After teasing on Instagram, Pioneer has officially announced the long-awaited CDJ-3000 DJ decks.

The CDJ-3000 is available now at an SRP of £2169, including VAT.

Driven by a new MPU (micro-processing unit) and boasting specially developed high-quality components, it’s a robust unit packed with innovative features to help your creativity flourish like never before.

The unit also features a redesigned jog wheel to create the “smoothest action on any multi player we’ve ever made”. Touch latency is also better, and the LCD screen in the centre of the jog means you can keep an eye on the playhead position and reference album artwork.

In 2016, the CDJ-2000NXS2 became the first choice for clubs, festivals, and DJs all over the world who perform with digital music files, thanks to its improved feature set and outstanding sound quality.

It has now been a number of years (and several very compelling products from competitor Denon), and about time a new CDJ was announced.

Pioneer has designed the CDJ-3000s to be the decks which “can make your creative vision a reality and handle everything you throw at them”.

The new MPU in the unit is the first Pioneer has put in a CDJ. It drives the unit, delivering stable performance and enabling advanced new features, and it works with the other parts of the player to create a smoother DJ experience.

For example, you’ll notice that tracks and Hot Cues load faster than ever thanks to the capabilities of the MPU and Gigabit Ethernet connection. The CDJ-3000 is a rekordbox Hardware Unlock device too.

So, to use Performance mode, all you need to do is to update to the latest version of the software, even if you’re using the Free subscription plan.

You can choose the information you want to view in “laser-sharp detail” on the 9-inch touch screen, which is bigger and a higher resolution than the one on the CDJ-2000NXS2.

The user interface remains largely the same so regular users of the CDJ series will feel at home.

New functions such as Touch Preview enable effortless and rapid track selection, and, with a host of other fresh features including Touch Cue, Stacked Waveform, and 3-Band Waveform, you’ll always know where the perfect mix points are on the cued track and the one that’s currently playing.

The post Pioneer launches the CDJ-3000 with jog display and improved touch features appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

Transmutator, a novel cross-fading plugin which challenges simple volume fades claims to open up a whole new level of creativity.

Starting life as the latest release from founding plug-in partner JMG Sound, Transmutator takes advantage of complex processing techniques balanced with easy-to-use controls.

The commonplace crossfade effect — simply speaking, making a sound be heard gradually as another disappears or becomes silent — can be useful, but the plugin’s creators claim Transmutator can up that transition for you.

READ MORE: Newfangled Audio turns chaos into sound with latest VST synth

Designed for many uses, it can transition between different sections in tracks (from verse to chorus or build-up to drop, for example), mixing between two songs (such as in a DJ set), or complement sound design (by fusing and morphing two elements together in various ways).

To use, it is simply a case of inserting the audio effect plug-in in a track, then feeding a second track into its side-chain input.

JMG Sounds’ Transmutator is available to purchase for a time-limited introductory promo price of €19.00 EUR until September 30, 2020 — rising thereafter to €69.00 EUR — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-compatible audio plug-in directly from United Plugins.

The post Change the way you cross-fade song elements with Transmutator appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

Today I thought I’d highlight a really cool tool online that lets you enter a phrase and it will find relevant samples of it said in films and TV.

If you are a producer looking for some cool vocal shots or (dank) references in your live DJ set, then this tool – named Yarn – could be very handy for you.

One thing that might be worth highlighting is the legal aspect of using copyrighted samples. The best advice is to simply steer clear of anything you don’t have permission to use.

SEE ALSO: Brilliant FREE key finding software

That said, if you do want to continue forward with this tool, then make sure to be transformative in your use, and be ready to lose profits from your track.

I tested the tool myself and it works really well, not just finding exact matches, but also similar phrases that you could use.

One test involved finding the phrase “I wish you hadn’t done that”, perhaps a sample to trigger when you trainwreck a DJ set.

The results were great:

The site gives you plenty of content to work with and you can simply save the short <5-second clip and take the audio from it.

I also looked for a sample that could be used before the bass kicks in, and again, it delivered:

The post Awesome tool lets you type phrase and find samples of it said from films and TV appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

One of the most important things to consider when producing music and DJing is looking after your computer and resources. It is essential to keep the disk that the operating system is on as clean as possible for maximum speed.

For this reason, using an external hard drive for your music and sample libraries means that you have a cleaner system, with the added benefit, that you can take your production anywhere.

