Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus doesn’t have a straightforward option for recording directly through the soundcard – a killer feature that for now is limited to the XDJ-RX. But with a few quick clicks in Pioneer’s utility as well as audio routing settings in Traktor, you can record your live set without the need of a second sound card, or additional gear, or recording devices. Read on for the full tutorial!
Using the 900 Nexus as your soundcard as well as recording source does cause some limitations. As it stands, the record channel cannot be independently setup, so you lose one of your four channels on the mixer to be able to record.
So for those of you who use all for decks both in Traktor and on the mixer, you may experiment with some MIDI mapping options, or deal with two audio channels coming out a single, or just remember to bring your pocket recorder anytime you think you’ll want to record a set. For DJs just using 2 or 3 decks to mix this will be a straight forward setup.
Recording On DJM-900 Key Points:
- Setup audio routing in the 900 Nexus Settings Utility first before setting audio routing in Traktor.
- Input setting for your recording deck in Traktor’s preferences, best to use the Input FX Send
- Avoid feedback during recording by not setting any output routing to channel 4 in Traktor Preferences.
- Master must be turned up to send a signal to Traktor’s internal recorder
We keep getting more requests for content on Pioneer mixers – but if you want a tutorial on anything digital DJ related, please let us know in the comments or here on our Uservoice – we read every comment and consider them all!
sorry i don’t get it 🙁
i have troktor pro 2.6.8 and a nexus. channael 4 (7/8) is set rec out and i am using all 4 decks in tracktor und recording is nor problem. all efx (pioneer and traktor) are recorded. don’t know where the problem is?
Or just plug a recorder into rec out.
Do you find that Pioneer is worth the investment?
I think mixers are a personal choice, for my playing styles and the ability to experiment with a wide range of play styles, I like it for the built in sound card and use of 4 channels.
To be honest..I just record the whole thing in Audacity. Its super simple..that way it picks up all the effects used..be it in Traktor or on the Mixer with no additional mappings or routings..and for me it records better as well.
As long as you have the software for the DJM installed with the relevant ASIO or MAC drivers. Launch Audacity, select the input from the dropdown (It will say Pioneer DJM ASIO)
Then start playback and and monitor the levels..job done..
Hey Paul. You can read my comment above questioning your setups on this. I would say the perk of recording mixes playing in Traktor, recording in Traktor is, it does all the audio compression/auto gain for you. So if you have any crazy audio spikes, you will not have any distortion to try to correct like you would while in Audacity since it does not do that.
Mmm..wellI`ve never had any crazy spikes whilst recording with it….and ultimately if there were….audacity as a sound editor was designed for the very purpose of improving and editing audio and there are tools on there to remove unwanted noise and/or spikes…..plus unless I`m mistaken..Traktor only records the internal audio and effects,,it doesn`t record the effects from say an RMX or DJM Mixer. I`m sure there is a way to route audio out to the mixer and back into a spare channel on traktor..but it seems a lot of messing about. I just prefer to record the whole thing as a seperate entity..capturing everything..then having the tools to make changes to it if need be..
Hey Paul. So I often import a recorded set into Audacity if I need to edit out a part where I messed up/restarted. Again, Traktor gives you the built in digital limiters so there is not spiking in the recording at all. So even levels without having to adjust enveloping.
As far as what Traktor records, setting the audio Rec in one of your decks in the 900 Nexus settings utility gives you full master output in digital form through Traktor. So it will in fact capture both traktor FXs and any built in FX’s on the mixer itself. I use reverb, phaser, echo and delay often, as well as the filter in all my mixes. Traktor records them no problem.
Again, recording this way isn’t a hard and fast rule, it’s just one of the options you have that is quick and easy and great for recording in a live situation where you want your background apps to be at a minimum to give Traktor all the RAM speed it could ever want. Great discussion here though.
Can’t you just route the digital “mix out” signal to another program on your computer like Audio Hijack or Ableton or whatever? That’s what I’ve done on every other digital mixer I’ve ever used and it’s never been a problem. Am I missing something here?
