It is up to you. If you feel the USB method works for you. Go for it. At the end of the day it is how you feel in a 5 hour gig. If you are a performance DJ and you miss the software style. Maybe some days you bring the laptop. I used a MacBook Air is is super light and one C-usb to the mixer. (The CDJ is a controller at that point ) so it is not really a big deal. I do use the USB method every now and then. But I find myself not having a good time behind the decks. It is hard to explain but I think you get my point.
4:13 to help with dropping on the 1 on CDJS I always set up a loop and use the up/down faders instead of the cross fader to drop the song in fast and hard then quickly exit the loop.
I've been a vinyl dj since mid 90's. Got traktor just to be able to play some digital stuff, edits, unreleased tracks etc. but still using vinyl control. Tried cdj's, and actually played some gigs on them, but prefer Vinyl. But have to say, unless you have a permanent set-up, getting the laptop out and setting up Traktor is a bit of a pain, when you just want to have a quick mix. I have a Denon CDJ if I want to incorporate some digital tracks into a vinyl mix, but I'll get a pioneer one day
Fantastic video. I had been with Traktor for over 15 years, and had a pretty extensive setup fully mapped to my customizations. I felt extremely comfortable with it, but recently the thing I wanted to do is get back into the clubs and play in front of people again. And since a lot of decent clubs won't let you bring your own gear unless you're a top tier headliner, I realized I had to learn how to play on standalone pioneer gear. So I made a huge investment to get that type of gear, in this next week ironically and going to start building my crates in rekordox. I knew some of the things that you were talking about moving over to USB only, but you did bring up a couple extra things I didn't think about, like manually setting the gains for every track. I'm experiencing doing that, but I became reliant on the computer doing it for me so it's just a matter of relearning. But I do think the ability to jump into any decent club and start playing despite small differences between the CDJs, is the right decision for me. I wanted the challenge myself to go another level to what the professionals use, and even though Denon is doing a decent job with her technology, the market is heavily skewed still towards pioneer. Look at the top 50 DJs in the world and see what they use. I'm not trying to plan to be on that level, but I do want to go back and just plug and play in front of a crowd again and this was my avenue to do it. Appreciate your insights and video. I'm subscribing today
My thing is I feel laptops just offer more features. Stems and beatjump with serato just work so much better and not to mention the ability of downloading music on the fly. I also don't mind playing requests if they are good and I feel for most club gigs laptop is the way to go. But for a more curated vibe or set or just environments that aren't super open format, usbs are probably good enough.
Its all about the scenario. If you are a wedding DJ or something like that? Sure...I get that. If you are booked to play 1-2 hours of club music at a venue, USB for the win. You should have your set or playlist somewhat planned out.
Thank you for bringing up the beat jump and "negative time" issue. It blows mind that I can't do this in rekordbox and it makes me hate using the software SO MUCH! I want to "try" to ditch the laptop but that one thing is such a killer for me.....
@@mario312 in Serato you can beat jump BEFORE the song starts. For example if you hit a “16 beat” backwards beat jump, it will jump back 16 beats before the song begins. This can be useful for timing transitions without having to execute it at the exact moment.
@ thanks, that sounds pretty cool, on the denons i can spin back the plate into negative space which i really like, been frustrated that i can’t do that on pioneers
Small tipp: Take a Combo! Use USB Sticks for your sets and Algoriddim on a ipad mini for samples and unexpected wishes and situations to stream or as storage for a big library with quick acess. Or you play the whole set with Djay pro of course, if its possible!
As always great video Your right the time it takes to go back to usb it’s fun I’m ways but more deligated time to organizing but once done your probably set like any sort of collector Great video
At industry standard club events I watch other DJs roll up with USBs on CDJ3000s and it seems like such a pleasant experience. But I’m struggling in having a flexible library that works across platforms as someone who primarily video mixes with video files. Converting a lot of video files to Pioneer-friendly mp3 files, with all my tags on the files for music curation, just seems daunting. I’d hate to lose stems as well.
@ I video mix (have visuals on display in sync with the music). So instead of an mp3, for example, I’ll use an MP4 video file to have the associated music video with the song shown. Usually I’ll make my own custom edits of the song (audio) and video to go along with it. The videos matter a little bit more for my niche of kpop where the kids like to see the visual spectacle and dance along as well.