I recommend you use a dedicated hard drive for all your creative projects because it allows you to keep all you samples organised and portable.

My setup involves all my software, such as Ableton Live, installed on my fast NVMe C drive, but the cost of such a fast SSD in my system comes with a compromise – storage capacity. For that reason, all my sample libraries, as well as Native Instruments libraries and Ableton Packs, are stored on my external 4TB portable hard drive.

This guide will cover some of the best external hard drives on the market today, with the important considerations of speed, value, raw capacity, and portability.

It is important to note that Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are much cheaper than SSDs but are much more vulnerable to bumps and data loss with vibration. SSDs on the other hand are more expensive, but with no moving parts, they are more durable.

Another trade-off with SSDs is that they have a limited write performance. This means if you constantly replace the data on them, they can degrade. Since we are talking about static libraries which are saved on drives more or less permanently, this isn’t a big issue.

This article uses embedded links with real-time prices. Sometimes adblockers can block these elements. If you choose not to disable adblocker on this page, text links will still be available.

Seagate Backup Plus Hub USB 3.0

This range of external drive is great with offerings of 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, and 10TB.

At a price of around £17 per TB when comparing the 6TB and 8TB models, you are getting a really good value hard drive.

One of the key features which sets this particular range aside is the additional USB ports on the front, meaning it doubles as USB hub. For many DJs and producers, additional USB inputs to their computer is a must.

The drives also come packaged with Seagate’s backup software and with such a huge amount of storage available, the drive will easily work as a backup device in case your PC gets damaged or corrupted.

Plugable 1TB Thunderbolt 3 External SSD NVMe Drive

If you want the fastest speeds available, a good place to start is a Thunderbolt 3 drive. This drive combines the USB-crushing speeds of Thunderbolt 3 with an NVMe SSD inside. This means it is one of the quickest external drives on the market, and is also super compact.

You pay a premium for the SSD technology and will need to make sure your computer has Thunderbolt 3 ports, but its solid-state design means it can handle much more vibration and bumps compared to traditional HDDs.

SanDisk Ultra Fit

While these aren’t hard drives, these deserve a mention for their sheer compactness.

The SanDisk UltraFit series of USB sticks are about as small as USB drives go. You don’t have to be old to remember a time USB sticks were limited to only a few GBs of storage, but these incredible designs go up to half a terabyte in a thumbnail-sized footprint.

They are USB 3 so they run more than fast enough for DJs and production samples and on a price-per-gigabyte scale they are extremely cheap compared to only a few years ago.

While you won’t be able to fit terabytes of samples on them, the higher capacity models have more than enough storage for most DJs and producers. They also work great for producers who want a spare location for their favourite samples, but don’t want to carry their whole library with them.

Silicon Power Rugged Armor A60

For those who travel a lot, or people prone to spilling their drinks on their hardware, the Silicon Power Armor series has your back.

These external drives are “Military-grade” and designed to take a beating. The product meets “US Military (MIL-STD-810G) drop protection standards” and while that doesn’t mean you can use it as a spare ping-pong paddle when it’s not being used, it offers an additional peace of mind.

The post Best external drives for your music production and DJing libraries appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, global search interest in digital audio workstations (DAWs) has seen a surge.

With people across the world stuck in lockdown and self-isolation, Google Trends results show a significant increase in people looking up DAWs, presumably to take up a new talent.

FL Studio has been the most popular DAW to search for, also having the broadest global appeal. This is followed by Ableton Live, which stood out for British, Australian, and Israeli searchers.

Searches for “how to make music” have increased along with general interest topics related to it.

With the absence of running venues across most of the world, search interest in streaming DJ sets increased significantly, as more people took to performing online.

Unsurprisingly, the music performance and concert industry has faced a major hit, with online interest plummeting. This is a major hit to the industry as there has been a strong upwards trend for search interest over the past five years.

The impacts of the virus will be long-lasting for the music industry, but the silver lining is that an increase in interest will encourage more people to get involved in it.

With a surplus of free time, it will become more accessible to get into music production and people will be able to develop skills while unable to leave their houses.

As dark a time as it is, it will also be pivotal for the future of many producers who would never have had the time to make the songs they have done in these past few weeks.

Stay safe, and stay producing!

The post Five graphs which show how COVID-19 has affected DJs and music producers appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

DENON DJ is on a roll at the moment, having just announced the launch of the SC6000 and SC6000M pro DJ players, they also added two new all-in-one smart DJ consoles to their lineup.

