Traktor Pro 2 with CDJ 900s

I believe you can use the CDJ900's as HID MIDI to control the Traktor Software for searching files with rotary knob and it will read the players however you have to have at least one of the CDJ900's if not both plugged directly to the usb of your laptop, kinda of a downer for us MAC guys with only 2 USB ports. You can try one in a hub but at least one has to be plugged in directly. as for the rest of the software functional unless you have an interface it'll all have to be run on the laptop only cause you can't map a DJM800. but i don't believe you'll have to have an interface just to run the CDJ900's with Traktor. Here's a better youtube link that may help   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzxDX1c2qIM

@Daniel > Yes, you can control the decks in the Traktor Pro 2 software with both of your CDJ-900's. You will need to connect both of them via USB to your computer. A direct connection is preferred for the USB cables, but if you decide to use a USB hub, it is best to purchase a powered USB hub.

For the DJM-800, I would never recommend using the MIDI function to control a DJ software (except possibly Ableton) as the DJM-800 is a high quality mixer with better sound quality than the software. I would highly recommend you use the DJM-800 as a hardware mixer, and I believe you will prefer it.

The ethernet connection on your CDJ's are for "Linking" the players together to DJ from 1 source, such as a USB device. You can Link the CDJ-900's together and use 1 USB device to play tracks on both CDJ's, or you can Link both CDJ's to your computer via ethernet and  play tracks from Rekordbox on your computer. Rekordbox is my first choice to use with my music collection as it analyzes your music, creates waveforms, can add information such as Key and Color, preset Hot Cues, Hot Loops, and memory points, can create playlists and export everything to USB devices, allows for Quantized Loops, and it is designed to work with all current Pioneer CDJ players.

If you still want to run Traktor, are you running a Mac or PC?

If you're thinking about Rekordbox, I'd highly recommend giving it a try as all top DJ's that I've see recently use it and love it! ;)

Hey Foster, good explanation, better then mine. Hey, I have a pair of CDJ 900's and I'm gonna upgrade my mixer & I'm also thinking of using software. I use my RecordBox currently and still learning it. But I'm thinking of getting either a DJM900Nex & TSP 2 for software. Or I'm actually thinking of getting the DjmT1 do to it being a mixer/software package. I spin both house and open format clubs so I do like to do a lot of scratching battle type mixing. Have you used the Nexus and if so what are your thoughts and comparisons on this. Also how do you feel about Recordbox vs Tracktor?

Thanks,

Marco. 

@Marc > both mixers are great units but ultimately two very different pieces of hardware. I would say if you like more smooth and elongated mixes with effects etc, go for the 900 but if you tend to use a lot of tracks within sets, plenty of hot cues and switch things up really quickly (battle mixer mode almost) then go with the DJM-T1. However, this would be just a small comparison when there is so much else between the two mixers (do you need more channels?). Will you always want the laptop in your booth?

Rekordbox is a music management system; Traktor is a DVS. Both are great at doing their respective jobs and there are plenty of incredible features to come with Rekordbox.

Hey Gavin Thanks for the email. Yeah I do like to battle mix as much as like to smooth and elongated mixes with effects. It makes me wish the T1 came with the same setup but with 4 channels, mic ports in the back and the addition of the color effects from the Nexus (so just in case I don't want to mix with my laptop one night I would still have effects and not just the effects from the mixer when its in use with Traktor.) that’s not the case though. I mean here's my situation. Anyone can get the T1 now for like $950+or minus a couple bucks. But I can get a Nexus 900 for like $700 more and at that price it's hard to pass up. Not sure if I really need 4 channels cause I can always patch my mixer into a house system or patch another dj and their setup into my mixer both of witch I do all the time with no problem and no interruptions in music or flow. However I do like that the Nexus is a stand alone unit and doesn’t to be run with any type of program to get its use out of it unlike the T1. However, I really do like Hot Cues but unfortunately we all know the CDJ 900 doesn’t have them but I got such a good deal on my 900’s that I couldn’t pass them up. What you really have me wondering about is the upcoming with Record box changes. What have you heard cause that may be the determining factor in my decision. I saw the new music management system from Denon very briefly and I'm wondering if Rekordbox is going to start integrating more of the Traktor type DVS screen layout to there program. Sorry if I’m coming off wishy-washy I would just kind of like to make one purchase and be done, but hey wouldn’t we all.

Thanks,

Marco

@Marc > Huh, yeah imagine one mixer with everything! That'd be one expensive mixer ;)

In relation to rekordbox, future versions will pack in much more functionality but remembers its a music management program, not a DVS.