The screen is able to display song info, album art, wave data and other advanced song info. In addition to the WQVGA screen (480×234), the CDJ-2000 brings a number of enhancements over its predecessor. For starters, it has a touch-sensitive area called the “Needle Pad”, which lets users jump to a specific song point with the flick of a finger. Secondly, the turntables can now act as a MIDI controller for other devices, with all of its 35 buttons at the ready for musical manipulation. Lastly, it comes equipped with Pioneer’s “Pro DJ Link,” which lets you plug and external data source into one turntable, and access that data on any other CDJ-2000 turntable linked up to the system.

But here’s the kicker—we’re gonna have the CDJ-2000 system setup at Giz Gallery ‘09, where DJs will be testing their skills on the new hardware.

NEW PIONEER CDJ DIGITAL TURNTABLES BRING THE ART OF DJING TO NEW HEIGHTS

CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 Enable DJs to Access Their Music Directly from the Players

Long Beach, CA (September 17, 2009) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. Professional Sound and Visual Division, the leader in Pro DJ products and the innovator of the CD turntable, today launched two multi-format digital turntables, the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900, with features that put the performance back into the art of DJing and reduce the need for laptops to access music files. DJs of all experience levels can enhance their mixing and scratching capabilities using proprietary technologies such as rekordbox™1 music management, Pro DJ Link, Needle Search and USB and SD card connectivity.

“Understanding the expanding needs of today’s evolving DJs, Pioneer’s new multi-format digital turntables allow DJs to access, search and control their content directly from the player itself,” said Matt Dever, Vice President, Professional Sound and Visual Division. “The new CDJ players provide the same legendary quality standards and playability of the CDJ-1000/800 with the added convenience of native playback of key digital media file formats accessed through a multitude of compatible media, whether it’s on CD, DVD, portable hard drive or flash memory device. In addition, both models are HID compatible with today’s top DJ performance software, making these players the natural selection for any performance DJ.”

Prepared For Any Performance
Adapting to today’s variety of media formats, the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 enable playback of MP3, AAC, WAV and AIFF audio files from CDs and USB memory devices, and from DVDs and SD cards as well on the CDJ-2000. A USB port located on top of the turntable enables users to quickly connect an external storage device such as a Tonium Pacemaker™ or a hard drive packed with music files, minimizing the need to bring a laptop computer to performances.

Both the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 turntables include rekordbox™, Pioneer’s proprietary music management software that organizes and catalogs a DJ’s entire music library. When music files are imported to rekordbox, the software analyzes each file and prepares them for use specifically with the new CDJ turntables. Key elements of Pioneer’s rekordbox software:

* Analyze:
o Beats Per Minute (BPM) Data – BPM / Tempo information for each song is identified and processed into rekordbox for use by the DJ in preparing and performing a set.
o Waveform Data – The waveform of each song is identified and then displayed on the bottom screen for quick data visualization and for use with the needle search function on the CDJ-2000 turntable.
* Customize:
o Tag Info & Artwork – Edit and customise the file information to performance needs.
o Hot Cues, Cue Points, and Loops – Prepare and customise cues and loops as well as create and manage hot cue banks.
o Playlists – Create, edit and manage customised playlists for various performances.
o Beatgrid – Utilizing the new Quantizing feature, cue points and loops can be set perfectly on-beat. The Quantize feature ensures cue points are set accurately and automatically, correcting and synching beats during manual looping or a real-time cueing, preventing off beat mistakes.

Pioneer CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 page 2

Users can then transfer analyzed music files to their preferred storage media and play them directly from the new CDJ turntables. The software offers song information that can be viewed easily during performances on the CDJs’ large displays to quickly search and access content by genre, title, BPM, etc. Also, as analyzed tracks are played through the CDJ products, the turntables automatically create and save a play history enabling users to review past performances on their PCs.