The Denon Prime Go and Prime 2 (to a lesser degree) players add a new level of portability to DJing. In what is now standard for Denon, they apply pressure to the top – Pioneer DJ – by offering better features and pricing compared to the industry standard market leader.

READ MORE: Denon releases SC6000 Prime and SC6000M Prime

It is hard not to compare the battle to the one between Intel and AMD, where Intel leads the way in computer processor market share and quality, but AMD undercuts Intel with cheaper and often better-featured processors driving the prices down and R&D up.

The latest offering from Denon is sure to do just that. Pioneer DJ may still have the comfort-zone in the pro DJ market, but every time Denon releases cheaper and equally feature-rich hardware, it pushes the top dog to keep prices competitive and develop better gear.

Prime 2 and Prime Go will be available Q1 2020

Denon DJ Prime Go

Price ~$999

The Denon DJ Prime Go is perhaps the coolest looking compact all-in-one DJ console ever made. With a large 7-inch HD touchscreen taking up the top half and a compact layout packed with performance features, this surface will allow DJs to travel easily with their gear.

A key feature that makes it unmatched for its tier is the four-hours of unplugged playing that the rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows, meaning it can be used on the go, including – as the video above demonstrates – on a train or plane.

It runs off Denon’s proprietary Engine software and has built-in wifi and wired internet connections to allow streaming music. This is a great feature for mobile DJs but perhaps one to keep under wraps if you don’t like those pesky requests.

Thanks to Engine, it can internally analyze music files & Rekordbox collections direct from USB, so there is no need to worry about having USBs for Pioneer gear and separate ones for Denon.

While space is somewhat cramped, it manages to fit in performance pads for hot cues, loops and rolls, allowing DJs to keep the creative performance opportunities that most modern controllers now feature – it should be noted that there are only four on each deck though.

There are also track FX and two microphone inputs meaning the Prime Go is able to be used for all sorts of venues and gigs, including functions.

Perhaps the one thing that pro DJs will miss on the Prime Go is large jog wheels – which on this unit are quite small. Of course, this would be at the cost of other features and so it surely won’t put many people off. And if it does, they can look towards the …

Denon DJ Prime 2

Price ~ $1399

With many familiar features looking like they were brought forward from previous controllers, including the EQ section and filters which were present on the likes of the Denon DJ MC7000, the Denon DJ Prime 2 is the big brother to the Prime Go.

Another fully-featured two-deck standalone system, the Prime 2 is larger and more feature-packed than the Prime Go.

With a similar profile to the Denon Prime 4, and many matching features to Pioneer’s XDJ-RX and XDJ-RR series, the Prime 2 is a powerful portable control surface that really acts as a nail in the coffin for traditional DJ controllers.

Kitted out with Denon’s (what seems to be standard) 7-inch HD touchscreen with gestures, the Prime 2 allows DJs to fully control their music from the surface of the console.

It features a built-in 2.5 inch SATA drive bay to allow for massive libraries and if that is not enough, it also comes with the same built-in wifi and ethernet connections seen on the Prime Go.

One major upgrade from the Prime Go is the capacitive touch jog wheels which here, feature a HD central colour display. This allows DJs to see vital track information at their fingertips.

Like with the Prime Go, it allows Rekordbox libraries with its proprietary Denon Engine software meaning DJs can work on both Pioneer and Denon gear without the need for multiple USBs.

It also adds independent track FX alongside the familiar EQ and filters aforementioned.

There are eight pads per deck meaning it is a direct competitor to most pro controllers, and beating most of Pioneer DJ’s standalone consoles. These are vital for performance-rich sets and allow a lot of scope for remixing and chopping/editing tracks on the fly.

Like with the Prime Go, it features two mic inputs with EQ and talkover making it another great contender for mobile DJs’ upgrades.

And, of course, if you just need to run away from the decks, you can plug in your phone with the aux cable and leave the music running.

The post Denon releases the Prime Go and Prime 2 portable DJ players appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

DENON has upped the game of DJ performance gear by releasing two new media players: the SC6000 and the SC6000M.

With larger touchscreens than ever before and an assortment of features including wifi streaming music, the SC6000 family breathes new life into the pro DJ performance gear industry which has been remarkably dormant for a while now.