Love it brother…I’m literally going back the other direction (full Ableton Live Session View) and now my algo is full of videos about NOT using a laptop hahahah. Stay curious mate. 🔊🤙🏽🖤
I’m so confused. CDJ 2000 NXS2 and the 3000 both have beat jump functionality up to 16 beats. So I’m lost at the comment that you lost that functionality. Idk about Denon CDJs having beat jumps. Maybe that’s what you mean?
You can do instant doubles on CDJs.. If one of the CDJs is broken, or faulty somehow.. as long as you have one working CDJ you can use that one to do your mixing. Next time you can try this: start playing a track on the working CDJ. On the other (broken) CDJ, make sure the MASTER button is lit up.. then press and hold SYNC on both players for about a second or two.. As long as the two CDJs are linked, the waveform should have copied itself to the broken CDJ at the same place. Just bring up the channel on the mixer it's connected to, then use the working CDJ to queue up your next track.. Then repeat. Have done this a bunch of times When one CDJ had a wonky jog wheel. Also, have you ever tried using USBs without first analyzing the tracks in Rekordbox? It's not bad.. just wav files on a stick. Fvck rekordbox! But i get it.. setting hot cues on the fly is not for everyone..
Also to everyone else commenting about "industry standard" or "club standard" Pioneer gear... What the hell are you all on about? You're DJs. Who cares whether you have Denon at home. You don't need to go out and buy Pioneer equipment to be able to use Pioneer gear at the nightclub.. It's the same goddamn workflow. You cue, you play, you beatmatch. The mixers aren't any different. The buttons and features may be in different locations but FFS, you are DJs. Have more faith in your skills. You guys need some confidence or something.. ? Equipment is just equipment. It does not (or should not) dictate where or when you can dj. Personally I hate when people use this phrase but I'm going to have to because i don't know how else to relate just how ridiculous y'all sound when claiming you need specific brands and models of equipment to be able to just practice at home 🤦: "BACK in the day", we would show up to a gig with a case or crate of vinyl and whatever equipment was at the venue, we used. Whether it be 1200s or PDX2000s... Some old belt-driven turntables, ee used them.. And when it came to the mixer? Every frikken club had something different. It was not uncommon to show up to a gig and have to use some random mixer for the very first time.. But we adapted. You just need to take a second to identify the important functions..they are always the exact same functions from mixer to mixer. Buttons, faders, switches and knobs, might be in different places.. But that's it.. The workflow is just a little bit different. If you can't push a button that is in a different place or you get confused, then I have to question whether you should even be in a DJ booth. You could have denon equipment at home for practicing and honing your skills... But at a club and you use their pioneer equip. Your skills don't just disappear.. You still have your skills and the benefits of practicing at home. You just own different equipment. If you can't translate your skills on different equipment, i have to question whether you actually have any worthwhile dj skills at all. I'm sure most of you that have been repeating this weird belief that You have to buy Pioneer equipment because you need to practice on the exact same equipment that is at the nightclubs just haven't pushed yourself out of the comfort zone. Y'all need to force yourselfs into doing stuff you haven't done before just to prove to yourself that you are more resilient than you think.. Try using USBs like this guy did.. FFS, try using differnet equipment once in a while.. stop using your computer as a crutch. I mean if you're playing for 1 hour, why the hell are you bringing your laptop with your entire music collection?? It's like a security blanket or something.. But it's a gigantic waste of time and you were just going to piss off every single sound guy that has to deal with that. And stop bringing your controllers with you to gigs. If the venue has equipment, don't bring your bedroom controller.. that is the quickest way to piss off your sound guy.. and that is probably the stupidest thing someone could do. The sound guy is the one person that can make you sound good or can boost a couple strategic frequencies to ensure the audience will hate your performance. If you have no experience on that equipment, then get your ass to the club early.. Like before opening. That's when You can get acquainted with the equipment.. But just showing up before your gig? And insisting that you need your controller while ignoring the club equipment is asinine and lazy. (Yeah i run sound at a nightclub so im speaking from personal experience. I'm always impressed when new djs reach out to me via the promoter to ask if they can come in early to practice. But then there are those that show up a few minutes before they're set time with a road case in their hands. All I can do is just shake my head and go complain to the owner that his investment of over 15k in equipment is just sitting there while buddy-boy pretending to be a dj is using his $1k bedroom controller with its shitty home audio DAC on his award winning sound system. That usually goes over just as good as the likelihood of him scoring a repeat booking)🤦 Anyways..rant over. LoL
I just can’t afford it rn either. I know there’s cheaper options other than cdjs, but even using rekordbox with a laptop to try to emulate the interface, it’s not the same as the touchscreen. Maybe if I can add an xdj az this year
Kuddos to u for being able to switch. Def makes u more flexible for use of club standard gear. But sounds painful. I love the creativity I have with mixing in Serato on my Rev7 and my DJM-S7. For me, that's half the fun of DJing. But, I DJ for fun at events and not for a living. If I had to DJ for a living, I probably would try to use Rekordbox and USB drives. I would hate to DJ on an A9. I just love the way Fx are applied on a battle style layout with the performance pads on the mixer section. Most of the club DJs here in Sacramento still use Serato running an A9 and a pair of 3000s.
