The Pioneer CDJ-400 is a compact disc player designed for professional DJ use, offering advanced functions and performance capabilities superior to traditional analog players. It supports playback of audio CDs, CD-R/CD-RW discs, and MP3 files from CD-ROMs or USB memory devices.
The CDJ-400 integrates a wide array of features to enhance DJ performance and creativity:
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Scratch Jog Effect: This function introduces new scratch sounds beyond conventional scratching. It includes three distinct effects:
- BUBBLE: Simulates a bubbly scratch sound.
- TRANS: Creates a muted sound effect, similar to a mixer's crossfader.
- WAH: Produces a wah-wah pedal effect.
These effects are active during VINYL mode and are applied while scratching.
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Digital Jog Break: This feature provides original sound effects for remixing. It offers three individual remix assist functions:
- JET: Adds a short delay sound, creating a "swooshing" effect with variable delay time based on jog dial rotation.
- ROLL: Modifies playback sound with pitch and time variations in response to jog dial rotation, allowing for loop-played audio when the jog dial is touched.
- WAH: Applies a filter with a cutoff frequency that changes with jog dial rotation, acting as a high-pass filter clockwise and a low-pass filter counterclockwise.
These effects are active during CDJ mode and change based on the degree of jog dial rotation.
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Jog Dial: A large 115 mm diameter jog dial provides enhanced handling.
- Pitch Bend: Changes music tempo based on the direction and speed of jog dial rotation.
- Scratch Play: In VINYL mode, pressing the jog dial surface stops playback, and rotating it produces sound according to the rotation's direction and speed.
- Frame Search: In pause mode, rotating the jog dial moves the pause position in frame units (1/75 sec).
- Super-Fast Search: Turning the jog dial while holding down the manual or track search button enables faster disc searching.
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Tempo Control: A 100 mm high-precision slider allows for free speed adjustment.
- Tempo Control Range: The variable range can be set to ±6%, ±10%, ±16%, or WIDE, offering flexible operation.
- Master Tempo: Maintains the original pitch of the sound while altering the music tempo.
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Reverse Play: Pressing the DIRECTION REV button enables playback in reverse.
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CUE Functions:
- Back Cue: Returns playback to a stored cue point and starts from there.
- Auto Cue: Automatically skips non-recorded parts at the beginning of a track and enters standby mode at the track's start, allowing instant playback upon pressing PLAY/PAUSE.
- Cue Point Sampler: Enables one-touch playback from a stored cue point, useful for confirming start points or as a sampler.
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CUE/LOOP Memory: An internal memory allows recording and recalling cue and loop points.
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Real Time Seamless Loop: Simplifies loop setting and canceling. Loops can be set instantly during playback, and an ADJUST mode allows one-touch adjustments to the loop-out point.
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RELOOP: Allows returning to the set loop position multiple times after canceling loop play.
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Beat Loop/Loop Divide: Automatically sets a loop-out point based on the track's BPM and starts loop play. Repeated presses divide the loop, creating new rhythms.
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Playing Address: A bar graph visually represents track playback progress, similar to checking a needle's position on an analog record. The graph flashes to indicate the track's end.
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Fader Start: When connected to a Pioneer DJ mixer, the mixer's fader operation can initiate quick start and back cue.
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Relay Play: Two CDJ-400 units can be connected for automatic relay play, where playback seamlessly transfers from one player to the other when a track ends.
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PC Connection: Most button and slider functions can output signals to external devices, allowing control of Pioneer's "DJS" software or other computer applications. Audio from computer-played tracks can also be output from the CDJ-400.