cdjs | Digital DJ Tips

June 8th, 2012 News & Opinion

Denon DJ Officially Outs The SC2900 Digital Controller & Media Player

by Phil Morse

The Denon DJ SC2900: Denon's first fixed-platter digital controller, and the closest the company has come to Pioneer's space yet.

In both an acknowledgement of and a challenge to Pioneer’s current dominance of the pro DJ booth, Denon DJ today officially launched its SC2900 digital DJ controller and media player, with the words: “It’s time for change”.

As we previewed earlier this week, this is Denon’s first controller and player that drops the motorised turntable used by previous models (and by the current SC3900), in favour of a more industry-standard static-platter design, complete with Denon’s own take on the LED ring that shows operation and cue points.

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June 4th, 2012 News & Opinion

Denon Ups Its Assault On The DJ Box With The SC2900 Player

by Phil Morse

The Denon DJ SC2900 appears to offer all the benefits of the company's flagship SC3900 model, but with static platters.

Hot on the heels of its well-received SC3900 model, Denon today revealed a new digital controller and media player, the SC2900, via a pre-launch YouTube video.

Although there is no official work on pricing or specifications yet, the video is revealing enough for the lid to be blown on what looks like an interesting new entry in the mid-range media player market.

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April 29th, 2012 Training

Your Questions: How Hard Is It To Switch From Controllers To CDJs?

by Phil Morse

Moving from a Traktor Kontrol S4 to this might seem daunting, but it isn't really once you break it down into the things you need to learn.

Digital DJ Tips reader Noala de Aquino writes: “Love your tips. I’ve been DJing for a while (seriously for about two years) and now I’ve decided to go pro and master all kinds of techniques. I’m taking lessons with vinyl, and soon with CDJs. That beatmatching practice is a bitch!

“I have a Traktor Kontrol S4 at home and I just love the possibilities that gives me with the sample decks (I’m so looking forward to have Traktor 2.5!) But my question is: How hard is for someone who started with digital DJing – Traktor, Virtual DJ, S4, Numark Omni Control – to switch to Pioneer CDJing? I’m crazy to start playing, but I’m a little insecure about the change.”

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April 22nd, 2012 Training

Over To You: How Many Tracks Do CD DJs Have Per CD?

by Phil Morse

Often DJs get given promo CDs with only one remix on them.

Digital DJ Tips reader Beepo writes: “I hope this does not sound like a dumb question but, here goes:

“Do DJ’s who use CDJs put just one song on a CD they want to mix or would they put entire playlists on one CD and just skip to the track they want to mix?”

38 Comments »

March 19th, 2012 Training

Are CDJs Better Than Midi Controllers?

by Phil Morse

Are CDJs better then Midi controllers? As we find out today, it all depends...

Many a new digital DJ asks that question. It pops up on the Digital DJ Tips Forum time and again. After all, goes the argument, CDJs are in all the clubs, and it seems nearly all the top DJs continue to use them rather than controllers. What is it that’s better about CDJs, people ask?

Well, often CDJ DJs (which includes DJs who play using CDs from music on USB) will give you a whole list of reasons why they feel CDJ DJing is the “real thing”, and equally unhelpfully, digital (or I guess more accurately, “software”) DJs will counter with their own list of reasons why they feel “digital” is where it’s at. None of which really helps to answer the question.

113 Comments »

February 6th, 2012 Training

Using CDJs For The First Time: 5 Tips for Controller DJs

by Phil Morse

Do you find the idea of DJing on CDJs scary? It really isn't, and there's lots you can do to easily add this skill to your DJing.

It’s a wise move, learning to use CDJs. And while using vinyl is a definite skill and one that can only be nailed with lots of practice, luckily CDJs are easier – and every digital DJ really ought to be at least capable of using them, at least in a basic fashion.

Why? Well, while nowadays you’ll probably not be called on to DJ with vinyl at all, you may well roll up to a DJing situation where, for whatever reason, CDJs are your only option for playing a set.

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November 3rd, 2011 News & Opinion

First Vinyl, Now CDs: Major Label Music Will Be All Digital After 2012

by Phil Morse

Come in CD, your time is up: About time too if you ask me, Always hated those silly little silver discs myself...

As if anyone actually needed any more proof that physical music formats are living on borrowed time, news comes today that following widescale abandonment of vinyl production, major labels plan to abandon the CD format by the end of 2012, or even sooner.

“The intention is to replace it with download/stream-only releases via iTunes and related music services. The only CD-formats that will be left over will be the limited edition ones,” reports music magazine Side-line.com.

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October 17th, 2011 Reviews

Review: Stanton CMP.800 Multiformat DJ Players With Midi

by Phil Morse

A pair of Stanton CMP.800s gives an awful lot of DJing flexibility for less than half the price of one Pioneer CDJ-2000. (Click to enlarge.)

Launched a little earlier this year, Stanton’s CMP.800 multiformat CD/USB/Midi controllers appear to offer everything to all DJs (except vinyl playback, of course). A pair of these little units can allow you to DJ with CDs (containing either audio or MP3s), from a USB stick, or using your favourite DJ software, via Midi.

While for most DJs around here, we would not normally recommend anything other than a shiny modern DJ controller, there are still cases where a set-up like this would make sense. We’ll look a bit more closely at why you may want to go down this route in the conclusion, but for now, let’s take a closer look at them.

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October 16th, 2011 Training

Over To You: Help! I’ve Got To Use CDJs For The First Time

by Phil Morse

DJing with CDJs needn't present problems... but try and have a go somewhere else first.

Digital DJ Tips reader Jonathan Borksandhanke writes: “I’ve been dJing with my laptop and a controller for six months now, and I’m doing pretty well, at least that’s what I’ve been told. Now I just saw an event at a club, which invited rookie DJs to come and get a chance to play, and I immediately said yes, so I’m going to play a one hour set of progressive trance.

“Now the problem is, they say I have to use their CD equipment, no chance to bring my computer and controller. I’ve never used a CD or vinyl setup before, so this is completely new to me.

44 Comments »

June 10th, 2011 DJ Culture

10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #5

by Phil Morse

You'll be able to work happily in DJ booths alongside CDJs and record decks if you follow this commandment...

So we reach the halfway stage in our definitive 10 Commandments of Digital DJing, with a commandment that will help digital DJs to earn the respect of vinyl DJs, CD DJs and venue owners.

Today’s commandment should help to ensure that when you’re DJing in pro DJ booths, you can play your part and join in fully, and feel more confident that you can handle any situation that might get thrown at you.

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