Pioneer CDJ-500s & DJM-500 in the MIX April 12, 2020

I'm playing fresh house music using my very old CDJ-500s (1998) & DJM-500 (1996). Now in corona times, I have the time to dust off my older gear and take it for a test run. Just for fun, and to show why Pioneer took over the DJ-booth in the early 2000's. This gear is not nearly as precise as modern, or any pro gear from the 2000's, but still after so many years, it's still possible to pull off a decent mix using this gear. The jog's are extremely sensitive as required back then. Very very tiny nudges, or the music skips ahead or backwards and you've completely lost the transition. This gear is still 100% working, and shows the longevity and reliability that pro DJ's rely on still today. Should silent any doubters out there.
The music is a mix of soulful, funky, classic vocal house that should put a smile on any house head out there.
Track list:
01. Raven & Kreyn ft Nino Lucarelli & LOUD ABOUT US! - This far
02. Conner Jay - Just be friends
03. David Penn ft Kevin McKay - Hallelujah
04. Alma-Gemea - Geddown with me
05. Sugarstarr - We are one
06. Soul Divide ft Becka - Keep the fire burning
07. DSTAR 86 ft Scarlett Quinn - All that's on my mind
08. Dj Rhythm ft KYM FRANKLIN - Just move
09. Samuele Sartini ft Jonk & Spook - Stars
10. Mannix ft Andre Espeut - Turn the light on
11. KORT ft Walter Vooys & Effs - Joy
12. Da Buzz - Hard to love
13. M.o.t - Thinking to myself
14. Yogesh Lama ft M.Dee - First time
15. ICee1 - Feel love
16. Diva Avari ft The French House Mafia - Eye of the tiger
17. Softmal ft Avrupts - Come on baby
18. ShoXeRr - Runaway
19. Daniele Mistretta - Feel that
20. Richard Grey - Thinking of you
21. New Mondo - Express your soul
22. Kyle Kim ft Sheree Hicks - Sometimes
23. BoogieKnights - My love
24. Adri Blok ft Martina Budde - You to me are everything
25. De Melero ft Monica Green - Night moves
26. Tyler Coey - Night party
27. CRDJ ft Beverly S - I feel your love
28. Fubu - Uh oooh

[@joshg0h79]

That's awesome!

[@joshg0h79]

Just bought a xdm 500 for 2.4 bills. It was that or Behringer 900 and everyone saying Pioneer. Still waiting to arrive.

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

Yeah, my DJM-500 still is a fully working DJ-mixer suitable for most environments. If you master basic mixing skills, no one would notice that you're using a 29 year old DJ mixer. What doesn't really work in today's environment is the once ground breaking effect unit. Use it with care :) . If you want a good introduction in to using effects, get a DJM-600. The functionality and behavior is the same as on any newer Pioneer mixer, and can be used in a much more subtle way. Anyway, good luck with your new mixer, and most important of all, have fun :) !

[@kimchi_b]

Great set!

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

Thank you!

[@MCdrivein]

Awesome! I've got an original Pioneer set with the CDJ-500S players and a DJM-300 mixer, in the original Pioneer case with stickers. Have an extra 500S player with stand as well. Planning on uploading an old-school trance mix soon :)

[@DJGeosmin]

old school trance dj gang!

[@mohdshahrulmatisa262]

Old school DJ .. Cdj500 for professional dj

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

Some of my retro gear. Take them out for a spin now and then, just for fun :) . Still in mint condition.

[@FELIX.JDJBATUR]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 gran set en breve hare uno con mis cdj 500...

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

@@FELIX.JDJBATUR ¡Gracias! Que agradable. Envíe un enlace cuando su dj-mix esté listo :).

[@FELIX.JDJBATUR]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o16qo6qagZp7e6s

[@oc10121989]

ahh classic 90's gear, i had the chance to train on the djm 500\600 and on these CD players, tbh the djm 500\600 were ok\good but those cd players i really didnt enjoy, i rather the cdj 100 that came later

[@DJGeosmin]

I have that mixer, but its in crap shape I gig with cdj1000 mk1s and turntables with a numark im9 tho I mainly do trance sets (think early 2ks tiesto) so its just the best feel for that

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

You should pair the CDJ-1000's with a DJM-600 to get the real feel for the time this music came out. DJM-600's are easier to get in a good condition as they sold in enormous numbers compared to the DJM-500. Pretty much everything is improved compared to the DJM-500, and most of all the effects, that works the same as on the latest models. They are still analogue, but doesn't take over the sound as brutal as on the DJM-500. Now there's the intensity knob that was missing, and there's almost all the effects still most used today. Some people say the sound quality is bad, but often the problem is found on the back of the mixer where the attenuation screw is way to high. Put the signal on a channel on 0 db, raise the master volume while lowering the attenuation until there's a clean signal. Problem fixed :) . Now you can blast your neighbors with clean thumping trance, using the effects that Tiesto and all the others used in the early 2000's. I paid €200 for my DJM-600 in prime condition a few years back. The plan is to record a mix using that and a few CDJ-1000's. I have a bunch of CDJ-1000Mk3's, but only one CDJ-1000 1st edition. They are hard to find in good condition.

