Pioneer has released a new product belonging to their Pro DJ series and based on one of their previous model, the CDJ-1000. The Pioneer CDJ-400 Tabletop CD Player is an audio player that can select files from CDs, MP3 CDs or external storage devices (USB keys, portable hard drives, …) through a navigation interface that allow you to search, find, play and modify their parameters.

The Pioneer CDJ-400 Tabletop CD Player features illuminated jog wheel (with 3 jog sets), built-in effects like scratch jog (bubble, trans and wah) and digital jog break (jet, wah and roll), real-time divide beat loop, instant reverse play and resume functions, MIDI though USB, 4 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response and RCA analog and coaxial digital outputs.

Although this device can power USB-powered storage drives it maybe can’t playback their files if it can provide enough electrical power.

Features:

Digital media playback
The CDJ-400 handles CD Audio and MP3 files from CD, while USB connectivity lets DJs draw upon sound libraries on external storage devices [5]. Through the new push-selection Rotary Scroll Wheel and Back Button, users can navigate files and folders as simply and quickly as on many of the leading portable media players available today.

MIDI control via USB
With Pioneer’s finger firmly on the pulse of digital DJ developments, it is only natural that the CDJ-400 can control DJ and music application software. This is achieved by simply selecting the PC Source Select button, so that virtually all of the deck’s buttons and slider can send MIDI control data via the PC USB connection. So when MIDI is the message, the CDJ-400 definitely delivers. For example, a DJ can connect the CDJ-400 to a PC or MAC and play and manipulate files from their favourite DJ application software – such as Pioneer DJS or Serato Scratch LIVE [4] – and this doesn’t even require a time-code disc to be used in the deck.

New illuminated Jog Wheel
With a design inspired by the club standard CDJ-1000 Jog Wheel comes the CDJ-400’s 115mm illuminated platter. You can choose from six different patterns of Jog Wheel illumination and even personalise your own CDJ ‘slip mats’ or jog sheets [6].

New Scratch Jog Effects
In addition to the Digital Jog Break Effects (JET, WAH and ROLL) found in CDJ Mode, Pioneer serves up the world’s first Scratch Jog Effects, BUBBLE, TRANS and WAH, in vinyl mode. BUBBLE simulates a scratch technique and is great for spin backs, while TRANS is like rhythmically transforming with a mixer’s cross fader and WAH resembles the guitar Wah pedal.

New Beat Loop Divide
Can you dance to this b-b-beat? Making the magic of live mash-up even more manageable, the funky new Beat Loop Divide facility rhythmically dices loops to fashion beats with drama, intrigue or whatever your desired effect. It is easily adjustable using its (- and +) buttons during loop playback, thereby creating loops with mind-melting, dancefloor-destroying twists.

Hot Loop and Beat Loop
Besides the Beat Loop Divide, the CDJ-400 lets DJs create flawless four-beat Beat Loops and Hot Loops. For the latter hit the Hot Loop (In/Out point) buttons during a loop to retrigger the loop. Up to 10 Cue/Loop points per disc, for up to 920 discs, can be stored in memory and transferred by usb key between CDJ-400s.

Specifications: