Pioneer DDJ-200

Pioneer DDJ-200 – Pioneer’s Cheapest Ever Controller

Posted by Bop DJ 14/05/19

Meet Pioneer’s cheapest controller yet: the Pioneer DDJ-200. The perfect entry into the DJing world. No laptop needed either (although you can use one if you want) – only an iPhone or an iPad, or an Android smartphone. The ultimate option for beginners or even experienced DJs looking for a portable option which can be thrown in a backpack and taken to a barbecue or festival campsite without having to lug along your laptop as well.

Pioneer DDJ-200

Pioneer DDJ-200

Here’s everything you need to know:

Bluetooth Connection
The DDJ-200 connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. You’ll be able to plug some speakers into the output of your phone/tablet and mix without headphones if you wish, but if you want to be able to cue in your headphones, it doesn’t have an internal soundcard like most controllers – so you have to use a split mono cable on the headphones output of your phone/tablet – then the app will split the Left and Right channels of the stereo output of your device, so that you can hear the Cue out of one and the Master out of the other. Plug  your speakers into one output of the splitter and your headphones into the other, and you’re ready to go.

It is possible to wirelessly Bluetooth the master output to some Bluetooth-capable speakers as well, but if you’re using the split cue function, the cue will be heard from the speakers as well (because you can’t split Bluetooth audio).

When transmitting data via Bluetooth there is almost no latency – there is only a bit of latency when transmitting audio via Bluetooth. So for this reason it’s always recommended to wire the audio to the master output and the headphones if you’re wishing to cue, but when controlling the app via Bluetooth, there’s no need to worry about latency.

Pioneer DDJ-200

Pioneer DDJ-200

The Buttons and the Knobs
On to the actual controller, it’s as simple as it gets, which is perfect for a new-starter. We have 3-band EQ, filters, sync buttons, and performance pads (assignable with different modes)… and the Transition button. In the App, you can choose which transition you want (from 11 options) – then just press the button, and it will transition into the other song you’ve got loaded up on the decks when you slide the crossfader.

It’s also very, very compact – dimensions are 378 × 208 × 48.2 mm – small enough to fit in a standard backpack or large handbag.

Pioneer DDJ-200

Pioneer DDJ-200

WeDJ App
The Pioneer DDJ-200 is built for WeDJ, an app made by Pioneer (only for iPhone and iPad – Android TARGET date July 2019, but it won’t support Beatport or Soundcloud Go), it was 99p on the App store, but now they’ve made it free for the release of the DDJ-200.

Here are some main features:

• It will allow you to easily record mixes and upload them straight to your Mixcloud and Soundcloud account (recording not available when streaming however due to licencing).
• The WeDJ app on iPhone (not iPad) also has tutorials for beginner DJs.
• It has a suggestions playlist in order of what track would work best with the one currently playing, another feature great for beginners.
• Select POP HINT and you’ll get explanations of all the buttons on the screen when you tap them.
• The app can also analyse phrases of your tunes and mark the start and end points of them on the waveform for you.
• As mentioned before, 11 Transition FX – sorted by categories cut in, mix, build-up & break down – and in-app purchase option to buy more FX
• AUTOMIX function, just let the app DJ for you, perfect for background music at parties (advanced automix options can be purchased for more transition FX)

You can plug it into Rekordbox DJ and performance mode will activate automatically, this is what they call a dongle-activated license for Rekordbox DJ.

Pioneer WeDJ App for Pioneer DDJ-200

Pioneer WeDJ App for Pioneer DDJ-200

STREAM IF YOU WANNA GO FASTER
What’s very much worth noting is that WeDJ works with both Beatport Link and Soundcloud Go, and everyone has a some kind of streaming service nowadays so it’s a huge plus to have access to millions of tracks. They’re working on getting Spotify integration for WeDJ too and we’re hoping it will be there in the near future.

However if you only have Spotify, or if you have an Android phone, it will also work with the algoriddim djay app (for Android or iOS), which has integration with it.

Android users can use edjing MIX as well, and this integrates with Soundcloud (Basic) and Deezer streaming service.

The DDJ-200 is powered by the USB port at the back, so it will be Bus-powered if you’re using it with Rekordbox DJ on a laptop, or if you’re using it with a device, it will have to be plugged into an outlet or a portable battery device with USB power output.

A DJC-200 bag will be available.

And finally – the price, £139.

Read more and Order Here