Just got the XDJ-RX and have a few questions

Hey @Dez, congrats on the RX purchase. Let's see if I can answer some of your questions...

1) Having used virtually every Pioneer product since 1996, I can certainly attest to each player having a bit of a learning curve with regards to the feel of the jog. One of the most over-responsive was the DMP-555, but after a while I got used to it and was able to make the subtle adjustments to nudge the beat just so.

2) Just because a track plays fine in your laptop doesn't mean it isn't corrupt or damaged; many applications simply ignore damaged data whereas the Pioneer players are a bit more sensitive to them. Even a corrupt embedded album artwork JPG may show properly on your computer but that bad data will prevent the Pioneer players from loading it. I would suggest you maybe try loading a track which previously played and see if it cuts out again after a certain amount of time (to eliminate the "bad track" variable) and if it does, please make a video for us.

3) Do you need to?

4) I'm sure that there will be improvements as the engineers work through updates.

5) Yes, go to the top level of the browsing menu and use the SEARCH mode.

Hi Pulse

First of thanks for the speedy reply and I take most of your comments on board apart from point 2. So in the past with my CDJ 2000s I played all my stuff from Pro Link connected via ethernet to my laptop and everything played fine, never used the USB at all. Now with the XDJ-RX I need to use USB (until I get a ethernet adapter for my Mac). I have been doing some searching and see other people suffer the same issues with slightly corrupt files:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=122524994442220&story_fbid=961674227193955

Why does rekordbox treat the files so strictly, is there no way around this?...... if I played via pro link would I still face the same issues?

@Dez > The majority of his Facebook post is complaining without basis, but as that's not the topic of this thread, I'm going to ignore it.

Pioneer makes quality players and the players require quality files - just like a race car doesn't run on regular gasoline. 

As for the corrupt files, it's 100% true - even files you purchase can be garbage. Remember, Beatport (for example) doesn't run quality-control checks on what the labels upload to them, they're just the middle-man.

The reason there is no file verification / repair tool built-in to rekordbox is it's a very complex and difficult thing to do. There are SO MANY different ways a file can be damaged, and the types of corruption can vary from filetype to filetype. Engineers have looked into providing this kind of solution but there are too many risks of damaging files further and so they recommend that you use a repair tool exclusively created for that filetype.

I'm not saying for certain that a corrupt file is what's causing your problem here and I'd like to eliminate that as a possibility, but it could be happening even if that track used to play properly on a CDJ.

Thanks for replying. I just find it weird that the tracks play fine on my CDJ 2000s yet don't play on the RX. Is there any particular software Pioneer recommend to analyse and repair files. Working on a Mac.

You can try MP3 Scan + Repair, it's a bit old but still works. If you can get ahold of a Windows machine (or possibly even a shelled OS such as Windows within Parallels), MP3-val is the best one I've used.

I also think that if something plays fine on my computer it must play fine on my CDJs. I even push it further and I believe that CDJs and any DJing specific hardware should be even better at handling corrupt files than a simple win/mac software player. I strongly disagree with pulse here and I find the comparison race car/gasoline ridiculous.

I really hate when the companies (pioneer is not alone here, other djing sw/hw companies do the same thing) blame it on the users for having corrupt files. Sorry it's not the user, it's the company that is too incompetent/lazy/cheap to implement correct data validation algorithms in their devices. If something works in the crappy player of an old smartphone, it must work on a top notch djing machine.

Furthermore: if it's really so problematic to handle corrupt files in the CDJ/controller hardwarewhy is it not done offline in rekordbox then? There you have the full power of a computer behind to do what a simple and free utility like MP3 scan+repair does.

Anyway, speaking of good things, MP3 scan + repair is not abandoned, they started updating it again in January and the last update was done only a few weeks ago http://mac.softpedia.com/progChangelog/MP3-Scan-plus-Repair-Changelog-58427.html :D

@Juia > The problem is the simple player or your phone glosses over the problems -- it doesn't have to perform a multitude of calculations in order to pitch shift or apply master tempo. 

I mentioned above the reason that rekordbox doesn't detect the problem is it's not designed to.

As for the "updates," take a look at that log, they haven't made improvements to the program, just modified it to address small crash bugs or compatibility with newer OS's.

again it's not rocket science to correct a file. mp3 scan repair and mp3 val do it for free and the repaired files work fine on your hardware.

if rekordbox engineers think that they are unable to do it because it's too complex they can buy mp3 scan + repair and embed it into rekordbox.

if the engineers say that attempting to repair the files might damage them further then why you are advising to use these programs here?

and if the engineers are too conservative for repairing the files, implementing at least a scanning of the files in rekordbox that tells us which files might create troubles to the cdjs/controller is easy and harmless for the files.

Instead of adding a further post I'll add an issue I experience in relation to Dez's point no. 4

I noticed on a few tracks, maybe 5 to 10 out of a 6 hour set (so no major deal), the screen started to lag and go a bit jumpy with the beat grids... almost like a film slowing down on a low-end pc etc.

It didn't affect playback which is great but it was something that concerned me a little of course. Again this happened during playing out for the first time with it so had other things to worry about obviously at the time but i will note down the tracks if i see it again....

it's always possibly it was a crappy mp3 and such.... but seeing Dex state it I did think it worth mentioning.

