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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Pioneer XDJ-R1, VDJ 8, and Rekordbox - Page: 1

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I'm in the first 24 hours of trying to configure the Pioneer XDJ-R1.
Here are a few of my thoughts.

Rekordbox 4.0.2 and the site that hosts the program look incompetent.
I spent 30 minutes messing up a good laptop with what appears to be buggy software.
Those that designed Rekordbox seem to think I will allow it to trample backwards and forwards through my firewall. I won't.
Their website was described as being a security risk by my mobile phone.
I bought the XDJ-R1 assuming that stability issues have been resolved by Pioneer. They might only have been related to Rekordbox which I will study further.

VDJ 8 ran well, both using the XDJ-R1 mixer, and VDJ 8's own internal mixer. My preference is to use the XDJ-R1 mixer since the Pioneer onboard effects are quite good. I particularly like the way they map 4 hardware effects to one knob (often just used for a filter on other hardware). Since I'm using the hardware mixer I needed a skin which did not display VDJ 8's mixer, the VDJ 7 4 deck skin set to scratch suited my needs. I'm having a few problems with the 4 main beat effects, roll, echo, flanger and trans. They may not work properly, and I'm considering simplifying the VDJ 8 mapping for these elements. That's no big deal.

Any controllers with a small number of pads (16?) such as the Traktor F1, or DDJ-SX I regard as being too limited to cope with the new possibilities offered by the VDJ 8 sampler. Hence a controller without such pads is ideal for my needs, and an additional Akai controller can be used for samples, cue points, and loops. The XDJ-R1 is good for loops, but totally unsuitable for samples and hot cues. For instance 3 hot cues is prehistoric.

Although I have not got Rekordbox working, the XDJ-R1 still seamlessly integrates both USB flash drives and CD's with VDJ 8. Wow!
All the XDJ-R1 onboard effects work well with a flash drive, and CD's.

My conclusion at the moment is that VDJ 8, and the XDJ-R1 are a great pairing.

Note: The Akai APC mini looks a little small next to the XDJ-R1, I might need its big brother to restore some harmony.
 
Posted Sat 07 Nov 15 @ 3:32 pm
Hi Ron! I hope you won't give up the MC6000 now when you have bought some new toys? :)
Anyway - I think us DJ's will always strive for new technical stuff to make our work even more inspiring and creative!
Good luck with the Pioneer unit!
 
It's good to hear from you Mr. Jackson !

My MC6000 has a little history now.
I knew I should have marked my power supplies for both the MC6000, and my Asus laptop.
I was too lazy.
Anyway, after a couple of drinks, and when I was tired, it happened.
I used the wrong one on my MC6000.
It did not like 19V dc.
A new input/output sound card is +£200.

...and so it sits in a corner awaiting its repair, which will happen, for the moment my MC3000 is doing the small jobs quite nicely.

I did think that the XDJ-R1 was a replacement for the MC6000, it's not !
What it appears to be is a replacement for my Denon CDJ's, and mixer, which may now be sold.

Note: I hate these little power supplies, I know I was stupid, but they just don't seem to be professional.
The XDJ-R1 has a nice big, and common kettle lead !
 
..and now to Rekordbox, and its website (you must remember I knew nothing of this software before the weekend just gone).

On my Linux desktop, and using Firefox I attempted to browse their website but was warned that it was a security threat.
Not an impressive start, both my phone, and desktop tried to block this website.
I tried to find the hardware specifications required by Rekordbox, and failed, I suppose they must be there somewhere.
The next problem was that my old, but well upgraded laptop was inadequate to run their software.
My laptop could not support the advanced wave displays in version 4, and also 3.
Since I was having trouble with version 4 I went in search of an older version which I could not find on their website.
Softpedia provided me with a copy of Rekordbox 3 which is now working.
I did have to select the option simple player since my graphics card could not cope with the more advanced coloured wave displays. This initially happened with VDJ 7 when they first introduced coloured waves, only the problem was less severe, and Atomix have now resolved this issue.
Rekordbox 4 uses a Native Instrument trick, and loads drivers for their whole compatible product range.
Not good, but this is not the case for version 3, which is half the size of 4.