Pro DJ Link

The new turntables feature Pioneer’s Pro DJ Link that enables up to four CDJ-2000/900s to be connected via the Link Port to share a single music source, whether it is a hard drive, USB and/or SD memory card. Once linked, users have the ability to quickly find, display and choose the music file from a connected source through the CDJ’s built-in display and control knobs. A quick turn of the knob lets users scroll through created files and folders and a push of the knob confirms the song choice.

Advanced Connectivity

The new turntables feature a 24-bit/48 kHz sound card and HID and MIDI control compatibility via USB port. Up to 35 controls on the surface of each player can be used to trigger other devices, such as DJ effecters and software by way of HID and/or MIDI.

The HID controls were implemented into the players for superior interfacing with software, faster communication speed over MIDI, audio/visual streaming and two-way information on displays. HID enables easy, precise and native control of DVS systems such as Serato™ Scratch Live, Native Instruments’ Traktor series and MixVibes Cross2 without the need for time-coded discs.

CDJ-2000 Enhancements

* LCD panel and Graphic User Interface – The flagship CDJ-2000 features a large WQVGA 6.1-inch full-color 480 x 234 LCD panel for displaying song titles and jacket art as well as detailed track information so DJs can select songs at a glance. The wave data of each song is also illustrated on screen, showing high and low amplitude to further assist DJs.

* Needle Search – Helps DJs instantaneously get to a specific part of a song with a simple touch of the Needle Search pad. Found directly below the CDJ-2000’s high resolution LCD panel, the touchpad lets the DJ “place the needle” and jump quickly to a specific part of a music track.

* Jog Dial – Adjustments for tension were enhanced from previous models allowing the DJ to further customise the feel of the jog dial from a light to heavy sensitivity. Four illuminated areas on the sides of the Jog Dial aid the DJ in finding the desired spot on the plate in dim lighting environments.

CDJ-900 Enhancements

* Slip Mode – When activated, Slip Mode silently continues song playback during a loop, reverse or scratch and continues audible playback at the exact time when the loop, reverse or scratch is ended creating smoother transitions.

* Advanced Auto Beat Loop – The CDJ-900 generates a four-beat loop at a touch of a button creating a customised sound to provide more time for DJs to blend in transitioning music.

The Extras

For more accurate tempo control while mixing, each player is enhanced with increased frame increments of 0.5 frames that allow the DJ to set a cue point or loop point with more precision.

To achieve the highest sound quality, both the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 were equipped with the audio industry’s highly respected Wolfson DAC processors, delivering a very transparent, accurate audio signal resulting in a highly improved signal-to-noise ratio and increased headroom.

The CDJ-2000 will be available in November 2009 with a suggested retail price of $US2,150.

The CDJ-900 will be available in December 2009 with a suggested retail price of $US1,600.

Pioneer offers a complete line of professional DJ Equipment through its Professional Sound & Visual Division. Its DJM series of mixers has become an industry standard at clubs, studios, mobile rigs and homes around the world, known for its high quality sound and reliability. For more information, visit www.pioneerprodj.com.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, established in Tokyo in 1938, is a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets.

1 rekordbox is music file management software developed by Pioneer in cooperation with MixVibes for use in combination with Pioneer products.

2 For more information on the version that improves compatibility when connected with the CDJ-2000, please see the MixVibes website at http://www.mixvibes.com.

Pioneer is a registered trademark of Pioneer Corporation

Rekordbox is a trademark of Pioneer Corporation.

MixVibes and CROSS are trademarks of MixVibes Companies in the United States and other countries.

Pacemaker is a registered trademark of Tonium AB.

SERATO and Scratch LIVE are trademarks of Sigma Audio Research Limited.

TRAKTOR is a trademark of Native Instruments.

Wolfson is a registered trademark of Wolfson Microelectronics.

