XDJ-1000 Firmware update

We are on the same boat bro....

I am desperately wishing there will be a new fw making these players even better...

I just got mine and I agree! It would be nice if some of the features from the CDJ-2000NXS2 were present on the XDJ-1000. It's the same screen so it shouldn't be too hard to implement, right?

@bruss > Sorry, but the new features of the CDJ-2000NSX2 will not be coming to the XDJ-1000, regardless of the perceived difficulty or simplicity of their implementation.

@Marek & @Barn_uk > What is it you're hoping to see in an update? Are you experiencing any problems that you're expecting to be corrected? Typically that's the only reason an update is provided. Updates aren't rolled out just for good measure.

Well to be honest there is a bit of wishful thinking going on here. 

Old players had little scope for new features and firmware mostly had to be bug fixes or compatibility with other kit/software rather than new functionality. 

The moment pioneer added a touchscreen is the moment that people start to relate the product to other touchscreen enabled technology. Other tech get updates and new features as its easy to implement via software and a screen (you're never going to get new physical buttons growing out of a player and we all know that). 

I guess we're all left wondering and confused by the decision to include a touchscreen if one of the big advantages to doing so is overlooked (the tweaks/changes/additions to the UI). Maybe the likes of Apple/Samsung/etc have spoiled us too much and that we want ever improving functionality from our purchases and loyalty to a brand. It's certainly why I buy apple products as I know my kit will stay supported (and the clincher) updated with new functionality that won't render it obsolete or unable to do the next big thing in just 12 months time. 

As I've said, I've been a bit obsessed by any firmware update and have fell across many a comment/post/expert article/expert review of the XDJ1000 and more recently the CDJ2000-NXS2 where the author wants/wonders/expects some new functionality to be shared. As with iPhones etc., you're never going to get hardware related or limited features rolled out  and we all know that NXS means flagship and newer features but it does feel disjointed to hear that the inclusion of a touchscreen wasn't an attempt to follow in the footsteps of other tech giants and that pioneer are missing out on the opportunity to do what's they've always done so well before within their ecosystem  and keep the workflow on multiple devices nice and inter-related. 

Rekordbox DJ is the elephant in the room here, it's has features and functionality that further spread that diversity in your product features. Hot cues being the most mentioned where I've read. Having 8 on the NXS2 and many controllers but only 3 on the second newest standalone player in the range is a bit strange and confusing. The slogan that came with the launch of the XDJ1000 suggested it was a product that could launch you from the bedroom to the booth. I agree but I think your marketing team may have missed how popular this player might be. The opposite is true in that you will have venues (OK, smaller ones) that install these. Now imagine a new DJ getting into the game, they may buy one of your DDJ range and rekordbox to get booth ready (as I imagine many do as its a cheaper solution). They will have rekordbox analysed tracks to take to a gig or could take their laptop yes but.... They'll actually be hindered and limited by a more expensive (and in many case right now) potentially newer pioneer product.

So to answer your question, in my eyes - I was expecting an update to:

- The UI (I've heard the response that this is difficult/timely) but don't buy it. Having an extra 'perform' screen or just one extra hotcue and enhanced search options are programmable (as for processing or memory limitations.... I'm not convinced these are the blocker here).

- The midi input option so users can choose to access hot cues (if the screen doesn't become an option) This is a no brainer to me. The XDJ1000 already has midi-capability. So we know it can speak this language (Over USB midi is bi-directional isn't is) so receiving inputs from DDJ-SP1 is likley possible already from a harware perspective (I've even heard unofficial stories that peiple have managed to get this to work alreday but I'm not going to buy a DDJ-SP1 at the risk that it doesnt work or becomes unsupported at some future date).

It now appears that mine and the hopes of others are going to be dashed, that's OK - They're just hopes and we can't complain about the product - we wouldn't have purchased them otherwise and they still do what they did on release day (and do it very well in my opinion). 

What isn't ok however is easily understanding what seems to be a strategic decision that in the eyes of many of your users and industry experts (if you read around) is dissapointing from a brand we have grown to admire.

@Marek & @bruss .... You do know we're probably just describing the CDJ-900NXS2 here.

So not even such small things like colored waves and the new phase meter so the units can coexist side by side??

Well really wondering why bother buying pio gear next again (the xdj's are my 5th product) when the unit is in fact old at the moment when you buy it.... :-(

I appreciate your honest feedback guys, and @Barn_uk, you are right to a certain extent -- users have become conditioned to expect major updates that will have features applying (in some trickle-down form) to all existing hardware. Unlike a smartphone, which people will inevitably replace as a disposable commodity very 2-4 years, DJ units seem to have a longer shelf life, even if the time span between new unit releases has decreased over the past decade. One of the stumbling blocks is the processing / memory available in existing hardware. When a new unit comes out, it will inevitably be faster and have better components with more capability. These new features (eg. colour waveform, phase meter, etc) may require "more" and thus the old units, which have "less" aren't able to keep up. (Comparison would be the availability of Siri excluded from the iPhone 4.)

The DJM-2000 is a perfect example of a unit that was fantastic, but when the DJM-2000NXS came out, actually received a HUGE benefit via firmware update to include the beat slicer feature! So it's not out of the realm of possibility that existing hardware could receive some new functions.

I will pass along your requests, and I'm in the same boat as you - I always appreciate getting additional function to existing hardware, but I can't guarantee that any of it can/will be added. The best we can do is ask, right? :)

@Marek > The unit isn't old at the moment you bought it, unless you bought it when it was already old. If you go into a purchase with that attitude, why did you buy it in the first place? Why is it anyone buys anything? To fill a need. If you needed the XDJ-1000, it should have fit your needs at that time (and possibly potential future needs). If you felt it was outdated at day 1, why did you buy it?