I moved from Vinyl to CDS to USB Sticks and over the last 20 years, going to play at gigs has just gotten better and better and easier and easier. Going from carrying 2 massive UDG alluminum boxes to a CD folder to now just my UDG Headphone bag with my phones, sticks, extra headphone jacks etc, has been a real blessing. I think we should all be moving forward and using the tech available that makes your life as easy as possible. I never tried laptop, it just seemed like it was just going backwards in a way, having to carry a backpack around, missioning with cables and what not seemed largely in complete contrast to now only having a headphone bag to move around with. Enjoy your new way of dj'ng bro, you will certainly grow to love it, and stems will come to pioneer for sure.
I've stayed with records and only pack the tunes I'm going to play for a one or two hour set, it's not that many records, certainly no need for 2 big aluminium record boxes.
Unrelated to the topic of the video but I noticed you use IEMs instead of headphones, can I ask which brand and model you use and what do you recommend?
@Dynemics i switched to IEM over a year ago, can't go back. They work really well for isolating sound and saving your hearing in loud venues. I use MEE MX2 Pro and I do like them. I'm sure the Shures are great too. I use Shure wireless and wired Mic systems and they are all solid.
Me too. Its just an expensive venture now. You used to pay 5-6 bucks for a domestic and around 11-12 for an import. Now its like, double or even triple given the circumstance of the release (short runs, vinyl only release).
Been DJing since 1993. When MP3s and CD mixing came in, I started with denon DNS3000 and 5000 back in the day. Denons were better than pioneer CDJ back then! Then pioneer became the club standard. Thats the only reason why I went pioneer. Also... Denon had a rough patch when pioneer took their market share around 15 years. Your gripe about the 2000s? Thats why you have to organize by playlist in rekordbox. I have never used a laptop to DJ nor will I ever. 😎😎🤙🤙
I had the Denon decks in front of me because it’s what I used to practice at home. Their ability read Rekordbox USB and costing a FRACTION of a pair of CDJs made it perfect for this “experiment”.
So ultimately you made that transition for convenience. What a lot of DJ’s leave out though, is that there are different types of gigs, and many different scenarios. Also people who say things like “real dj’s use vinyl, or don’t use laptops just sound ignorant and I can guarantee are just hobbyists or bedroom DJs.
I never prepare a set in advance. Even if am in the same venue, I never know with kind of audience will turn up. Club manager trust me in to build up the uptempo vibe. Never do same set twice. 50 years of music with originals, remixes, reworks and peoples different taste in music. Stand alone with just USB made playlists would limit my fantasy, my inspiration and finding themes for just that occasion. Live in a country there only hits is played on the radio and club tracks rarely works. I'm getting paid for playing for the audience, not for my own career and agenda. Still I don't wanna be a jukebox so transistions makes the vibe
Bro, you can make money by just showing up with what you got in your pocket. If every gig meets the industry minimum, there you go. Step off the plane in Thailand and you're ready for a small venue, get off the plane in London and you're good all around there too. The crowd's not going to lose sleep over that transition not being the bestest eva.
Laptop all day I have played with usb stick plenty of times but I still had my laptop with me anyway so for me laptop and I don’t like the looking down so much, I have my laptop high up on a stand save my back and show more presents towards the client looking down at the equipment every second not a good look from the dance floor, I can deal with a 5lb bag nothing coming from wax 😊
And why won’t clubs let you bring your own gear??? That’s like telling a guitarist he can’t play his guitar, he has to play the club’s used, busted up guitar. And it’s a fender but you like Gibson but you can only play fender at the club because it’s “industry standard”…. TFOH!!!
