- R X 2 : £. Back in March 2015, I received the Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX to review. I thought at the time that it was almost perfect for mobile DJs due to the quality and simplicity of the unit, together with some very well thought out features borrowed from Pioneer’s high-end CDJ player and DJM mixer units, and its integration with rekordbox. I was so impressed that I bought a unit myself, which I used a lot, and it's fair to say that the RX has been well-received throughout the mobile DJ community.

72 72 Fast forward a couple of years, and the XDJ-RX2 is born. With a host of new features, this unit has functionality which us mobile DJs will love. To sum it up: it's an all-in-one dual media player and mixer with effects, built in touch-display and performance pads. It can be used as a standalone player for music stored on a USB device, it can play music supplied via a USB cable from a computer running rekordbox dj in Link Export Mode, and it can also be used as a controller for rekordbox dj in Performance Mode.

Indeed, you can even use it in more than one mode at once! rekordbox has evolved a lot since its first appearance back in 2009 when I first started using it. And, having tried all the other DJ applications on the market, I keep coming back to this as it works so well and is extremely reliable. If you currently use rekordbox, or are planning to move to it, this all-in-one player / controller is ideal. What’s more, if you’re a video DJ, it’s worth noting that the XDJ- RX2 can also be used to control music videos using rekordbox dj's video ‘plus pack’ add-on.

Like its predecessor, the new model features two USB A ports on the top righthand corner which allow you to connect a memory stick or external hard disk loaded with your music files in AAC, MP3, WAV, or AIFF format (the XDJ-RX2 does not play FLAC files natively, but it will allow you to play them when used as a controller for rekordbox dj). One of the USB devices can also be set to record your performance in all its glory, with no additional hardware or software required.

Even when using the XDJ-RX2 as a standalone device, you should ideally use the rekordbox software to prepare your music and export the tracks to a USB device. This means the tracks will be analysed, so that keys, BPMs, beat grids and visual waveforms will be instantly available when you load them on the player. Preparing your music collection in rekordbox also allows you to organise your music into playlists for specific genres and event types, which will make your life behind the decks easier.

If you want to get really creative, you can also pre-prepare Loops and Hot Cues, and even add comments, all of which will be available when you load the tracks in the XDJ-RX2. The ProDJ link on the XDJ-RX was based on ethernet technology, but this has been replaced with a USB B port on the new model, which can be easily used to connect to your computer. The other connectors PIONEER DJ XDJ-RX2 on the back include two separate cated gain control microphone inputs – which each on the front allow you to either connect a 1/4" if you’re a jack or an XLR mic lead, balanced to play a TRS 1/4" jack Booth outlets, as well from a phone as both XLR and RCA phono Master you want to be outputs for each channel.

There occasions when is also an IEC mains inlet socket, thrust in your which I think is a great feature as I shouting, "play really dislike power adaptors! On the front Two pairs of stereo RCA phono sockets for sockets for each channel allow a full-size 1/4" the connection of both line and smaller 3.5mm phono level external players and come feature there is also a binding post if you Pioneer DJ!) want to integrate vinyl decks into of a Split Cue your setup.

A useful addition to the There is a menu XDJ-RX2 is another stereo pair of screen which RCA phono connectors that serve between mono as an AUX input, which has a dedimonitoring. PIONEER DJ XDJ-RX2 Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX2 and level switch The mixer section is a well laid out panel. This is fantastic two-channel setup. Each channel mobile DJs who wants can be fed from either the neighbackground music playlist bouring built-in player, or an exteror tablet, or even if nal line input, or an external phono obliging on those input.

This means that, should you you get a phone wish, you could connect a pair of face with the owner CDJs AND a pair of vinyl decks and that mate"! switch easily between them and the internal players. panel there are two your headphones: Each channel has a trim control to jack as well as a adjust the input level and a 3-band jack. One very wel- EQ offering bass, mid and treble (thanks for listening adjustment. This can be configis the introduction ured in the menu to either offer monitoring feature. full kill isolation or a range of +6 to item in the setup -26dB.

