Pioneer CDJ-850  Mid-Level DJ CD Player

Submitted by Lead   on 07-07-2010 10:10
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Gearbase product details : Pioneer DJ CDJ-850

The Pioneer CDJ-850 is basically a modernized CDJ-800MK2 (that will be discontinued shortly) with Waveform Rekordbox support (ProDJ Link is NOT supported as it lacks a Network connection.. This deck is bringing all the neat features of the CDJ-900/CDJ2000 to a basic player with full scratch Jog Wheel. There is an enhanced display and menu/navigation structure with a rotary- and back knob, just like on it's bigger brothers and finally the Loop-In point is adjustable.

One of the things you're mostly likely to notice is the big difference in speed when operating the CDJ, it reacts instantly to your commands.

Also modern features are included such as a build in Sound Card and MIDI support, the Tag List, a Scale selector on the Auto-Beat Loops and Keyword Search.

The CDJ-850 is available in 2 colors: CDJ-850-S (Silver) and CDJ-850-K (Black)

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Main Display

The Main Display of the CDJ-850 contains 2 types of information: the usual necessary stuff like Track number, Time elapsed/remaining, Pitch setting, BPM.

All this is placed around a 100x28 pixels Dot Matrix Display that shows you the info about browsing, selected track, Tag list etc.

The display also shows the Waveform for each track that will be read in real time of is gathered from the Rekordbox Database on your USB media. The Waveform has a resolution of 100x7 pixels, which is equal the resolution displayed on the CDJ-1000MK3.

When your track reaches the end the Dot Matrix display will start to flash 30 seconds before the end of the track. The flash go quickly the last 15 seconds. This flashing is your sign to really make that mix.

Jog Display

The Jog Display is the same used in all CDJ's and displays all operating information like the playing position mimicking a rotating disc, Touch sensor activation indication and Vinyl Mode Indicator. You can use the white spinning marker to see where the beats are, The red markers marks the position of the Cue Point (when set).

Input Source Selection

You can use the CDJ-850 with multiple media sources, it still reads CD's and accepts USB devices with exports from Rekordbox.

Using a USB device

When you use a USB device as an input source you MUST press the USB STOP button for 2 seconds until the LED does is not illuminated or blinking. In this few seconds the CDJ-850 writes your playlist to the USB device, when this process is interrupted by premature removal of the device this will fail and might also corrupt the other History Playlist's on the device.

History List

When you manage your tracks with Rekordbox the CDJ-850 will record a Playback History that is written to the device. A new History List is started each time you turn the CDJ on or insert a USB device and can be maximum 999 tracks long. These lists can be converted to playlist's with Rekordbox.

Browse

In Browse mode the Pioneer CDJ-850 displays information in the Main Display that you need to get to the tracks your looking for. When a USB device is inserted it displays the Folder Tree structure as if you would browse the device with your computer.

The navigation works very instinctive, by turning the rotary you browse a list and by pressing the rotary you select the highlighted item. The Back button is located just left and above the rotary dial.

When a USB device is used containing an export made with Rekordbox you can browse your tracks by Artist, Title, BPM or whatever tags you've set to display. Start using Rekordbox today as you can download it for FREE.

Searching Tracks

After pressing the Browse button you can select the Search option, rotate and press the rotary to enter your search string and after selecting the Enter symbol the CDJ will search in all tags of the track for your query.

Navigation List Jump

Sometimes list of selections can be pretty long so you need to scroll a lot. By keeping Rotary pressed for about a second you activate the Jump function that lets you jump to a next page by each click of the rotary.

If you are browsing in a category on your USB device with a Rekordbox export on it you activate the Letter Jump. A letter will be displayed and can be altered by rotating the rotary . When pressing the rotary to select the letter the list will jump to the section that starts with the selected letter.

Tag List

This display a list of all tracks that you have tagged during this session. The list of tagged tracks can hold up to 1.000 titles. When the USB medium is removed the Tag List is cleared, a new list will start each insertion of a device.

You can tag Tracks, Playlist's or Categories (a complete genre or all tracks from a certain artist, etc.) that you might like to play later on in your set or keep in memory for the remainder of the session.

Tracks will be tagged when the Tag Track/Remove button is pressed when a track, playlist or category is highlighted while browsing. The Tag Track/Remove button is a tiny button located just right above the Rotary Dial.

A tag can be removed from the Tag List by selecting the entry in the Tag List, then press the Tag Track/Remove button for at least a second and the track will be removed.

Changing the Order

The order of the Tag List can be changed, when the Tag List is displayed you need to press the Menu/Utility button and select: 'Change Order'. Press the rotary to select a title, this will start flashing. Now move to the desired position by turning the rotary and press it to move the title to the new position. The title is dropped above the selected title.

Transform Tag List to Playlist

You can convert the Tag List to a Playlist that will be stored in your Rekordbox Collection data on the USB devide. As the Tag List is restarted each time you insert a USB medium all information in it will be erased from the player.

To convert the Tag List to a Playlist press the Menu/Utility button while displaying the Tag List. Then select: 'Create Playlist'. This will create a playlist labeled NEW PLAYLIST on your USB device, this Playlist will be stored in your Rekordbox data when you update the USB device with your Rekordbox collection.

(Track) Info

When pressing the Info Button, you will see the track details subtracted from the ID3 tags.

Auto Beat Loop

By pressing any of the Auto Beat Loop button a loop is created. The length of the loop will be determined by the tempo of the track (it's BPM Beats-Per-Minute) and it will be as long as indicated on the Auto Loop button you've pressed. Once a loop has been set, the CDJ will start repeating the loop until you EXIT it. You can use all Auto Beat Loop buttons to play around and change the length of the loop by pressing other Auto Beat buttons.

To set a Loop you need to set a Loop In point and a Loop Out point by pressing the buttons at the right moment. After you pressed the Loop Out button the CDJ-850 seamlessly starts to playback the Loop. Booth Loop In and Out buttons are now blinking.

You can adjust the Loop In and Loop Out point by pressing the buttons during playback. Only one of the Loop buttons will now blink, indicating you are now able to adjust this point by moving the Jog Wheel or using the Search buttons /.

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. You can adjust the length (Loop In and Out point) of an automatically created loop just like a normal loop.

You can set the scale of the Auto Beat function by pressing the Beat Select button.

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

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.

Reverse

There is a convenient 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-850 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.

 Product User Manual

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