Entry Level DJ Controllers: 5 Ways to get the BEST SOUND QUALITY

[@priyonjoni]

PRODUCT LINKS Gear mentioned in this video: Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 pro DJ media player www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIOCDJ3000 Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 6 channel performance DJ mixer www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIODJMV10 Pioneer DJ DJM-S11 battle DJ mixer www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIODJMS11 Pioneer Pro Audio XPRS15 powered speaker w/ DSP amzn.to/38PvcMr Entry level DJ controllers in video: Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 entry level DJ controller www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIODDJ400 Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB3 entry level DJ controller www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIODDJSB3 Direct Music Service www.directmusicservice.com 30% off first month, use promo code PJMONTHLY 10% off first year, use promo code PJYEARLY Custom artwork LED backlit acoustic panels from PsyAcousics psyacoustics.com for questions, contact [e-mail]

[@raytorres6077]

Hey Pri Yon Joni, question I don't see the 2 Discount links on your video presentation. I went through it two to three times to see if I overlooked it. But, to no avail I don't see it. Maybe you forgot about it. I can sure use those two discounts, I can use all the help and support you provide. Once again, thank you for your knowledge of DJ.😎

[@priyonjoni]

@@raytorres6077 sorry, it's there now. Must have missed that.

[@raytorres6077]

@@priyonjoni thanks

[@bitangayves2125]

Hey man, great vid, very informative🤝🏽 I have to ask u tho, most of my files are 320 kbps 44.1kHz .mp3, but a sizeable chunk of my library Is in 16 bit 44.1kHz .flac format with the kbps ranging from 800 to 1090 .... also have a few .wav files at 1411 kbps and some 24 bit 48kHz .flac files at 1789 kbps.... I just acquired a hercules dj control inpulse 500 and plan on practicing hard on it.... are those flac and wav overkill? Are they going to brake my controller ? I don't want to have to replace / compress all of them to 320 kbps 🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️. And last question.... 16 bit vs 24 bit .... which is better. Ps: storage space is not an issue for me Awesome channel man ! Keep it up !!

[@deepsoulfulsounds]

I played out with the original DDJ-SB on big and small systems with 10-15' RCA cables in Toronto bars and clubs for 4 years with no issues. Some people will hate but the weight and form factor makes it the ultimate mobile rig when paired with a lightweight laptop like a MacBook Air. The return on investment was amazing and I look forward to gifting it to someone young that wants to learn. DJs with $2000+ controllers get especially upset when they see the results and earnings that can be had from a $300 controller!

[@priyonjoni]

I feel this and know how it goes!

[@aj6761]

This is all extremely valuable info. One thing we need to consider is unless you're playing on some giant sound stage, the audience can barely notice the difference in quality. So my main point is, don't overthink or overengineer it. Have fun and improve things over time as you need.

[@chunkychev]

Lol only the new Dj's get their nickers in a twist about this stuff, the fact is the vast majority of your audiences won't and don't care, ive Djayed for many years before there were CD's let alone CDJ's serato, rekordbox or any of that stuff when I decided to modernise and hang up my turntables I looked at controllers and things like signal to noise ratio are superfluous when it comes to most equipment outside of a concert hall or studio. Thats why I use a basic pioneer DDJ3 , this guy is one of the few young Dj's that actually get it !

[@djshaunreed8215]

Great job! the amount of arguments I've had with some DJs over this topic is mind boggling. Once again great job bro

[@djtmajorsd]

Great video. DDJ-400 was my first controller. Used an external Allen & Heath mixer which really did the trick. Definitely was able to do weddings with no loss in quality of sound.

[@jeremywhyte-hemson3589]

What's thecexact Allen and heath mixer you use?

[@djblack_eagle]

Yeah what A&H mixer do you use?

[@Jollysanitary]

Xone:92 ?

[@bom128]

It’s not just about the spec sheet. The quality of the DAC and analog output implementation plays a far greater role in the sound quality performance.

