Colour / RGB Waveforms for CDJ 2000 Nexus users

Thanks for getting back.

If it hardware limitations then fair enough. If a bit of colour on a waveform is classed as a feature for marketing purposes then that is pretty poor for high end players.

Thanks again

JK

I don't see that as being unfair at all. When the players were released, it was never said "Look, these are fantastic players but we're going to release a color waveform down the road." As I said, it's plausible that a software update may allow the players to have that function, then again, maybe not - it could be withheld for risk of an unacceptable decrease in performance.

We had what we had and everyone was happy with it. Now a new unit comes along and everyone with the old hardware looks at the new features with envy and says "How come mine can't do that? Surely, it must be available by way of a software update!"

Hi Pulse

I did not say or imply that it was unfair atall. My opinion is it is a small feature that would be nice on the mk1. 

I did not say that we should  have the new nx2 features. I have just queried the compatibility.

That was it. 

I agree with JK in that it would be a nice feature to show some love to the CDJ2000 Nexus users.

Nexus users aren't going to shell out another £3.5k just for a colour waveform, those who are looking to upgrade are those who are looking at the entire feature set, plus touchscreens, etc.  Therefore I'm not sure it does have any impact on potential sales.

Adding the RGB waveform, essentially a purely cosmetic feature (i.e. it's not like adding a key feature such as "slip" to the Mk1 CDJ2000, which I'd agree would offset sales), would actually be a nice "thanks for your support" to the Nexus user base.  

In fact I see some advantage from the business perspective of little thank you's like this.  For example it's always a really tough decision to know whether to purchase a model mid way through it's expected cycle (about 3 years for CDJs?) as after the midpoint you're thinking that as soon as you buy, a new model will come out.  Knowing that a few of the cosmetic or minor features might be made available to the outgoing model would likely encourage people to just go for it as they feel it will still get some support after the next model comes out and a couple of extra little features.

I'm sure there's all kinds of things to consider to be fair, but if it is feasible it would keep the Nexus range and Rekordbox aligned in terms of the look (UI / branding) and make the user base really happy and more likely to keep investing in Pio gear going forwards.

Either way though Pulse, you made a good point at the start - we all loved the Nexus Ml1's before, and nothings changed, they're still amazing, 

Hey, I'm with you guys - I love it when a company announces an update for an old product; Pioneer breathed life back into CDJ-400's by including them as controllers for rekordbox, something I thought would NEVER happen!

Obviously the goal of any company is to make money, that's what the investors and shareholders want. So when a new product comes out, it has to be superior to existing products in order to get users to upgrade. Look at the iPhone as a perfect example. They update it on a regular schedule, which is fantastic for users because they can actually PLAN their upgrades! Each model is not a massively drastic change over the previous; some minor updates here, a really cool small improvement there. I personally upgrade my phone every 2-3 models to stay in the curve and not to feel like I'm missing out on features or performance. Apple throws old hardware users a bone by including their device in the new software updates. In some cases, it's not desirable as what was a reasonably functional device will become sluggish as the hardware simply isn't capable of handling the new software's demands in terms of performance. Some features get left out of the updates (eg. Siri) so a negative user experience doesn't dissuade them from wanting to upgrade the next time around because they have a sour taste in their mouth.

Pioneer certainly does keep the product alive for some time, and the life-cycle is longer than that of an iPhone. It's been, unfortunately, shortened since the expectation of technological improvements in the computer age comes faster than it did back when DJing on CDJs was about CDs! Users see other things (like iPhones) getting updated regularly and expect that their expensive CDJs will also receive a "not new but still getting new features" treatment.

We always encourage the product teams to push features to existing products (trickle-down) whenever possible, but there are limitations in terms of time, money, resources, capability, etc., so unfortunately while we'd all love to have old players do the same cool functions of the new players, it's important to think back to the reasons you bought that hardware in the first place, and not be disappointed with the things it couldn't do because it hadn't been created in a newer product yet.