Thanks.

I can't edit my post so wanted to add the following...

After seeing the slow down a few times i zoomed in one setting on the beatgrid in a view that if its having to display less of the waveform in one go it may help (ahead read and such) and since doing that I can't say i noticed it again.

It may well be coincidental.... but a worthy note to pass on.

Thanks!

@Julia > No, it's audio-science, and last I checked, the engineers at Pioneer are in that business ... and have decided not to implement those tools into rekordbox.

@David > #4 may certainly be an issue addressed in a firmware update.

Boa noite , tive um problema com  XDJ RX, a meio de um Loop as teclas Play e Cue deixaram de responder a musica estava la , pois o jog respondia mas tive que voltar a carregar a musica envio um link com o vídeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TspsocJV-As&list=UUZu8M2A_Ej5j0ooyJIxRsbg

@Antonio > Could you please post your issue to a new topic instead of piggy-backing on this one? I'd like to address your issue separate from @Dez as it is not the same problem. Thank you.

Peço desculpa mas não sei como criar um novo tópico , obrigado

@Antonio > The "Ask a Question" button:

"audio science" ... this is starting to sound really ridiculous. I cannot accept your answer or the engineers' answer.

The two utilities that you Pioneer advice to use are available for free (one just ask a donation to buy a beer), one of them is even open source, both are developed by amateurs.

So the big "audio scientists" of Pioneer are not able to fix the files (i concede that the hardware of cdj is not up to the task, so let's talk only about rekordbox) and are not even able to check them to see if they are damaged but the amateur programmers of mp3 scan+repair and mp3 val are able to do it? Wow...I'm really amazed.

It's really a wise design choice: if you do not implement data validation and you just let the hardware crash when the file is damaged you can save some hours of coding and testing.

@dez Regarding file corruption, two observations... 

1) how do you connect your cdjs to your mac currently - as you say over pro-link... why cant you not use the same method with the rx? 

2) File corruption occurrs when you havent allowed rekordbox enough time to export the data to usb (in most cases ive ever found).. will the same file play on your cdjs or not?

i think a debate about adding file repair utilities within rekordbox should be raised as another issue... lets focus on dez's original issue. 

as i get the feeling he may not have exported the set completely... 

normally the best way to overcome issues is to re partition the usb stick (in disk utility, using fat32 / master boot record)... and allowing ALL the files to export once again - just in case the file didnt export completely.

@Julia > If you don't want to accept their answer, that's your prerogative. As @Matt points out, let's keep this on topic, shall we?

Sorry for not getting back but after reading the comments above regards data validation checking etc I agree with the majority that Pioneer equipment should be able to play all files that any laptop or phone can play. I have had many Dj setups including (as I said earlier) CDJ 2000s which I sold as I knew this unit was on its way so you can understand my frustration when I use the same files and they don't lay in Pioneers flagship controller.

I used to mainly use pro link with my macbook hooked to the decks via a hub but one of the reasons for the all in one is the ability to play without any laptop. So hooking a laptop up is an option but why should I when the USP of the RX is the "no need for laptop" feature.

I am currently backing up my collection to my Corsair stealth stick then going to scan and repair the files and see if that helps. Still think Pioneer need to address this as using out of date third party beta software when I have shelled out 1200 sheets is a bit of a joke. Anyway Ill update with how I get on.

Thanks for the support so far!

PS: Attached a screenshot of damaged files.

I'm curious to see if after repairing all those files that they play properly.

So now I have repaired all files and exported my rekordbox library to my newly formatted (Mac OS Extended Journaled) Corsair USB. When I load it on the RX I get the attached error. I since reformatted the stick and exported just 1 playlist and getting the same error. Any ideas whats causing this?

Solved it using this video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYp71yrnvNw

Awesome - glad you got that sorted. And are the repaired tracks loading and playing properly?

So just been playing with the RX for a good 4 to 5 hrs and can now say that all tracks play fine. I have now got to grips with the jog wheels and mixing is pretty seamless now Im glad to say. Lovely bit of kit as I said at the top of this thread and a great alternative to a full club setup for the home. I do still think it could be doing with a few tweaks like the beat grids lining up exact when beats are matched, on the screen they are slightly out and this can be of putting. Also the idea of having a locked deck so you cant accidentally load the wrong deck when playing.

Though I have seen these points raised in other threads so maybe these will come with fw updates. All in all a happy customer!

Thanks for all the support btw, now time to get playing :)

Pulse is the simmilar tutorial available for Windows?

@Mateusz > No, but try one of the formatting utilities listed in this thread and run it twice.

Several times I have had an issue where if searching for tracks too quickly using the rotator knob, or using track search to fwd a track the USB disconnects and it goes into a 1 bar emergency loop. Twice this has happened while DJing, only at house parties so far, but a huge pain nonetheless. This has happened at least 5 times now and only happens in the left side USB port.

Before anyone asks or comments this is a brand new USB3 Corsair stick, all files were scanned and repaired on laptop before being analysed by Rekordbox and the stick created. I went back and made sure that all steps previous to inserting the stick in the unit had been properly observed. Has anyone else had this problem?