Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone uses CDJS (specifically Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2 with DJM-900NXS2 mixer) with their Elektron machines? How would I go about playing/connecting them together, or is it an overkill of a setup?
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As there is no midi on these units you would have to mix by ear. You would have to set tempo (the same as cdjs) manually on elektrons then press play on the down beat. After that you would have to nudge the elektrons into time. The AR has a “utiming” button which could be used if this was the master clock device for elektrons. If no AR you could always use the bpm knob to speed up or slow down to get into time before setting back to correct tempo.
I do something similar when mixing my elektrons into my friends dj setup. However I use Allen n health PX5 mixer as master clock as it has midi out and nudge buttons on the mixer 
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The CDJs probably have finer tempo adjustment, so you might have to sync CDJ to Elektron box - by hand.
…but that mixer is meant to have a MIDI clock mechanism I think. Might be worth looking into how well it works as a clock master in this scenario.
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The easiest way to get them in sync would certainly be through a laptop and a soundcard. Pioneers take USB-midi and you could use Traktor/Serato to sync your whole setup.
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Be interesting to hear anybody that can get this to work.
When we tried syncing from traktor (as master) it was out a fair bit. Traktor only allowed a midi offset in 1 direction (the opposite from what we needed) and was no use. Ableton allows offset in both directions.
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i was fascinated by this idea about ten years ago, tried it with a djm800 mixer.
connected the midi out from the mixer to the Machinedrum midi input, set Global tempo ‘external’, took some practise to start the Machinedrum on the correct timing although pretty much everything worked really enjoyably, for up to 10-15 minutes at a time of sync.
sometimes less. seemed to possibly go out of tempo (the clock tempo from the mixer) when i was inexpertly mixing in another cd (was using dvj-100’s).
it was moderately easy to just press stop on the Machinedrum and then press play again, kind of tapped a bar or two of 8th notes in time to the song playing and then pressed play. somehow that helped to be in time.
i think the newer 900 mixer would likely be more stable and very worth trying out, especially if you know how to properly mix/beatmatch cdj’s.
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Just do it by ear as usual for DJs.
Set tempo on gear and sync the vinyl, CDs or MP3s.
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