We’re not sure how the music would be outputted—would there be a transmitter in the red sphere? It’s probably not worth worrying about that kind of minor issue as we’re pretty sure the entire idea is impossible, but it’s also creative and great to look at, and would almost certainly blow your parents’ minds. [Design Boom]

The peripheral, dubbed the Scratch Deck, is a collaboration between real mixer manufacturer Numark and electronics manufacturer Genius. It allows for realtime turntable mixing, while five promised-to-be-authentic Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads trigger various samples. A crossfader, USB mic and right/left-handed controls round out the options while the game allows players to battle it out “in distinctive urban environments.”

Available this fall, I’m just praying that Harmonix announces a new DJ game of their own at E3 so my turntable trifecta pays out. [Press Release]

The NX100R will convert any vinyl record into MP3 files directly into USB memory sticks or Secure Digital cards. [Nilox via Design Boom]

Turntables, keyboards, cassettes and boomboxes? Yes please. This designer wallpaper by Aimée Wilder costs $US140 for a diminutive 27″ x 15′ 70cm x 4.5m) roll. Then again, that’s enough probably paper to make your point. [aimeewilder via Unplggd]

We take audio very, very seriously, and so in the spirit of Listening Test, we present this video of a kitten on a turntable. [YouTube]

If you saw our feature earlier in the week, you know Michael Fremer is crazy about vinyl. He’s been defending its merits ever since digital formats started to surface, and has published several DVDs detailing how best to set up a number of nice audiophile turntables.

But of course, you don’t have to have to have an audiophile turntable to enjoy vinyl—great used tables like the Technics SL-D202 I got in high school (pictured) can be picked up all over the internet, at garage sales or from your Dad’s basement for very little dough, and will serve you well as long as they’re in decent shape.

Plus, with tons of record labels including a free digital download with the purchase of an album on vinyl these days, it’s a great way to give back to your favourite artists—you’ll get a cool tangible object that has the potential to sound far better than your MP3s, but with a digital copy for you iPod nonetheless.

So if you have a turntable that’s never received a proper tune-up, here’s how to set it up to get the best possible sound from it. With Fremer’s help, my table is now in tip-top shape, and yours can be too.

What you’ll need:
• The manual for your turntable and cartridge (the part with the needle attached)
• A 2mm Allen/Hex wrench for the cartridge screws (most are 2mm, anyway)
• A ruler
• Magnifying glass and flashlight (not essential, but makes things easier)
• Needle-nose pliers or tweezers
• A printout of a standard cartridge alignment ruler (available at vinylengine.com for free)

First thing’s first, though—if you’re unsure of the progeny of your table, or if it hasn’t been serviced in a long time or ever, the easiest upgrade you can make to ensure it’s at its best is a new cartridge. This part is almost solely responsible for the sound generated by your table, and you can get a very good new cartridge for less than $US100 (try Shure’s M97XE for a good one in the $US90 ballpark, but there are cheaper options as well).

After that, there are three variables you want to make sure are set, and those are the three variables we’ll be covering: cartridge alignment, tracking pressure and anti-skating. While there are tons of other adjustments that can be made, with some tables having more calibration options than others, these three are fairly universal and will get you in the ballpark of calibration, which is much better than fresh-from-the-dusty-garage.

Let’s get started!

Tracking Pressure
This is what the weight on the back of your tonearm is for—it controls how much pressure is put on the stylus as it tracks the record’s grooves. This should be set according to what’s suggested in your cartridge’s manual. Google around for your cartridge make and model and you should be able to find the manual, or your turntable manual may suggest a baseline range. Again, Vinyl Engine is a great resource for manuals.

1. If you’re installing a new cartridge, connect the red, blue, green and white wires to the corresponding marked terminals on the back of the cartridge. If they’re too loose and fall off the pins, put a toothpick inside wire clips and tighten it with the pliers. Once it’s hooked up, loosely screw the cartridge into the headshell (we’ll be adjusting its alignment later) with your hex screwdriver.

2. Set the turntable’s anti-skating dial to zero, then turn the weight on the back of the arm just up until the point the tonearm floats on its own. Then, by turning the part of the weight with the gauge but not the entire weight, set the gauge back to zero to “re-zero” the weight.