The SC6000 Prime represents Denon DJ’s next-generation capabilities with their most advanced digital media player to date. The unit is powered by Denon DJ’s proprietary ENGINE operating system and features a large 10.1-inch touchscreen and an 8.5-inch jog-wheel.

Similarly built, the SC6000M replaces the jog wheel with a a die-cast aluminium 8.5” motorised platter with newly designed ‘quick-release’ vinyl. It offers turntablists ultra-responsive platter control, powered by a brushless DC electric motor, customizable with adjustable torque range adjustment.

Key features

This media player is much longer than what DJs will be typically used to – something caused by the massive touchscreen display.

One of the key features is multiple decks per player to allow for four-deck mixing, even if only two players are set up.

Along the bottom, Denon features rubberised performance pads which are multi-functional, allowing the creativity of a controller, in a professional setup.

These carry on from the previous generation, the SC5000 PRIME series (which we covered almost three years ago now – it’s about time a new one showed up).

One awesome feature is the SSD connector, which allows massive storage options for recording long sets or playing from huge libraries.

Denon DJ’s creative director, Paul Dakeyne said: “With the introduction of the SC6000 and SC6000M, Denon DJ reaffirms its position as ‘the company that listens’, representing an ever-evolving philosophy to deliver flagship DJ technology to the professional DJ booth.

“Both units have creatively advanced workflow and feature sets, plus onboard Wi-Fi streaming, ensure DJs will always have the greatest catalogues of music available to them.

“Connected to the totally uncompromising features, build quality and performance power of the X1850 mixer, DJs can be sure they truly embrace the future’”

These are looking like they will retail for around £1,259.00 each and will be available from early Q2, 2020.

Denon has also hinted that more gear is to come, saying: “Tune in on Monday, January 13 at 10 am EST for more exciting news from Denon DJ.”

The post Denon releases SC6000 Prime and SC6000M Prime appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

PIONEER launched the new XDJ-XZ on Tuesday, and it is one of the most full-featured controllers on the market.

This controller is an all-in-one which means that no computer is required (though you can connect one if you like). It allows DJs to plug in USBs and get going immediately.

It is very much a pro controller – its massive size means it is essentially equivalent to a pro CDJ setup, and in the image below, you can see how they match up.

Where this beats a CDJ setup is the performance options. The 7-inch touchscreen and performance pads add a bunch of creative options only really available in the NXS2s and the XDJ-XZ’s little brother, the XDJ-RX.

This is where the naming gets quite confusing. I’ll clear it up a bit below:

XDJ-XZ: This one – the pro
XDJ-RX: The “main” one for most consumers
XDJ-RR: Entry level (though still pricey)

ADVANCED FEATURES FROM NXS2 SETUP

The XZ has full-sized jog wheels which will make mixing and scratching feel like you’re using the CDJ-2000NXS2.

And, thanks to On Jog Display, you can keep an eye on important track information via the colour screen in the centre of each one.

All the knobs and controls on the XDJ-XZ are arranged in the same way as those on the NXS2 setup too.

It offers four-channel mixing, with all 14 Beat FX, plus the 6 Sound Color FX, from the DJM-900NXS2.

SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS MEDIA

You can plug in USB drives loaded with rekordbox-analyzed tracks or connect your PC/Mac to use rekordbox dj. Most users will likely find the “traditional” CDJ approach easiest and will opt mainly for the USB option.

This also makes it a great investment for a club manager where the XZ could replace a CDJ setup and operate in essentially the same way.

You can play tracks directly from your rekordbox library via Link Export mode, so you don’t need to export playlists from your laptop to USB drives.

DJs can also connect turntables, samplers, smartphones, and more, to channels 3 and 4. And if you want to perform with Serato DJ Pro, you’ll be able to do this following a firmware update, coming early 2020.

HIGH-QUALITY SOUND AND MULTIPLE EQS

As you’d hope, the mixer comes with a 3-band EQ and DJs can fine-tune the whole mix using the 3-band EQ on the master output.

With 3-band EQs on each of the mic inputs, MC’s can also adjust their channels as well as switch on the Feedback Reducer feature and it’ll automatically lessen the “howling” feedback frequencies if they occur.

PRO DJ LINK SEAMLESSLY SYNCS EXTERNAL EQUIPMENT FOR EXPANDED CREATIVE OPTIONS

The XDJ-XZ is the first all-in-one DJ system to support Pro DJ Link. This means you can connect external equipment such as CDJs to channels 3 and 4 and sync audio to your mix.

