I think that the two players are OK for SSL.
But....i would buy technics.

so would I

The Technics SL-DZ1200 are direct drive CD players, right? I am pretty sure the "platter" spins on those bad boys to give you that real turntable feel mmmmmm....Hey, if you buy 2 SL1200's you can save yourself about a $1,00 and have real turntables :).

trust me, stay away from the technics. any dj with a reputation has slated them hard. I played with them at palsa a few weeks ago (some pics on www.patchmein.com) and they were absolutely crap. There is no way of pitch bending apart from using the pitch slider. I normally don't touch the platter when actually in the mix, but when you're cueing it up and beat matching in your headphones, I'm all over the platter making small adjustments here and there.
Even the bloke on the DMC stand where the technics was being demonstrated said he's got one tech and one cdj1000mkII and he prefers the pioneer.

to top it off:
they don't really feel like turntables and the scratching sounds pretty bad. You could hear the digital noise crystal clear when you were moving back and forth slowly. nasty nasty

The bloke on teh stand said technics were possibly gonna release a firmware update to make use of some of the underused buttons and give them pitch bending functionality

I'd say both players will perform equally well with ssl but please try both before you buy and forget the 'moving platter gimmick'.

s

thats suppposed to read $1,000

I have heard VERY mixed reviews of the technics.

Numark CDX is the best if you can live with the design from my brief experience of all three. the CDJ is certainly solid.

U r correct shaun. I prefer rock the parties with turntables more than CD players, but my idea is to use CD players as for additional effects, like loops and hot cue starts. when it comes these features how fast is SSL. I think in next version of SSL some of these features included.

I played with some Denons with "real feel" spinning platters, yuck. Haven't tried the technics tho...

get the cdj 1000mkII. if you want it to emulate a ttable as closely as possible get the numark cdx.

i demo'd the dz1200 and it is horrible. the platter is way too loose and it felt like i was handling a belt drive.

DENON 5000's all the way

My two cent.. get some technic 1200 turntable's and use the control vinyl...To me it defeats the purpose to get cdj's cause you are using cd's and I can put hundreds of MP3's on a disk.(even though they have cd controllers). Just seems like some rodundency. But againg Ssl has thought of most things..IMHo.

I'm with Kaseem. I honestly don't see the point using CD players that emulate vynil, to control digital files in a laptop when you can put digital files on CDs!

If you want to use SSL, just get a pair of SL1200s - NO cd player can toch them for feel.

Okay I work in a Deejay shop and am also a former employee of an apple reseller.
I've put the Denon S5000, Numark CDX, and the Technics SL=DZ1200 to test. Here is my feedback. The Denon has a lot of buttons to do a lot of tricks but the spinning wheel is belt driven. The Numark CDX is the most natural sounding with scratching and the platter is a 12" record and also direct drive. The CON being its as big as a Technics 1200 and sometimes the cue point drifts when scratching. The Technics the most realistic and closest feel to a 1200 analog turntable and a cool feature pick it up and shake it from side to side and the song wobbles like a analog 1200 and the power button press it off and the platter slows down like if you shut off the power on a analog 1200. The Con being when scratching really fast the scratch sounds digital. Hope this helps.

hi,...

Thanks a lot guys I will continue to dj'in with my technics 1200 mkII's. but for precise looping I need to do more practice with turntables + SSL.need to use SF - ACID.

I have only in-store experience with the 4 major CD players, but I'll share it anyway.

Numark CDX - Very, very close to real vinyl. Very big and very ugly too. I didn't try them long enough to notice the cue point drifting.

Denon 5000 - Nice and compact. Tiny platter feels toy-ish at first, but I think it just takes some getting used to. Like scratching with 7" singles.

Technics DZ - Looks like an SL1200, almost TOO good-looking. The platter itself responds pretty much like an SL1200, but the 'record' thingy that's on it feels totally weird. like a flexidisc, remember those? The worst thing is that it's not tight around the center, like having a record with a worn out hole - of course it won't make the 'needle' skip, but it feels pretty crappy all the same. Shame, I really wanted to like the Technics.

