Using the CDJ-2000NXS2 for unintended purposes. Need advice from experienced users.

Hi there, first of all, I would like to apologize for probably quite stupid questions below, but I would really appreciate your help.

I have an opportunity to get one (!) CDJ-2000NXS2 for very discounted price

I only approximate what it is and how it's used in DJ environment.

A little bit about myself: I do music mostly as a hobby, but I have a good home studio (synths, etc.), and relatively serious equipment for small sites: Midas MR18 + Bose F1 (2 + 2subs), etc. ...I never had to deal with any DJ equipment/software.

If I take advantage of the situation, and take this CDJ-2000NXS2, can it be used in the studio or live environment for some purposes?

In "live" environment, I mean primarily playing Backing tracks with live guitar, vocal and synths. Also, maybe for playing music at pop-disco dancing, well, and mocking in the style of a proper DJ.

In the studio environment, I am interested in a quality player for CD, mp3, WAV, FLAC with the ability to "play" with the tracks.

Now specific questions:

1) Is it a really hi-quality player, if you listen through proper studio monitors or top end home hifi? Is it generally suitable for this? How is it comparable in terms of sound quality with a good, expensive hifi CD player of the past?

2) Is it realistic to make Beat detection, use Hot Cues, Slip and the other features on a pop / rock track? Don't worry about the purpose of doing that, the question is if it's possible or it's not gonna work?

3) Can it somehow, without buying a special, expensive mixer, sync by MIDI to a drum machine or arpeggiator of the hard synth, say Yamaha Montage?

4) I also own an AKAI MPC, is it possible to use them together in some interesting way? What way would people use them together?

5) Does it by itself do Beat detection, or I have to use Rekordbox or similar software first?

6)If you insert an ordinary flash drive, with mp3, is it possible simply play the files in the folder as a play list, or each file should be loaded before playing manually? Or I have to create a play list first? Can I create it on the CDJ, or I have to use software? (I know, it's another dumb question, well, I cannot get it - I read the manuals and reviews, only more questions were added)

7) Is it possible to practice DJ mixing using only this (one) player as a controller for software? Is there any such practice for serious DJs to use just one player/controller? I read something on the net, but I didn't understand the point.

8) Well, the most important question I repeat once again: how else do people use this player, if not for their intended purpose?

Sorry for this amount of questions, but I really need your help. Any response would be much appreciated.

Nemydom KKK 27. September 2018 02:50 Beantwortet

Offizieller Kommentar

Not to re-hash what @Armand already said, here's some additional info:

1) Yes.

2) It's done within the software, the player just reads it back and plays the files.

3) No, but it does send MIDI, so you can use it as a MIDI device when connected to a host (either a computer or a stand-alone USB-MIDI host device).

4) Sure, most likely with software as controllers.

5) See #2.

6) Yes you could play the files, but you'd be missing out on the majority of the advanced functionality - it would be a dumb ol' media player at that point.

7) Yes, you could do that with software in what's called "amputate mode," where you always load the new track to the deck controlled by the hardware, and within the software you use "instant doubles" to throw the song to the other deck (which is only software), fade over to that channel on the mixer, load the new song to the hardware and repeat the process.

8) As a hat. ;)

Pulse 11. Oktober 2018 05:01

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Datum Stimmen

4 Kommentare

1) You will probably not find any type of CD player / multi-player with better quality audio than a CDJ2000NXS2. They are the primary audio sources at festivals and clubs worldwide and CDJ's are engineered to be of the best quality audio possible as well as when manipulating the audio.

2) It is most definitely possible, if it will work good is up to your DJ style and how good are. For beat detection you would maybe want to set your analyse settings in Rekordbox to "Dynamic" to make up for tempos that are not 100% accurate in live rock environments etc.

3) I don't think so. Someone more experienced in the Midi department of CDJ's may have a answer for you.

4) You can use both of them together in live performances. The possibilities are almost endless.

5) Yes, CDJ's can determine the BPM of non-analysed tracks, but for 100% accuracy and for the other benefits such as waveforms etc. best is to let Rekordbox analyse your tracks beforehand.

