Pioneer CDJ-900  Pioneer 15 Year Anniversary Deck

Submitted by Lead   on 17-09-2009 09:14
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Gearbase product details : Pioneer DJ CDJ-900

The Dawn of a new Species has arrived, here is the Pioneer CDJ-900. We are at the Dawn a new era of new media. The new Pioneer CDJ-series decks play your audio CD with all tricks your used to off course... but there is more.

When used in combination with Rekordbox software a USB device (stick) is the best way of transporting your files to the DJ Booth. A SD card can also be used, on this card also the Waveform info of inserted CD's is stored.

The Pioneer CDJ-900 is Pioneer's new deck for the todays DJ. It's a true little brother of the Pioneer CDJ-2000 as in basics the interface works the same. With a different types of music sources in mind the CDJ-2000 is aimed for use of Audio on USB/SD/CD/DVD media. To get the best sound quality out of the CDJ-900, set the Digital Output to 24-bits and use 24-bit WAV files to play.

Most common digital audio formats are supported : WAV (16-bit and 24 bit), MP3 (CBR and VBR (CBR performs better)), AAC and AIFF can be inserted in the CDJ-2000 on CD-R, DVD-R, SD card (or SDHC) or USB media (needs own power supply if it uses more than 500mA).

To gain the most benefits out of the new generation CDJ's you need to use Pioneer's Rekordbox software (included with your CDJ) to act like your iTunes-for-DJs.

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Pioneer ProDJ Link

Via a RJ45 connector on the back, a network cable can be used to hook up multiple CDJ-900's so they can share their music collections (on inserted USB/SD devices). It's possible to connect 2 CDJ's directly to each other with a network cable. These CDJ's don't even need to be of the same model, you can connect a CDJ-900 to a CDJ-2000. You can connect 3-4 CDJ's with a network switch/hub. All music on inserted SD cards/USB devices will be shared amongst all connected players.

MIDI Interface

To use the MIDI from the CDJ-900 you need to connect the USB cable to your computer as this information is NOT transmitted via the network cable.

HID Interface

As the CDJ supports the HID protocol, you can use the CDJ directly to a Timecode software system if you still need to use software in the DJ Booth. But with the easy-to-use browse system there's hardly a need for that.

Build in Sound Card

When connected to a computer, it will recognize an audio device and install the proper drivers. When using mix software you can now select the sound card of the CDJ-900 as output device. This means that you do not need to connect your laptop/computer to the mixer, but use the output of the CDJ instead.

0.5 Frame Accurate Cue Point

Pioneer has double the number of positions where you can set a Cue Point. In the older CDJ-series CD player you could set a Cue Point at any audio frame, this means that each second contains 75 frames. But with the CDJ-2000 you can set a Cue Point half way an audio frame, making a total of 149 possible places to set a Cue Point... in each second!

To set a Cue Point you just hold the platter down while playing and search for the right spot by rotating it (assuming you've got Vinyl Mode activated!). Then press the Cue button to set the Cue Point to that location. To move the Cue Point a frame forwards or backwards you need to press the Search buttons /. The first time you press it, only the white ring on the Jog Display will light up, indicating the Cue Set mode is activated. The following presses of the Search buttons/ move the Cue Point 0.5 frame forwards or backwards.

Quantize your Hot Cues and Loops

This function only works when you've got your tracks in the USB device with Rekordbox software. Rekordbox stores a beat-grid with each track, which can be adjusted in Rekordbox. Once this is done and the Quantize function is activated on the CDJ the setting of Real time Cue (Loop In), Loop Out and the Hot Cue's will be synced with the Beat Grid that Rekordbox has prepared. This makes sure that all your loops are in sync (if your beat map is).

While playing and Quantize active, press Loop In to set a Cue Point on-the-fly, You can recall this Cue Point by pressing the Cue Button. A loop-in point is always the same as your Cue Point (Pioneer standard feature). You'll notice that when you make a normal Cue Point the Loop In button flashes meaning a Loop In point has been set.

Improved Jog Wheel

The Jog Dial of the Pioneer CDJ-900 is once again improved when compared to that of CDJ-800mk2. There have been improvements so that it feels more direct. There is a new internal structure and a new surface layer for better grip.

Main Display

Most action will happen around the large dot matrix display of the CDJ-900 that sits central on the deck. The upper part shows you all track and browse information. The lower part is just like any display on a CDJ-series deck, it shows you the actual information of the playing/selected track. There is waveform information and above the red progress bar you will see the stored Cue/Loop point of the track. Also all usual information is displayed like: BPM, pitch setting, deck number, track/play timer and several indicators.

Buttons

The row buttons on the left of the display select the media source you want to use (Link, USB and Disc). Choose USB for media playback, Disc for CD useage and Link when the deck is hooked up to other CDJ-900 or CDJ-2000's

Link your Music Collection

When Link is selected, all the USB/SD devices that are connected to all CDJ900's in the link can be selected and browsed through. With the same convenience as you would browse the local USB stick you can now browse through all USB devices in all players. This mean that you only need to bring 1 USB Device/Hard disk drive to the venue, no matter how much decks you use (max 4).

The row buttons above the display is identical to the buttons on the CDJ-2000, it selects the showing information (Browse, Tag List, Info and Menu). The Browse screen is what you'll use the most to select and find tracks. The Tag List is explained below.

Playlist History record

When you playback audio from SD/USB Devices the CDJ stores the tracks you played in your set in a playlist. This playlist can be recalled later and when the Device is synced with Rekordbox, all these lists will be transferred to Rekordbox. This way you can easily check what tracks you've played in a venue and when. These Playlists can be altered with Rekordbox software.

The CDJ also storage the number of times a track is played. In Rekordbox you can see your most played tracks.