[@kenferr3650]

Thanks for the clarification on the curvature on high and low end. I’m transforming or should say replacing my 80-90’s old school analog system. Lots of frustrations but getting there. My biggest complaint though is everything only has a three band EQ grrrrr. Currently using a ddj400 into a old Numark mixer with seven band EQ…. Thanks for the videos great job 👍

[@vaughanbiddle3123]

this was a good video but there were quite a few things that weren't true like the fact that mp3 compression will cut off low frequencies (it won't), and the idea that if there is a cut-off frequency above 20000hz u can't notice a difference (untrue) and the idea that the frequency response, headroom and signal strength are the only things that represent the quality of sound.

[@djrezone7524]

Wow, you just brought me to school brother.. Thank you so much for this breakdown. Wow very informative Good job

[@priyonjoni]

Glad to help!

[@Billkwando]

I use a Numark Mixtrack 1, which has no internal sound card, and thus my sound quality is pristine. ;)

[@eli-shulga]

Very important information, that is hard to find going so deep, for beginners like me Thank you

[@priyonjoni]

Glad it was informative!

[@thedjboothohio]

High quality mp3s always the way to go! I still run my controller into a board even though it has XLR outs. Great video! For those who are persnickety about audio this is very helpful.

[@DJNMIX85]

i recomend passive stereo direct box with sb1,sb2,sb3, ddj400, flx4, flx6 etc.

[@Royal_dj_ent]

So the cable length 6-10 foot limited only applies to rca and not xlr correct?

[@mobinphotography7163]

Hi, another problem with entry level dj controllers are the cheap audio interface built in it. We will get excellent quality sound if we r using an external Pro Audio interface. So tat we can use our entry level dj controller as just a controller and we can route the sound from the laptop direct to the external audio interface. (Also external audio interfaces having balanced outputs like XLR, TS etc) we will get great sound quality. I am using this way

[@juanlabbe9236]

Tell the name of the software. Thanks. Its useful info.

[@michaelcoleman8203]

Could you do a video on dj headphones

[@visualightltd.9476]

Great video as ever, i use CDJ’s for most music I play but also stream from tidal hifi subscription to dj software (DJay), iPad with a Wego4 into a djm750 is it worth the extra or would normal tidal be just as good? Many thanks pal 👍🏼

[@matthewvandenbranden7629]

So I just bought a pioneer ddj flx4 subwoofer and 2 studio monitors do i need an audio interface?

[@siyabongamahlangu3236]

Very Informative and helpful 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@priyonjoni]

Glad to help!

[@samuellbrowning]

Great info! QUESTION: I stream my music through Tidal to the ddj 400, all my songs are “HiFi” and some “Master”. Which both are better than SoundCloud or spotify through regular streaming, Does this change the audio through the controller to a speaker?

[@sinan7975]

This is so well put together.

[@bitangayves2125]

Yeah I try to avoid redlining on virtual dj and on my hercules inpulse 500 as well. That worked pretty well so far for me, and if the signal is too low, then I moderately boost the gain on the external mixer. Lol in the beginning I used to rip songs off of KZbin and soundcloud, and convert them to 320 kbps.... I thought i was great😂😂 now my library is mostly .flac, legit 320 mp3s and maybe a couple of .wav and aiff. I rather use flac then mp3 because it sounds so much more crisper 😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@P4JJP]

Very useful info, many thanks 🙏🏾

[@priyonjoni]

No problem!

[@sumitromandal6173]

Thnx for the video sir hope you are doing well....can you make a video on when to scratch? Coz we all focus on the how but never on when,and what kind of tracks.

[@robertewbank1440]

What about if your using tidal as a dj should you use normal setting of hi fi on sound quality....

