Arkadiusz Mikina
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Arkadiusz Mikina
ParticipantGreat. Thanks Vintage.
So Rekordbox is prep software + runs some and/or newer CDJs and XDJs in standalone/analog mode.
Rekordbox DJ is like Serato DJ.So pretty much, in mcx8000 world: rekordbox is what engine is (preparation+standalone mode) and Rekordbox DJ is what Serato DJ is (laptop plugged in).
And now….IT OCCURRED TO ME! As to why XDJ-RX doesn’t have Slicer but instead has LoopSlice which is different to Slicer as Terry mentioned (and of course, Flip is absent as it’s only available in Serato).
I think that when Pioneer was designing XDJ-RX, which must have been in 2014 (as they released this unit in Jan 2015), they didn’t have Rekordbox DJ at all (which has been released in the end of 2015) + it was a unit meant to be totally laptop free/standalone. So they made it running with Rekordbox taken (probably) from CDJs right? Therefore, they couldn’t, for some reason, put Slicer in this unit (maybe something to do with hardware limitations and/or computing power? or maybe Slicer is tied/owned somehow by Serato? I am only guessing) and came up with something else, and named it LoopSlice. Then of course, Rekordbox DJ came in the end of 2015 and with it, Pioneer released DDJ-RX and RZ – controllers able to control only Rekordbox DJ – so they were able to put Slicer there.
What do you guys think of my train of thoughts? 😀Also, it surprises me how (digital)DJing has come full circle now (analog/physical -> digital/software -> analog/physical-standalone again) but I guess it’s a good idea for a different post here 😀
Greetinx 😀
ParticipantHey
Sooooo…..XDJ-RX doesn’t use Rekordbox DJ when laptop is connected but Rekordbox instead?
Haha, that’s getting even more confusing 😀I always thought that Rekordbox was and is only a ‘preparation software’ for transferring music to USB sticks (hot cues and analysis) which are later used on Rekordbox enabled Pioneer hardware (mainly CDJs and XDJs).
With recently introduced Rekordbox DJ I thought that it is a fully operational DJ software which mimics the workflow of Serato and is used to DJ in real time on a laptop when compatible hardware is connected.Reloop seems like a cool company and good quality/value products. Too bad their support is bad (I have emailed them before and never received an answer) – which is strange since they are Germans so one would anticipate they have everything in perfect order.
What I think Reloop should have a go now is standalone controller now (like mcx8000/xdj-rx) but I guess it’s not that easy as you have to have a software to run the screens/controller in laptop free mode and developing it is not that simple?
If I were them I would also take RMP4, add 8 pads below the platter, curve the screen + make it bigger (with waveforms) + touchscreen, make it entirely out of metal and call it RMP6 😀
Before anyone else does it before them (probably Pioneer more then anyone else in 3 years time). I think it would sell by buckloads 😀holla 😀
ParticipantHey/Howdy 😀 😀
Thanks for replying and for the video Terry. Much appreciated.
So LoopSlice is not the same as Slicer at all? That does it then 😀
XDJ-RX doesn’t have Slicer nor the Flip so I’m staying with SX2 or MCX 8000 (although it makes me wonder why Pioneer has left/used Slicer on their Rekordbox only version of DDJ-SX2 i.e. DDJ-RX).I have also only now noticed the Serato’s new PitchNtime on MCX8000 so it may even further inspire creativeness in Serato’s ecosystem and this controller. I just hope that Denon has really thought everything through and there won’t be any major flop with it after the reviews will have flooded in.
End of the topic I suppose 😀 thank you very much to everyone who held to it and contributed. I hope the rest of the members in the community can take out as much out of this as I did!
Peace and love
ps. terminal mix8 starts to look more and more appealing (good price, all metal, lot of functions). I generally start liking Reloop hehe (really good turntables, Neon seems to be great, TerminalMIx8 is good)
Participantthank you so very much again Terry
Great way of thinking and DJing. Thanks for explaining not only stems but also what you do instead in Serato and why/how you do it.