3. Now, turn the entire weight to the number (in grams) specified by your cartridge’s manual. If it specifies a range, stick it in the middle.

4. If you’re feeling like getting serious, you can buy a specialised tracking pressure gauge that will tell you the exact pressure. But for most folks, the guidelines on the tonearm’s weight are fine—mine was almost exactly correct when measured with Fremer’s digital gauge (as you can see in the picture).

Cartridge Alignment
Ideally, a tonearm would track across the record from the beginning to the end in a straight line across the surface, so that the stylus was perpendicular to the groove at all times, thus keeping distortion to an absolute minimum. But since the turntable arm is fixed, it traces a parabola across the surface of the record as you play it. Mathematically, the parabola arc has two points where the stylus should be sitting perfectly perpendicular to the groove. These are the points we’ll use to set the alignment.

But you don’t have to be Pythagoras Jr. to plot them—thankfully, there are protractor PDFs you can print out which will mark the approximate position of these points on most turntables. There are also PDFs for specific tone arms and turntables floating around—Google your model to see, but you should be served just fine by the standard approximation provide by the basic print outs at Vinyl Engine. (We’re using a glass version here in the photo, but the paper ones are fine).

1. Many turntable manuals specify an ideal distance from the back of the headshell to the tip of the stylus, so consult your table’s manual and screw in the cartridge into the headshell’s adjustable slots so this measurement is correct.

2. Now, place your alignment protractor on the platter, and carefully drop the stylus tip onto the first alignment point. The goal is for the cantilever (the metal part that extends down from the cartridge with the stylus tip on the end) to be parallel with the guidelines on the printout. If it’s not, loosen one of the screws in the headshell and move it back or forward slightly. This is where a magnifying glass and flashlight can be handy, as the clearance between the bottom of the cartridge and the platter may be slim.

3. Once it’s aligned in the first point, test it on the second point. Both are mathematically determined, so it should be aligned on the second point too. If not, try to find a happy medium.

Anti-Skating
Most turntables have an anti-skating dial somewhere. This setting counteracts the vector force that naturally pulls the stylus tip toward the inner lip of the groove as the record spins, because as mentioned before, you want it to track dead-centre whenever possible.

1. All you have to do is turn the anti-skating knob so that the number matches the tracking pressure you set earlier. Fremer likes to set it a quarter of a gram or so less, which he feels is more accurate than the scales provided on most turntables. So do that.

More Tips
• Keep your turntable on as sturdy a surface as possible—this will prevent it from warbling or skipping if you walk/dance around near it.

• Keep your stylus and records clean. You can get very inexpensive tools for cleaning both of these parts, and it will keep everying sounding great and will prevent your records from wearing out too quickly.

And that’s it. For more info, check out Fremer’s calibration DVDs, which many vinyl junkies swear by.

Hope you guys enjoyed our Listening Test audio week as much as we did. If you have any other advice or tips to share, please do so in the comments, and if you’re interested, check out last week’s audio-related How To on maintaining a lossless music library. Have a great weekend listening everybody!

Listening Test: It’s music tech week at Gizmodo.

The question is, do these actually work, or is it just a bizarre casing for the real hardware housed inside? Furthermore, if it was a real product, would you actually want one? [Pete Verrando via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Joel over at Boing Boing Gadgets says that Audiowood’s founder, Joel Scilley, has a PhD in Media Studies, but instead hopped over to the Bay Area to pursue the most awesome profession of building wood turntables. The work pretty much speaks for itself, but I will say that I’m in love with that off-kilter platter on top of a tree stump slice. Swoon. [Audiowood via MocoLoco via BBG]

Previously, we told you about the LP2Flash turntable that converted your vinyl records, to MP3 files, onto a flash drive. Similarly—if CD’s aren’t your thing—what’s cool about the LP2CD player is that you can connect it to your computer using a simple USB cable, and transfer your music directly into iTunes. However, for about $US490, I’m sure some of you will stick to updating your music through torrents… shhh. [I Want One of Those]