Anyway I'm now ready to attempt to control the XDJ-R1 from a remote Ipad.
 
..and now for a quick rant.

Why is it that most of the manufacturers making dj controllers insist on using external power supplies ?

The traditional electrical method, used particularly on consumer grade hi-fi equipment, consisting of a double insulated internal power supply, and a twin core mains cable fitted with a standard plug is vastly superior.

Are the manufacturers taking the p#ss?
 
I think they do it for three reasons:

1 - To eliminate electrical interference.
2 - To save space inside the unit itself.
3 - Makes it easier to replace the transformer if anything goes wrong with it.
 
kradcliffe wrote :
I think they do it for three reasons:

1 - To eliminate electrical interference.
2 - To save space inside the unit itself.
3 - Makes it easier to replace the transformer if anything goes wrong with it.


The biggest reason is to reduce efforts and cost for safety approval of the unit.
They can rely on a separate powersupply manufacturer with an already approved power supply.
A well designed powersupply does not mean increased interference.
Space and weight is of course saved from the unit itself but freight costs of a complete unit is generally higher.
 
A transformer, which is integral to many power supplies, could indeed produce interference. However my XDJ-R1 does not suffer from transformer hum, nor I imagine does the DDJ-SZ. Nor do the sophisticated high quality hi-fi consumer products. What would you think if you got an expensive Sony media center with a cheap external power supply ?

I cannot accept that external power supplies are the way to go when designing so called professional, and expensive controllers.
The manufacturers are taking an easy, and cheap path.
That's not good for the professional DJ.
 
Back to Rekordbox 3, there is an option for high performance waveform graphics which is selected by default. This could be the cause of many of my problems. My laptop probably does not have high performance capabilities.
 
10 out of 10 for the 4 XDJ R1 sound color FX. They are crush, filter, noise, and pitch. Since I'm using the XDJ R1 hardware mixer I can apply these effects directly to my VDJ 8 audio output. Terrific !

I hate the crossfader auto start, it wrecks my brain, however it can easily be disabled in the XDJ R1 display. Generally I don't like things happening automatically. VDJ 8 has a few annoying defaults of this type.

Key is not easily displayed using the XDJ R1, however using an Ipad and the Remotebox app you can check a songs info which will reveal its key which was determined by Rekordbox. Not really that useful but since a prepared playlist will be in key it may not be that important. Beside VDJ 8's song management is great for supplementing the limited abilities of the XDJ R1 and Rekordbox. Rekordbox determines the key in the traditional way. Something like A Minor is useless to me, I need the VDJ numeric key output 8A. I know its the simple way, but I use the Camelot Mixing System with numeric keys. Lets not try and be too clever, I'm not going to waste my time remembering the Camelot Wheel with its traditional key entries.

From a 3rd party source it appears that the usb flash drive size is officially limited to 32gb, however some claim more may be possible. I can confirm that a traditional external hdd will not work using the XDJ R1 usb socket, but if there was an external power supply then it may be possible ?

This is an interesting video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYpgXJZVCIU#t=524
At the end of this video something is remotely controlling VDJ ?
Is that the Remotebox or the VDJ app ?

No stability issues as yet.

The XDJ R1 seems to be awesome.
However it still has to go to work, and performed perfectly hour, after hour.
These are early days in my adoption of the XDJ R1.
 
I dont like seeing the software mixer, or the platters. I use orange juice by Dj.nice. Extre,ely custonizeable, it really doest remove the section the mixer is in but you can change what occupies that section of the skin. Hopefully in future updates the skin might have that option.
http://www.virtualdj.com/plugins/download.php?addonid=80184&platform=pc
 
I've just used a powered 320gb usb drive on the XDJ-R1. The files have not been analyzed by Recordbox, and navigation is a nightmare, but it works. A wifi remote control might help.. I still have to test an Apple product. Interesting !

I've owned the XDJ-R1 for a week and a half, and am impressed.
It seems to be very stable, that includes being used with VDJ 8 (so far !).
The smoothness of moving from flash drive, to CD, to VDJ 8 is remarkable.
I can easily have VDJ 8 running on one deck, whilst using a CD, or flash drive on the other !