It would be nice to get a firmware update with some new features for the Nexus MK1 models... But even If they don't give us any updates with new features, I won't be upgrading to the newer models.. IMO a touch screen is not my cup of tea.. I like the feel of tactile buttons etc... IMO its easy to miss your mark on a touch screen rather then a button. Pioneer can push this huge difference in sound quality between the players, but the players still need to get routed into a mixer, and IMO thats where all the magic happens. Now does this new DJM900 nxs2 sound that much better then my DJM2000 nexus or DJM 900 SRT? Maybe... But not enough to blow another 2k on another mixer LOL... We have to look at our CDJ's as Technic 1200 Turntables... You have the first generation, and generations after that... All of them are great and very capable.. Ride it out with the CDJ's you have now until you have no choice to purchase new players is what my advice would be. If I was in the market for new CDJ's... I would go looking for Nexus MK1 players.. You can probably get them at a great price right now since they are now discontinued.. I don't see the new gear doing as well as the last 2 models.. We all blew lots of money on gear already and most of us just can't keep swapping out dj gear every 3-4yrs at 6-8k a pop... I don't think I just speak for myself either when I say that.. Unless your all big ballers and got it like that.. LOL Remember NOT to get sucked into new features and flashing lights, because at the end of the day, if your lucky enough to play in a club for people, 99% of what you will be doing is sliding the fader from left to right or right to left... Cause most of us when we go to a night club to dance, we don't want anything fancy... We want good music that flows through out the night.. Beat jumps, hot cues etc will most likely NOT be used.. Even the big time dis at the festivals... How often do you see them using all the features that are even on the original CDJ 2000? This has be a public service announcement from your friendly dj. :)

Appreciate your replies Pulse. 



I agree with "Nemes1s" on the feeling of keeping loyal to us NXS mk1 fans.

Also I actually posted about RGB wave forms about a year ago or so, so it has always been a wish on my feature list, not just now since that the newer players has them. 

I have no idea about the technology behind how Wave forms are processed by Rekordbox and then how the CDJ's then read and display them on the screen.
I would think the most processing power gets used by Rekorbox to actually create the accurate and correctly coloured wave forms, and then the CDJ just reads and displays it? If it is more like that then hopefully the MK1's can then support them in future. If it does require some resources from the player itself to display the colour vs. blue wave form and reliability is at stake I would understand if Pioneer does not give us the colour wave forms then...

@ DJ Pete > I feel you on not all of us can just pop out X amount on new players etc.

Heck I am just a student (studying full time) and I am paying my arse off for my Nexus setup I bought a year ago. Hopefully will be paid off end this year.

I live in South Africa and the way our Rand is going against the dollar there is no way I will be able to afford new players etc till I am prob 30 (23y old at the moment) 

For interest sake to you all from USA etc, I bought a full Nexus setup here in South Africa exactly a year ago and paid R70 000 for it... a new Nexus (mk1) setup is currently priced at R120 000 now!! 😁 (That's a 70% increase in 12 months) 


Anyway...
Thanks for all the input from all you guys, and also from you Pulse @ Pioneer with all our issues and questions and always getting back to us. Appreciated.  

For me its begining to get clearer the more i read. Here is my thoughts....

I have a djm 2000 nxs / cdj 2000mxs mk 1 set up which i adore! if i were to own it for another 10 years i would never be able to learn the system inside out to master its possibilites however personally i can not warrent ever upgrading a cdj set up in the fuutre due to the costs involved. I am not a Top circuit Pro Dj so do i really need the most upto date product just to sit in my studio for my own pleasure???? i think not. I also own a traktor s4 which is in my opinion up there in terms of features with my pioneer set up..... i am rambling. if i ever come to sell my pioneer setup i would only go down the controller route, the top controllers are full of features, easily upgradeable, cheaper and can be taken with you to any club. Top spec controller ??? £1000 one cdj £2000 ...no brainer for me.

Please pioneer i own a bunch of pioneer dj products and rent them constantly and it will be incredibly great to add RGB waveform for cdj2000 nxs. I know that it isn't a tech limitation. And is not going to affect your sells because the ryders for top djs are demanding the top end product for some weird reasons. You will do us a solid by adding via firmware the RGB waveform.
Besides of professional sound and light system in my pioneer dj line i have:
2 x xdj1000mk2
2 x cdj2000nxs Platinum
2 x cdj2000nxs black
1 x djm2000
1 x djm900nxs platinum
1 x djm900nxs black
1 x djm400

And looking foward on buying cdj3000s and v10 for big djs ryders

So do us a solid and give us RGB waveform for the old models.

For loyal customers like us