Pioneer unleashes the super-versatile CDJ-400 digital deck for all forward-thinking DJs. Pioneer today announces its new CDJ-400 deck – a flexible, affordable feature-packed performance player for the aspiring club DJ to use at home.

Read lots of extended info in our DJ Topic : Pioneer CDJ-400

Designed by DJs for DJs and drawing inspiration from Pioneer’s industry standard CDJ-1000 series, this latest member of the world-famous CDJ family is fully geared up to serve the next generation of digital artists. The CDJ-400 allows DJs to play their MP3 collection off CD-R/RW discs as well as music from mass storage USB devices, such as USB keys, external hard drives and portable media devices [1]. The deck also features the world’s first Scratch Jog Effects [2], with three creative scratch effects and an amazing new Loop Divide function. Virtually all of the button and slider functions can send MIDI data via USB output, making it possible for the decks to control DJ software and other applications, such as Pioneer DJS [3] or Serato Scratch LIVE [4] on a PC or MAC. The CDJ-400 deck is a perfect partner for the DJM-400 mixer and together they provide the ultimate home party set–up.

‘With USB, MP3 and MIDI support, the world’s first Scratch Jog Effects and inspirational looping abilities, the CDJ-400 has been designed to keep DJs in tune with the latest digital developments, adding new levels of performance to their sets,’ says Jason Pook, European Product Development Manager, Pioneer Europe.

Key Features

• Digital media playback
  The CDJ-400 handles CD Audio and MP3 files from CD, while USB connectivity lets DJs draw upon sound libraries on external storage devices [5].
• MIDI control via USB
  With Pioneer’s finger firmly on the pulse of digital DJ developments, it is only natural that the CDJ-400 can control DJ and music application software. This is achieved by simply selecting the PC Source Select button, so that virtually all of the deck’s buttons and slider can send MIDI control data via the PC USB connection. A DJ can connect the CDJ-400 to a PC or MAC and play and manipulate files from their favourite DJ application software – such as Pioneer DJS or Serato Scratch LIVE [4] – and this doesn’t even require a time-code disc to be used in the deck.
• New illuminated Jog Wheel
  With a design inspired by the club standard CDJ-1000 Jog Wheel comes the CDJ-400’s 115mm illuminated platter. You can choose from six different patterns of Jog Wheel illumination and even personalise your own CDJ ‘slip mats’ or jog sheets, 3 are included.
• New Scratch Jog Effects
  In addition to the Digital Jog Break Effects (JET, WAH and ROLL) found in CDJ Mode, Pioneer serves up the world’s first Scratch Jog Effects, BUBBLE, TRANS and WAH, in vinyl mode.
• New Beat Loop Divide
  The funky new Beat Loop Divide facility rhythmically dices loops to fashion beats with drama, intrigue or whatever your desired effect. It is easily adjustable using its (- and +) buttons during loop playback, thereby creating loops with mind-melting, dancefloor-destroying twists.
• Hot Loop and Beat Loop
  Besides the Beat Loop Divide, the CDJ-400 lets DJs create flawless four-beat Beat Loops and Hot Loops.

Other features

• Resume function – restarts playback of a disc from the point at which it was ejected
• Digital Output – connect to Pioneer’s range of digital DJM mixers or other studio equipment
• Text Mode – displays CD-TEXT and ID3 tag information
• Reverse play – instant reverse play
• Shock-Proof Memory and Pioneer Oil Damper Float construction
• High-quality 7x5 dot matrix display

Price and availability
The CDJ-400 is available from Pioneer’s distribution network, details of which can be found at http://www.pioneerdj.eu/. The CDJ-400 will be available from December 2007 with a price of around €649,-.

[1]　The CDJ-400 supports mass storage USB memory, but may not support playback of all USB devices or provide sufficient electrical power for them. It cannot play copyright-protected files (DRM).
[2]　As of 7th November 2007, according to Pioneer.
[3]　Using DJS version 1.5 (update scheduled for January 2008) or later versions, the CDJ-400 can control DJS. For further details, visit proDJnet.com (website launch scheduled for early December 2007).
[4]　Support for the CDJ-400 will be included in Scratch LIVE early in 2008. Scratch LIVE is a registered trademark of Serato Audio Research. More DJ software applications are pending from other companies. However, Pioneer cannot guarantee the performance of third party software on users’ computers.
[5]　HFS (MAC OS X) & NTFS (Windows) hard drives are currently not supported. Files must be MP3 format CBR & VBR.