@Pulse - you are right. My last post was quite strong and sound bit differently than it was meant when reading it for the second time.

When I saw the 1000 for the first time, I was really excited as most of the controlls were on screen what means that everything is about the firmware and I said "yes - finally a device that is flexible enough that it can evolve". Finding how much I was wrong in thinking the pioneer started to think differently and will stop forgetting its current devices as soon as they sell them, was more than disappointing.

Saying that colored waves, and the phase meter as the examples are pushing the devices to their hw limits is more than funny. The waveforms are generated by the RB and are contained on the USB drive where the xdj and cdj only scrolls through the bitmap. Its up to the RB if the waves are blue or colored and as an engineer, I can ensure you that displaying a blue image requires not less processing power than displaying a colored one (even if so, there is still enough processing power to do so). If nothing else THIS is the biggest proof of making nxs2 more sellable ditching every other product users.

Yes they are old - they become old at the very moment pioneer decided there is nothing to improve - as said the xdj was my choice as there was so much potential which will remain unused.. pioneer simply did it again and in fact the only question that remains is why I was so silly and believed it could be ever different.

Pulse I understand that based on my posts here I must look as a moaning troll but not everyone can spend $2,5k on a single nxs2 player and the fact I spend "only" $1,2k on each doesn't makes me not allewed to express my disagreement with the way how the "non-flagship" users are threated by this company. Moreover when the price policy of the pioneer products has changed and is quite out of bounds...

^^^

...again - sounds stronger than its meant and its not personal... In fact I am a nice guy... :-DD

Yes guys so the modern market economy looks, it is just as much in the equipment which is inevitably still necessary.
Imagine the following before Appel would regulate us so and we muesten to every new player from Pioneer buy a new Mac?
If we tomorrow another Appel buy not determined.
I landed at Pioneer because Rekordbox my opinion a top database has the other manufacturers do not even remotely turn come.
Since you want to use Rekordbox come then inevitably Pioneer player into the house.
Then after a year, it is not then go with this unit more.
Since it is necessarily the beige taste not shake the merchant you sold an old horse.
I for one have learned from this showpiece.
Buy no Pioneer product if it does not set you satisfied to 200 percent.
And even if only 1% missing las fingers of the devices.
Conclusion: inovation done differently and with other manufacturers

 I really want my XDJ-1000's to support FLAC, can this happen?

FLAC namely is hw related and when comparing to the other features it really requires lots of computing power, so I guess its safe to day that xdj will never support it...

You should really differentiate what is reasonable AND doable and what is really hw depenant hence will stay in the sphere of dreams... :-)

Yea I thought the same thing, but couldn't hurt to ask

.

@Pulse. 

Thanks for the response and for listening. Yes, any passing down the line of this feedback would be welcomed please. 

@pulse

Is it possible to add a "clear"button in the searchfield on the touchscreen?

Now i 'm using the backspace button the wipe out my last search, just a button to clear the last input in one time would be soooooooo nice :)

@goof

I doubt... - there will be most likely some hw limitation causing the clear button can be implemented only on nxs2 in the future.............. :-D

@Pulse

I totally agree with your comments about the XDJ-1000. When I bought them I just thought the same; these are really good players and updatable very easy. The only thing I wish for now are colored waveforms, I don't think it’s that much trouble to do so for the engineers of Pioneer. I think the only reason for not updating the XDJ-1000 is that they would look similar to the NSX2 (just the CD-drive is missing) and therefore people will buy the XDJ-1000 instead of the NXS2.

@Richard

Good point - I must agree with you.

The fact is that we are also Pioneer's customers who paid and who deserve some level of support and service.

It would be very sad to hold back other devices just to bring up the NXS2.... If they made the NXS2 more progressive instead of "some new rgb buttons here and there" (ok and the touchscreen...) face lift, it would be even more attractive and the users of other devices wouldn't have to suffer by lack of innovation and desperate will to release something new from the pioneer management side.. 

@Marek

Exactly, we paid for quality (that's why I choose Pioneer) not for rubbish, so we can expect more service like regularly updates.

I don’t want to moan because I’m very satisfied about the products, but I miss a little bit service like upgrades.

Any news?

As previously stated, Pioneer rarely creates firmware updates to release new features, they're mostly to address issues or bugs. There are no updates available and likely no features from the CDJ2000NXS2 will be coming to the XDJ-1000, sorry.

Thanks Pulse.

Nothing personal, but its really hard to find a company which is so progressive in pissing off their customers....

Thanks for the update Pulse

I just hope pioneer realises that a lot of people will be very upset if they see an 'XDJ-2000' with features that could quite easily have been added to the existing model.

@Marek and @bruss

You are both right in my opinion.

In our company we are also developing software and hardware. Whenever we make an software update we implement it to the already sold hardware for free. Our customers paid a lot of money for our products and we think they should have the latest software for free. Again, it's very easy to make an update for the XDJ-1000's, but Pioneer wants us to buy the latest gear.

@bruss > You bought an XDJ-1000, you didn't buy an XDJ-2000, or even an XDJ-1000 with RGB waveforms, tag filters, 8 hotcues, etc; the feature set you paid to own was what the player was capable of at the time of the purchase (which may have even been greater than that of the design due to minor improvements and fixes).

Simply put, the XDJ-1000 was designed to do a certain list of things, and the hardware inside was selected to meet those needs, keeping costs down by not selecting parts that greatly exceed the needs of the design. As a result, functions released in another model (the CDJ-2000NXS2) a year and a half later were never intended for the XDJ-1000 and the hardware simply may not have the power or ability to perform those functions.

I think this horse has been beaten, I'll be closing this topic now.