ROGER SANCHEZ REVIEWS THE PIONEER CDJ-1000 DIGITAL DECK

Pioneer Corporation has precipitated the dawn of a new age in the art of the DJ with the introduction of the hybrid DJ instrument — the CDJ-1000 digital deck.

Following the announcement of a working relationship between Pioneer Pro DJ and Roger Sanchez, it comes as no surprise to learn that the world-famous DJ was among the first to match his skills against the product, and give it the ultimate road test.

And he was quick to report that the revolutionary new playback device more than held its own at this battle of the giants. He appraised, “The overall design strikes you immediately as being very impressive. It instinctively draws you straight in – compelling you to start playing with the Jog Dial – and then it almost feels like you are working at a vinyl deck.”

Sanchez reveals that his first encounter with the CDJ-1000 lasted a good three hours, and he admits to experiencing an almost hypnotic effect, which gave way to some intriguing revelations, aspiring to the highest echelons of the craft. Roger expands, “My first experience was a real voyage of discovery there were so many different elements to it – it was very deep.”

He continues, “On one level the CDJ-1000 is very familiar; it has the same logic and feel as the previous CDJ’s which in turn have come from the turntable tradition – so it’s very user friendly. It’s almost as if Pioneer have removed as much of the learning curve as possible, in order to let the DJ dive straight into all the creativity that the product allows for.”

Roger reiterates, “My hands instinctively went towards the Jog Dial — which touch sensitive – and the tempo slider, and everything felt totally natural. This is the precise moment you realise that you’re doing all the same things you first learnt to do on vinyl, but on a CD – instinctively. The effect is that genuine, and that’s an immense feeling – just knowing you’re taking the first step to somewhere totally new.”

The CDJ-1000 is packed with features, some of which have never been seen on a vinyl deck before, some never on a CDJ, and some that are entirely unique to the CDJ-1000 — the most groundbreaking DJ product on the market.

Once the first layer of discovery had been peeled away the next level for Roger included the looping and the reverse features, as well as the Master Tempo. “You have so much control over the loop editing – from both the front and the end – it makes the loop seamless, much like a true sample. And as for the reverse – when you flip the switch, it instantly reverses the track or loop and allows you to play it backwards or forwards, with no delay whatsoever. Finally, the broad range of adjustment you get from a pitch control, which goes from +6% to +24% is just amazing … creating a similar effect to putting a 33 rpm record on at 45.”

Roger emphasises that the CDJ-1000 will take the DJ on a voyage of discovery. “There is just so much to investigate and practice . Even with the more detailed features on the product, you’re soon running away with this new technology, mastering it and trying to keep up with all the new ideas it generates within you!”

He admits that he stumbled on many of the CDJ-1000’s attributes by accident. “This type of fortunate discovery led me to a better understanding of how to manipulate the CD player. Features that I really came home to are the scratching ability offered by the CDJ-1000, and also the precision loop editing these are awesome features and go way beyond anything that has been seen before.

“There are other CD players that attempt a scratch feature – but none come close to the real-time precision and accuracy of the CDJ-1000. I would even go as far as to dare anyone to put a 1000 side by side with a vinyl deck and, without looking, tell the difference – the only way would be if the deck skipped!”

Clearly, the impact of the CDJ-1000 on Roger Sanchez has been immense. He is determined to put the head start he has been given to the most effective use but is revealing little as to how this will manifest itself. “I do have some new tricks but obviously you’ll have to wait and see on those . . . I don’t want to ruin the surprise!” is all he will say.

Summarising, he says that the birth of the CDJ-1000 has provided immediate inspiration. “It is just incredible. To quote the movie ‘Lost Souls’. . . the time of transformation is near – and I have no doubt that Pioneer, with this CD player, will alter the DJ’s perception of the medium for ever.”

karl

i deeply apologize for the post

tinman

nice story, but i wouldn't expect a critical story from an oficial pioneer endorsee

Olaf

Yeah but he is right! Everything that he said in the way you first treat it like a 1200. The unit has much to offer... Oh and I am not endorsed by Pioneer, but I have played with it for my review in Australia... and in my opinion Roger has the best job in the world... He gets to use these amazing tools, yes he has to be nice, but how hard is that when you take into account the product at hand. The feeling i experienced when seeing the units for the first time was more full on than the largest party i have ever played at...
And here is something to remember... These units were not completed that long ago... Who has really pushed them? who? I think we all know that in 6 months some bedroom dj is going to come out and show us all new tricks to implement on them.
This is not a new cd player in my opinion. It is the first CD driven digital workstation.

Wow!!!!!! Nothing New....... It looks cool, It sounds ok, but the real truth is these are only Prototypes, We still have a Month and days if so, until they hit the stores..

Olafmol I'm really not following what you're trying to say here. Nothing Roonie G did involved "pressing a cue button" with "rewinding involved." He was doing some impressive scratching considering it was a CD Player. I don't understand how someone COULDN'T be impressed by that leap in technology.

And please don't rehash the old "I don't care what equipment you're using, as long as you work the crowd" debate - it's old.

Roonie's video wasn't meant to "work a crowd." It was meant to demonstrate the features of the new model, and to me it did a pretty good preliminary job at showing people what it's capable of (quick release, fast scrubbing). I'd still like to see more info on the actual mechanics of the player though, as in how exactly the pitch bending works in vinyl mode, etc.