6) You can not create or edit normal playlists on CDJ's, except for Tag Lists (which can be created and edited to a certain degree on the CDJ itself)
Yes, you can let a CDJ play all the files in a specific folder/playlist. Ensure your "Play Mode" is set to 'Continuous" and "Auto Cue" is "Off".

(PS. The only dumb questions are questions unasked) ;)

7) I would say if you want to "learn" 90% of the features on a CDJ you can use only one unit yes (For example how the Tag Lists work, how to let the CDJ play in continuous mode etc.). But to "practice" you would need another player and definitely an audio mixer if you would like to hear what you are doing on your CDJ's.

8) Well, you could use your CDJ as a very expensive cellphone charger with the on-board USB port.
You could also use you CDJ platter as a "turntable" to put your Bonsai Tree's on if Bonsai is a hobby of yours.
Lol all jokes aside, apart from actual DJ'ing, using the unit as a midi controller and for the playback of audio files from different types of storage, there's not much else you can use a CDJ for hey...

Regards and have fun!
(PS. All questions answered to the best of my knowledge as an experienced DJ and tech nerd)

edit: I read your complete post now, and from the info you supplied, I would not purchase the CDJ unless you are planning to sell it at a profit or if you want to start DJ'ing and preparred to buy another CDJ and a mixer... ($$$$)

Armand 9. Oktober 2018 09:11 0 Stimmen

Thanks, mate :)) I appreciate your response! ...and your jokes are really nice!

If you don't mind, another amateur question:

What is the purpose of such a good DAC on CDJ-2000NXS2 if the analog signal is to be processed through the ADC&DAC of the mixer? I do know that there are analog mixers on the market (A&H), but does it mean if you use DJM-900NXS2, it is better to connect CDJ-2000NXS2 and DJM-900NXS2 by digital coaxial cable? Is there any specific point in connecting them by analog RCA? Does DJM-900NXS2 have the same, high quality, multibit DAC as the CDJ? Many thanks

Nemydom KKK 9. Oktober 2018 09:49 0 Stimmen

lol, only my pleasure :) Glad you did not find any offence in my jokes. (Some people can be very serious)

I am not an audio engineer and can unfortunately not fully answer those questions regarding the A>D and D>A conversions in the chain... but I think it comes down to the fact that CDJ's are modular and sometimes used with older/different mixers that do not have digital inputs. So they need to cater for a wide variety of possible audio set-ups/situations.

They say a chain is only as good as it's weakest link, and of course you would ideally want the least amount of links in a chain, but here Pioneer just wants to ensure that every possible link in the chain is as good as can be for when it will be used. If you understand my example.

But on a interesting note;
I wanted to test if I could hear a difference between digital and analog audio from the CDJ to the mixer, so I did this one test the other day.

I connected a CDJ2000nxs to a DJM900nxs via a digital co-ax cable (high quality 75ohm etc.) to CH1 on the mixer. I then also connected the Audio RCA out's from the CDJ to CH2 on the mixer. (In that way both channels are playing the exact same audio into the mixer, but CH1 is through digital co-ax, and CH2 through regular analog RCA's)
Both channels gain's were set the same on the VU meter and I played an 8 beat loop from a instrumental house track.
Now although I listened through my DJ headphones, I could actually hear a slight difference between the two. If it was only in my head I don't know, but it almost sounded like the digital (CH1) had a slightly "wider"/"stereo" sound compared to the analog (CH2). The difference was very little, and I played different tracks at different volume levels.
The difference was more noticeable when I shorted my loop to the minimum possible (Using the Loop-Out buttons) and when you jump the crossfader between Ch1 and Ch2 you could hear the slight difference.

I don't think I will ever hear the difference between digital and analog when playing out, but maybe on your massive festival sound systems it can be heard...

Anyone else with input?

ps. English is my second language so excuse if my grammer etc. is not always right

Armand 9. Oktober 2018 10:30 0 Stimmen