It’s only been 2.5 years since rekordbox DJ was announced, and with it Pioneer DJ’s signal that they wanted a significant (i.e Serato DJ’s) slice of the DJ software pie. Each release adds something else under the rekordbox umbrella that brings it up to speed feature for feature, and more. And with v5.2, the new lighting mode makes the newly announced RB-DMX512 interface play nice with DMX lights, and the software will make auto light shows for you.
New Lighting mode in rekordbox™ Ver 5.2 now available
Easily sync lights with music via RB-DMX1, a new dedicated DMX interfaceThe latest version of rekorbox (ver 5.2) is now available to download. The updated software brings exciting new features to rekordbox dj including Lighting mode, which enables you to easily sync lights with your music during a performance.
Using the advanced phrase analysis algorithm in rekordbox (ver 5.1), Lighting mode automatically creates exciting lighting sequences in sync with the tracks in your rekordbox library, drastically reducing pre-performance preparation time. The information generated in Lighting mode can be sent to any lighting fixture that supports DMX512 via the RB-DMX1, a new dedicated DMX interface.
Ver.5.2.0 (2018.02.20)
[NEW]
– Compatible device added: RB-DMX1
– LIGHTING mode (rekordbox dj license required)
– KUVO Live Playlist which can share your playlist in real time.
Currently you can check the playlist only on KUVO beta website.
* KUVO official update is scheduled in March 2018.
https://beta.kuvo.com/account/login[IMPROVED]
– Added an auto cross fade option to Automix. (Available when playing on a standby deck.)
– Added an option to perform Instant Doubles when the same track is loaded to a deck.
– Improved detection ability when database files in devices are corrupted.[FIXED]
– Tracks were not sorted with alphabetical order on the explorer tree
– The windows’ width of My Tag configuration/Related Tracks list/Information/Sub browser got bigger if these windows are shown/hidden repeatedly.
– With DDJ-RZX, FX display was turned off when BEAT UP/DOWN was pressed while FX was turned on.
– On Windows audio driver of DJ equipment was not recognized if it was connected while only Lyric was selected in the global section.
– Video crossfader worked incorrectly in External Mixer mode.
– Audio output channels settings were not saved in External Mixer mode.
– Related tracks could not show tracks from intelligent playlists.
– Related tracks could not show tracks “From Selected Playlist” in the tree view in Ver5.1.0 or later.
– Improved stability and fixed other minor issues.
The rekordbox ecosystem
For the newest kid on the DJ software block, rekordbox certainly has come on leaps and bounds since its fully standalone launch back in September 2015. And on paper, it has the most complete ecosystem around too.
Looking at the rekordbox offer, you get a free library manager, full DJ software for controllers, video, DVS, standalone automix operation, extra effects, lyric links, and lighting automation. And while not officially supported by Pioneer DJ, this is a relatively open architecture that allows you to run say a Serato mixer with rekordbox.
Now I get that a lot of this is extra but it’s all rekordbox branded. And if you go with the rolling Pro subscription plan, that’s $17.88/£12.80 (currency conversion)/€15.90 (quoted price) inc tax per month, which if you’re a DJ who makes a living from spinning is a paltry amount as an essential tool.
Serato offers a solid Serato DJ based package for $14.99, but it’s a closed ecosystem, and lacks features like the lyrics pack. VirtualDJ does a pro subscription, which comes in at $19/month. And at this time, Traktor Pro doesn’t offer a subscription option for comparison.
Complete — but popular?
While it hasn’t quite got the uptake and market share of others, everything and then some is in place for rekordbox. It has an established hardware base installed in clubs around the world. It’s a matter of getting DJs to try it out, and to stick with it.
The area in which it lacks presence is with turntable users via DVS. Given that the DJM-S9 supports rekordbox DVS with v5 and above, it’s ripe for experimentation with existing owners via the 30 day trial. More than that though, it needs a VIP scratch DJ to start using it before it’ll really make a dent in Serato’s huge market share. I suspect it’s just a matter of time and enough money too. Rane and Serato will however will be making that a very hard thing to do. The Seventy Two mixer is likely to snap a few of those potential switchers’ heads right back again.
