Controlling Traktor w/ Pioneer CDJ 2000s Pt 2 - Dubspot Video Tutorial w/ DJ Endo

[@Kaycie020]

I started on vinyl like allot of other DJ's, I understand where you come from. But in my experience the future is auto sync. Its gives you the free time you need to be more creative and work the crowd. Don't fight the future see how you can make it work in your advantage!

[@DeeJayEndo]

That depends. If you want to record externally using the same sound card you would have to use the Audio 10 since DJM 2000 and CDJ 2000's don't have inputs (that you can use for recording in Traktor). If recording isn't an issue, you can use the CDJ 2000's as a soundcards. If you use the DJM 2000 as the soundcard you will be able to unplug or restart the CDJ's without the music stopping where as if you use the CDJ 2000 as the soundcard the music will stop if the CDJs get unplugged.

[@DeeJayEndo]

That is part of my online Digital DJing with Traktor class where we discuss the controller manager in depth and talk about how to map your controllers.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Your actually talking about two separate things. Quantize is for cue points. Traktor will wait for the next downbeat before triggering the cue point allowing you to trigger cue points while keeping the mix in sync (as long as you sync'd it correctly manually). Snap is for loops and will snap your loop to the nearest grid marker. Snap also works for cue points as well and will snap your cue points to the nearest grid marker. Using the CDJ in Advanced HID Mode brings out these possibilities.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes, you can control decks a & b with the CDJ 2000's and C & D with the reloop contour. However keep in mind that Traktor technically can only use one sound card at a time so if your looking to use multiple sound cards you would have to aggregate the two soundcards you plan on using.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Can you please explain your question in a little more details? What Red Jog LED's? You can map anything in Traktor to the DJM 900 (as long as that button / knob is midi assignable on the mixer). In the old days, you could map EVERY function on the CDJ to whatever you want in Traktor. Unfortunately with the new advanced HID intigration, some functions are hard wired. Hopefully this will be changed, but you can still remap some buttons and tempo faders on the CDJ.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Also one trick I figured out is if you're getting this buzzing sound or crunchiness on your recordings with the DJM 900 is go to preferences - audio setup and change the sample rate to 48000, wait a few seconds, then change it back to 44100. It's like giving your soundcard a backhand to the face lol. Not sure why but it works!

[@michaelcastner5084]

makes sense - cheers for the replies. Looking forward to ditching all the unnecessary rca cable connections.

[@DeeJayEndo]

What you need to do is go into preferences - controller manager, select the device dropdown menu, and for each device, select the in port and out port for EACH DEVICE. Make sure nothing is set to "all ports." You want to make sure each devices ports are set to their specific port. Example if your using Maschine as a device, set the in port and out port to "Maschine." The reason your having this problem is because your mappings are interfering with each other.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes I already filmed that tutorial. They're just waiting on my voiceover for the video. I'll stop slacking and get that sucker done ASAP!

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes, you can use the Pioneer DJM T1 as the soundcard for Traktor, and use the CDJs in Advanced HID Mode as the controllers for Traktor. That is how I play (except I use the DJM 900)

[@DeeJayEndo]

Right if you unplug the CDJ when using it as a soundcard, the sound will stop (like any other soundcard would). The BEST way to go in my opinion is to use the DJM 900 Nexus as the soundcard and the CDJs as controllers. That way if a CDJ comes unplugged the sound will continue to play and you can plug the CDJ back in (hotplug it) and it will start right back up. Also you can record using the DJM 900 where as you can't if you use the CDJs as the soundcard.

[@DeeJayEndo]

You can record when using the Pioneer Mixer as the soundcard, at least you can with the DJM 900. I'm not sure about the DJM 850. Check out my video on the Dubspot Blog on using the DJM 900 with Traktor and I explain in detail how to set up the recording with the DJM 900 internally. It works great!

[@DeeJayEndo]

You would select your other sound card in preferences - audio setup to use that as a soundcard, then on the CDJ, plug it in with USB and hit "Link", then control mode on the CDJ to select the CDJ as a controller. Easy!

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes, if you watch the full video you will see that CDJ mode is implemented when using the CDJ 2000's in Advanced HID Mode. You will still get the stutter and every other function on the CDJ will behave the same as if you were in CDJ mode on the CD 2000's.

[@JoshHoliday13]

the best way i can think of is to have a spare set of flash drives or sd cards, simply mix out of your last track with the new flash drive track , then connect lap top, and one cdj - then the other after the mix - you have to choose one cdj as one sound card them when connecting the other you will have to change them to the aggregate - very confusing but i think t can be done

[@DeeJayEndo]

The CDJ 2000's don't have any inputs if you use them as a sound card, so external recording won't work, but you can however use a MIDI controller to control Traktor's internal mixer and record internally if you want.

[@DeeJayEndo]

b/c with Rekord box its a pain having to export playlists constantly and manage your thumb drives (which personally I lose all the time, or die on me). I also don't like the rekord box software. It isn't very stable and I certainly would never use it live. With Traktor and Advanced HID Mode everything is INSTANT, the beatgridding algorithm is super tight, and you get snaped and quantized loops and cue points, beatjumping, and can remap the CDJs. Its like putting the CDJ on steroids.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Check your USB Output level in the Pioneer settings utility. I have mine set to -15 dB

[@DjMarroc6450]

ENDO ... you are amazing!!

[@tylrbass]

It would be nice to be able to unplug the one CDJ and have the other still rolling but I can't imagine that is possible with the aggregate device - so I guess if you are trying to switch laptops you'll have to mix into another source while you swap them out, thanks for the vids btw

[@DeeJayEndo]

Well the question is are you using CDJs as a soundcard or a separate soundcard? You can use one CDJ as the controller (for all 4 decks) and use, say, an Audio 10, or DJM 900 Mixer as the soundcard, allowing you to route each deck to its own channel on the mixer. Then you can cue each deck independently. If your using ONE CDJ as a soundcard, and only have one CDJ then everything will have to come through one channel, and you won't have individual cuing.

[@sh1elds]

new traktor update changes that though with traktor having mixed in key built in.... yes.

[@DeeJayEndo]

The reason you are seeing the same playlists on both CDJs is because there is only ONE BROWSER in Traktor so you have to see the same browser view on both CDJs since they are both controlling the same browser in Traktor, if that makes sense.

[@vernondouglas8014]

in regards to cueing...is there a way to have CDJ style cueing? For example... with CDJ products hitting the reverse track search will bring you back the beginning of the track and hold there(skipping) until you hit play. In Traktor HD hitting reverse track search restarts the track playing(without stopping). If you hit cue first, then reverse track you must hit play twice to get the track going.

[@michaelcastner5084]

I like the idea of using the cdjs in HID mode and continuing the use of the sound card for inputs/outputs. Perhaps your other video covers this and I did not quite understand it correctly, but my question is this: How do you set up the cdjs in HID mode (as controllers w/o timecode cds) yet maintain using an external sound card such as the audio 8/10? Do you still connect the cdjs to the computer via USB & select them in the midi settings & continue routing the audio channels via the soundcard?

[@DeeJayEndo]

Right this is true. Just like its true that if you unplug any other soundcard you will lose sound.

[@DeeJayEndo]

What the CDJ aggregator does (just like the mac aggregator does) is takes TWO soundcards and makes them into ONE soundcard giving you more outputs. A general rule with soundcards is if you unplug them, sound stops. There's no way to get around that (...yet)

[@DeeJayEndo]

This may be true but its a pain to export playlists all the time with Rekord Box. Thumb drives die easily and also get lost a lot. Also if you have new tracks you have to constantly add them to Rekord Box, Analyze them etc for the info to show up on the CDJ. With this setup everything shows up INSTANTLY on the CDJ without exporting playlists, and also the beatgridding algorithm is much better in Traktor.

[@DeeJayEndo]

If your using the CDJ 2000's in Advanced HID Mode with Traktor there is no lag at all. Since it is basically acting like a controller, Traktor reacts instantly when you hit a button.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Make sure your on the latest version of Traktor (2.6.1 or above), then follow my instructions in the video carefully.

[@DeeJayEndo]

If your using the CDJs as the soundcard you cannot record via the CDJs since the CDJs do not have an input. You will need to use an external soundcard or controller to record your set. This is why I use the DJM 900 or Audio 8 DJ as my sound card and the CDJs only as controllers.

[@DeeJayEndo]

If you use the CDJs as advanced HID controllers then you do not need a scratch version of Traktor since the CDJs are basically like MIDI controllers. The difference between a SCRATCH version and a non SCRATCH version of Traktor is that the scratch version lets you use timecode cd and timecode vinyl control. Its my understanding that the new updates of Traktor contain scratch but don't quote me on this. Even I'm still confused as to how this works with old / new serial numbers etc. I'll find out.

[@tylrbass]

Do you guys plan on doing a similar tutorial but with the DJM-900nexus?

[@JoshHoliday13]

DeeJayEndo - the set up works great ! i am using a mac book air along with the cdj 2000 nexus and a pioneer djm 850 - So you can't record ? what if you plug the mixer in as well to the lap top ? not sure if that will work but to have a great setup like this and not be able to record is just disappointing - any help is much appreciated thanks

[@djdjonestv]

Great Tutorial!

[@DeeJayEndo]

Playing with one CDJ would be annoying, but I was just saying it is possible. For example if one CDJ breaks or isn't available you always have the backup plan of using one CDJ to control all 4 decks.

[@fosta11]

thanks for uploading. Can I use 2x cdj2000's for decks a and b and 2 reloop contour interface controllers (built in soundcard) for decks c and d?

[@KeremIseri]

Thanks for the video ENDO.. Is it possible to shift/move loops with in the song using CDJ with your mapping??

[@JoshHoliday13]

how would you do that ? i mean use a MIDI controller to control the internal mixer and record using the HD set up ?

[@DJErrn]

Personally in these cases I would use some songs put on a USB Stick or SD Card or go mental CD Why not, I do know that you can run 2 laptops using rekord box, so why not try rekord box instead I don't think you'll lose much except a sync button (Unless you have the new CDJ2000-Nexus)

[@xcharlyw]

I put USB Output level in the Pioneer settings utility to -15db but its the same level as it was

[@adrianscand]

hi thank for this very cool video! i have a open question in my mind!? is there a chance when i use the HID mode to get the big wave forms (like i have from rekordbox) in the diplay ?!? thanks

[@DeeJayEndo]

If your using an external soundcard with Traktor such as a Z2 mixer, Audio 8/10, DJM 900 etc, then you do not need to use the CDJs as a soundcard for Traktor. You can use your mixer or soundcard as the soundcard for Traktor but still use the CDJs in HID mode as controllers.

[@hierrodj]

It`s there any differents between Traktor Pro 2 Srcatch and Traktor Pro 2?? or can i use TP2 in the same way with the CDJs 2000 as with Scratch ?

[@FUNkAYON]

Hi Endo, thanks for the videos! I am using two cdj900 in hid mode and as aggregated sound card and everything is OK until I try to change to CD mode in the CDJ to eventually play an audio cd. In this case, it seems that the Traktor loses the connection and it freezes. Is there any way to play from different sources in CDJs while in HID mode? thanks so much!

[@noebortolussi]

is there any difference if I connect cdjs and mixer with digital audio?

[@ZardozBeats]

One quick simple question: When does the CDJ-2000 display 1 decimal bpm numbers? Like 121.7 BPM at 03:11 of the vid. Will this only be supported when the CDJ2000 is connected to traktor? Or is this supported with usb music without traktor too? I saw that when the CD feature whas used with the CDJ-2000, the CDJ-1000 BPM notation is used. So without decimals, like 127 BPM. Anyone who could answer me on this one is a hero ; ) !!

[@jimzoul]

Can you search with this set up via the keyboard of your Mac your Traktor music library?

[@akaHedeep]

In fact u can say that if u have CDJ 2000 nexus or even 2000, but if u have like me CDJ900s it's way better to have Traktor's interface with an awesome waveform, playlists in a big screen..

[@leevey]

Yes sure!

[@nbdentalservice]

Hey Endo, What if I'm using CDJ900's with a Z2 mixer? do you still have to make the CDJ's the soundcard?

[@k5music1]

Hey Endo, im useing the Z2 with 2 cdj 2000 nexus in usb mode and tracktor scratch pro, when I use the browse rotary knob both the cdj's respond at the same time ? they both scroll ?