TOUCH SCREEN AND COLOUR ON JOG DISPLAY

The 7-inch LCD touch screen and the colour On Jog Display in the centre of each jog wheel shows the waveforms and an assortment of other data, including Hot Cues, BPM, and more.

OTHER FEATURES

• Three USB inputs (two top-loading for USB devices and one laptop connection) for smooth back-to-back performances and DJ handovers
• 16 multicoloured Performance Pads (8 per deck)
• Mic input circuit produces clear audio, even with high input level
• Robust, high-quality design
• Single unit with grab handles for easy carrying and setup

XDJ-XZ SPECIFICATIONS

The post Pioneer releases the XDJ-XZ and it’s a monster of a controller appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

A FULL decade after the original Launchpad comes the announcement of the Launchpad X and compact Launchpad Mini [MK3].

The two devices continue the long trend of Novation producing Ableton Live grid controllers which have seen extremely popular use throughout the web.

Launchpad X is Novation’s “essential MIDI pad controller for Live”, enabling fast clip and scene launching, expressive instrument play, and direct transport and mixer control.

Launchpad X’s 64 velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads are their most responsive yet, while Drum and Note Modes provide automatic switching between percussive and melodic instrument triggering, and the dedicated Capture MIDI button allows performances to be recorded and preserved. 

The Launchpad’s Dynamic Note and Scale modes are made to keep your basslines, melodies, chords and leads in key, and crucial performance controls – stop, solo, mute, record arm, levels, pans and sends – are a button press away.

It features USB-C connectivity without the need for additional drivers.

Launchpad Mini is Novation’s compact and portable version.

With much the same control as offered by the Launchpad X, the Launchpad Mini will be better suited to beginners or travelling producers (and those with a smaller desk space).

Now featuring bright RGB, it does away with the cheaper lights that steered buyers away from the previous Mini versions and onto the Pro.

Both models come complete with a comprehensive bundle of included software, including Ableton Live Lite, a range of plug-ins by AAS, XLN Audio, klevgrand and Softube, two-months’ free subscription to Splice, and membership of Sound Collective, bringing Novation hardware owners a new free plug-in every couple of months.

The post Novation releases two new Launchpads appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

MUSIC producers have been advised to wait before installing the new macOS Catalina update due to incompatibilities.

Brands such as Numark and Ableton have released tweets advising their users to hold off on updating their mac operating system until the problems have been fixed.

UPDATE: Serato Pitch ‘n Time, Slate Digital, and Native Instruments products also appear to be affected

The issues also affect 32-bit apps, which have lost support, with Apple dropping compatibility with the new update. This could affect certain applications and plugins.

The post MacOS Catalina not compatible with latest music software appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

FOLLOWING the announcement of the Roland MC-707 Groovebox, beat-making hardware is a hot topic. As such, it seems proper to highlight all of the best grooveboxes on the market today.

While there are many historic examples, they can hit high premiums, even second hand, so this article will focus on those that are still available and common for first-hand buyers.

Roland MC-707

While not technically out yet, this piece of hardware is worth mentioning so readers can make an informed decision, in case they are seeking a new groovebox. It is a very promising-looking piece of gear and so it may be worth waiting until the end of the month if you are considering something from Roland. Read more here.

Roland TR-8s

The Roland TR-8s is seen by many as the successor of the Roland TR-8 Rhythm Performer. It is a professional-grade performance surface with detailed circuit-models of the 808, 606, 909, 707, 727, and even several modified versions.

Novation Circuit

The Novation Circuit combines a two-part synthesiser and a four-part drum machine with a 4×8 RGB velocity-sensitive grid-based sequencer.

It allows you to combine up to 128 steps of synth and drum patterns; save up to 32 sessions, each comprised of up to 8 patterns per track.

While it is considered to be a “sketch” surface more than a full production surface, it will allow you to make grooves and the basis for tracks.

It works as a great complement to a larger production setup, or as part of a DJ/production hybrid setup.

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Po 12 Rhythm

The Pocket Operator Rhythm is a drum synthesizer and sequencer with parameter locks, individual step re-trig and punch-in effects.

While it is by far the most bare-bones option on the list it still offers great potential, and the PO-Rhythm is great for lo-fi and chip-style performance and production.

Korg Volca Beats

Perhaps the best bang-for-buck option on the list, the Korg Volca Beats is both affordable and versatile.