Pioneer CDJ1000 - No moving platter, so totally different. I haven't used them long enough to learn how to scratch without a moving platter, but I know it can be done (sort of). I like the fact that it doesn't pretend to be a turntable, that it just does one thing well. Plus just about every club I know has them, and they look good.

My two cents: If you want to scratch, get real vinyl or SSL. If you just want to mix the way people mix house and techno, any of CD players above will be fine.

I agree that using a CD turntable through scratch live is inferior to using real turntables, but I disagree that it is totally pointless. Using a CD turntable with scratch live is still better than using a CD turntable on its own, for the same reason that using real turntables through scratch live offers more options than using turntables alone: sheer musical volume without carrying or sifting through hundreds of discs.

In addition, the digital emulation of the sound of vinyl is vastly superior in scratch live than any CD turntable, which actually makes the CD turntable feel better. The Denon CD turntables sound pretty digital when you scratch with them, but through scratch live, they sound great.

I wasn't trying to say it was totally pointless, If you already have cdj's then may not, but If you already have turntables and SSl, I wouldn't run out and buy CDJ's. I have to say I'm a lil biased against Cdj's, and I never got to use them.

I think I would generally agree, though if I was to buy CDJs I would defintely go for the Pioneer CDJ1000s, they're currently the industry standard in clubs (in the UK anyway), and they are very good. I don't own any CDJs myself, but have used friend's CDJ-1000s, and they're the best CDJs I've used, with better features (apart from the rotating plater), such as a waveform view (although that's moot if you're using SSL), than the Technics SL-DZ1200s.

hth

Paul

I was the one who said it was pointless - in the case of someone who already owns SSL, to buy CD players to control it. Maybe I should have said:



If you're already using CDJs I agree there is something to gain by adding SSL to your setup, as AJ pointed out. But I still feel it's sort of backwards. If I was in that situation I'd ditch the CDJs and go for the SSL+SL1200s setup - but that's personal.

AGreed

What about Denon 3000?
Anybody has tested it?
I have been reading about it and i think that it could be 100% ok to mix 95 % and only a few scratches in my sessions.
I want change my two pioneer cdj-500s for denon 3000.
What do you think?

I am looking for vinyl touch.

3000 are rock solid i use them as well as the 5000

good choice

Thank's friend:
What about differences with 5000?

The only thing is that i hear so many problems with dirty needles effecting the program,tone arms, calibration, round circles, dusty records but i havent heard too many people complain about using cdjs with ssl. Yeah LK your right you can put digital files on cds but man thats time consuming imagine burning all you music collection on cds. Plus you probably want doubles so you have to do it twice. So i think having cdjs with ssl is a good idea. I guess you just have to be born on cd turntables cuz i cant stay on beat as clean as i can with turnz. I think the pitch control on those things are too sensitive and its hard manipulating the platter. Turnz all the way for me I just wish there wasnt so many issues with it.

oh i forgot ground and pitch drift issues too.

I have bought finally two Denon DN-S3000
I am very happy with them.

After DJing with just about every kind of CD player in the market and several turntables as well, I must say that CDJ-1000's are the standard because they have the best features and because of the quality in each one of the features they offer.

That whole spinning platter thing is a marketing twist, except on the Numarks that actually feel like turntables (the lingering cue point and its layout is of concern though).

Here is a good comparison video between some of the most popular CD decks. Enjoy.

www.djbis.com

www.djbis.com oooooppps

wha? no links allowed?

email me if you need the clip.

DJ BIS, its linked... :)

this board allows links, but doesn't disclose the full path in the thread to save space (nice feature imho). i checked out that video, one of the most informative pieces i've seen. i've played with the cdj vs technic @ guitar center, but didn't have the denon at my disposal (nor did i think to burn the same track on 3 cds). thanks for this informative little piece (fcp and livetype?)

damn, that vid is everywhere!