[@mikeytown99]

hi pri, what spectrum analyzer are you using and where could I download it. thanks

[@priyonjoni]

It was Ableton Live’s stock EQ 8

[@djchicoswava]

#5 talk to em brother 💪🏽 💯

[@djchicoswava]

I use BPM Supreme now but i will admit I used to rip off of KZbin for years given the genre of DJing that I do Chopped and Screwed with the slow down Tempo and range you can really hear the difference from 128 to 320. I've told other DJs that ripping music from KZbin and converting to lossless is equivalent to polishing a turd and the way that you explained in the video just clarifies a statement.

[@ryoo7845]

Hello PJ, if you use RCA to XLR connection, is there change in audio quality?

[@priyonjoni]

It will remain an unbalanced signal path and will not gain any improvements. Check out this video where it goes into detail kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKPPeKaLlsekrrs

[@djsmellnloud7246]

being a hip hop dj i preach about tip 5 all the damn time smh

[@6thHokageJuan]

What would you recommend with Hercules DJControl Impulse 500 controller....it works with both DJuced and Serato...I'm currently messing with DJUCED...i will give Serato a try soon just to see which i prefer...but I'm currently connecting directly with a portable 12" Bluetooth party speaker...that has included gain knobs for treble and bass....which is loud enough for my room and neighborhood...but i want to DJ at Quinceñeras and weddings...so what other equipment would you recommend??? I am trying to do this on a budget tho...

[@bobpuls]

bluetooth speakers ... what is the delay ? are you even able to mix from them as monitors ?

[@6thHokageJuan]

@@bobpuls for the most part they work just fine you just can't go too cheap on them

[@innis2gbor]

I wonder what DJ software is that?

[@housenation101]

Great video 😁🎧

[@ardalanst]

lossless topic : Yes please!

[@priyonjoni]

You got it. Been doing research on it for a while.

[@ardalanst]

@@priyonjoni Cheers! looking forward :)

[@PraneetTulshyan]

hi, great videos and great information. i wanted to ask you, as I am an aspiring DJ and producer, still practicing at home, how do I get access to pools like DMS? they seem to only be available to professional DJs. For someone who's just starting out and not yet professional, how do we go about it? to avoid ripping off of YT and MP3 converters?

[@priyonjoni]

If you plan to use it to do paid gigs, you qualify as a professional.

[@djnandozsunshine]

Can i use portable amplifier to boost gain?

[@alieujallow1920]

Really helpful, appreciated @Pri yon Joni

[@priyonjoni]

No problem!

[@jinkazuya]

NOT mp3!!! ONLY WAV or FLAC!!!!

[@isaac10231]

99% of people at a bar can't hear the difference.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Which software’s limiter is he talking about? We want names!! Lol

[@miggyarceo2627]

Welp, my DDJ-200 just killed me while using the Mono Split cable.

[@priyonjoni]

Have you tried using an external audio interface? You can actually do this with rekordbox while using the DDJ-200 with a laptop.

[@miggyarceo2627]

I haven't tried using an external audio interface cause I'm still using my phone while djing. Though probably the day I'll brought a PC I'll also get an audio interface for better audio output. Though thanks I learned alot on your vids !

[@DJ_PHILCO79]

Drink coffee ☕ and ✔ it out thanks!!!

[@Earthcitizen4609]

Lossless topic please

[@broucke1r]

What about to just buy a entry lvl external sound card like Scarlet solo or Arturia mini fuse 1, both about to $100 price and connect rca outputs to the club mixer and forget about any budget controller issues? If You play mp3 it will be more than enough… if You play lossless(aiff or wave) you need better sound cards with 5-10 time expense sound cards, but it is another story…

[@bitangayves2125]

