The Pioneer DJ NXS2 setup – CDJ-2000NXS2s and DJM-900NXS2s – are finally getting complete Tratkor Scratch compatibility. This comes in step with the launch of Traktor 2.11 (which is due to be released in the next day or two). Keep reading for the details on new compatibility.
Traktor + Pioneer NXS2s History
We published an article back in June 2016 about the absurdity of the situation for early adopters of high end Pioneer DJ NXS2 gear. Many users upgraded directly from NXS gear, and for some DJs, this meant losing DVS/Traktor Scratch and HID compatibility.
Pioneer DJ notes that the new compatibility being announced today, “comes under the Pioneer DJ Certification Program, an initiative to evaluate products from other companies and certify them as compatible with our DJ gear so you know you can use them together with confidence.”
The NXS2 line officially launched in February 2016, so if you invested then, it’s been eight months without this feature. Long enough for almost any digital DJ who missed this feature consider returning the units or trying out Rekordbox DJ, which has worked perfectly with the NXS2 hardware most of the year.
Full USB-HID Compatibility + Features
Despite the delay, we’re happy that Pioneer DJ have announced this new update. Here are the features that Pioneer DJ is announcing for each unit:
DJM-900NXS2:
- Intuitive DVS and scratch control: Plug your computer into the mixer and use the Traktor Scratch control vinyl or CDs. If you’re using a CDJ-2000NXS2, you don’t need a timecode disc.
- Dual Soundcard Support: With the DJM-900NXS2’s dual built-in sound cards and input selector switches, it’s easy to connect two computers to the mixer at the same time and trade off channels.
- Use the DJM-900NXS2 as an audio output device: Output audio signals from TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO 2 without needing an external audio interface. The USB sound cards enable 96 kHz/24-bit high-quality sample processing and you can input/output each audio signal and maintain sound quality just by connecting the mixer to your PC/Mac. (Editor’s note: We are pretty sure this isn’t a new feature – just now “officially supported”)
CDJ-2000NXS2:
- HID Control: Plug your Traktor Scratch computer into a CDJ-2000NXS2 and control track decks without the need for a control disc. Loops, tempo adjustment, and play/cue are all automatically mapped to the software.
- Track information on CDJ-2000NXS2’s screen: Text information, artwork, and wave form from your tracks in Traktor are shown on the screen (Editor’s note: so far, it looks like this is still just one static waveform and not a highres, zoomable waveform – same as with the CDJ-2000NXS)
- Use the CDJ-2000NXS2 as an audio output device: Output audio via the CDJ-2000’s built-in sound card
How To Set It Up
In order to start DJing with Traktor Scratch Pro and the NXS2 line, you’ll need to download the 2.11 beta (or soon, final release) of Traktor. You also will will need to update the firmware on your CDJ-2000NX2 units to version 1.50 and DJM-900NXS2 units to version 1.20.
We also noticed a good bit of advice in the Pioneer DJ forums for any DJs who might use CDJs without a DJM mixer. This means using the audio output of the CDJs and using the CDJ Aggregator software. Here’s what Tristan James writes:
[…] If you’ve used HID mode with the CDJ NXS2 series and Traktor, you’ve probably noticed that the waveform and integration simply hasn’t ben that tight. In fact, the NXS2 compatibility was completely absent from Traktor for 8 months following the lines release in 2016 – until 2.11 was l… […]
Honest question: why would you want the ability to add a computer to a CDJ setup? Why would you want to spend upwards of $2000 a piece on those beasts and then essentially use the CDJ as a midi controller? Isn’t the whole point of a CDJ to get the laptop out of the DJ booth?
I use Traktor for all things DJing, most of the time i play with a X1 and plug my Macbook Air in to the clubs mixer by USB cable, which is a really portable setup with all the benefits (and cons) of a laptop centered setup.
A lot of touring DJs (and other) center their setup around Traktor, and being able to hook it up to available club gear is great.
So HID mode now allows for on air red ring lighting or is your banner picture deceiving me?
The image is the stock press photo for the NXS2 system, you can see the Rekordbox GUI on the displays. When I tested the last Traktor 2.11 Beta, the On-Air ring was not active.
(Editor’s note: We are pretty sure this isn’t a new feature – just now “officially supported”)
Unless I’m mistaken, didn’t the original DJM-NXS provide the same feature? I simple USB connection to one’s computer would enabled the mixer to act simultaneously as the audio interface (limited to 88.2 I believe) and the mixer–while the DVS or CDJ/XDJs would act as the controller for the software. Cheers.
What about Serato DJ?
It’s getting it later in November
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Traktor 2.11 was just released.
It sounds like, if ProDJLink is properly set up, you can use just one USB from the computer to control multiple CDJs now, yes?
For Rekordbox DJ + CDJ-2000NXS2/DJM-900NXS2, you can apply that setup (CDJs linked via ProDJ Link CAT5 with DJM connected to the CPU via USB). When using the Traktor system, you still need to have all devices connected via USB.
That is what I am afraid of, as that is how it has always been, but it says…
“DJ-2000NXS2:
HID Control: Plug your Traktor Scratch
computer into a CDJ-2000NXS2 and control track decks without the need
for a control disc.”
It says into ‘A’ CDJ-2000NXS2 (singular) and control track deck’S’ (plural).
One of these days all major software will be single cable plug and play across all top/club install devices.