If you’re using the mixer with Traktor (or any other DJ program), running another audio program that’s using the same hardware is taking on a bit of a risk, and you’re taking up more RAM by running a second app.
What kind of risk? Just curious as I’ve never had a problem with this. I mix externally, so recording via traktor is not an option, and I’ve owned 4 different digital mixers over the years. Pretty sure they’ve all let me record the mix out stream while running Traktor (I’ve mostly used Sound Studio for recording on OSX, but lately I’ve been using Audio Hijack, and in both cases the RAM footprint is negligible).
yep its definitely possible. I’ve recorded directly into ableton and audacity before.
I’m confused what you are trying to say you can do here? Are you saying you can just select the DJM-900 as a audio out option in Ableton/Audacity, or are you saying to use something like a RCA to 1/4 plug? The 900 just doesn’t send a digital master out signal unless you select one of the audio channels on the built in soundcard to do so. Otherwise it’s the master is just coming out analog.
Are you sure? Every 4-channel digital mixer I’ve used (at least, if I recall correctly) sends mix out or rec out digitally on a separate channel from 1-2-3-4. At least, it is that way on my DB4 and I’m pretty sure it was that way on the Evo5, the DN-X1700, and even the Behringer DDM4000. I think I’m getting this right – I rarely mix all 4 channels so it’s possible I missed something but I usually have all 4 working so I can switch between real vinyl and traktor. And I’m pretty sure I’d notice if the mix out was using one of the 4 main channels. (In fact the DB4 has separate rec out and mix out signals that can be grabbed from the software). Of course, you have to select channels on the soundcard from the software like you say, but I’ve never seen a conflict between those digital outs and the 4 channels you’re mixing with. (Again, I might be really confused here about something obvious, so sorry if that’s the case…)
Pretty sure. I do know other mixers can send out a digital out while still having full functionality of all 4 decks, but not the 900. I wish it did though! Spent some time with the pioneer manual trying to find another option, but with the DJM 750/850/900, this is the only way it will work. The only other real options are setting up a second soundcard.
Wow that seems so short sighted on professional DJ gear, especially the “industry standard.” Their manual says the sound card sends a REC OUT but it doesn’t do you much good if that removes your use of another of the channels. Way to go Pioneer….
Setting is the same if you own a DJM850, DJM750 or DJM2000(Nexus) only on the DJM2000 or DJM2000Nexus there is no utility program.
Thanks for sharing! I’m not ashamed to say I didn’t know that about the 2000/2000nexus. Those are mixers I’ve personally never played on.
I own one myself. I agree with Dan White. The settings are internal, but no much people now that. I can find it in manual. For people that don’t now is. Turn off Your DJM 2000 or DJM 2000 Nexus. And turn it on while holding the Utility button, you will come in the settings of your DJM.
Yeah- those settings are set internally on the mixer’s utility on the DJM-2000s, right?
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Personally, I’ve started to carry around a Zoom H1 and an RCA to 3.5mm TRS Y cable. They’re fairly reasonable in price and I don’t have to set up my laptop to record if I just want to hit the CDJs with Rekordbox for a quick set.
Hey Oddie. The Zoom H1 is a great way to record sets for sure!
I mentioned it because I find it a bit more convenient to use than constantly hooking up my laptop to my 850. I’ve gotten my hands on a pair of NXS, so I’ve been giving Traktor a bit of a rest while I put the performance features like reverse, slip and the stutter on the needle strip to muscle memory. I’ve been trying leaving my laptop out of the equation as much as possible. The zoom helps a lot, I do a weekly radio show with a friend and it allows other people to use the soundcard in the 850 while recording sets.
Makes sense! Always good to have several options for sure. Drop a link to your radio show, would love to have a listen. 😀
Most of our posted archives are our guests. Our station only records the first 2 hours of the show, so most of these aren’t me. I feel that our guests should have the priority as I have the option to play every week. I got the recorder for when we run a good jam that runs a few extra hours into the open format content after us.
Here’s a link. http://cfru.ca/recordings/77
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