10 Things You Need To Know About CDJs

Most venues that DJs play in will have a Pioneer DJ CDJ setup, but are you able to jump from your controller to a club standard setup? Here are 10 top tips for using CDJs.

If you are ready to take a further deep dive into how CDJs work. Then make sure to check out our CDJ Masterclass course, link below...

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:13 Jog Wheel Response
02:13 Transferring Music
03:11 Using CDJs Like Controllers
03:45 Link Cable Issues
04:30 Input Selector
05:30 Recording Your Sets
07:06 Leave It On
08:21 CDJ Utility Settings
09:42 Hot Cue Response
10:39 Don't Be Alarmed
11:47 CDJ Masterclass

#cdjs #pioneerdj #beginnerdj
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[ErikPelyukhno]

Don’t forget to mention that a lot of clubs don’t update the firmware on their CDJ’s and controllers, so make sure to have a flash drive formatted to FAT32 (instead of the more modern exFAT) to make sure you don’t have a compatibility issue. I found that out the hard way on my first club gig when my flash drive wasn’t recognized, I had to pull out my laptop and reformat while someone else played during my slot 😅

[djdefractaled]

Got a video suggestion for you, it's a little emergency lifehack. If you're ever stuck with one CDJ for whatever and you're running out of track and need to do a transition you can use the loop or roll effects on the mixer to create a loop, load your new track and the old one will keep looping on the mixer for you to mix out of. This trick has saved my set before when I've had a faulty deck that was out of action for a few minutes.

[aurixification]

Adding to the category 'what could go wrong', we had two incidents where the DJs started their set and one CDJ would load the track but not start playing it, resulting in DJs panically hammering the play button and powercycling the CDJs.
On the first one, the CDJ was accidently switched to REV, so it tried to play backwards from the beginning of the track, what understandably did not work.
The second one was this weekend on a CDJ3000, where the last DJ left the tempo fader on absoulte minimum, and it just did not play at all then, because the tempo button was cycled to 'WIDE' mode.

[reedwokeseventeenothers]

the tip that stood out the most for me or that I learnt from was the notch that small notches doesn't effect you trying to beat match you really saved me

[willievaughn]

I'm so glad you mentioned the mixer turning off, I could totally see myself doing that. Also, letting me know to take two USBs You're a blessing

[eli-shulga]

Oh man the last one almost killed me.. First time playing on CDJ's
in a club and the When I entered the both the CDJ's both were in CDJ mode (instead of vinyl).
Only I had no idea about that mode.
The tiktiktiktik sound.. oh man.. wont ever forget it.. Played with that the whole night.
Was a good night, but I will never forget the cold sweat at those first minutes when
I thought I broke the thing

[pikagirl]

Thank you. I’m using a xdj xz, and the event controller all the djs have to use are cdj 3000s, it’s going to be my first time using them. this helped me learn more about cdjs.

[przemekfirek]

When I first time played on cdj's I couldn't set cue point, because on cdj you must press the jog wheel to set new cue point. If you don't pause jog by hand it jumps to old cue point. Be careful on that! :)

[jordanenriquez]

Ive been searching for a channel like this for years. REALLY breaking down the differences of controllers to cdjs. This is amazing thank you so much!!!

[gurbenatordnb]

Thank you!
I am used to play on advanced serato controllers on gigs, but next month it will be my first time on cdj's.
Very helpful 👍

[JessNickelman]

I didn't know about the CDJ jog mode stutter! Thank you for sharing these tips.

[mcadj]

#10 was new to me. Heard that sound sometimes, but didn´t know what was wrong. Thank you! Love your videos and courses.

[davidr]

It's important to note that the jog sensitivity is a lot different with the master Tempo on versus Master Tempo off. With the CDJ3000 it would seem There is almost a glitch or software issue in the jog wheel sensitivity (still not fixed with updates) with the master Tempo off versus the CDJ 2000 Nexus 2 predecesor

[jgonz]

Keep pumping out the these videos. Very useful. The one that I was the most happy to hear was the configuration (My settings) being available in RB as well as CDJs. I have seen that screen but never expanded those options to clue me into the fact that they are the exact same as my (XDJ 1000mk2) CDJ. Thank you sir.

[bertabesen]

Amazing Video! Last gig playing second time with cdj the jog mode was running and drove me crazy. Great to know the difference now

[DJSAINTJHON]

I watch about 4 hours of tutorials and none of them explained the “input selector” thank you finally 🙏🏽

[Premiumalltheway]

I think the problem with the whole Pioneer vs other brands is the fact that you rarely see any mainstream house/techno/dance music festivals & clubs with any other DJ equipment besides Pioneer. Other brands such as Denon, are probably about 2-3 years ahead with respect to technological advancements and pushing the price barrier for home use DJ's. But ultimately most nightclubs and festivals in the world use CDJ's. Unless this changes and there is a miraculous turn around from the big festival and club space, Pioneer will continue to dominate the market and their ecosystem is flawless. 

For example the layout of a DDJ 400, you could still learn and understand how to play on CDJ'S, and once you get into the XDJ range, it is a seamless transition into the club standard CDJ 3000's. CDJ's are the industry standard and I don't see it changing and I encourage anyone who is learning to be a DJ to get used to the pioneer ecosystem because if you have aspirations to play out to crowds in venues, most venues have a pioneer setup, with the bigger budget clubs and festivals using the latest CDJ 3000.

These tips are really good by the way, very helpful for those that have come from controllers and other equipment.

[TyCruzCast]

Great video! I *might* play a set at the end of this month for this "open decks" event so this is really helpful! I found the CDJ mode stuttering-cue and the joy wheel speed-up the most surprizing features. 👌📝

[elliotthubbard]

had an old buddy message me and said i can play at one of his events when im ready. I feel like i am, but i only ever dj'd on a ddj sb2 controller. hopefully i can pull it off when the time comes

[finni]

If you want to use your hot cue like a gated cue instead of like a trigger, press down the jogwheel firmly, then tap your hot cue while still holding the wheel down. You should now be at the hot cue position but the track should not play. Hit the cue button, then release the jog wheel. Now you have set your cue to your hot cue, and you can use it as a gated cue.