[@slik]

iv been using this setup for while at work i,m in love with it can i record using cdjs ?? plz help

[@brennanbuckmaster3180]

can you record in traktor internally when using the cdj 2000's as a sound card?

[@loverboy419]

HI I HAVE PIONEER DJM T1 CAN I STILL USE THE FUTURES ON THE MIXER EVEN IF I RUN THE CDJ IN HID MODE?

[@AyushGupta-lj3jp]

Hey I am using Windows 10 is there any issues of using Windows?

[@NumbMuzik]

rekordbox eliminates the need of a laptop at a gig , I used traktor 2.6 tonight with my 2000s but yet prefer using USBs with Rekordbox analysed tracks . Find it more stable too less things to go wrong & keeps your head out of a laptop all night

[@JoshHoliday13]

nice yeah i managed to figure it out, i also combined all 3 sound cards into one ( mac aggregate ) it works amazing ! but every ounce in a while when i record i get "crunches" + all my levels are well low on mixer + tractor gains - any ideas there ?

[@tylrbass]

but it's confusing when you have two devices that make up your one soundcard.. especially when you can normally swap one out while the other is playing, which is a very common way to switch DJ's

[@DeeJayEndo]

My suggestion is flip a coin with the other DJ. Heads you use the CDJs as the soundcard, tails you use an external soundcard such as an Audio 10 or DJM 900 Nexus / Xone DB4 / DJM 2000 as the soundcard. The unfortunate reality is with soundcards, if you unplug them, music will stop. But if your only using the CDJ as the soundcard, and using an external soundcard you have way more options like recording, or hotplugging the CDJs without stopping the audio.

[@konradziele]

Hi, i do anythink what you show on this video by after i link my cdj2000 and connect with traktor i cant see deck selet (vid 1:40). is not visible, but I can set it.also i cant see a library tree on cdj and waveform. all works great - playing scratching, loops. but all the time i see this( vid: 1:36) on my cdj screen. any tip?

[@DeeJayEndo]

Push the rotary selector to select your deck. If you selected the wrong deck by accident, hold the rotary encoder for 3 seconds to change the deck selection.

[@ThePhantomJack]

That implies using external soundcard like the audiodj8.

[@doubleidentity3258]

hey endo, i have got a huge problem when using traktor + cdj 2000. when i click the browse button on my deck b cdj it also pauses deck a, when i press it again the track on deck a starts again at the point where it stopped. how can i fix this?

[@neilfds]

Hi Dj Endo, I have a question does the new Pioneer CDJ 2000 Nexus 2 work perfectly with Traktor 2 in HID Mode like how it works with CDJ 2000 Nexus.

[@oscarandresmunetonvasquez6311]

+Neil Fernandes HI!!!....YOUR BOTH NXS2 WORK WIHT TRAKTOR in HID mode?????

[@tcelikyay]

I am getting TRAKTOR not connected message on the screen when i load my TSİ file, everything works fine except for the info on the screen. Aby ideas why it is doing this?

[@yunikG]

when you gonna make tutorial for 2000 nexus one?

[@ahundreddrums]

Can you link me the address to download your mapping? Would love to just hit the maters tempo button to trigger sync

[@Funkmastabuzz]

Cus Traktor acts as the other deck so u always mix with just the one CDJ. Or 2 if U want but its not necessary.

[@NumbMuzik]

Can you do this without the traktor box ?

[@Booshay__]

what about the quantize feature on 2000 when your making a loop?

[@karlpunt]

@2:04"DJ whole set using one CDJ"... how would this work the Output routing is limited to the physically connected CDJ, the single CDJ2000 would be assigned to all channels, yet they all come out the physical channel the CDJ is connected too. So if you are playing a track, the fader is up, the other channels from traktor come out that mixer channel. I'm very curious to use this for 2 CDJ 2000s connected and get the 3rd & 4th deck of Traktor, but want them on other channels on the mixer (DJM900) is you can cue etc. and not take on the volume of the fader the CDJ is physically connected to. So to your suggestion (using HID to control all channels of Traktor), would it really be achievable out the external mixer?