BIS, you have a nice website there...did you design it yourself?

After 5 days with Denon i had to return them to the shop.
I don't like them.
My English isn't very good and i can explain Ok what happens with them, but...Don't buy them, If you can't pay cdj-1000mk2, buy cdj-800.

I have bought two Pioneer cdj-1000 mk2

nice video BIS! Those technics are... hang on.. how did I put it above?

oh yeah, that was it,

I can't believe a company that can give us the sl 1200mkii can give us this pile of poo

hey that rhymes

s

I'm not the most expert at scratch DJ'ing and maybe because of this I dont see some of the criticisms some have posted about the Technics SL-DZ1200's but I think they are amazing. Unlike many of the others out there they play digital files (MP3, WMA, etc) in addition to CD Audio. It has a SD memory card slot that you can also use to play music, loops or samples from if you wish. I agree that they dont have pitch bend buttons, but in practice I am yet to feel as if I miss them. I dunno, I know they are not absolutely flawless; they do not have a spindle as the display and control interface takes up all the space and they do have those two anchoring knobs for the shiny-silver platter that makes me question if it'll get in the way of me scratching at times, but again in practice they have not been of any issue whatsoever.

I do have to say that I do like the 'purity' of the Numarks, a real 12" vinyl and spindle. Big physically with a torquey motor, it's a great unit but I believe it only plays CD Audio (no problem if thats all you require of course) Please correct me if I'm wrong regarding that "fact".

Again, I havent been doing this nearly as long as some of you veterans but I am happy with my Technics SL-DZ1200's working with SSL.

Perhaps it's because of SSL but beat matching has become easier than childsplay with this software but my fear is that I'm losing the dependancy of training my ears to beatmacth because visuals on the software makes it so effortless. Just line up the spikes and fade 'em in...perfect every time.

Just my 2-cents...gimme change!

I owned the the Numark CDX's, awesome players but they overheated. I bought a SLdz1200 but hated it, to me it didn't feel like a 1200 at all. I have played with the Denons and they are not bad, but not my first choice. Without a doubt my favorite is the CDJ 1000's. In fact I own 4 of them and have for 3 years.

I have 1 CDJ but I've not used it with SSL, overall though the CDJ is amazing, once I got used to it I find it easier to mix on than a turntable, and the instant reverse is amazing. The looping and hot cues, I'm assuming don't work with SSL due to the needle drop latency, so the plus points in having the CDJs wears down a bit when used with SSL.

the latency should be significantly reduced in the next release of SSL.

I used the DZ1200's but I didn't like the sound they produced. It sounded too digital, platter has too much play, and there is no point of puting a pitch lock if it doesnt work when you scratch. I must say the platter is dead on with the Technics SL1200. I am sure Technics will repair the sound, pitch and record disk thingy on their next release.

all the features on the CDJ work with SSL hot points, cue points, looping. reverse, i use 2 CDJ 1000's in a few of the spots i do. i love em, no worries abotu calibration or wire issues. its great.

How come no one asks for this to be built into Scratch LIVE? We've thought about doing it, but no one seems to be interested. Are am I wrong?

would it be simple to do sam? Im sure people would be interested in instant reverse...

I think people I have asked for it in the feature suggestion thing, Sam. Would be cool having that.

The thing about instant reverse on the cdj is it is a big switch. On SSL there would be a crazy shortcut for it, I'm not sure it would work quite as well, but that said I wouldn't complain if it was there.

I have never found a reason for playing records in reverse. It's a nifty trick, but I haven't found anything practicle to do with it. Maybe one of you guys can give me ideas(so I can steal them).

Scratching, I guess. That works better with "real" reverse though. But with such a feature in SSL, you could do a normal transform on your tables and make it sound like backwards transform for example. Interesting...

the instant reverse on the numarks works like a live editing for curse words and such. if your song has a curse word in it you hit the switch and it reverses it but keeps playing the track forward. this way when your done reversing the word it doesnt reverse the whole track so you can play it like a radio edited track. as far as scratching not to many people use reverse for scratching. only a few tables have the capability to do it. i have done it for blends cds to flip the beat for a different sound. other than that my reverse never gets used on my TTX1's.