As far as rekordbox goes, it’s definitely time we took a deep look. If only we had some Pioneer DJ hardware to use it with.
It can’t complete without Ableton Link
Maybe.. But ableton link would be trivial to put in.. They could probably do it in an afternoon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0OvvHS2A_8
3rd Party program and you got Ableton Link.
Ableton Link it’s the only thing keeping me from switching.
Being more than tired of the slow (almost non-existent) development of Traktor I gave it a shot.
It’s cool and full of potential.
But I think I’m not ready to leave Traktor just yet and also I’d love to support diversity in the DJ industry rather than helping Pioneer expand their almost monopoly business.
Damn, NI. Wake up already!
It looks like there is quite some stuff happening with Traktor at the moment. Constantly see posts on social media looking for test participants etc. That + the investment that they got makes me believe they will release something this year!
Maybe it’s Facebook’s faulty algorhythms but I rarely see any Traktor content these days (especially not the posts looking for test participants). I wish you were right – but how long have we been hoping for a major update?
those posts are probably targeted to specific locations.
Most complete except for the lack of 45rpm for timecode. But, everything else – really great!
Just wish it had more advanced midi mapping like traktor. It’s the only thing stopping me switching.
I’m very ready to switch now. If there aren’t any real changes from Traktor in terms of gear, a djm750 mk2 and TTs will be my switch – hopefully in the next 6 months.
I wrote this from beginning of RB.
RB is growing much faster than other software and is just question of time. We are talking of Pioneer that have a 550ML turnover for year. They are really big and is easy to afford the best Software team to develop RB.
On reality based, RB have more features, faster in Upgrade, much more integration in Pio ecosystem. Rane/Denon still need support of 3rd part software house.
It is true that to take over the market share of Serato Pioneer need :1) More time (We are, DJS, Slow to change) 2) More endorser if RB want to grab as well the Scratch market (I Think is just a question of time)
But, yes, from day one I thought that RB will be a software Market Leader (Maybe Serato for niche market of scratch, VDJ for mobile wedding/etc.)
We definitely share the same thoughts on this. It’s not enough to have great product — it needs for some well known DJs to become evangelists, especially a few scratch DJs.
Now you say niche market for scratch — yes, it’s a small market, but it’s a punishing and visual test of technology. So if they can get a top tier turntablist to publicly jump ship to rekordbox DVS and genuinely believe in it (i.e. do a Laidback Luke), then they’ll start to see some others try it out.
As for speed — when you’re making software for your own hardware, it’s easier to deliver quickly. But when a software house has many hardware partners, it’s incredibly hard to please them all. While some will disagree strongly with this next statement, there’s a lot to be said for single source software and hardware. Each ecosystem can be closed, easily supported, and develop in whatever direction they please. “Oh wait Mark — NI tried that and it failed” I hear you cry. Yes, but that was because they tried a paradigm shift in DJing in one go. Small steps down diverse paths will work, but not a complete and fundamental change. DJs are too invested and conservative for that.
This in turn will bring fresh thinking and diversity, which will filter to each ecosystem too if it’s a good idea. Some may feel this limits choice, but it actually increases it. People just have to get out of their heads the notion that everything should work together happily and all be interchangeable. We have MIDI and Ableton link to enable interaction, but I’d rather companies were allowed to develop fresh ideas outside of existing software architectures.
The pipe dream is that everything is open and works together, but I just don’t see it happening outside of using common protocols like Link.
I don’t see a closed ecosystem as the main concern of many.
It’s rather an incomplete offer within that system (no rotary mixer, for example, or lack of certain features) combined with a greedy strategy of ripping off people.
I’d have a complete Pioneer setup (I had for many years) if they had reasonable prices.
2.300€ for a CDJ that lacks many important features that software had for years. WTF?!
