Pioneer CDJ-400 DJ CD Deck
Site Review: The new bad boy of the world-famous Pioneer CDJ range takes some style from the recent CDJ-200 but is packed full of new features for the next digital DJ age. Where do we start?! It has full MP3 playback as with later versions of the other models, but most impressively, can also playback from USB mass storage devices - such as USB memory sticks, and external hard drives! Other awesome new features include full MIDI support to control DJ software via a USB port, 3 new scratch jog effects in vinyl mode, and a "beat loop divide" function to create funky effects by dividing up beats. Finally, Pioneer give us jog wheel illumination with 6 different patterns to choose from and customisation of your own CDJ "slip mats"! One word, WOW!
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Product Information
Brand: Pioneer
Model: CDJ-400
Main features: playback from USB mass storage devices, full MIDI support, scratch effects, beat loop divide function, jog wheel illumination. Pitch accuracy 0.02%.
Expect to pay: £449.00
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Key feature for me is the USB connectivity - USB sticks, external Hard-drive & I-pod support. 1000's of tracks instantly playable on the deck. All features are available as with cd's (apart from the wide pitch range) meaning you can scratch away to your heart's content. No digital break-up of the tracks means perfect clarity & people won't recognise what format the sound is in. Be wary of performing a set/demo mix using an I-pod however as there is a known problem with them stalling on the system after prolonged used.
The beat-divider is a great tool to instantly add spark to a track. Press the - minus beat divide button & it instantly sets a 4 beat loop, press it again & it cuts the sound up rhythmically, press again & it cuts the sound further. You need to hear what it can create to understand as it truly adds more to the listening experience. The other major additions are the fx options, 3 in vinyl mode & 3 in cdj mode. Not being a scratch dj I've not had much of a play & probably won't get much use. The fx in cdj mode are great though with a frequency filter & phaser that are changeable in their depth by rotating the jog wheel in either direction. Great & simple to use adding extra to the mix. The other fx called 'trans' creates a strange roll/stutter effect that will be good for vocal & stab fx rather than in the main element of a track.
Cue point as same as in other pioneers. Everything is where it should be. Can't say enough good things about it in the short space of time I've owned it but would definitely recommend a purchase.