https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2YnvSYlY9U
I’ve been saying for a while that video will figure strongly in the DJWORX future. The problem that I have is a crippling perfectionism that stops me from putting out just about anything because I’m never going to be happy with the end result. I’m not alone in feeling this way in the team either, but sometimes you just have to say bollocks to it and let go. So after four days of staring at spreadsheets and neatly filing receipts for my tax return, I decided to let off steam on the Pioneer XDJ-1000.
I’m neither Qbert or Kubrick. Nor do I have a DMC level scratcher locked in a cupboard to do such things at the drop of a hat. But the end result is nonetheless satisfactory for a video thrown together in 30 minutes after breakfast and before doing the photoshoot for our forthcoming review XDJ-1000 review.
About the XDJ-1000 jog wheel…
As far as the jog wheel goes, it’s typical mid-range Pioneer. It lacks tension control, but does have a touch release control to adjust from instant release to a few seconds before getting up to full speed. Feel wise, it’s CDJ rather than DDJ — a little rattly and having a pressure rather than touch sensitive top. And while I can complain about, it does work much better than the DDJs, which considering the price and pedigree are still a little lacking.
So while my skills are weary, rusty and in need of acclimating to the Pioneer wheel , I feel that the video shows enough to give people a good idea of what it’s capable. After all, isn’t the first question anyone asks of such thing s is “can it scratch?”. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Andrew Unsworth’s (yes he’s back) XDJ-1000 review is in for fact checking, and all being well will be published mid-week.
Gizmo got cuts galore!
As for the pressure sensitive jog wheels Pioneer use, I’ve never been a huge fan. I find on occasions I don’t apply enough downward pressure and the sound “slips” from beneath my fingers.
When I was on it, I thought that my skills were very rusty. But having just killed it (well for me) on a lunchtime turntable session, I realise that CDJs are no substitute for vinyl.
It’s a shame that something with a flow design like this became the more popular one. This is not natural at all to have so much pressure while scratching.
Useless knowledge: the polariser also messes up shots of the Gemini MDJ-1000’s screen. This seems not to happen with Pioneer’s XDJ-RX.
TIL. But was there not something funky going on with the waveform color? Or does the waveform turn blue from purple at the playhead?
*Or is there a purple thing on the wall being reflected from behind the unit?
The waveform displays in blue. I assumed it was full colour but it isn’t.
Gotcha, misread Arkaei’s comment. Odd about the polarizing not happening on the RX, touchscreen must have a different cover?
It’s a nightmare when I shot videos with touch screens.
shameful scratches
Please post a video of you doing better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1aTp3ajnGc
You got some skills. No doubt :) I still think that Giz with some practice still might get you. You’re better than me. Keep in mind that he was scratching on unfamiliar equipment. Later
cool! :) turntables for me :) cheers!
https://www.facebook.com/bobscratch
https://soundcloud.com/jrbobscratchuk-gsthindal/quickone
lots of links lots of videos enjoy!
I think the rainbow display is kinda funky ! Pioneer should put a polarizer on it….
After getting in the mood for the party, I reckon that’s what some DJs see when they play anyway.
a beast on the cut
There’s no comparison with any Pioneer product versus Denon SC3900 “for scratching.” Hands down the Denon SC3900, 3700 is the closest to Technics 1200 scratching-wise.” With the Denons, you can emulate any old school scratch, along with new scratch styles.
I don’t think anyone would argue with you on that. But I’d still prefer a Numark CDX/HDX for the closest thing to vinyl scratching.
I *could* argue that SCS.1d with Virtual DJ is probably the closest you’ll get to the 1200:)
the sldz1200 is a 1200, thats the closest you can get to a 12
We are talking scratch-experience-wise. Not by its looks.
Have you ever tried scratching on one? That’s when the similarities disappear.
i was tempted but never got one, they sell for peanuts now but i dont have cds and i read that it only reads certain sd cards..never trusted that thing
I agree the SLDZ1200 was nothing near the 1200s standard.
I second this statement… I should find my old videos of that thing. I wish they were USB and opted for the support from Serato for this setup.
+1
Considering also the release year of both units, they were light years ahead of competition. Actually, they can still hold really tight against DVS.
Think about it, the CDX was released back in 2004…
Mark I can truly say the Numark CDX was pretty awesome for cutting. The sound was a little too digital for me, but given, that unit was produced way back in the day. Thanks for bringing back the CDX into my memory, as I really enjoyed that unit.
Oh, I loved that thing SO much. Did you know you could hold down the selector knob and turn it to change the key in semitone intervals? Combine that with “backspin to cue” and you’re freaking juggling the same phrase in different keys on one deck! Granted, it sounded horrible compared to today’s software algorithms, but that was MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO.
So true it’s hard to believe it was over 10 years ago! Did not know about the selector knob effect. that unit was a beast in its time
Mark I can truly say the Numark CDX was pretty awesome for cutting. The sound was a little too digital for me, but given, that unit was produced way back in the day. Thanks for bringing back the CDX into my memory, as I really enjoyed that unit.
Saw this and thought of you!
http://djworx.com/images/first-direct.gif
dude that rocked!
I wish I was that rusty! Great job!
great job.. still streets ahead of me.
This is why I still use Timecode DVS
for me i find the touch wheels on my sz to be more like vinyl then the regualr cdj wheels. i can adjust tension and make them feel close. strange how each dj finds it different and hands down 3900 is the closest. just take a 3900 platter off and look at platter and moter. its a close to technic but shrunk. wieght and all.