I use the reverse quite a lot on my cdj1000. I'll do things like play 3 bars forward then 1 bar in reverse. Or reverse the last beat in a bar before jumping into a break down on the cue points. The trick with this is that if you play the last beat of a 4/4 bar in reverse, it's actually the 3rd beat you're hearing and you then have to have a way of getting back to the first beat. If you repeat the trick twice in a row you end up back where you started.
The reverse function on turntables I've always found fairly useless because it's not instant.

seems the 1000s are the way to go :) Hey Brandon, welcome from the Pioneer board! I didn't notice when you joined, so welcome to the pool!

s

I STILL OWN THE CDX-1'S AND STILL THINK THEY KILL OUT THERE, IF URE REALLY BIG INTO SCRATCHING AND STUFF.... PLUS THEY GOT PRETTY COOL YET MINOR LEAGUE EFFECTS BUT THEY'RE UP THERE. THE CDJ'S JUST BECAME STANDARD LIKE THE TECH 12'S CUZ THEY WERE THE FIRST TO BRING OUT CD/TURNTABLE FEEL. BUT THE CDX'S ARE STILL THE CLOSEST YET TO SPINNIN CD'S LIKE WAX. WELL THATS MY OPINION.

Cool, thats your opinion, thanks for the input. NO need to shout, get off your uppercase key please. Thanks.

I'll go for Pioneer, Numark, or Denon DN-S5000 or 3000.

1. Pioneer, No moving platter. The only thing is more popular is because they just came out first. Imagine if Denon or Numark was first on releasing their CD turntable they'll be the standard, too.

2. Numark, I love the torque on this cd player, the effects is ok, size wise is TOO big and heavier than the other cd players.

3. Denon, moving platter but not as strong as Numark or Technics,
it plays two tracks (main & alpha only on DN-S5000) so you can play instrumental & acapella in one cd player, 4 hot cues, sampler, memory to store all your cueing, and that's prettry much it. BEST FOR THE MONEY!!!

Technics, I love the design of it, I tried to really like it but it didn't work for me. The only thing I really like about this is torque, memory expansion, & the design, the rest just piece of crap. JUST GO WITH THE DENON YOU'LL LIKE I GUARANTEE.

The Technics is like a lot of hot chicks... great design and sexy as hell but functionally there's nothing upstairs. Technics let down a lot of people...

LOL well put

I gotta agree, DON'T go with the Technic's, they're crap IMO. Plus, one of my roommates DZ's now won't play any type of CD, not even original CDs! He's gotta send em back to Canada now, and I'm laughing because I've always gotten shit from him about my SSL setup....who's laughin now!!!!!

Guys. I've decided not to buy any Pro CD players. I will buy another pair of 1200s. coz I feel in near future SSL will overcome all the CD player features and more.

Yeah man, thats all me and two programmer friends of mine who had the patience to put up with my anal crap. lol

I am happy with it, but I am unhappy with the host's continues slowdowns. Time to move.

Thanks for the compliment dude!

This was the one effect that blew my mind when I first "met" Mr. and Mrs. Numark. I mean how cool is that? And by all means, Serato Lab guys, please do implement this feature! Not only can you use it as an "edit" effect, but also as a transitional effect within a track. Pretty awesome.

Lol!!! that was funny! :P

...and right you may be... you master of the 1200. May you stay strong with the force... ;) lol

Ooooohhh, CLASSIK!!!!! LMAO!

Guess what? This has been implemented in 1.4!

Damn...you are right!!...i think there were actually 2 more videos that did more comparisons....at least thats what I remember...but that one vid. is a classic...

I'd like to meet that DJ Scandal one day... =)

Here is a video I made about the SL-DZ1200 and how it works with Serato AFTER the version 2.3 firmware update.

youtu.be

I could not have said it better all these yrs later......