[@DJGeosmin]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 thanks for the advice yeah, the 1000mk1s are a pain to find in good shape. I put my pair together from 4 units worth of parts. ill look in to the 600, but im real happy with my numark, was looking at upgrading to the 900 Or buying a full dennon prime setup when the time comes, because I play dubstep too and thats a bit mutch for mixing without a beatgrid lol as for quality, im playing cds of 128k youtube rips lol as a sound engineer, it makes me cringe, but as a dj, im not paying $100 per record for good music

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

@@DJGeosmin Getting an old mixer and gear is for fun only, and to give a little respect to history. ...and to show off some basic mixing skills too :) . I recommend to join a DJ Pool that are focused on the music you like. For a monthly fee you can add as many high quality tracks you can find in their back catalog and daily/weekly updates. Many has good starting offers, with some limitations, but good enough for you to recognize if they have what you want. When you find one good for you, stay until your satisfied for a while. There's also free promotion deals to join. I get 20-30 offers/day. Some requires your feedback, but not all. So you pay with a little time instead of money. In return the quality is at least mp3 320 and more often wav. I work as a full time DJ and started back in 1985... gosh, I'm old :) , so I can tell it's not done in a day to get all the free promos, but if you put in some time and ask for it, it pays off. For the last +5 years my current setup is the Pioneer NXS2 and for travel setup I have the much smaller XDJ-700/DJM-450. These make my life easy and efficient in the booth, but i have more fun using the old gear.

[@nikolajandersen2354]

Grat mix. is the djm 500 still a good purchase in 2020 when compared to other newer mixers? I can get a second DJM 500 for 120 euro

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

Good compared to the last decades versions, no, it's not. I had my first DJM-500 for 21 years and it served me extremely well, and it was my first ''modern'' mixer in terms of 3 band EQ, Trim, Effects and Booth options. Most mixers before the DJM-500, and certainly the ones I had, didn't have that. Just the possibility to cue up more than one track and the master in your headphones were only for the most expensive mixers back then. So for me it is the nostalgia that is the value. Unless you can get one very cheap in full working order like I did ($50), aim for a DJM-800 or a DJM-450. If you need 4 channels, go for the DJM-800. it still has almost every feature you will find on the latest Pioneer mixers. The only missing is a couple of the new effects, link, and built in soundcard for software. If you can work with 2 channels and a AUX for a third source option, go for the DJM-450. It is the latest tech and have a built in sound card, which makes connecting to a computer for recording and live streaming a lot easier. I lacks a booth out option, but at home you can use a monitor with a volume control, as it has 2 master out. Balanced XLR and RCA. New it comes with Rekordbox DJ and DVS software worth $250. Make sure it's included. I really do think that those two mixers have the best value of all current mixers if you want most features as well as high quality and reliability. Both options will cost you around $350-$400, and will be more reliable and probably have less wear and tear than a DJM-500. If you are really short on money and want a mixer with a lot of features and still be of decent quality, I'd recommend the Behringer DDM-4000. It has a lot of more options and settings than most other mixers and cost only $300 new. I've had one for 12 years and it's still working. The overall quality is far from that of Pioneer mixers, but if you find one in good condition, it will only cost you around $100. If you scroll down in my videos you can see one where I use mine with 2 CDJ-100Mk3's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oV66apmXhLd-oZY . It's pretty awesome for the price, and much better than any other Behringer DJ-mixer.

[@nikolajandersen2354]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 woow.. Thank you so much for highly valuable input.. Much appreciated.. You're not mentioning the 250mk2.. 2 channels for me is enough. The drm 500 was just offered to me at very low price so I thought it would be a good deal.