At least I know that crossing out Traktor as a software of choice (mainly because it looks too complicated for me-the beginner) will not make me think I made the wrong decision as I ‘won’t get Stems with Serato/RekordboxDJ’ (or Remix Decks for that matter-which, as I understand, are more complicated Stems).Thank you very much for relating to my needs and offering best solution in the form of Flip+Slicer+Hot Cues. I keep noticing more and more now that this is/will be really important for me (re-arranging a track). If this method/combo is good for you (a pro)….I’m sure it will be more than enough for me for years to come. And since pre-play editing (I have seen Ableton couple of times and omg….it’s very complicated) with tools like Ableton Suite is complicated…I will leave it for now hehe. I am sure that in couple of years I will start looking at Ableton and stuff like that but for now certainly not…
In this instance (Flip+Slicer+Hot Cues) it seems I will be restricted to SeratoDJ (Flip only there) and choosing between:
1. DDJ-SX2 as it will give me Flip+Slicer+Hot Cues so the full set (DDJ-SZ doesn’t have Flip so would have to buy something like Reloop Neon additionally, plus it’s just so big and quite expensive)
2. MCX-8000 (I have looked at its pictures and I can see there is a control for Flip as well as for Slicer – so again the full set of Flip+Slicer+Hot cues is provided by this controller) and I think I nearly made a decision on MCX8000 – it looks cool (+all metal) and I am tired of waiting for DDJ-SX3 or 4 channel/8pad XDJ-RX. I think I will wait a week or two until first reviews will start popping on the internet just to make sure it’s an awesome unit and there is no major problem with it or anything (I am constantly searching the net for reviews but nothing yet).In the light of going for MCX8000 which will give me Flip and Slicer (and not buying DDJ-SX2) may I just please ask you this question. This damn XDJ-RX is not letting me sleep hehe (or maybe I am a sucker for Pioneer gear? 🙂 ) and I noticed on its pads there is a option called ‘Loop Slice’. I am assuming that this is the same as a Slicer found on DDJ-SX2 and MCx8000.
If so (why wouldn’t Pioneer call it simply ‘Slicer’? I mean on DDJ-RX, which is Rekordbox only, they still called it ‘Slicer’ so I am assuming that Slicer is not Serato exclusive tool/naming?) my question is how much less flexible/able the XDJ-RX is, in comparison to MCX8000/DDJ-SX2, in the area I am particularly interested in (re-arranging the track) where it offers hot cues + Slicer (Loop Slice) but misses on Flip (which is only found in Serato)?
I mean….is XDJ-RX going to be much more limited in comparison to full set of features you suggested i.e. Flip/Slicer/hot cues found on MCX8000/DDJ-SX2 or just 10% less or 20% or what? I guess what I am trying to ask is that: if I buy XDJ-RX instead (and provided that the option on it called Loop Slice is the same as Slicer), will I be missing Flip from Serato much in what I am so much interested in doing (being creative in re-arranging the track)??Thank you very very very much again and sorry for dragging this topic so much 🙂 But where I live (Poland) DJ shops are horrible….badly stocked and you can’t even try the gear out (forget about it) and the sales people know little about the gear so it is really frustrating.
Peaceps. you’re also into deep and balearic? Awesome. I have been having Betoko – Foreverness (original mix) on repeat recently hehe
ps2. I have noticed on MCX8000 and DDJ-SX2 that when Shift is pressed the Slicer becomes “Slicer Loop” – what is this feature please? Will it additionally extend my creativity with re-arranding the track beyond the solution you have suggested i.e. Flip + Slicer + Hot cues ??ParticipantHey Terry
Thank you very much for your opinion and time taken to write it. I really appreciate it and I mean it. I must remember to be grateful for all this in the future, and hopefully when everything goes well, give back to DJ community myself helping others with their doubts/frustrations/issues.
Thanks a lot for the insight how it works with clubs/setting up/technician – it’s not that you can find this info anywhere.
It is also extremely reassuring about my whole nexus/2 fixation (fear of not being able to use nexus setup once I make it to the proper DJ booth, and I will make it :D). Plus the fact that nexus/2 is limited in comparison to a laptop+controller setup (I mean in creativity). Maybe 12-14 years ago nexus/CDJs were cool and the forefront of innovation and creativity but since digital DJing has got mainstream they basically lost the battle and are just there riding the wave of ‘legacy’ but it will not be for ever anyway. I even was considering selling my car + getting a loan in order to find this $6k for whole nexus2 – how crazy was I? I don’t want it anymore and it feels good 😀 I don’t even want the XDJ1000 neither hehe.
