Roughly the same dimensions, actuallu (it is a little bit deeper, and very slightly wider, but the same height), and everything appears to be in the same place and of the same basic design. Well, it instantly feels like a CDJ on unboxing. Pioneer DJ is calling this “A New Dimension” – is that just referring to the size of the units, or do they really represent a whole new dimension in DJing?
Sync pioneer cdj 2000 pro#
So for the CDJ-3000, what has Pioneer DJ done to keep it up to date? Has it incorporated the kind of features the vast majority of DJs (who use controllers) love and are used to? If so, how has it done this while keeping continuity with the different needs of pro DJs, clubs and festivals? And has Pioneer DJ done enough so the CDJ-3000 can hold its own against the (pretty universally well-received) Denon DJ Prime media players? The only challengers really have been Technics (early on – remember the SL-DZ1200?) and Denon DJ (more persistently, especially recently). Incredibly, Pioneer DJ has had the run to itself, by and large. The CDJ is 25 years old! DJing has changed beyond recognition since the first top-loading CDJ-500s (yes, I owned a pair back then…), with digital music, laptop DJing, the end of vinyl and CDs as mainstream formats, and the rise of new ways of DJing (such as keymixing) changing the very definition of what DJing is. Pioneer DJ now does need to get its software team focused on those items to keep up with the competition, though. Sure, it is evolution, not revolution, but that’s what pro DJs, clubs and festivals require – and the potential is there for adding the missing stuff (we’re thinking cloud locker, streaming services, on-board track analysis) down the line.
Hugely better screen, improved jogwheel, better hot cues, beat jump, key shift and key sync, innovative track previewing and cueing options – and all powered by an on-board MPU.
The Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 is the new flagship in the range, and so needed to deliver something special.