@@IcemanTheDj Yes, I know they do. Now try to beat jump backwards before the beginning of the song. You can do this in Serato and the Denon players. It does not work on the CDJs.
Im with you here and revisiting all the things I’ve done in past to focus on what works best for me into the future. Pioneer is really pushing a lot of this accidentally because their “club standard) is so expensive most can’t have it at home, and get good at it, so with that $15k you have a LOT of options, many are better. Stay curious. 🤙🏽🖤🔊
As much as I can appreciate all your points, I don’t think I would be able to leave my existing Prime Go with Algoriddim and my iPad,, For the life of me I can’t understand how club standard gear is somewhat backwards technologically compared to Serato, VDJ and Djay Pro,, I just go back to not having stems and luckily I don’t need to Dj for a living anymore,, that all finished whilst I was still spinning Vinyl. I have played a few clubs and luckily have not had an issue with the club allowing me to bring my small set up and plug into one of the spare channels on their Pioneer mixer
This is a total let down on the Denon DJ Gear and the Denon Engine software in front of you/the Rane , a great gear and software. All kept saying is Pioneer this and RekordBox that. The topic of your video relates to the 2 different DJ gear and software in front of you.
Bro, he made a very clear point about having to adapt to using “The club standard gear” that means Pioneer gear in the club and rekordbox to prepare his playlists. He has and does use the Denon gear at home for practice as its great and affordable, but Engine DJ playlists do not work on Pioneer / Rekordbox gear. This is a fact of the DJ industry and is nothing to do with how PDot likes to play. He even mentions the limitations of his prefered method of Serato and a Laptop running on club standard gear.
Why does it feel like you’re going back in time to 1997? CDJs are called that because you use to load in cds 💿 into them. Why do the clubs insist on keeping such an outdated standard? Laptops, controllers, and stems are the future and we should embrace that, not cow tie to outdated nonsense. And even get me started with Pioneer! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Bro downgraded for a year. Connection issues or not, I'm never cheating on serato. So used to the way this software functions, it's like being married for years and suddenly getting a divorce.
Denon is great, also pretty sure they pioneered (ironic right) the digital DJ controller game before Pioneer and is still wildly innovative with hardware and Engine OS. Also, most buyers know nothing about how djs and producers work, which is why we have the lazy “club standard”. Stay curious.
Why you gotta be such a hater lmao maybe some of us DJs are used to DJing on laptops and it’s nice to hear and see different perspectives. Take the negative energy elsewhere.
Sticks are convenient. But I feel so limited when compared to dj’ing on the fly with Serato.
...Denon for life!😎
YES!
Going from traktor+controllers to usb+cdjs felt like going back to the stone age. glad i do this just for fun so its not so much an issue for me.
It is up to you. If you feel the USB method works for you. Go for it. At the end of the day it is how you feel in a 5 hour gig. If you are a performance DJ and you miss the software style. Maybe some days you bring the laptop. I used a MacBook Air is is super light and one C-usb to the mixer. (The CDJ is a controller at that point ) so it is not really a big deal. I do use the USB method every now and then. But I find myself not having a good time behind the decks. It is hard to explain but I think you get my point.
4:13 to help with dropping on the 1 on CDJS I always set up a loop and use the up/down faders instead of the cross fader to drop the song in fast and hard then quickly exit the loop.
