Vinyl roots to modern beats ...

So having had technics for a decade and owning 500+ vinyl tunes, it seemed almost blasphemous to even consider digital decks ........ but the olive branch was “I can plug 1210’s in and I need a mixer again anyway”.... so with question 1 settled the second question was “fuck; there are so many !!!!!”

I knew pioneer was the way i wanted to go, after all I’ve used many CD-J’s from days gone by.  Denon got a look but I am familiar with pioneer so I stuck to my guns and then narrowed it down to ddj1000 and xdj xz, one requires a laptop / rekordbox software; linked up and essentially is your dj controller and 1 can do the same but also just stick a usb in and away you go.  

I spent 3 weeks trying to decide and in the end I answered with the similar to Q 1 “I can still plug in a laptop if I like BUT I can also go standalone usb with the Pioneer Xdj Xz”.   So that answered that question.... hardware decided ... 

....... then..........

What speakers have I got and will they work and what headphones ...  very important and easily answered ... the unit takes mini jack as well as phono size headsets so off to the Xbox I went and stole the headset (works an absolute treat !!!!!!!).    Until I have another pay day it will do.  Also a home cinema amped system has a horrendous delay as the signal goes through it sooo once the track is brought in I then need to mute the headset so that I can mix live rather than with 1 ear without hearing two sets of beats (1 actual and 1 delayed via speakers ) they do sound amazing but next month I need some direct active XLR speakers, then I can have 1 ear on and 1 off  

So, I used to flip a record, stick it on, bpm match and then line up at the desired spot and simply slip the record in when ready..... this is a lot more complicated then that.   

It’s worth noting at this point you CAN use 2 1210’s and the unit as a crazy good pioneer mixer with tonnes of features, but this is a new world and I’m a sucker for punishment.   Besides; once it is set up it’ll work a treat.

So once it’s plugged in and updated now you need to ........

1. download rekordbox or serrato (software to manage the library and analyse tracks to put on usb or direct )
2. Install it 
3. Configure it. It directly affects the jog wheels and what they display. 
4. Load in the library and then choose playlists.  
5. Set up cue points on tracks to mimic the old record slip. 
6. Analyse the tracks to normalise, get the key, Bpm, generate wavs etc 
7. Export them 
8. Import into the unit
9. Digitally load tunes onto each deck (careful not to load over the active tune !!)
10. Sooooooo much more. 

Ok now what .... well at this point of writing I am getting to grips with all the above, but you need to own digital music in order to use it, luckily I have many thousands of tracks from days of old .... but they analysed badly and start off mid track etc so right now I’m spending much more time trying to find 10-12 tracks which are owned, have a clear start and end, are good quality and work well ........ I recorded a quick 30 min today, the first mix was brought in too loudly (learning curve) but after that mistake I was pretty happy with it

Ask me for a link.  

I’ll update this after a few more plays. 

My aims are to be able to use effects, colours, trims, cues, loops and many other features with relative ease.  

In terms of how happy I am, the unit is a m a z i n g and I am super happy, however I am also learning and understand I need a month to learn it more.   

Look forward to playing live for u all soon.   

Chaoss DJ