Let’s be clear - the Serato driven DDJ controller jogs could be better.
![rekordbox dj xdj rx rekordbox dj xdj rx](https://www.thedjshop.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/BLOG/Pioneer_XDJ-RX_vs_XDJ-RX2_2017.jpg)
I’m sure with more time, I could pull it to bits, but first impressions count, and mine are good. The four available cues show up in ABCD order on the full waveform, as well as on the zoomed one, which incidentally has five levels of zoom.
REKORDBOX DJ XDJ RX FULL
It’s a split screen, with zooming waveforms (50 shades of blue) at the top, and full waveforms at the bottom. We can only hope for a 60fps retina screen.īut it is logically laid out. I also wish it has a higher frame rate - the waveforms are a bit jumpy when scrolling, even at maximum zoom. I wish the screen was retina, but I figure that will come in time - you don’t shoot your load on V1, especially if the concept of all-in-ones is still unproven. Having played with the XDJ-1000, it looks to be the same one (albeit not a touch screen), but offers two lots of waveforms along with assorted information to help you mix music. I doubt however that a four channel version would fit in this frame. It’s also quite large for a two channel controller but the screen does rather dictate the overall size. The knobs are rubberised though, and perhaps even the edge of the jog wheels too. The XDJ-RX is fairly lightweight, has a plastic chassis finished off with brushed metal faceplates, and complimented with hard plastic buttons and fader caps. No worries - I was soon in the flow.Ĭonstruction wise, it’s more CDJ that DJM. The brain gets used to things such as 2×4 pads, and when they’re absent, it jars a little. Plenty of space around everything making it easy to use, even if I do have to get my head around a non-software workflow. The asymmetrical layout is pure Pioneer, as if glue was applied to a pair of mid-range CDJs and a two channel DJM. No rubber performance pads, no familiar software-driven controls - just a familiar CDJ/DJM focussed workflow.
![rekordbox dj xdj rx rekordbox dj xdj rx](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-02bc9/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/816/5325/XDJ-RX-brushed-silver-12inchskinz__66744.1487361367.jpg)
It’s pure Pioneer without concession to Serato, and my gut says it’ll always be that way as well. This is Pioneer disconnected from the world of everyone else’s software. There are omissions, because 60 minutes only gives you so much time to play, but for a broad view, this article works.
![rekordbox dj xdj rx rekordbox dj xdj rx](http://edmofy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Pioneer-XDJ-RX.jpg)
So what follows is not a concise warts and all account, but more initial feelings and rambling unconnected musings, which I’m writing on the fly, and tidying up a little when back home (as I am right now). Of course, I’m morally obligated to have a bash around, and of course write some words before somebody else in team DJWORX gets to review the hell out of it as only we do. And while at a loose end, I was placed in front of the all new XDJ-RX all-in-one rekordbox controller and left alone for about an hour for some private time with it. So I’m down at Pioneer’s media lab in London yesterday morning.