Great info bro! It sounds like for me, I’m still going laptop and my Rev-7
I've been a vinyl dj since mid 90's. Got traktor just to be able to play some digital stuff, edits, unreleased tracks etc. but still using vinyl control. Tried cdj's, and actually played some gigs on them, but prefer Vinyl. But have to say, unless you have a permanent set-up, getting the laptop out and setting up Traktor is a bit of a pain, when you just want to have a quick mix. I have a Denon CDJ if I want to incorporate some digital tracks into a vinyl mix, but I'll get a pioneer one day
Fantastic video. I had been with Traktor for over 15 years, and had a pretty extensive setup fully mapped to my customizations. I felt extremely comfortable with it, but recently the thing I wanted to do is get back into the clubs and play in front of people again. And since a lot of decent clubs won't let you bring your own gear unless you're a top tier headliner, I realized I had to learn how to play on standalone pioneer gear. So I made a huge investment to get that type of gear, in this next week ironically and going to start building my crates in rekordox. I knew some of the things that you were talking about moving over to USB only, but you did bring up a couple extra things I didn't think about, like manually setting the gains for every track. I'm experiencing doing that, but I became reliant on the computer doing it for me so it's just a matter of relearning. But I do think the ability to jump into any decent club and start playing despite small differences between the CDJs, is the right decision for me. I wanted the challenge myself to go another level to what the professionals use, and even though Denon is doing a decent job with her technology, the market is heavily skewed still towards pioneer. Look at the top 50 DJs in the world and see what they use. I'm not trying to plan to be on that level, but I do want to go back and just plug and play in front of a crowd again and this was my avenue to do it. Appreciate your insights and video. I'm subscribing today
My thing is I feel laptops just offer more features. Stems and beatjump with serato just work so much better and not to mention the ability of downloading music on the fly. I also don't mind playing requests if they are good and I feel for most club gigs laptop is the way to go. But for a more curated vibe or set or just environments that aren't super open format, usbs are probably good enough.
Its all about the scenario. If you are a wedding DJ or something like that? Sure...I get that. If you are booked to play 1-2 hours of club music at a venue, USB for the win. You should have your set or playlist somewhat planned out.
Dowloading music on the fly ? What kind of dj is that ?! 😂
Thank you for bringing up the beat jump and "negative time" issue. It blows mind that I can't do this in rekordbox and it makes me hate using the software SO MUCH! I want to "try" to ditch the laptop but that one thing is such a killer for me.....
You can Just do that on the cdj’s (or controller). No problem.
@@b.franklinpierce6187 I promise you, you can’t.
what is negative time?
@@mario312 in Serato you can beat jump BEFORE the song starts.
For example if you hit a “16 beat” backwards beat jump, it will jump back 16 beats before the song begins.
This can be useful for timing transitions without having to execute it at the exact moment.
@ thanks, that sounds pretty cool, on the denons i can spin back the plate into negative space which i really like, been frustrated that i can’t do that on pioneers
Small tipp: Take a Combo! Use USB Sticks for your sets and Algoriddim on a ipad mini for samples and unexpected wishes and situations to stream or as storage for a big library with quick acess. Or you play the whole set with Djay pro of course, if its possible!
As always great video
Your right the time it takes to go back to usb it’s fun I’m ways but more deligated time to organizing but once done your probably set like any sort of collector
Great video
A lot of great points.
At industry standard club events I watch other DJs roll up with USBs on CDJ3000s and it seems like such a pleasant experience. But I’m struggling in having a flexible library that works across platforms as someone who primarily video mixes with video files. Converting a lot of video files to Pioneer-friendly mp3 files, with all my tags on the files for music curation, just seems daunting. I’d hate to lose stems as well.
Vidéo file ?! What are you talking about ? Mixing with youtube downloads ?! This is not deejaying my friend ! 😅
@ I video mix (have visuals on display in sync with the music). So instead of an mp3, for example, I’ll use an MP4 video file to have the associated music video with the song shown. Usually I’ll make my own custom edits of the song (audio) and video to go along with it. The videos matter a little bit more for my niche of kpop where the kids like to see the visual spectacle and dance along as well.
Great post
Love it brother…I’m literally going back the other direction (full Ableton Live Session View) and now my algo is full of videos about NOT using a laptop hahahah. Stay curious mate. 🔊🤙🏽🖤
I’m so confused. CDJ 2000 NXS2 and the 3000 both have beat jump functionality up to 16 beats. So I’m lost at the comment that you lost that functionality. Idk about Denon CDJs having beat jumps. Maybe that’s what you mean?
You can do instant doubles on CDJs.. If one of the CDJs is broken, or faulty somehow.. as long as you have one working CDJ you can use that one to do your mixing.
Next time you can try this: start playing a track on the working CDJ. On the other (broken) CDJ, make sure the MASTER button is lit up.. then press and hold SYNC on both players for about a second or two..
As long as the two CDJs are linked, the waveform should have copied itself to the broken CDJ at the same place. Just bring up the channel on the mixer it's connected to, then use the working CDJ to queue up your next track.. Then repeat.