U need a controller man, the sound will be so much better. I used to just dj with my laptop connected to the dj mixer / PA mixer with an Aux cable...I thought the sound was OK..... til I was able to afford a dj controller. The difference is night and day. Plus, u have way more headroom that way. U can avoid clipping / reclining on ur dj software and on ur dj mixer - provided ur audio files are legit - and moderately boost the gain on ur external mixer - if need be - and ur sound still won't come out distorted on the speakers . - I run virtual dj pro on a regular windows computer - my mid-level controller is the Hercules dj control Inpulse 500, and it sounds great - I connect it to an external mixer using either rca cables or TRS cables. - my song library is made up of about 75 % .flac files , 10% legit 320 kbps mp3s, 2 .wavs and 2 .aiffs. the rest is old youtube / soundcloud rips I'm replacing / deleting over time - not using them til I replace them with flac or proper mp3. If storage space isn't an issue, I would recommend 16bit .flac over mp3s. 24bit flac, .aiff and .wav are Way too big ....100 mbs on average (my tracks are about 7 min on average, sooo), whereas 16 bit flacs are about 40 t0 60 mbs

[@broucke1r]

@@bitangayves2125 I mean that You can buy the entry lvl external sound card (for $85-100)as Addition to the budget controller($250-300). Budget controller + external soundcard will sound pretty good! Enough for most clubs, except the the list of TOP100 clubs of the world. The total budget is about $345-400. I don’t know about Hercules models - so I will not tell anything about that. I know that Traktor S4 mk3(and mk2) has perfect sound out of the box, but it cost $800-900. And You don’t need to add anything.

[@Earthcitizen4609]

Is it serato

[@MarioSargeant]

Hey Pri! Great video! You made all this really easy to understand and interesting for a non tech guy like myself so I subscribed right away. I found you today while searching for answers to a question I've had for a long time and no luck. I have a Numark Mixdeck Express controller connected to a laptop and an Allen and Heath ZED10fx, using Virtual DJ. Playing music with the controller pulling music from the laptop sounds significantly weaker than playing the same files played via a usb drive on the controller. This means though that I can't use the Virtual Dj. Why is this and more importantly how can I fix this to I get better sound?

[@DJHYDEHEART]

Your explanation about Virtual DJ's limiter at 9:30 is not true. The limiter does not do anything to the treble and bass. I'd love to see how you came to that conclusion and what solutions you have to offer based on that statement. Once again, typical for a Pioneer representative to take a shit on anything that's not Serato DJ.

[@priyonjoni]

If you scroll back, you will find I did not mention any DJ software by name. How did you conclude it was in reference to Virtual DJ? Just for the record, I think Virtual DJ is a great DJ software, and stem separation capabilities is amazing.

[@bitangayves2125]

@@priyonjoni it sure is !!!

[@chrispyT414]

LOSSLESS DEEP DIVE PLEASE

[@deejayworlhed738]

I Rip almost every song i have. But I use other method to get high quality.

[@DJHYDEHEART]

what method do you use?

[@deejayworlhed738]

@@DJHYDEHEART IDM

[@DJTechnoboom]

My DDJ-RB sounds pretty decent on my ALTO speakers

[@vitodebenedictis2313]

Not all files on DMS are “quality”

[@nomadicguide3848]

You should be a physics teacher

[@djirvim-oficial]

🤟🔥🔥

[@bobpuls]

some bla bla ... you wish it is so simple as you draw it (try to learn something more about it, the sound frequency response is never linear ... even human ear can not hear linear response and some frequencies are more highlighted then others )...Entry level or Pro level controllers are midi controllers and you do not have to use the sound output which is build in them... you can buy the best soundcard you wish and use sound output from it ..... they called controllers because they are controllers and not all of them have soundcard included . And also you can play Raw (.wav) music not only mp3 (which can be also in good quality )...this is just nonsense most of it ( 5 is true) .

[@priyonjoni]

In rekordbox you can reallocate the sound card. In Serato it is not possible.

[@bobpuls]

@@priyonjoni good to know, i didn't play with serato ... Recordbox and virtualdj, djuced, traktor do not have any isues with it..... Serato is bad only for this reason. Thanks

[@bobpuls]

@@priyonjoni but i will check it out.....was always curious about serato software