Note: It still has not been to work, I'm still testing, and configuring.
 
I accidentally nudged the usb cable and the whole lot froze, I need to be careful using usb. Rebooting the unit might have been the only solution.
 
I've just started using the Remotebox app on an ipad.
Control of the effects is out of this world.
Fantastic.
Much better than VDJ 8.
Song management is slowish, and limited.
For the time being at least only suitable as a backup system using a limited library.
Inferior to VDJ8.

At the moment I'm using Rekordbox 3 which might contain a big bug. Analyzed songs do not seem to have that status unless they are part of a playlist.
Changing to Rekordbox 4 might solve this problem.
 
The end of the configuration of my XDJ R1 is in sight.

Rekordbox 4 is working ok.
I have @ 4000 analyzed songs on a 32gb usb stick.
Remotebox is working.
The folder search still ignores the fact that my songs are analyzed in Rekordbox. A little annoying, however the other search methods work properly, and use the Rekordbox data. It's not bad. I miss the waveforms of VDJ8, but it's a very good backup system.
Navigation is quick, except in folder view.

It took quite a long time to analyze the small number of songs on the 32gb usb stick, but I need a much bigger source.

Anyway it's good..and vdj 8 works fine.

The XDJ-R1 has all the functionality of my Denon cdj's and mixer plus a lot more!
 
It's interesting to read such "review-like" threads.
For myself I have not much Pioneer equipment. My old mixer was a DJM-600 which I got for free after a "three-drink" lunch went right into it.
I rebuilt the unit into perfect condition and used it for many years with no trouble at all. A well built unit for sure.
I am more of a "Denon" guy, if there is such :)
 
My son has my DJM-500 mixer. I bought it in 1999 and it still works perfectly. I used it for hundreds of gigs and it's built like a tank.

Not so sure the new Pioneer gear is the same quality but my DDJ-SX2 has been faultless so far.
 
I've just got a surprise, the 4 VDJ 8 effects I have trans (brakestart in my case), flanger, echo, and roll appear to be controllable on my ipad !
Left to right on the XY pad controls effect slider 2 , while fader LEVEL/DEPTH controls effect slider 1.
There is a lot going on here that I don't know about.
I wonder who did the mapping?
They most likely will be watching me blundering around.
It has to be one of the big names on this forum.
Hm maybe the PhantomDJ !
Remember I'm using the Pioneer built in mixer, but I'm not so sure that is what should be done. Perhaps VDJ 8's internal mixer is a better option.
I don't know what's possible but there is a chance I can control the VDJ 8 echo, and flanger effects using an ipad "X-Y pad". We shall see.

I wonder if the Pioneer app is related to the VDJ 8 remote app ?

There is not much information about the combination of the XDJ-R1, and VDJ 8, so I'm trying to put information into this forum so that Google will pick up on it, and make it available to others contemplating this media player/controller. Google has already found this thread. I could have done a proper review on my blog, but I believe what I've done here is a little more helpful.
 
Ron, this USB stick you've got with the "analyzed" songs on.....

How did you get the songs onto the stick, and how did you analyze them in/via Rekordbox?

Were they on the stick before you analyzed them, or did you analyze when they were on your PC then export them to the stick?

I ask as the latter method is the correct (only) way to do it. You have to "export" the tracks from your source drive (your computer usually) to another in order for Rekordbox to create the data on the destination drive.
 
The flashdrive is out of one of my Denon CDJ's. I deleted the Denon database folder, loaded Rekordbox on my laptop, plugged in the flashdrive, imported the songs into Rekordbox, selected them all and analyzed the files, including key. Then I created some playlists, synced them to my flashdrive and created a library before exciting the program.
As yet I have not properly studied Rekordbox.
I'm blundering around.
I may have done it wrong?
That could explain why folder view does not use Rekordbox data.

My Ipad is odd, it does not show up as a mappable independent controller, yet it can be mapped to VDJ 8 as part of the XDJ-R1.
CORRECTION, MY IPAD IS PART OF THE XDJ-R1 !!!!!!!!
 
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