[CLOSED] XDJ-R1 / XDJ-AERO and Rekordbox on MacBook

Looking at the pictures of the R1, there is a usb port to the rear. I would think this is so it can be connected to a laptop and use the R1 as a controller

restricted to wifi and usb sticks for for RB playback, you do have a usb port in the back to control other software like Virtual DJ

this is very disappointing though, with a 10,000 track limit on USB devices and no ability to link my Macbooks RB collection to the R1, this is a no go for me. Was really looking forward to buying this but no thanks, so close pioneer, but still not perfect

you can connect your macbook directly to an xdj aero and use the link function, just as you would with a cdj2000 and use link in rekordbox via wifi.

you can't use usb/ethernet though.

How does one select of the 10 cuepoints?  or is one expected to bounce this to an ipad/etc.?

Does not appear to have built-in waveform display (doesn't show hotcues and cue points?)  Or is this feature bounced to the computer/pad, too?

When in stock at the local GC, I'll run it through it's paces, but it still looks like it misses the mark of a full stand-alone pro unit (though it does look like y'all did a good job on the pro-level I/O ports)

LOL, just realized it has a pair of cd drives in it, but it's wifi enabled...that was an odd choice considering all the other feedback I've read on the Aero.  That adds a lot of thickness and weight to the unit.  I would have preferred that complexity go into the displays rendering the unit lighter and more functional.  I realize there are still a lot of folks using cd's, but personally I have not used vinyl or cd's since the 2000's came out.

you can connect your macbook directly to an xdj aero and use the link function, just as you would with a cdj2000 and use link in rekordbox via wifi.

you can't use usb/ethernet though.

right, but not on the new R1

I got no idea about the R1

pope: forget wave forms and cue points, it's (xdj-aero) main function is to play back rekordbox prepped music. if you need all the bells and whistles, it's not for you.

I just bought it so that I can playback my exported tracks on USB, at home, prior to use in a club and because setting up traktor is annoying and burning cds is too time consuming.... I didn't want to spend many thousands on 2000s etc, as i a) couldn't afford it b) i'm confident in using the pro stuff and c) it's all about the music anyway :)

also  it's a space saver.

Pope,  you might want to check the weight of the r1.  It's very heavy compared to the aero.  The aero is very light abd portable.  The r1 felt more like a tank because of the trays .

Yeh, def the big plusses for the AERO are it's lightweight (so easy to lug to a gig if I need it) and nice and comact and stylish for home use (I've a small flat so works really well in there), plus I can set the starting memory cue point (ONE ONLY!) from wifi-connecting to my imac, though I need to hit the 'unlink' button in rekordbox to 'unlink' the mac to make adjustments in rekordbox, then reconnect - if Pio can solve the need to do that it'd be very handy!

But it's still less hassle than exporting to a USB to see if they work which is what you'd have to do with the R1 from what I've read. Though with their hotcue settings maybe that's not too bad a prob (never yet used one so am just guessing here).

If you need hotcues though, R1 is the way to go.

And waveforms, well it's CDJs and a mixer, but they're expensive and take up a lot of space, which kinda takes you back to the AERO for space saving and (though still a fair expense), cheaper than a CDJ/DJM set up.

Still find it frustrating the various units all have very strong points, but also annoying limitations (such as no USB record on R1 but there is on the AERO), but have to say I've learned to live with my AERO's limitations and really loving it now.

DEF a great purchase, but def think there's lots of room to make these more appealing (and sell more units!) if the firmwares gave the units a few more features.

should mention, re: the 'unlinking' to make adjustments, that's more if the beatgrid is off which tbh rarely happens.

Doing things like setting a memory cue you don't need to unlink. Just reset the memory cue position and then throw it across to the aero via wifi - very handy when I'm figuring out best places to start my tracks when I'm putting new sets together.

When I've finally got all my tracks I want for my playlists, I just export to a USB and can go do a set on CDJ2000s at my club and not need to take a laptop.

But you could still take your macbook and plug into cdj2000s with the playlists you'd prepped in rekordbox.

I'd ask R1 users though their experience though to make sure which is best for you.

I've tried the R1 twice (two firmware releases) via the Guitar Center hardware library.  The thing is heavy as hell, though still lighter than 2x 2000's.  A little bigger than Aero's form factor would be preferred, especially if the displays were upgraded to support waveforms, cue memories and hot cues.

Both releases I tested on the R1 were terrible.  Biggest pet peeve?  The fact you have to set rekordbox to prep for it differently than a 2000.  Really?  Dude...  Like I want to reload freakin' USB drives depending on the device I play it on.

So, the Aero is slotted market-wise like a CDJ-350, and the R1 is a little more but not much.  Even the 850 supports cue memories and some track profile capabilities, which the R1 doesn't.

An Aero 2000 (or Nexus or whatever you'd call it) that plays CDJ compatible USB media only would cut through all this BS.  Brichi and I have been harping on the salient points for well over a year now:  Good displays, track profiles, hot cues, cue memories, slip mode, and TWO USB PORTS!!!

oh, yeah; it'd be really nice if it worked reliably at first release, too...

There was also another massive problem with the r1 that isn't getting discussed much. Once youve filled a usb with music,   and you try to add ONE more song to it afterwards, the r1 wants to re write/examine the whole usb again.   This takes around 45-60min ..

This happens on the R1 really?  I've seen this mentioned before, but was under the assumption it was a Rekordbox bug and the processing delay was happening on the PC.  What the hell is the R1 doing?  This implies that it keeps it's own private database and chugs away at reconciling it when the library changes.  This behavior is so different it makes me wonder if Pioneer even wrote the firmware for this thing.  We know that Rekordbox did not even start out life as a Pioneer product.  The differences in quality, quirks, bug fix turnaround time and operational characteristics of the R1 imply this product is a likely victim of outsourcing at some level, too. I really hope my gut instinct is wrong, because the subordinate implications as they relate to future expectations of quality, feature cohesion across product lines, and issue resolution time are extremely difficult to manage effectively in a perfect world.  Of course, maybe they have two developer teams and they don't talk or share info with each other.  That's not a great thing, either...

Well it's already on 1.07 .  wonder what firmware it will be on when they've finally got it working correctly..1.50??  And yes pioneer I'm still annoyed you wasted my time and money with the r1 .