There is also a Sound Colour allows you to choose FX section which provides a choice split cue or stereo of four sound effects to dedicated level controls for each channel. I THE EARLY DAYS 73 Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX2 have fairly fat fingers, so it's good controller), these pads to see that these knobs are all suit- Hot Cue, Beat Loop, ably well separated. Beat Jump functions. Mode, mapped to The usual high-quality level faders these can be assigned that we’ve come to expect from different effects.

Pioneer DJ are present and correct, used to trigger a as is a smooth crossfader. This has is a lot of fun for a selectable curve and it is also enjoy incorporating possible to disable it completely performance element in the setup menu if you prefer to mixing. mix using just the level faders. LED level meters are also provided for Finally, let’s examine each channel as well as a stereo which is one of the pair for the Master output, while new model that has three illuminated buttons allow excited.

Unlike its cue selection of both channels and XDJ-RX2 now has a also the Master. which is not only well incredibly clear to Each of the two Mic inputs has a to zoom in and out dedicated level control, however waveform, and all they share the same 2-band EQ you are likely to and also the switchable Talk Over displayed. The screen auto ducking facility. I tested the dark environment – inputs with both SM58 and Beta the brightness in 58 mics and everything worked as the Needle Search I would expect. you to skip to any by simply touching A separate Beat Effects section which is pretty offers six popular sound effects the single biggest which can be quantised to the delivered by the beat grid playing and applied the touch screen is to any channel (including the of searching for a AUX and either Mic input) or the previous incarnation, Master.

Finally, the mixer section is little cumbersome completed by separate rotary level using a wheel to controls for the Master and Booth at a time. Now, on outputs. when you invoke the facility a virtual Like its predecessor, the XDJ- appears which makes RX2’s mixer section is flanked on a specific track a total either side by media players with standard CDJ-style controls and So, what is it like to medium-sized platters which all of all, the sound Pioneer DJ users will be totally at The XDJ-RX2 has home with.

However, instead of some great features four pads below each jog wheel, the bigger NXS2 we now have eight! Having used the integration the DDJ-RZ for a couple of years, dj is very slick. I hear I consider this to be really good whinges about this news as I have many loops and hot four-channel device cues on quite a few tracks in my don't think that's a library which I make use of on a been DJing mobile regular basis. In Native Mode (non- 27 years with just 74 are used for and this has never stopped me Slip Loop and from getting extremely creative In Controller with my mixing.

If you need more rekordbox dj, channels for complicated loops to many and multi-track mixing, get a DJM- They can also be 900 and four XDJ-1000MK2s! If sampler, which you’re worried about back-up just those DJs who in case your PC has a ‘blue screen more of a of death’ moment, then this has into their an AUX channel which will take an iPod to get you out of trouble! the display, I think that the XDJ-RX2 is very easy features of the to use and well laid out, meaning got many DJs that it's reasonably obvious what predecessor, the everything does without reaching touch screen out for the manual!

The device laid out, but weighs in at a tad over 9Kg, so see. It is easy even in a flight-case it's not too of a playing heavy. It's supplied complete with the information a rekordbox dj licence which is valid want is readily for installation on two computers, is great in a so backup is not an issue. The only you can adjust thing I found a bit annoying is the menu – and that if I loaded a very long track, function allows such as an hour long DJ mix, into part of a track the player in Native Mode it can't the waveform, display the waveform.

But, to be neat. However, fair, that's not really how I would improvement use this device. One other minor introduction of niggle for me is the lack of a Mono the new way switch on this unit. Occasionally I track.

In its need to play using just one speaker this was a for small audiences, so it would be and involved useful to have a mono switch so select one letter that I don’t have to run both left the XDJ-RX2, and right cables out to a single Track Search speaker. QWERTY keyboard searching for Sure, it's a bit expensive, but it's breeze. a well-researched and carefullydeveloped product, and the use? Well, first second-hand resale value will quality is lovely! be much higher than other also inherited manufacturers, so the actual cost found on of owning this will be low.

In my products and opinion, this is a truly great player with rekordbox and mixer combo for mobile DJs – quite a few expect to see it fly off the shelves not being a at your local DJ emporium! but, frankly, I problem. I have events for some two channels PIONTEHEER EDAJR XLDY JD-RAXY2S 4 1900 ™ DMX IR CTRL lm BIT 11°/25°/40°