It works great in conjunction with other Volca products, as well as part of more advanced setups.

It offers real analogue sounds created with reference to classic rhythm machines and is compact with battery power options for portable setups.

Korg Volca Drum

Similar to the Volca Beats, the Korg Volca Drum is a beat-making device of the same form-factor.

Where it differs though, is it has a digital (instead of analogue) drum engine and has, for each layer, five types of oscillator waveforms and three types of Pitch Modulation.

Elektron Digitakt

Coming in at the higher-end, the Elektron Digitakt Drum Machine features a digital sound engine, eight internal audio tracks, eight dedicated MIDI tracks, a 64MB sample memory and 1GB of drive storage.

Pioneer TORAIZ SP-16

The Pioneer DJ Toraiz SP-16 is a great piece of top-end kit, suitable for creating full tracks or supplementing a DJ set.

Designed to work well with existing Pioneer DJ gear, it will allow DJs to add elements of production to their sets, as well as act as a handy synth, sequencer, sampler, and drum machine.

Kitted out with a Dave Smith filter and deep control including track FX and 256 patterns, the Toraiz also boasts 8GB storage to hold samples and recordings.

It also has the most intuitive interface with sensible menus and touch screen control.

What did we miss? Comment your suggestions below.

The post All the best grooveboxes on the market today appeared first on Audio Ordeal.

Controllers vs CDJs in 2019

What is the difference between Controllers and CDJs?

It would seem that while this debate raged furiously in previous years, things are starting to mellow out a lot more now. There have been some key developments in the industry recently that have thrown a spanner in the works. One of the biggest being the huge rise in Denon DJ which has dealt a blow to Pioneer’s dominance as the main CDJ brand.

There is now a solid third category, which has been around for some time, but 2019 will definitely be the “year of the standalone”. Expect this third type to hybridise controllers and CDJs and eventually become the norm.

Controllers

Controllers are getting more advanced. Expect even the cheapest controllers to typically offer features that were premium 5-10 years ago. All controllers worth buying have built-in sound cards now, something which never used to be the case until the past few years. 

While there is a broad range of software, most work with Serato and Traktor, with Rekordbox still growing as a market contender. Controllers are still cheaper than CDJs and allow much more advanced mixing potential – generally with better effects and performance pads/controls. 

Most beginners will choose controllers simply due to price. A basic controller will do almost everything a CDJ can do at a fraction of the price. Whereas a controller in the $1000 and higher range will far exceed a most club CDJ setups in performance capability.

You won’t see as much hate for using controllers anymore, especially as many of them are hardcore pro gear, but you may find that trying to set everything up in a club could cause annoyance. 

This means that controller DJs should still be ready to perform on CDJs more than their home setup.

CDJs/Players

It is worth noting that a lot of “CDJs” don’t use disc drives anymore, instead loading their music from USBs and SD cards, or over Ethernet. This is why they are often now called media players. I shall continue to refer to them as CDJs as despite this technicality they are of the same family.

CDJs used to be black and white. You go to the club and there was a Pioneer setup. Most clubs wouldn’t have the very latest models, but they weren’t too far behind the industry either. 

You used to prepare your tracks in Rekordbox and just rock up to the club. Now this is slightly different. While most clubs will hold onto Pioneer, some are moving to Denon’s Prime series which offers more advanced features at a much lower price. This market is the most exciting at the moment.

CDJs are still seen as the “pro” setup. This is partly because a venue can have them and DJs only need USB sticks, they require much less setup than a controller and you can switch DJs quickly. 

The latest Prime series from Denon is the first time “controller” features have been seen on a CDJ.

Standalone

Standalone units have long been a thing, with controller-style decks fitted with CD/USB drives and a mixer built into the middle.

It would seem a bit late for me to say 2019 may be “the year of the standalone” gear but the big change now is that screens and built-in computers are advanced enough to really offer something special.

Previously, a laptop with Serato or Traktor could always offer more advanced features, but now the brains in the latest standalone controllers are built to match the power of an external computer. 

Standalone units are also growing in popularity in the production world with Akai launching Force, a standalone unit that works much like Ableton Push and a laptop running Ableton combine. This is a big thing for DJs to as it means more live elements can be incorporated into sets.

Expect the latest standalone units to be able to do pretty much everything that a DJ software could do, minus the laptop. 

Standalones also may mark the eventual downfall of CDJs. They not only offer the same features (and normally more) they tend to be cheaper and just as convenient. Instead of having a permanent CDJ setup in a club, you could have a standalone controller instead. 