[@DeeJayEndo]

What I was referring to was lets say you are using the DJM 900 as the SOUND CARD, and using the CDJs only as CONTROLLERS. Basically you could control all 4 decks with one CDJ if you want. I use 3 CDJs and use the third CDJ to control decks 3&4 and I toggle back and forth with the third CDJ. When using the CDJs as the SOUNDCARD, you are limited by the physical connections from the CDJ to the mixer.

[@karlpunt]

Endo sorry could you explain this further. How do you toggle between which channel the CDJ 'controls' with DJM 900 as soundcard (not CDJs in MIDI mode). If you move traktor focus from say deck A to C, if A is playing, it will start playing C and vice versa. I guess it works as long as you think about the active playing state as you 'toggle' A-C or B-D for example

[@aguafiesta69]

where can I find the button lay out for CDJ 900s + Traktor?

[@DeeJayEndo]

Personally I don't like using the CDJ 900's with Traktor after using the CDJ 2000's. You lose a ton of things on the visual screen and also there's no hotcue's mapped in the mapping which is really annoying to me. However, using the CDJ 900's as a controller and / or soundcard is way better than using it with timecode!

[@JoshHoliday13]

i just got a RMX 1000 to add the the set up, but when u turn on tractor with it there is a hum like a ground hum, i have high end gold platted chords, i plugged the RMX 1000 into a couple different outlets the hum is still there, when i use the RMX w/o tractor there is no hum - any ideas what the issue could be ?

[@DeeJayEndo]

It's Traktor, not Tractor (pet peeve of mine) haha. But It sounds like you have some sort of grounding or power / electricity issue at your house. Maybe try using a ground lift (3 to 2 power adapter). They are like $2 at radio shack.See if this fixes your issue.

[@JoshHoliday13]

thanks for your reply i was about to try to sell my RMX 1000 but i really like the unit. ill try that today hopefully that will work, I did have an electrician come over and ground all the outlets in my studio too :) cheers ( sorry bout the spelling error )

[@sashdts]

Guys what about changing laptops on the fly? I mean if i use 2x cdj-900 (or 2x 2000) connected by hid-mode to my laptop (with aggregate audio device) and then next guy want to change me and start playing at the same way. We tried in a club to switch first cdm-900 to his laptop but then my traktor stoped playing. How to solve this problem. How to connect already used CDJ to another laptop without any crashes?

[@Codaddict1000]

how do the cdj 900's work with traktor? good or bad

[@DeeJayEndo]

Oh man, don't bother with that. Just set one of your outputs in the Pioneer settings utility to REC OUT and then configure your inputs in Traktor so Deck D (or whatever deck you choose) is set to the inputs of the channel you set to REC OUT, then in the mix recorder preferences set the recording source to EXTERNAL and choose the channel you selected as REC OUT to be the recording channel. Then you will have great sound quality since the recording is all done in the box.

[@wadewizzy10]

on my cdj 2000 the release start?stop and also touch/ brake knobs don't respond is that normal

[@PaulAdrien]

@ 2:00, what's the point of doing a set with one cdj ?

[@NumbMuzik]

I have 2000s dont like using it with traktor , very laggy . Use Serato with CDJs & Traktor with controllers

[@NumbMuzik]

No ! You have your entire music collection

[@apeilonoway]

Im pretty sure that Diplo actually uses Serato tho...

[@hightreesfamily4376]

Don't know why don't know if you know about record box but done everything i can analysed my tunes then moved tune over to record box yeah i know you asked one tune rit here's the funny bit don't know where i put the only tune that makes the four beat canter and i can i work with mo zoom wave form but yeah that's why i can't remember for the life of me where i put the tune into record box can you help me.

[@DJSTEVESTONE]

put your cursor above artist Right click box will open then tick date and you will be able to see the track date added to find your track

[@tylrbass]

once you make that aggregate device you can't unplug one without the whole thing going down

[@fosta11]

same as rekordbox i mean

[@Grymlingen]

No beatjump or Traktor fx :(? Weak

[@robbz2k7]

turns a normal 2000 into a nexus

[@stacksedwardsog]

i don't like how much he talks about using sync ... especially if your only whipping TWO flippin decks ... i don't fux with sync and i'll whip 3 decks and a F1 .... I mean with some strategic routines it can be acceptable but when your mixing one track into the next don't be so lazy and use your ears !! -_-