Hardware Manuals
Digital Mixer
Description
"Digital Mixer" as a term is used here to describe audio mixers that offer a built-in sound interface and they also offer connection to PC/MAC via a simple USB connection.
Such models are: DJM-250, DJM-250MKII, DJM-450, DJM-750, DJM-750MKII, DJM-850, DJM-900NXS, DJM-900SRT, DJM-900NXS2, DJM-2000, DJM-S3 and DJM-S9.
The main concept in this setup is that you use the mixer's sound interface to playback audio, while you use the CDJ's only as HID devices to control VirtualDJ functions. This method allows users to use "Advanced EQ" (stems) features of VirtualDJ 2021, easier DJ take overs, and easier transition between the various media sources on the CDJ players.
This guide assumes that your setup consists of CDJ-2000NXS2 players and DJM-900NXS2 mixer, but the main principals are the same for all CDJ players and DJM mixers that offer a USB port connection.
This is the second most preferred way to connect a setup that consists solely of CDJ-2000NXS2 players and DJM-900NXS2 mixer.
Hardware setup
- Connect the "USB" port on the back of each CDJ with a USB hub, or a USB port on your computer.
- Connect one of the "USB" ports on top of the DJM on the same USB hub, or a USB port on your computer.
- Power up the DJM mixer.
- Power up CDJ's.
> It is not necessary to connect any audio cables between the CDJs and the mixer. The audio will be produced by the sound interface of the DJM mixer.
Drivers
For both Windows and Mac OS X computers install the latest firmware and drivers for your mixer from PioneerDJ.
Attention MAC OS X users:
MAC users using OS X 10.13 or greater need to allow the drivers to run via [System Preferences] > [Security & Privacy] applet before using the controller. For more information please read Pioneer DJ documentation on this subject.
VirtualDJ Setup
(in case you have not done already)
Once VirtualDJ is launched, a Login Window will appear. Please login with your preferred method from the ones provided.
A Pro Infinity or a Pro Subscription License is required to fully use this setup.
Without any of the above Licenses, the setup will operate for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ.
Buy a license
Click on the "DJM-900NXS2" (or your own mixer model) button for VirtualDJ to apply the predefined audio setup with the built-in sound card of the DJM-900NXS2. You can still change that from Settings->AUDIO tab.
Click to OK.
Select one of the desired operation modes for EQ.
Click to OK.
AUDIO Setup
DJM-900NXS2 (or your own mixer model) has a pre-defined Audio setup and a special button in the AUDIO tab of Config to provide that. Alternative Audio setups can be applied in the same window.
HID Setup
DJM-900NXS2 and CDJ-2000NXS2 (or your own mixer and players models) should be visible in the CONTROLLERS tab of Config and the “factory default” should be available/selected from the Mappings drop-down list.
Attention DJM-900NXS2 users:
The factory default Mapping of DJM-900NXS2 also hosts the mapping of the CDJ-2000NXS2 devices that are connected via LINK protocol on the mixer. Since this connection is not using the LINK protocol, any changes made on the mapping of DJM-900NXS2 regarding CDJ-2000NXS2 operation, will not apply!
If you wish to change the behavior of some button(s) on your CDJ-2000NXS2 it's the mapper of the CDJ-2000NXS2 themselves that you must change.
Deck Assignment
By default first CDJ (as listed by your OS) is assigned to first deck in VirtualDJ, second CDJ to second deck e.t.c.
However if this order does not match the physical layout of your CDJ's you can change each CDJ's deck assignment as follows:
- Open VirtualDJ settings.
- Click on "Mapping" tab on the left.
- Select the first CDJ on the list.
- Click on "Deck" assignment drop down menu.
- Select the correct deck (e.g. 2) from the list.
- Select the second CDJ on the list.
- Click on "Deck" assignment drop down menu.
- Select the correct deck (e.g. 1) from the list.
Mixer Order
The default channels order for most DJM mixers is 3124. This means that the 2 main mixer channels (for decks 1 & 2) are the central ones and the outer ones are assigned to deck 3 on the left and deck 4 on the right.
This order also allows you to manipulate stems on VirtualDJ 2021 by using the outer mixer channels if you use only 2 decks for mixing.
If you wish to change the mixer channel order to match the silkscreen of the mixer (1234) then you need to open VirtualDJ settings, click on "Options" icon on the left, then click "Controller" icon and change the "mixerOrder" setting to 1234. Analog Mixer