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Pioneer CDJ-400 with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 10:51
by davideast31
Hi
I've put up a similar post elsewhere but have had no response so maybe it's in the wrong place.
Following spotting this http://www.unclevibes.com/the-news/102- ... er-cdj-400 I've ordered 2 CDJ400's.
Can someone explain how this will work and maybe advice on a suitable mixer please?
I understand that the CDJs can control the software like my Hercules RMX does but I'm unsure how the sound is routed- am I right in thinking I don't need a sound card and the sound can be routed out through the mixer like I'm playing CDs? If thats true I guess it doesn't matter which mixer I use?
Any help much appreciated. I'm away at the moment so would love to get all the bits ordered so they are waiting me when I get back!
Thanks, Dave

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 11:38
by Marxon
Hi Davideast31!

My english isn´t the best so i will keep my answer short :biggrin:
Your CDJs act like a USB Soundinterface.
So you are able to send the CD signal to Mixvibes (USB) and
to play out (RCA) the sound from Mixvibes.
Now you have different options to do this:

With External Mixer:
(like in your link)
Mixvibes Player1/2 is controlled by CDJ1/2 -> via RCA-cable to Mixer
:right: Monitoring (Headphones) done by Mixer
:right: Sound control done by mixer

With External Mixer A:
Mixvibes Player1/2 is controlled by CDJ1/2 AND
Internal MixVibes mixer is controlled by CDJ1/2 via MIDI.
One CDJ acts as MasterOutput the other one as Headphone Output for playing back the sound from MixVibes.
:right: Monitoring (Headphones) done by Mixvibes
:right: Sound control done by MixVibes

May this helps you...
Best regards Marxon


Just for completeness:
If you want to play Audio CDs just push the "Bypass" button,
Mixvibes then gives out Sound comming from your CDjs.

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 15:17
by davideast31
Hi, thanks for the reply once again!
If I understand correctly it doesn't really matter which mixer I buy as it will work seprately from the software.
Will the internal mixvibes sampler, 3rd deck etc still work with this set up or does sound only come through the CDJs from decks 1 and 2?
Cheers, Dave

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 15:55
by Marxon
davideast31 wrote:Hi, thanks for the reply once again!


No Problem :biggrin:

davideast31 wrote:If I understand correctly it doesn't really matter which mixer I buy as it will work seprately from the software.


I´ve looked those CDJ400 a little bit more:
They dont have a Headphone Output, so you cant Monitor with the internal Mixer. Which means you need a external one because you have to plug in your Headphones somewhere.
But as you said it doesnt really matter which one while using the internal Mixer. (by mouse or a other Midi-Controller)


davideast31 wrote:Will the internal mixvibes sampler, 3rd deck etc still work with this set up or does sound only come through the CDJs from decks 1 and 2?
Cheers, Dave


Yes and No. You can use three or more outputs if you have enough Soundinterfaces (Outputs)
But you can route/mix it with Mixvibes out of a CDJ.


Marxon

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 22:52
by davideast31
Hi- now i'm a bit confused!
I think I basically want to have the 2 cdjs and a cheapish 2 channel mixer- the cdjs will control decks 1 and 2 and I think looping as well, the mixer will take care of all the mixing externally and then all sound will be routed out of the mixer output with (hopefully) no need for a sound card.
I want to continue using samples, effects etc through mixvibes using either the mouse or keyboard shortcuts so will these sounds get sent out through the external mixer as well or is this what requires a soundcard?
Hope that makes sense and sorry if Im being a bit slow!
Thanks, Dave

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2010, 23:08
by Marxon
davideast31 wrote:I think I basically want to have the 2 cdjs and a cheapish 2 channel mixer- the cdjs will control decks 1 and 2 and I think looping as well, the mixer will take care of all the mixing externally and then all sound will be routed out of the mixer output with (hopefully) no need for a sound card.


correct

davideast31 wrote:I want to continue using samples, effects etc through mixvibes using either the mouse or keyboard shortcuts so will these sounds get sent out through the external mixer as well or is this what requires a soundcard?
Hope that makes sense and sorry if Im being a bit slow!


Effects on the Players are ok.
But if you want to use the Sampler or a 3rd Player the sound firsts must come out from somewhere before you can connect it to your Mixer. You know what i mean?
In your case you have only 2 Outputs: one on each CDJ
So you first have to Mix up the Sound from Sampler + the Sound from one of your Players with the Internal Mixer.

marxon

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2010, 12:32
by Stealthii
I'll try and help by simplifying with bullet points.

    - In HID mode, consider the CDJ-400 players act as they normally do, if you were using CDs.

    - You do not need a sound card, as the CDJ themselves output the sound as usual, and are not working with a timecode signal.

    - As the CDJs act normally, any normal analogue mixer will work fine.

IF you want to use a MIDI mixer, which utilizes the mixer built into Mixvibes, the sound will NOT be able to be routed from the CDJs, and you WILL need an external sound card. As the CDJs are both outputting normal RCA sound, an analogue mixer makes the best sense in this scenario.

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2010, 12:57
by UncleVibes
IF you want to use a MIDI mixer, which utilizes the mixer built into Mixvibes, the sound will NOT be able to be routed from the CDJ-400, and you WILL need an external sound card. As the CDJ-400 are both outputting normal RCA sound, an analogue mixer makes the best sense in this scenario.
I am not sure of this part of your answer. The CDJ-400 in HID doesn't use any MIDI option I think but I didn't tried that you can still add 2 MIDI devices.
The CDJ-400 uses their own sound devices but can in HID use a D J sound card.

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2010, 13:30
by Stealthii
Sorry Uncle :) I should have mentioned that they won't work in HID mode either in that setup.

Yes simply, in HID mode, the CDJ-400 act like normal CDJs, and the sound outputs from them, so you will need a standard mixer in the same sense you would if you were using the CDJs independently.

Re: Pioneer CDJ400s with Producer update

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2010, 13:35
by UncleVibes
and the sound outputs from them


I got to ask to the engineer :eek: but I think that the sound options & MIDI options still work & that you can route them in an another way.
I will have the answer quickly...
Why it seems strange it's because it's not the first controller used in HID but it doesn't have any options in the preferences but previous HID controllers had as DMC from Numark some writable files... Sound options & HID doesn't seem related for me.