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

@@nikolajandersen2354 The ability to learn how effects work is important. It is not a major part of how I play and the filter knobs are the most important effect. Still, its nice to have effects to use sometimes, and it takes practice to find out which effects work for you and how to use them in a proper way. I have the DJM-250, first edition, and it's a really nice and easy to use mixer and perfect to bring to smaller venues and bars where there's little space and maybe some risk for accident. B.t.w, the effects on the DJM-500 are not controllable in level or intensity, only to set them in beat. It means they are very loud. I think the only useful are reverb, and the pitch on the mic, to make someone sound like a chipmunk :) . But really, if you buy used, it's not that big of a difference in price between the DJM-250Mk2 and the DJM-450. The DJM-450 will give you 4 color effects and 8 of the best beat effects from the DJM-900NXS2, and the USB on top where you can add an iPad for recording and even more effects through apps. It can also be used for easy firmware updates. Other features are Mono split - Stereo option for your head phones, and Isolator option for your EQ. Gold plated contacts will give better contact for longer time. I think all those extras makes is worth to spend $150 more. My personal opinion of course :) . I have 2 current setups that I use frequently. One is the NXS2 setup, which is extremely good for anything and everything, BUT it's very expensive and heavy/not practical to carry around. I need to have parking just outside the venue and I need to get proper paid if I'm going to bring that setup. My second setup is the XDJ-700/DJM-450. It has the best value. I got it used for $1100, in prime condition, like new. It has everything I normally use when I play and is very easy to bring and setup. It was paid in full after 2 weeks. Now, after a year and the + 50 gigs I have used it on, it still looks and work like new. I've had my NXS2 setup for 4 years and it will take another 3 years before I consider that it's paid off itself. Normally, before the Pandemic, I used t do + 200 gigs/year, and in most of those the Pioneer Nexus or NXS2 are installed, so I need gear that are within one generation to be familiar with all the features, but I don't need all of them to perform. I also have to be able to handle every Rekordbox compatible CDJ and XDJ, and any DJ-mixer, so I like to practice with older gear that don't have all the bells and whistles to keep my skills in order :) . Now, during the Pandemic I have a lot of free time. If I can use my 35 years of experience as a DJ to help someone, it's well worth a moment of my time.

[@arleendo]

I’m not even the guy who asked but hey thank you so much for taking the time. How you are all well. Cheers from a beginner DJ rocking a DDJ400

[@jockeandersson2698]

Gaffa är bra att ha :D

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

Alltid! :D

[@sebastianpinto4152]

May I ask how did you connect the mixer to be able to record the audio output?

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

I have an old computer running Windows XP that has a Creative Audigy 2 sound card built in. I have a RCA cable running from the mixer into ''line in'' to the sound card. Then I send the audio back to my amplifier (Yamaha DSP-AZ2). This means that I can capture the sound that goes in to my computer with any recording software, in my case Wavelab. I have many older analogue mixers where this or similar ways are the only way to capture the sound. This Soundblaster audio card is actually so good that I use my newer mixers, DJM-450/2000/900NXS2, which has build in sound cards, to record audio with it as well. Another benefit recording this way is that I can use main RCA out, and still use the amplifier to control the volume level of the speakers, without affecting the recording volume. Comes in handy as I like to crank up the volume when I practice and record my sets. If I'm away and want to record a set, I bring my DJM-350 which has build recording just like the XDJ all-in-one's have. I just send the audio signal from my main mixer to one channel of the DJM-350 and capture the sound on a USB stick. As I always use XLR's when I'm out, I can use the main RCA or the Rec out from my main mixer.

[@sebastianpinto4152]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 Thanks a lot! very enlightening. Do you think it would be possible to connect it to a regular laptop as well?

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

@@sebastianpinto4152 Maybe. It depends on if the sound card have a combo line/mic in and if the connection supports stereo. If it supports only mic and is mono only, I recommend that you get an external USB sound card that have the right connections. Usually the external sound card will give you a better quality noise free signal. Some older Acer laptops had separate line in/mic in connections and some gaming laptops also have that, but in general they don't.

[@sebastianpinto4152]

@@dj-peterofficial2753 many thanks!

[@BorgCreations]

Do the cdj500 suport mp3 files on cd?

[@dj-peterofficial2753]

No. When they were released in 1995, mp3's were just invented :) , and not in common use. That didn't happen until after 2000, when computers were strong enough to handle mp3's, and hdd's still too small and expensive to store high res media. The first players from pioneer supporting mp3's were the CDJ-200 and the CDJ-1000Mk3 I believe, released in 2005/2006, 10/11 years later. The CDJ-500's are audio CD only, but they do play burnt CD's like a charm. Something most other brands never could do as well.

[@oc10121989]

not even the cdj 100 played MP3's