Have done this a bunch of times When one CDJ had a wonky jog wheel.
Also, have you ever tried using USBs without first analyzing the tracks in Rekordbox? It's not bad.. just wav files on a stick. Fvck rekordbox! But i get it.. setting hot cues on the fly is not for everyone..
Also to everyone else commenting about "industry standard" or "club standard" Pioneer gear... What the hell are you all on about? You're DJs. Who cares whether you have Denon at home. You don't need to go out and buy Pioneer equipment to be able to use Pioneer gear at the nightclub.. It's the same goddamn workflow. You cue, you play, you beatmatch. The mixers aren't any different. The buttons and features may be in different locations but FFS, you are DJs. Have more faith in your skills. You guys need some confidence or something.. ? Equipment is just equipment. It does not (or should not) dictate where or when you can dj.
Personally I hate when people use this phrase but I'm going to have to because i don't know how else to relate just how ridiculous y'all sound when claiming you need specific brands and models of equipment to be able to just practice at home 🤦:
"BACK in the day", we would show up to a gig with a case or crate of vinyl and whatever equipment was at the venue, we used. Whether it be 1200s or PDX2000s... Some old belt-driven turntables, ee used them.. And when it came to the mixer? Every frikken club had something different. It was not uncommon to show up to a gig and have to use some random mixer for the very first time.. But we adapted.
You just need to take a second to identify the important functions..they are always the exact same functions from mixer to mixer. Buttons, faders, switches and knobs, might be in different places.. But that's it.. The workflow is just a little bit different. If you can't push a button that is in a different place or you get confused, then I have to question whether you should even be in a DJ booth.
You could have denon equipment at home for practicing and honing your skills... But at a club and you use their pioneer equip. Your skills don't just disappear.. You still have your skills and the benefits of practicing at home. You just own different equipment. If you can't translate your skills on different equipment, i have to question whether you actually have any worthwhile dj skills at all. I'm sure most of you that have been repeating this weird belief that You have to buy Pioneer equipment because you need to practice on the exact same equipment that is at the nightclubs just haven't pushed yourself out of the comfort zone. Y'all need to force yourselfs into doing stuff you haven't done before just to prove to yourself that you are more resilient than you think.. Try using USBs like this guy did.. FFS, try using differnet equipment once in a while.. stop using your computer as a crutch. I mean if you're playing for 1 hour, why the hell are you bringing your laptop with your entire music collection?? It's like a security blanket or something.. But it's a gigantic waste of time and you were just going to piss off every single sound guy that has to deal with that. And stop bringing your controllers with you to gigs. If the venue has equipment, don't bring your bedroom controller.. that is the quickest way to piss off your sound guy.. and that is probably the stupidest thing someone could do. The sound guy is the one person that can make you sound good or can boost a couple strategic frequencies to ensure the audience will hate your performance.
If you have no experience on that equipment, then get your ass to the club early.. Like before opening. That's when You can get acquainted with the equipment.. But just showing up before your gig? And insisting that you need your controller while ignoring the club equipment is asinine and lazy.
(Yeah i run sound at a nightclub so im speaking from personal experience. I'm always impressed when new djs reach out to me via the promoter to ask if they can come in early to practice. But then there are those that show up a few minutes before they're set time with a road case in their hands. All I can do is just shake my head and go complain to the owner that his investment of over 15k in equipment is just sitting there while buddy-boy pretending to be a dj is using his $1k bedroom controller with its shitty home audio DAC on his award winning sound system. That usually goes over just as good as the likelihood of him scoring a repeat booking)🤦
Anyways..rant over. LoL
I just can’t afford it rn either. I know there’s cheaper options other than cdjs, but even using rekordbox with a laptop to try to emulate the interface, it’s not the same as the touchscreen. Maybe if I can add an xdj az this year
Well said fam!
What do you use if the club does not have cdjs or mixer or controller? Some clubs just give the main xlr.
"have you got sweet Caroline?" "no!"
Good post.
CDJs and USBs stifle creativity to me. I actually want to go Ableton live!
That's nonsense
Congratulations
Kuddos to u for being able to switch. Def makes u more flexible for use of club standard gear. But sounds painful. I love the creativity I have with mixing in Serato on my Rev7 and my DJM-S7. For me, that's half the fun of DJing. But, I DJ for fun at events and not for a living. If I had to DJ for a living, I probably would try to use Rekordbox and USB drives. I would hate to DJ on an A9. I just love the way Fx are applied on a battle style layout with the performance pads on the mixer section. Most of the club DJs here in Sacramento still use Serato running an A9 and a pair of 3000s.