Keyword String Search

One of the browse options is Search, select it with the Rotary. You can now perform a string search in your Library. You need to turn the roatary to change the letters and press it to confirm to build up your search string.

Searching is performed after each letter that is entered and results are shown instantly. You can search for 'mus' to find a track with that string anywhere in the tags that are in the Rekordbox database (on the USB Device) that contain the string 'mus' like a track with title 'We love the Music' or artist like 'The Telmustards'.

History Listings

The CDJ-900 is equipped with a History Listings storage function that stores your played playlist. This listing can be imported to Rekordbox so you can save the sets you've played at a certain venue to listen again. Or use these Playlists as a start point for a next performance.

Memorize your Cue/Loops

With the dedicated buttons for storing and recalling Loop/Cue information you can easily create your own favorites that will be stored on SD card (when CD playback) or on the USB Device from which your playing tracks.

Press the MEMORY button when you've got your track is Cue-ed or when in Loop playback to store this info instantly without interrupting audio playback.

You can recall your stored Cue/Loop information by pressing the Call buttons. The CDJ will search for the NEXT or PREVIOUS stored Cue/Loop point from your current position. This information is visible by a marker above the Waveform in the lower section of the display.

Slip

A new feature on the CDJ-900 is the SLIP function. When activated the playback of the current track is not disturbed while your freaking out with the (Auto Beat) Loop and the Reverse.

In the background playback is resumed while you listen to the Loops. When Loop/Reverse is de-activated playback is resumed like you never interfered with it.

This makes sure that when you want to stop Looping your track never left it's sync.

Auto Beat Loop

The auto Beat Loop functionality works together with the Slip feature. No matter how often you press the Beat Loop buttons, you always get back like you never interfered playback.

By pressing any of the Auto Beat Loop button a loop is created. The length of it will be determined by the tempo of the track and will be a basic 4-beat Loop. Once a loop has been set, the Auto Beat Loop button will shorten the length of the current loop that is being played. The Auto beat Loop 1 (1/8) button will play 1/8th of the loop, Auto Beat Loop 2 (1/4) button will play a quarter of the loop and so on.

If no loop is set, the Auto Beat Loop buttons will record a loop with an automatically calculated length. The length depends on the button you've pressed: 1 for a 1-beat-loop, 2 for a 2-beat-loop, 4 for a four-beat-loop and 8 for an eight-beat-loop. When an automatically created loop is played back, use the buttons to select the length of the loop measured in beats.


Hold the Loop In button while pressing any of the Auto Beat Loops to directly play back a shortened loop. Confused ? Here is an overview :

Auto Beat Loop 1 (1/8) : Plays Loop 1/8th of a beat starting when pressed
Auto Beat Loop 2 (1/4) : Plays Loop 1/4th of a beat starting when pressed
Auto Beat Loop 4 (1/2) : Plays Loop of half a beat starting when pressed
Auto Beat Loop 8 (1/1) : Plays a 1 Beat Loop starting when pressed

Reverse

There is a convieniant switch to set the playback direction in reverse. This button is located just below the Auto Beat Loop buttons. The Reverse Playback function works together with the Slip function so you always keep your tracks sync.

Faster Searching using the Jog

When you are holding the Track Search button / and rotate the Jog you will scroll very fast through the discs index. 1 Rotation skips about 30 tracks.

When you hold down the regular Search button / and rotate the Jog dial, you will search at a faster speed. Fast Search is performed in the direction of which the jog is rotated so it can also be done backwards.

In both cases (track or regular search), it doesn't matter which of the Search Buttons you press (/or/), the direction of the rotation of the Jog determines the direction.

Cue Stutter Continue

Just like on any CDJ you can use the Cue Button to sample play from your Cue Point. As long as you hold the Cue Button the CDJ plays the track from the Cue Point onwards. When the cue Button is released the CDJ instantly returns to the Cue point and is ready for a restart.

The CDJ-2000 also provides a way to continue playing. When you are holding the Cue Button and the CDJ is playing, you can continue by simultaneously pressing the Play Buttononce. When you now release the Cue Button playback will continue.

Eject Canceling & Auto Resume Play

When you press the EJECT button , playback will stop and the player prepares for the Eject. Before it shows you 'EJECT' (about 1 second), you can cancel the Eject by pressing the Play Button . This will not prevent the sound from stopping, but it continuous playing a lot faster than when it would perform a full Eject.

When the disc does get ejected and is inserted it again, playback will continue from the point where it was ejected (track number and time is remembered). This point is being stored in the memory of the CDJ for as long as no other CD is inserted, or the power has been turned down.

Disc Compatibility

The CDJ-900 can be used to play music from lots of different media and in a lot of different formats. You can insert the discs that carry one of the following logo's and have these descriptions : CD-DA (audio CD), CD-R/-RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+r/+RW,DVD-r DL (dual layer) and DVD+R DL (dual layer).

You cannot use video files stored on a disc (DVD) as such, only music files are recognized by the CDJ. Some Copyright protected CDs add stuff so the disc does not comply anymore with the Red Book CD standard so the CDJ might not read it. The player is CD-Text compatible so it displays this information in the display, when multiple tags are found the first one will show up.

File Compatibility

You can playback music files stored as MP3, WAV, AAC and AIFF files. These files can be stored on any of the above discs or on an SD card or USB device. A larger folder tree means more time is needed for the CDJ to read the folders, keep this as tidy as possible. In all three situations the following file limitations apply :

Folder tree is max. 8 levels deep

Max. number of folders on disc (CD/DVD) : 2.000
Max. files on disc (CD/DVD) : 3.000
Max. files per format (CD/DVD) : 999

Max. number of folders on media (SD/USB) : 10.000
Max. files on media per folder (SD/USB) : 10.000

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