October 1994 saw the release of the Pioneer CDJ, the first professional DJ CD player, which was set to transform the way that DJs created music in nightclubs all over the world, and offered an alternative to vinyl turntables. The player has also displayed an impressive capacity to evolve, and every new version has offered innovative functions and features.
Launching the new series was the Pioneer CDJ 500, which was designed to be attractive to DJs who were more used to using turntables. A large jog dial allowed music to be searched frame by frame and cue points to be selected. The attention paid to details like this, along with top-mounted controls, made for an easier transition for vinyl DJs.
Although certain features allowed a trouble-free transition, others would transform the way DJs mixed music. Music could be slowed down or vice-versa without changing either the vocal or instrumental tone thanks to the master tempo control. Loop functions allowed samples to be looped continuously, while seamlessly resuming the music when the loop was released.
CDs have an advantage over vinyl: DJs can prepare and burn playlists on CDs before a set. Vinyl can be heavy and bulky, making records difficult to transport and protect from damage, while turntables need needles and other parts to be replaced. The compact CD player presented an attractive alternative.
The Pioneer CDJ currently available is the CDJ 2000. This version includes Pioneer's own music management software, 'Rekordbox', which allows DJs to analyse BPMs, tag and add notes to tracks, set cues and loops, and take their set lists to gigs on a USB key... The CDJ 2000 reads audio files from multiple sources, from CDs to SDs and DVDs.
Developments in technology allow CDJs to provide ever-more complex functions, allowing a DJ complete control over the mix he or she is creating. Larger screens and LEDs mean the CDJ is visible even in the darkest DJ booth, and demonstrate that while the machine provides more features than ever before, the emphasis is also on user-friendliness.
Launching the new series was the Pioneer CDJ 500, which was designed to be attractive to DJs who were more used to using turntables. A large jog dial allowed music to be searched frame by frame and cue points to be selected. The attention paid to details like this, along with top-mounted controls, made for an easier transition for vinyl DJs.
Although certain features allowed a trouble-free transition, others would transform the way DJs mixed music. Music could be slowed down or vice-versa without changing either the vocal or instrumental tone thanks to the master tempo control. Loop functions allowed samples to be looped continuously, while seamlessly resuming the music when the loop was released.
CDs have an advantage over vinyl: DJs can prepare and burn playlists on CDs before a set. Vinyl can be heavy and bulky, making records difficult to transport and protect from damage, while turntables need needles and other parts to be replaced. The compact CD player presented an attractive alternative.
The Pioneer CDJ currently available is the CDJ 2000. This version includes Pioneer's own music management software, 'Rekordbox', which allows DJs to analyse BPMs, tag and add notes to tracks, set cues and loops, and take their set lists to gigs on a USB key... The CDJ 2000 reads audio files from multiple sources, from CDs to SDs and DVDs.
Developments in technology allow CDJs to provide ever-more complex functions, allowing a DJ complete control over the mix he or she is creating. Larger screens and LEDs mean the CDJ is visible even in the darkest DJ booth, and demonstrate that while the machine provides more features than ever before, the emphasis is also on user-friendliness.
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