The paddles are such a great way to use effects!
Stems now works on all Engine DJ hardware so you don’t even need a laptop for that.
Preference my brother ,preference
If you properly set your cue points, you can beat jump back in time in a track with cue points yes no?
I moved from Vinyl to CDS to USB Sticks and over the last 20 years, going to play at gigs has just gotten better and better and easier and easier. Going from carrying 2 massive UDG alluminum boxes to a CD folder to now just my UDG Headphone bag with my phones, sticks, extra headphone jacks etc, has been a real blessing. I think we should all be moving forward and using the tech available that makes your life as easy as possible. I never tried laptop, it just seemed like it was just going backwards in a way, having to carry a backpack around, missioning with cables and what not seemed largely in complete contrast to now only having a headphone bag to move around with. Enjoy your new way of dj'ng bro, you will certainly grow to love it, and stems will come to pioneer for sure.
I've stayed with records and only pack the tunes I'm going to play for a one or two hour set, it's not that many records, certainly no need for 2 big aluminium record boxes.
Play on vinyl.
Unrelated to the topic of the video but I noticed you use IEMs instead of headphones, can I ask which brand and model you use and what do you recommend?
@@Dynemics I currently use the ikko saphires but I would recommend the shure 215s to start.
@Dynemics i switched to IEM over a year ago, can't go back. They work really well for isolating sound and saving your hearing in loud venues. I use MEE MX2 Pro and I do like them. I'm sure the Shures are great too. I use Shure wireless and wired Mic systems and they are all solid.
@ awesome I’ll check them out!
I prefer playing on vinyl tbh
It’s the most zen 🧘♂️
Me too. Its just an expensive venture now. You used to pay 5-6 bucks for a domestic and around 11-12 for an import. Now its like, double or even triple given the circumstance of the release (short runs, vinyl only release).
Good luck finding a venue with them. Fuck Carrying boxes of records about 😂
Yep same
@@datapusher-I buy a lot more multi packs now …. My cousin has been rocking the 7” /45’s
Been DJing since 1993. When MP3s and CD mixing came in, I started with denon DNS3000 and 5000 back in the day. Denons were better than pioneer CDJ back then! Then pioneer became the club standard. Thats the only reason why I went pioneer. Also... Denon had a rough patch when pioneer took their market share around 15 years. Your gripe about the 2000s? Thats why you have to organize by playlist in rekordbox. I have never used a laptop to DJ nor will I ever. 😎😎🤙🤙
@Pdot you mention CDJs but what about the Denon decks in front of you? Any difference or similarities?
I had the Denon decks in front of me because it’s what I used to practice at home. Their ability read Rekordbox USB and costing a FRACTION of a pair of CDJs made it perfect for this “experiment”.
Oh cool so a Rekordbox library is good to go on Denon DJ gear. I want to get a Denon player now too.
I was going to ask the same thing. Why not use Engine instead of Rekordbox, when you have the SC6000 Media players???
@@atiegs I'm lucky enough to play in venues that provide all of the gear, which is all Pioneer DJ.
Is the rane one still good?
If you can save up a little more, I’d go for the Rane Performer instead
So ultimately you made that transition for convenience. What a lot of DJ’s leave out though, is that there are different types of gigs, and many different scenarios.
Also people who say things like “real dj’s use vinyl, or don’t use laptops just sound ignorant and I can guarantee are just hobbyists or bedroom DJs.
Great vid! Welcome to Rekordbox, I'm sorry for your loss 😅
I immediately think, Vinyl when I hear no laptop.
I never prepare a set in advance. Even if am in the same venue, I never know with kind of audience will turn up. Club manager trust me in to build up the uptempo vibe. Never do same set twice. 50 years of music with originals, remixes, reworks and peoples different taste in music. Stand alone with just USB made playlists would limit my fantasy, my inspiration and finding themes for just that occasion. Live in a country there only hits is played on the radio and club tracks rarely works. I'm getting paid for playing for the audience, not for my own career and agenda. Still I don't wanna be a jukebox so transistions makes the vibe
Bro, you can make money by just showing up with what you got in your pocket. If every gig meets the industry minimum, there you go. Step off the plane in Thailand and you're ready for a small venue, get off the plane in London and you're good all around there too. The crowd's not going to lose sleep over that transition not being the bestest eva.