Raj

Ok Olafmol I read your post on another forum and I know what your problem is. You've been looking at the WRONG video. You're looking at the Roonie G video - look at the CDJ1000 video. True, in the Roonie G video hes pressing a bunch of cue buttons (and that to me is still impressive and innovative, and I hate to see someone tear on it who's never tried it). But in the CDJ1000 video you can see him actually scratching.

Raj

i also did see the scratching video.....sounds nice.....but that was just scratching, no turntablism involved....the other video i was talking about was roonie with the 4 CDJ's....and he was mixing loops and samples by pressing the cue buttons and using loop mode....i think one of the most difficult things of mixing and scratching with vinyl like the big ones do is to do all the cueing and rewinding and crossfading and muting in realtime in a rythmic manner..that's something else than pressing cue buttons...

Olaf

ohyeah, about the statement "And please don't rehash the old "I don't care what equipment you're using, as long as you work the crowd" debate - it's old."

it might be old, but it's VERY true...scratching and looping only go for a small way, but programming goes a very long way...except for turntablists....that's a different art than DJ'ing imho...

and i was scratching with vinyl around 1984..but i got tired and focused on the music instead...DJ'ing and later on producing...anyway, i don't like to dis people, but what i've seen on the roonie g video with the 4 CDJ's cannot be compared to what f.e. the SkratchPicklez do on stage..

just my 2cents, Olaf

Hey stuart don't forget to get me a bear, too ok. What i meant by Nothing New, is there are other brands that have more to offer. They have not posted full details of the unit, i would like to know what it's full capabilities of the unit are before i fork our $1299.99 and the money is not a problem, because for that kind of money you can purchase multiple products, It looks real good but that about it....

OK fair enough comments. I think a lot of skill is involved in what roonie does though. And I've seen him live on CDJ700's and 1210's and he rocks both of them. (stuart passes beer to rocky)
There are loads of new things that the 1000 can do rocky. Instant reversal, more pitch range, MORE ACCURATE PITCH (industry first as far as I'm aware), loop IN adjust as well as out. The price may seem a bit high to most people, but for what the unit can do its not bad. Of course, I'd prefer it if it were $500 cheaper, but that's life. I'm sure its priced very competitively and fairly. There is NOTHING else on the market that I have seen that can touch this. My dealer was trying to show off a num&rk that he had in that could 'scratch' and spin back. I was not impressed. As soon as I play on the 1000 if I'm not impressed by that babe, then you'll all be the first to know!

Hope I am though, cause I've just put my 500IILTD's up for sale. Fingers crossed.

stuart

Karl,

It has always been Pioneers position not to compensate endorsees, correct? Is that policy still in practice today? Roger S and Roonie G were not compensated for their endorsement of the CDJ 1000, correct?

Jason

WOW! I'm really not understanding this one at all. olafmol's comments are a bit off and djrocky123 saying that there is nothing new is just... well, just wrong. It shouldn't be allowed. I'm going for a bear

stu

Stuart, i forgot to tell you i don't drink beer, i have better taste. I beging to realize that may be this unit does not have any built in effects, that may be different from my 600. So What's New!!!!!!!!!!! Besides a bigger wheel and a new look and a memory card adjustment. And how many of us are using CDRW's???? I think most of us have lot's of MP3's uhmn........

olafmol,

As Enthropy said, you're looking at the WRONG video...you're looking at the CDJ-700s spinoff....look at the CDJ-1000 video...then you'll see what everyone's talking about.

Thnx,
Brian B.
Pioneer USA

its driving me nuts!!!!! I can't stop watching that bloody demo video!!! I want to see more!!! I NEED TO ORDER THE VIDEO AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT!!! Please tell your video production company to stop making us wait!

stu

olafmol,

quote:

---

i think one of the most difficult things of mixing and scratching with vinyl like the big ones do is to do all the cueing and rewinding and crossfading and muting in realtime in a rythmic manner..that's something else than pressing cue buttons...

---

Perhaps the video doesn't make this apparent but ALL those things you just mentioned CAN be done as in turntablism. This was demonstrated at the press release and hopefully somebody got footage of that so we can upload it for you.

What you keep on going back to is comparing the 4-CDJ-700 video to art of turntablism. Yes this does not compare. However the CDJ-1000 sucessfully emulates every naunce of the turntable so that you can use the CDJ-1000 for Piklz style turntablism.

be well be blessed

as i made clear in my previous statement
"i also did see the scratching video.....sounds nice.....but that was just scratching, no turntablism involved....the other video i was talking about was roonie with the 4 CDJ's....and he was mixing loops and samples by pressing the cue buttons and using loop mode...."
i did see both of the videos, the CDJ1000 scratching, *and* the 4CDJ700's performance....i wasn't comparing them....i am sure that you can do real turntablism like Q or mike on the CDJ1000....i just pointed out that what i saw on the 4CDJ performance was a little lame compared to what people like Q pull of on the wheels of steel, i was talking about technique and speed...and as i said before, i don't want to dis anyone, just giving my opinion..

peace, Olaf

I've seen Roonie perform at leat 10 or 15 times.
I'm a professional Dj. It' s how I make my living and pay my bills. Not to sound arrogant, but I think I'm pretty good. As a PROFESIONAL I find it astonishing that anyone can call what Roonie does "lame"

Oh..and by the way....I was there wed. I saw Roonie....then I heard Roger Sanchez say "Damn....I have to follow that?"