Reading this paragraph…why would anyone really buy nexus2 for $6-$7k for home use instead of controller? For so much money you get restrained system in creative terms (Smart car) when compared to controller+laptop setup.1. I have been thinking about this topic I started and it occurred to me that what I get a lot is a feeling when listening to a certain track (I listen mostly to deep house) I think to myself: ‘I don’t like this section, it should be cut out’ or ‘I really like this part, if I was making this track I would make it longer’ or ‘there is just a bit too much vocal here, it should be more dub’ – and I guess that’s what I call ‘creativity’ for now and in my case at least. So my question would be: which software/solution would give me the best ability to manipulate tracks so that I adjust/change them to my liking and then beat mixing another track please?
Maybe I should turn towards Traktor as they have the Stems system and also Remix Decks (whatever that is 😀 ) or this kind of ‘creativity ability/defintion’ can be done in any software by easily utilizing hot cues and loops? Or Serato’s Flip would be best for that? Or maybe my best choice would be editing the track before actually playing/mixing it? (I have purchased digitalDJtips editing course but I have not watched it yet) – and therefore choosing software/controller would be irrelevant in that respect (as I would achieve my creative goal by ‘editing tools’, whatever they are hehe). I am sorry for a lame question, but I am just starting and not entirely sure how it’s done…2. It seems that I am leaning towards ddj-sx2 (with the SZ being twice as expensive and offering 2 sound cards for DJ changeovers which I don’t need + it doesn’t even have native Flip controls). I do have a thing for Pioneer products to be honest – they just feel high quality and there is ‘something about them’ (I know – a personal thing entirely). So as far as Serato controllers I think that DDJ-SX2 is the best one at the moment in my book (DDJ-RX is the same but can’t work with Serato/Traktor so SX2 is a better choice. And MCX8000? Looks awesome and I haven’t seen any reviews of it online yet, which is strange but it’s just not….Pioneer product hehe. I think it’s safe to say that MCX8000 is like SX2 with 2 screens on it?). What I am trying to ask here (sorry for being so long winded) is why are you discounting XDJ-RX (in favor of DDJ-SX2/RX or MCX8000-I know it has only 2 channels and doesn’t support DVS like these two do – but what else?) ??? Is there a specific reason? Or a set of reasons? Or is it only because it is not as powerful in creative terms? (and what are they?)
Thank you very very much again and sorry for writing so much.
Peace.ps. May I please ask you what controller you use and also how do you connect mp3 player to a controller for a back up solution?
ps2. I hope Vintage is having loads of fun in Frankfurt. I wanted to go too… 😀
ps3. If it changes anything I am a mix DJ (no scratching/beat juggling at all) who adores deep house between 117-125bmp and not a fan of using effects all the time. I also will never want to use visual waveforms to mix 2 tracks together but to beat match them by ear – that’s it my goal from the beginning (no waveriding! I love my music and want to feel it, not see it 😉 ) I already have a powerful MacBookPro. Using samples/sampler? I am not quite sure I will need that (isn’t a sampler/sample much more useful with something like hip-hop/rap and scratching?) – I mean, what samples can I use with 120bpm deep house? Or maybe I am wrong and don’t understand the working principle of samples?ParticipantThanks for all your voices guys.
Vintage
Do I understand correctly that, if the free midi mapping in RB is true, I can hook up an additional pad controller to xdj-rx and map it to my liking? (something like reloop neon or akai lpd8 or pioneer’s sp1 and so on).Of course this wouldn’t be necessary if I went with ddj-sx2 as it has a ‘generous’ 8 pads performance section hehe.5miiks
Yeah, I am slightly getting the same impression that with DDJ-SX2 I would be getting more value for money at $1000 vs $1500 for XDJ-RX (well, granted I don’t count the cost of the laptop into it as I already own a powerful one). And DVS is possible with SX2 where with xdj-rx isn’t.
What draws me to xdj-rx though is that it mimics the club/nexus setup so much for like 25% of nexus’ price. I know, Vintage already told me that switching to nexus setup for the first time in the club (from practicing on something like ddj-sx2 at home) is half an hour thing but….I don’t know….I guess I am bad at making choices 😀Terry_42
Is there any way you could send me the removed post to my email please? It is meekeen@gmail.com
Yep I am a beginner so I suppose RB’s Sequencer/Sampler would be more friendly for me then learning Flip in Serato. But I didn’t know that Serato didn’t have ‘instant sampler’?
