Pioneer CDJ 400s - big fat sucky drawback

softserv · Post by **softserv** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:07 pm

So I love my new 400s... except when it comes to using the supposedly fabulous new USB functionality. Since it will only play MP3 files from a USB storage device, I now have to convert practically my entire library. i-Tunes is all protected AAC files, which won't work, and the shit I rip from CDs comes in as AAC or other stuff like M4a or whatever.

This leaves me with playing CDs or CD-Rs. Does anyone use 400s and find this to be a problem? Or do you just convert your stuff to MP3s? Any suggestions?

Also, has anyone used a 400 as a midi controller for Live? If so, do you know how to scrub through a song using the jog wheel?

Thanks,

softserv

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:52 pm

Don't expect too much from the USB function of the 400.

I tested it for one day and from time to time it crashed and stopped the track.

stonee · Post by **stonee** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:56 pm

go into Itunes, preferences>advanced>importing then click format, mp3.

go to your library, select all, right click, convert to mp3. all done.

softserv · Post by **softserv** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:33 pm

I'm a tool. Thanks. Now whatever I import will be in MP3 format. But I still can't convert itunes downloads to MP3 since they are protected files. Or am I missing something else?

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:16 pm

softserv wrote:I'm a tool. Thanks. Now whatever I import will be in MP3 format. But I still can't convert itunes downloads to MP3 since they are protected files. Or am I missing something else?

You are correct. You will have to burn those to CD and then encode the CDs to mp3. The irony here being that if you are going to do that you might as well spin the CDs. Oh crazy world that we live in.

nonnus · Post by **nonnus** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:15 am

the concept of having my music on 2 usb stick is amazing...

i am so glad i noticed the cdj 400 would only play mp3...

what a stupid thing for pioneer to do,
i really expected a firmware release that would get wav and aiff playing, without it that usb function is a children toy...

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:18 am

nbinder wrote:Don't expect too much from the USB function of the 400.

I tested it for one day and from time to time it crashed and stopped the track.

i dont like u now..

i realli wanted one of these babies..

question.. does the big light around the spinning disc indicate progress from the cue point based on BPM like the fancy LCD dial in the middle of the jogwheel does on the CDJ-800 and 1000's?

NapalmBob · Post by **NapalmBob** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:23 am

meh, serves you right for using iTunes in the first place.

There should be a utility online that will convert them (I call it Google), but since you ripped them to a protected format (there should be an option to not protect them when you rip) I can't garuntee any success whatsoever.

You could just burn all the decent tracks to CD-R, that way you could organise them better. Although, having similar tracks on the same disc would make it hard to DJ between them...

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:16 am

Amazon.com sells 256kbps DRM-free MP3s.

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:04 pm

stonee wrote:go to your library, select all, right click, convert to mp3. all done.

If you convert AAC to mp3 you will be losing even more quality, right? I didn't think AAC was a lossless format, but I never use iTues, so I don't know. I do know that you shouldn't be double-encoding anything for DJ use if you care about sound quality.

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:24 pm

Instead of starting a new topic on this I'll just threadjack this one.

Are there really any other options other than Pioneer decks, the ipod of CD decks? I know there are other manufacturers and models, but just like the ipod why bother using another brand unless you are a Pioneer/Apple hater? I never hear anybody talk about decks other than Pioneer. I have CDJ-100S from way back when vinyl DJs were spitting on us and I'm perfectly happy with them. Just curious if there are any other contenders out there that aren't Pioneer.

softserv · Post by **softserv** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:49 pm

I knew sombody'd say I shouldn't be using iTunes

Have to say despite the lame USB storage functionality, it's a great device. Very versatile. I got 2 because I wanted the option to do standard AB mixing and scratching (and the 400s have excellent scratching capabilities), but also wanted to be able to run Live on my lappie and use one 400 as a midi controller, while the other remains a regular tt.

Only problem is that, of course, you don't have turntable action on whatever tune is playing in Live. Unless somebody knows how to midi-map so that I can use the jog wheel to at least scrub through tracks. Anyone?

softserv · Post by **softserv** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:07 pm

PS I saw a comparison on youtube yesterday of the Pioneer 400 with a different brand that came out at the same time, but now I can't find the video! You can probably find it if you look. The other brand really didn't seem any different from the Pioneer, though.