Yeah, the idea is nice for a small amount of music, but for a whole hard drive it's terrible. The browsing interface on the CDJ-400 isn't good enough to look through thousands of songs.

The MEP-7000 looks freaking awesome though. I just hope this sort of interface gets brought to a CDJ-1000 style player.

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/campaign/...ts/mep7000.html

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Originally posted by Zild Ahh good to know because thats useless to me then.

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 I've used both, and the 400's are really quite nice. The HUGE improvement over the 200's is the platter... the platter is great. I have 1000's, and would have no qualms about using the 400's. The 200's on the other hand, have kind of a cheap feeling platter with no vinyl emulation. But they do work well... Plus you gain: 1. USB playback 2. MIDI control 3. Native Serato support 4. Integrated sound cards So they are really pretty flexible. The DJM-400 I don't love. It's a nice layout, and the effects seem nice at first, but I'm sure those will wear thing. The real problem with the DJM-400 is: 1. No separate booth output. This is a pain if you ever want to use the mixer anywhere other than your bedroom. 2. No balanced outputs. 3. No record output, makes it a pain to record your sets. You can split the master out, but then you can't use the volume control on the mixer or the recording will be messed up. 4. No extern effects send/return. 5. It's overpriced. In that same class (and actually it's quite a bit cheaper), I'm a big fan of the new Ecler 2.0. It doesn't have effects... but it's an Ecler (great build and sound), and it has all of the above plus a third input for whatever you like. Check it out: http://www.eclerdjdivision.com/prod...p=2&sub=1&id=34

Doesn't the DJM-400 have two master outputs? This would enable booth out or record out in addition to master out but not all three.

http://www.skratchworx.com/images/Pioneer/djm400/djm400_back.jpg

It does. BUT:

1. That would mean you still can't control your booth and master independently.

2. If you use one as a record out, and you change the master volume pot on the mixer, the recording will be affected (which is bad). So everytime you go to record, you'd have to set the master out level for your recorder, then adjust your master volume on the amp or speakers. Totally lame.

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Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Doesn't the DJM-400 have two master outputs? This would enable booth out or record out in addition to master out but not all three. http://www.skratchworx.com/images/P...djm400_back.jpg

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 It does. BUT: 1. That would mean you still can't control your booth and master independently. 2. If you use one as a record out, and you change the master volume pot on the mixer, the recording will be affected (which is bad). So everytime you go to record, you'd have to set the master out level for your recorder, then adjust your master volume on the amp or speakers. Totally lame.

Thanks for the info.

Your first point certainly is a problem with the mixer. But I don't think too many people will be using this mixer in a club environment, nor is it intended to be used in one. I mean this is why, as you mentioned before, it doesn't have balanced outputs or the booth output.

As for your second comment, I have a hard time understanding why that would ever be a problem. Perhaps I'm missing something? Let me know.

Last edited by jayxthekoolest on Aug-15-2008 at 19:20

How can you not see a problem with number 2? If you go to record a mix, you should NEVER touch the master volume control on the mixer for fear of messing up your mix? That's ridiculous! Even if your playing a house party, over the course of the night you'll slowly increase the volume. That will in turn completely mess up your recording. I like to record everything I do.

For $500, there are many many other mixers on the market that have these BASIC mixer features. If you ignore the effects included with the DJM-400, it's really a crappy mixer. You are just paying for the effects unit.

Effects are superfluous in a mixer. Sound quality and connectivity are why you buy a mixer. Which is why I suggested the Ecler Nuo 2.0. For nearly the same price (ok maybe a tad more) of the DJM-400, you could pick up that little gem of a mixer and an EFX-500.

And have a record out... an effects loop... and booth output... and balance outputs... and Ecler sound quality.

The DJM-400 is strictly a bedroom DJ mixer. If you never have intentions of using it at parties, or any sort of venue, then maybe it'll work. But I'm quite certain that when the luster of the cheesy effects unit wears off, you'll realize you got stuck with a crappy overpriced mixer. Which is too bad... if Pioneer had included these simple things, I would think very differently of the unit.

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Thanks for the info. Your first point certainly is a problem with the mixer. But I don't think too many people will be using this mixer in a club environment, nor is it intended to be used in one. I mean this is why, as you mentioned before, it doesn't have balanced outputs or the booth output. Then again, I can't think of a professional club mixer that costs $500. They usually cost at least twice that, thus you get more features for the club environment. As for your second comment, I have a hard time understanding why that would ever be a problem. Perhaps I'm missing something? Let me know.

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 How can you not see a problem with number 2? If you go to record a mix, you should NEVER touch the master volume control on the mixer for fear of messing up your mix? That's ridiculous! Even if your playing a house party, over the course of the night you'll slowly increase the volume. That will in turn completely mess up your recording. I like to record everything I do. For $500, there are many many other mixers on the market that have these BASIC mixer features. If you ignore the effects included with the DJM-400, it's really a crappy mixer. You are just paying for the effects unit. Effects are superfluous in a mixer. Sound quality and connectivity are why you buy a mixer. Which is why I suggested the Ecler Nuo 2.0. For nearly the same price (ok maybe a tad more) of the DJM-400, you could pick up that little gem of a mixer and an EFX-500. And have a record out... an effects loop... and booth output... and balance outputs... and Ecler sound quality. The DJM-400 is strictly a bedroom DJ mixer. If you never have intentions of using it at parties, or any sort of venue, then maybe it'll work. But I'm quite certain that when the luster of the cheesy effects unit wears off, you'll realize you got stuck with a crappy overpriced mixer. Which is too bad... if Pioneer had included these simple things, I would think very differently of the unit.

Good to know.

I'm currently saving up for a high end mixer (around $2000), I was wondering which ones you think are the best.

What are you looking for? High end analog? Digital? Rotary? Integrated effects? Integrated sound card and MIDI?

Do you mix primarily: CDJ's, vinyl, or DVS? Or Ableton?

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Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Good to know. I'm currently saving up for a high end mixer (around $2000), I was wondering which ones you think are the best.

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 What are you looking for? High end analog? Digital? Rotary? Integrated effects? Integrated sound card and MIDI? Do you mix primarily: CDJ's, vinyl, or DVS? Or Ableton?

primarily vinyl

btw, thanks for the help thus far

Xone 92.

Or if you want to go old school like me: Rane 2016a + XP2016a.

But probably Xone 92

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Originally posted by jayxthekoolest primarily vinyl btw, thanks for the help thus far

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 Xone 92. Or if you want to go old school like me: Rane 2016a + XP2016a. But probably Xone 92

Which one of the xone-92s? there are two different versions, correct?

Linear faders or rotary faders... that's a preference thing.

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Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Which one of the xone-92s? there are two different versions, correct?

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Originally posted by Ryan0751 Linear faders or rotary faders... that's a preference thing.

Cool, thanks for the advice. I'm just getting into DJing and trying to build a vinyl collection already (love vinyl for some reason). Your advice is much appreciated.