I’m not thrifty when it comes to gear. But Denon impressively showed what is possible, even for a lower price.
So, the second best option would be to mix different hardware manufacturers with a good software being the connecting center piece.
“It’s not enough to have great product — it needs for some well known DJs to become evangelists, especially a few scratch DJs.”
– Someone at NI needs to be reading this. LOL!!! Kinda hard with current NI gear with though. You can use a NI controller from 2013 or you can try to scratch with touch-strips.
Not a chance. They can throw all the money they want into developing RB and give it a lot of features. In the end, it’s still considered a CLOSED ECOSYSTEM – that is, it only works with Pioneer’s products. I despise Serato for going OPEN (compatible with most available hardware out there) but it’s a great business model to grab hold of the market share. SDJ is intuitive, clean look, and with enough features to fill everyone’s boots. Not to mention its solid stability. If it isn’t intuitive, RB wouldn’t have adopted Serato’s look and feel.
But we have to recognize though that Pioneer is heading up toughly against InMusic. While there is no single software platform available from inMusic, it is where Serato fills in the gap nicely.
Got to disagree with you about Serato being open. Try mapping a non-Serato controller to it. It allows secondary controllers to be mapped to things you can see in screen, but it’s a limited range. I see no mixer controls in Serato DJ, something that pretty much makes it a non-starter for mapping, and especially with using non-Serato audio interfaces. Bottom line — main controller and audio interface support is hard coded into the software. This is the definition of a closed system.
Rekordbox on the other hand is mappable to a wider wider variety of hardware. It might be officially supported (i.e. if it doesn’t work right then you’re your own), but you can at least access controls on screen. It’s not great at mapping by any means, but it’s more flexible than Serato DJ in this respect.
From that perspective, I agree with you wholeheartedly, Mark. What I meant was from an open selection of available controllers out there with Serato versus the ONLY available Pioneer’s products with RB.
I do not believe a majority of DJs out there who are very keen at mapping their own controller to a DJ software. I am included. It’s simply that, like you said, hard coded into the software that best leave it to the pros.
Advanced phrase analysis? Does it assume that all music is in 4/4?
Reloop Vs. Pioneer? Not too sure they are playing on the same level. Lots of people use Pioneer. Barely anyone uses Reloop (do you see them anywhere near the top 10? http://djtechtools.com/2018/02/15/10-top-selling-dj-controllers-2017/) . InMusic brands as a whole as well as individually would be a bit closer of a competition but they are still not close.
Reloop is crap. I’ve had two Reloop controllers that suffered the same issue. Jog wheel not working. The first unit a TM8, after the jog wheel went out the fader went out. I gave the damn thing away (no joke). Got a Mixon 4 and the jog wheel went kaput in 11 months. Just got the unit back and it is for sale. I have a numark controller and a Pioneer Wego that I used way more than the reloop products and they never gave me any issue. I’ll never buy another reloop product again.
Really? I have heard good things about their mixers. I was contemplating buying a RMX33i.
They are not but on the quality level, Reloop is way over Pio.
if they want to dominate , and need scratchers to do that, doesn’t that say a lot about how important scratching is to djing in general? Even if you don’t want to scratch, don’t you enjoy (and benefit) from it’s existence?
I have a denon hs5500, connected to an 80000 mah battery (with AC), and a handykutz. All 3 fit perfectly in a 1200 road case. I wonder why making a device like that, integrated and designed from scratch, is so difficult. The audience for it isn’t cheapskates ( I spent about $850 on my rig)
What really confuses me though is the way that when someone does finally decide to make something like that, they’ll build it FLAWED, because they won’t even put together a mockup like mine, or simply asked me what I’ve learned from it.
Instead, they’ll make something that nobody actually wants ( like the rane 12… people wanted a rane 10 with a built in mixer)
and T H e N, they’ll come on sites like this and talk about how “those products have been built, and failed)
Analyze in Camelot key is still missing. I guess we could take a day and learn notation, or print out a conversion chart, but it’s kind of a bummer that it’s not there.