Summary
Highlights
To avoid issues with CDJ recognition, Pioneer DJ recommends formatting your USB stick to FAT32. The video demonstrates how to do this on a Mac using Disk Utility, advising users to back up important files before formatting.
Users need to download 'Rekordbox' software and ensure they are in 'Export Mode', not 'Performance Mode'. Export mode is crucial for transferring music to a USB drive to leverage all CDJ features. This step can be done before arriving at the studio.
Jamie Hartley from Crossfader introduces the video, which will guide users on preparing and mixing music using Pioneer DJ equipment. He emphasizes the need for a USB drive or SD card and the Rekordbox DJ software.
Music can be imported by navigating through the explorer or by dragging and dropping files. The video demonstrates creating new playlists, such as 'Pirate Studios', and dragging music packs into them. It also shows how to organize music into folders by genre.
Rekordbox reads music files from their original location on the laptop, it does not duplicate them. Renaming or relocating files on your computer can cause Rekordbox to lose track of them. The video explains how to find and relocate missing files or how to prevent this issue by maintaining a consistent file structure.
Before exporting, users can double-click a song in Rekordbox to access its waveform and set hot cues or save loops. This information will also be exported to the USB drive, enhancing performance features on CDJs.
The recommended method for exporting music is using the 'Sync Manager'. Users can select playlists to synchronize with their USB device. The Sync Manager allows for easy updates of playlists and ensures that any changes made on the CDJs (like new hot cues) are synced back to the Rekordbox library on the laptop.
An alternative export method is to right-click a playlist and select 'export playlist to device', but this is less efficient for managing updates. The video stresses that music should always be exported through Rekordbox, not by directly dragging files to the USB in the Finder/Explorer, as this prevents CDJs from displaying crucial information like BPM and waveforms. It also explains why exported files appear in a 'Pioneer' folder structure on the USB.
Before removing the USB drive, it's essential to safely eject it from Rekordbox (under the 'devices' tab) to prevent file corruption, especially during or after an export process.
With the music loaded onto the USB, the next step is to plug it into a CDJ. The video invites viewers to watch the next installment to learn how to navigate the CDJs and mixer. It also offers a free Crossfader music pack for aspiring DJs.