This option would provide the ability for DJs to rock up with USBs like they did with CDJs, but also allow them to control software too. Even if DJs wanted to use it with a laptop, the controller is already there so they only need to bring their computer. 

It will also make changeovers easy. Dual soundcards have been around for a while now meaning that if they are added to new standalone units, a laptop could provide music to one channel while the next DJ takes over from USBs. This means there would be no silence as the music gets changed over.

What are the latest DJ developments?

It would be wise to follow the trends across the whole DJ gear scene, many of which end up being featured on controllers eventually (if not initially). The scene has been quite dynamic recently with releases from companies such as Native Instruments, who launch new gear infrequently, and Denon, who have really been knocking dents into Pioneer’s throne as the “industry standard”.

Screens are in vogue.

The beauty of tech becoming more accessible is that it gets adopted into all industries. Screens went from being a very exclusive feature of the top end controllers to being available in the mid-range.

Screens are great because they prevent the dreaded “laptop stare” that no audience wants to see. They also allow you to have lots of useful information of the controller as you mix.

Some controllers are have screens at the top, some have one on each deck, and some have them in the platters. What is worth considering, should you want a screen, is what you want displayed. 

Different controllers offer different levels of detail, and while some allow you to hide your laptop away completely, others are really just additional visual feedback.

Standalone systems threaten laptops.

Standalone systems have been around for a long time now, most of which are able to double up as a software controller when needed. The NAMM 2019 announcement by Denon gave the world its first 4-channel standalone DJ system. 

These systems are increasingly welcome as they are cheaper than buying a controller, laptop, and software separately. They are also easy to set up in a club – where the DJs are only required to bring their USB sticks. 

One of the challenges we now face as DJs is that there are multiple brands which offer standalone systems, each with their own software.

It is now not as simple as setting up tracks in Rekordbox for the guaranteed presence of Pioneer CDJs, because Engine (by Denon DJ) is now a major contender on the market. 

This means that DJs must now be aware of the different options they might face in the club.

Motorised platters may soon emerge as standard.

With the recently upgraded hardware from Native Instruments (the Traktor Kontrol S4 MkIII), we have seen motorised platters on controllers. The patented “Haptic Drive” is used on the Kontrol S4 and is a jogwheel which is powered – like traditional vinyl.

The Numark NS7 range (several years dated now) had motorised platters with “real” vinyl on them, but this is a much more cutting-edge implementation. 

It also has enhanced feel to it, such as “clicks” where there are cue points so the DJ can feel their set. This is a really significant development, and will likely be rolled out by other manufacturers in the coming years. 

It would be especially great to see this feature on the largest controllers, which is a niche that Native Instruments have not exploited.

What is the Best Beginner DJ Controller?

Coming in at the low end, this range is for people on a tight budget looking for a controller for parties and small events. They are great to learn on but do remember that the feature-set will not be as extensive as inmore expensive setups. The second thing to remember is that the connections available on low-end gear are generally limited so make sure you have a selection of adapters if you need to use different wires for a setup.

Numark Mixtrack Pro 3

What is the Best Lower-Intermediate DJ Controller?

This stage is where you can comfortable start performing and feel safe that you have the right inputs and outputs. You are paying a bit extra compared to the previous tier, but money is still a factor that you want at the forefront of your decision. Intermediate is a tricky tier in 2019 because it includes both 2 and 4-channel mixers. At the lower price point, however, it is worth mentioning that you’ll likely get a high-quality 2-channel controller, or a lower quality 4-channel one, for similar price.

Denon MC4000

What is the Best Upper-Intermediate DJ Controller?

I added another level to the intermediate stage because this group is generally around the £1000/$1000 mark, but still not the top level. Here you will see 4-channels as default and advanced I/O, but these won’t be the most expensive options. Most DJs who have their own gear for performing will want to be in this level unless they are making serious cash and can afford the bonus extra features.

Denon MC7000

What is the Best Advanced DJ Controller?

This is a really tricky tier to decide on for the reason that there are super expensive options that have everything, but their price-per-feature value is not that great (looking at Pioneer DJ). I am going to assume therefore that if you are at this stage, money isn’t a problem and that you are looking for the best gear on the  market. 

Pioneer DJ DDJ-RZX

The post Best DJ Controllers 2019 appeared first on Audio Ordeal.