention, this means it's a software controller with a Serato flavor. As such, integration with the popular DJ application is tight, and includes dual deck, slip mode, FX mode and hot cue functionality. The four-channel mixer section can be used with external hardware, which you can hook up via a pair of phono inputs, and, as usual, the DDJ-SX can be used as a MIDI controller with other software should you so desire. As for outputs, you've the choice between XLR and RCA, as well as a separate output for the DJ booth, and as it has its own audio interface, there's no need to bring anything else in there with you. The DDJ-SX will be ready to play in November for a bass-heavy $1,199, but if you're quick to the game, the first 10,000 buyers can snag a free license for the Serato Video plug-in. Nice. Bewildered by all those pots and faders? Then shuffle past the break for the official tour.