Laptop all day I have played with usb stick plenty of times but I still had my laptop with me anyway so for me laptop and I don’t like the looking down so much, I have my laptop high up on a stand save my back and show more presents towards the client looking down at the equipment every second not a good look from the dance floor, I can deal with a 5lb bag nothing coming from wax 😊
I never once played with a laptop in my life
Dont give up on stems.
And why won’t clubs let you bring your own gear??? That’s like telling a guitarist he can’t play his guitar, he has to play the club’s used, busted up guitar. And it’s a fender but you like Gibson but you can only play fender at the club because it’s “industry standard”…. TFOH!!!
CDJ 3000 has beat jump...
@@IcemanTheDj Yes, I know they do.
Now try to beat jump backwards before the beginning of the song.
You can do this in Serato and the Denon players. It does not work on the CDJs.
You should try DJing without CDJs next (vinyl). and then the following year making music with an instrument!
we just spent time learning how unsure he is still 🤣🤣🤣
It's SUPPOSED to be without a laptop! It sucks people think you MUST use a laptop to be a half decent dj. Smh
Easy fix. Do what I and Laidback Luke does. Take your own DJ gear.
Im with you here and revisiting all the things I’ve done in past to focus on what works best for me into the future. Pioneer is really pushing a lot of this accidentally because their “club standard) is so expensive most can’t have it at home, and get good at it, so with that $15k you have a LOT of options, many are better. Stay curious. 🤙🏽🖤🔊
As much as I can appreciate all your points, I don’t think I would be able to leave my existing Prime Go with Algoriddim and my iPad,,
For the life of me I can’t understand how club standard gear is somewhat backwards technologically compared to Serato, VDJ and Djay Pro,,
I just go back to not having stems and luckily I don’t need to Dj for a living anymore,, that all finished whilst I was still spinning Vinyl.
I have played a few clubs and luckily have not had an issue with the club allowing me to bring my small set up and plug into one of the spare channels on their Pioneer mixer
I never used a laptop😂
REAL DJs mix vinyl
This is a total let down on the Denon DJ Gear and the Denon Engine software in front of you/the Rane , a great gear and software. All kept saying is Pioneer this and RekordBox that. The topic of your video relates to the 2 different DJ gear and software in front of you.
Bro, he made a very clear point about having to adapt to using “The club standard gear” that means Pioneer gear in the club and rekordbox to prepare his playlists.
He has and does use the Denon gear at home for practice as its great and affordable, but Engine DJ playlists do not work on Pioneer / Rekordbox gear.
This is a fact of the DJ industry and is nothing to do with how PDot likes to play. He even mentions the limitations of his prefered method of Serato and a Laptop running on club standard gear.
Why does it feel like you’re going back in time to 1997? CDJs are called that because you use to load in cds 💿 into them. Why do the clubs insist on keeping such an outdated standard? Laptops, controllers, and stems are the future and we should embrace that, not cow tie to outdated nonsense.
And even get me started with Pioneer! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Bro downgraded for a year.
Connection issues or not, I'm never cheating on serato. So used to the way this software functions, it's like being married for years and suddenly getting a divorce.
Weird how DJing no longer resembled DJing. No laptop? Wow! It's almost like actual DJing...
Real dj’s always play/mix without laptop
What a silly comment from probably a bedroom DJ
Well good for you We don’t care
Your using denon.... Laptop or not... No one will take your seriously
@@martinhames3434 you must have missed the MULTIPLE clips of me at actual gigs using the club standard Pioneer setup 🤷🏻♂️
Denon is great, also pretty sure they pioneered (ironic right) the digital DJ controller game before Pioneer and is still wildly innovative with hardware and Engine OS. Also, most buyers know nothing about how djs and producers work, which is why we have the lazy “club standard”. Stay curious.
I mean djing with a usb is pretty easy bro its nothing too crazy . chill.
Why you gotta be such a hater lmao maybe some of us DJs are used to DJing on laptops and it’s nice to hear and see different perspectives. Take the negative energy elsewhere.
Lol k
My guy 🙏🏼