Why would discount xdj-rx in favor of ddj-rx/ddj-sx2 and/or MCX8000? Neither of these controllers will give me 2 things I am really after to be there together:
-as close ability to learn/practice on club setup/nexus workflow (and I mean here RB on screens of CDJs + DJM) as possible without shelling out $6-7k on the actual nexus setup itself (what alternatives do I have? One XDJ-1000 costs $1000 and I would need two. Then I would need to buy the mixer. Then some accessory controller like SP1 and RB DJ software too. Getting expensive then, and complicated with wires and so on)
-being laptop free (so the laptop failure/freeze is taken out of the risk + it becomes even more mobile friendly with just XDJ-RX needed to lug around instead of a controller + laptop)Thank you very much.
Participantur right again 🙂
Participantcool man
maybe there will be a chance to ketchup/mustard then 😀 😛 😉ps. don’t you then think that Pioneer’s controllers have long product life cycle? I mean, ddj-sz has been around since Jan 2014!!!! That’s like 27 months.
Good for those who bought at the beginning (although jogs had sensitivity issue at the beginning cause of faulty EProm), bad for those who need to buy something now and dunno if to wait 😀Participantgreat stuff man
thanksps. I was thinking about Frankfurt but it is just too far (from my hometown Poznan in Poland). Hope you will enjoy it (and that Pioneer finally shows some new controllers like ddj-sz2, dd.-sx3 and xdj-rz 😀 😀 )
ParticipantHey Vintage
Many thanks for your reply. That’s what forums are for and…I love them 😀
Yeah sorry – I made a mistake previously. I wanted to write: “too bad it doesn’t support SeratoDJ and DVS” hehe. Yep, seems like xdj-rx does play nicely with RDJ now.
Thanks for the tip on ‘supporting both SDJ and RDJ’ – really handy. I guess I will have to make up my mind and choose one or other. But with my desire to by gear now that is as close to club setup/nexus2 as possible I’m leaning towards xdj-rx more (and away from DDJ-SX2/SZ)
greetinx
ps. where are you from and where do you live Vintage? 😛
ParticipantYeah. Too bad XDJ-RX doesn’t support RekordboxDJ (I mean the full app, not the preparation software) and DVS. I do want to remain fairly flexible with my DJing and have decided it will mean knowing two ecosystems. I have chosen RekordboxDJ and SeratoDJ (Traktor-as awesome as it probably is, it’s just too complicated from what I can see and VirtualDJ just….not too popular. And DVS? Well I have an intention to buy RP8000 and hook it up too so I can try/learn old school DJing (vinyl/analog records) and also use it with timecode vinyl to control software. But well, what can I do? Come to think of it…..hook up Rane’s SL2/3/4 to XDJ-RX+RP8000? (although I don’t know if this would work and would give me SDJ and DVS control….let alone I don’t quite get what SL2/3/4 is and I don’t get how it works hehe).
Thanks for all your opinions about XDJ-RX. I guess I will wait until after ProLight and Sound in Frankfurt and if Pioneer won’t show XDJ-RZ or XDJ-RX2 there I will get it I suppose. Almost all internet gives it glowing reviews (if only had SeratoDJ and DVS support – especially now when RekordboxDVS has been launched). Yeah I was thinking about XDJ-1000 but it costs $2000 for a pair, Pioneer doesn’t want to update the firmaware and introduce the biggest things from NXS2 to it (filtering and tagging system, phase meter a’la stacked waveforms – features seen for the first time on CDJs I suppose?) and I would need to buy a mixer for it so really that’s a $3000 absolute minimum I suppose I am not sure how much (if any at all) better this setup would be in comparison to XDJ-RX.
What about the points 1-4 I have made in my previous posting? Would you say I am right saying it? or add anything to it?
thanks and happy easter
ps. what are the most notable DJ trade fairs worth noting for? NAMM (US)-just gone, ProLight and Sound in Germany soon, DJ Expo (US) in August? Anything else where Pioneer may make a statement about new gear?
greetinx
Participanthey guys
thank you very much for all your voices as…it helped me a lot and I realized couple of things too.
I am in the process of buying new equipment for my DJ (I used to have DDJ-SZ for a few months and played on it occasionally – I still don’t know how to beat match manually for example….meaning: I am a very beginning DJ).I am/was hesitating if I should go for controller again or get a ‘proper’ mixer + 2 sound sources (was thinking about 2 TTs) + SL2/3/4 interface (I think/guess Traktor is more complicated/complex/slightly production inclined ecosystem). This topic made me realize:
1. CDJs/DJM are not really intended for home use really plus/therefore are very expensive (Nexus2 at $7000 for the set). I was actually thinking about selling my car, getting a small loan and buying Nexus2 – I am crazy like that. 😀
Why I wanted to do it? Because I am/was afraid that if I don’t have any practice on Nexus2/Rekordbox ecosystem and show up at the club one day I will shit my pants before using it – if you know what I mean. So I thought that actually getting Nexus2 is the only/good way of going about it.2. All in all, DJ gear is not that important in DJing. DJing is all about music with DJ gear being only an addition to that. Focussing too much on gear is pointless and drains you out of energy and time that should be devoted to actual DJing itself – be it playing out or just practicing in the bedroom. As a side note on the DJ gear – it is not important that much and for example: some people who are passionate about the music and are really into DJing may perform better on cheapest Hercules controller then someone else would on Nexus2 but not feeling it – just confirming that the gear is only an addition to DJing, its (one of) component and not a major reason of/for DJing.
3. DJing with real vinyl/analog records requires the most commitment – financial/time/effort ones and/but it doesn’t mean it is the best or anything. It even may appear for some to be actually inferior to digital DJing (I mean controllers) as it offers far less creativity.What can you do really with two vinyl records on 2 turntables decks? Just pretty much only blend/mix them together (I am leaving out beat juggling/sctratching as I am only a ‘mix DJ’) right? And on controller you have cues/hot cues, loops, SP6 (whatever that is 😀 ), Serato Flip and maybe other things that inspire creativity that I am not aware of right?
4. When some people/DJs say that digital DJing/controller ‘are not real DJing’ what are they mean and are they right? How to respond to such a statement?
5. Vintage, what do you think of XDJ-RX? Have you ever had a chance to use it? How does it compare to SX2 and SZ? I guess if I want to get as close to a Nexus2 workflow in the bedroom w/o actually buying it the XDJ-RX would be absolutely best right? I think you said somewhere that you were told in Birmingham by Pioneer that the chance of 4 channel XDJ-RX (and hopefully with DVS support) or its successor (especially when it has been on sale for over a year) are slim. Do you have any new insider knowledge in that respect please? Do you think Pioneer will show something in that regard and forthcoming MusikMesse in Frankfurt (especially with the launch of MCX8000 and Gemini’s SDJ2000)?
Please correct me if I’m wrong with anything and/or supplement my knowledge. Thanks for advice too.
Greetinx 😛
ParticipantThank you so much for your thoughtfulness Vintage. I really appreciate it.
Keep it up!
ParticipantHey Vintage
Thank you very much for replying.
I more than appreciate you don’t give out your own email on forum.I would like to PM you about DJ gear as I have tough choice to make i.e. Mac+ddj-sz or CDJ2000nxs+DJM900nxs.
It’s a lengthy email and I would just like you to have a look at it and advise me on the email itself (does it make sense posting it on forum here ?) and maybe (highly appreciated) advise/comment personally about buying problem.
I have seen you posting on forum a bit about this and I liked what you were saying that is why I would like to contact you about this. And since there is no PM facility that’s the only reason I asked for your email… but I thought you would have a company email of some sort…… like e.g. djvintage@digitaldjtips.com or something…Maybe you won’t comment on all this or something and advise me to post it on the forum instead, but nevertheless I would like you to have a look at the stuff I have managed to put together.
My email is:
<mail address removed for privacy reasons>Hopefully you can help me.
Greetinx 😀
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This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by
DJ Vintage. Reason: Removed mail address
ParticipantHey Vintage
I hope you’re well…
Since there is no ‘private message’ facility on digitaldjtips.com forum, may I ask you for your email address please so that I can send you a message ?
thanks a lot
take care
Miken
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This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by
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