PIONEER DJM-450
SETUP
Firmware & Drivers
Firmware: Update the firmware of the unit to the latest version from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/mixer/djm-450/#firmware-update
Drivers (for both Windows and Mac computers). Download and install the necessary drivers from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/mixer/djm-450/#drivers
VirtualDJ Setup
Once VirtualDJ 8 is launched, a Login Window will appear. Login with your virtualdj.com account.
A Pro Infinity or a Pro Subscription License is required to fully use the Pioneer DJM-450.
Without any of the above Licenses, the controller will operate for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ.
http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
Click on the "Use Soundcard" button if speakers are connected to the Master Output of the DJM-450. You can still change that from Settings->AUDIO tab.
Click to OK.
The unit is now ready to operate with VirtualDJ.
MIDI Operation
The unit should be visible in the CONTROLLERS tab of Config and the “factory default” available/selected from the Mappings drop-down list. The factory default Mapping offers the functions described in this Manual, however those can be adjusted to your needs via VDJ Script actions.
Find more details at
http://www.virtualdj.com/wiki/VDJ8script.html
AUDIO Setup
The unit has a pre-defined Audio setup and a special button in the AUDIO tab of Config to provide that.
Please read the manual of DJM-450 for further functionality https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/documents/djm-450/
For further software settings please refer to the User Guides of VirtualDJ 8.
http://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj8/index.html
LAYOUT
U. USB Use a USB cable to connect the DJM-450 with a USB port of your computer and allow DJM-450 to send and receive audio and Midi signals
Even though the Pioneer DJM-450 is capable of sending MIDI signals from all faders, buttons and knobs, the entire unit is not controlling the internal mixer of VirtualDJ. The audio mixing and the Effects are operated from the hardware.
The Crossfader, Equalizer, Filter, Volume faders etc. will move the relative faders of the VirtualDJ GUI, but not vice versa (Fake mixer mode)
The functionality of each button, knob and connection per section (as shown in the image above) will be explained in detail in the next chapters
A. Mixer Controls
B. Microphone and AUX Controls
C. Headphones Controls
D. Hardware Effects
E. Rear & Front Panels
Mixer
- CROSSFADER. Blends audio between the left and right channels/decks.
- VOLUME. Use these faders to adjust the Output Volume of each mixer channel.
- CROSSFADER REVERSE. Set to ON to enable the reverse Crossfader behavior. When enabled, only Left Deck will be output at far right CF position and vice versa.
- CROSSFADER CURVE. Select one of the 3 available slopes for the Crossfader
- EQ CURVE. Select one of the 2 curves for the Equalizer (normal or Full Kill)
- CUE. Use these buttons to send one or more channel's pre-fader signal to the Headphones Channel for monitoring. When engaged, the button will be lit.
- MASTER CUE. Use this button to send the signal from the Master Output to the Headphones channel
- COLOR FX KNOBS. Use these knobs to adjust the amount of the selected Sound Color Effect to each of the Mixer channels. No Effect is applied when the knob is at 12 o’clock position.
Even though the COLOR knobs will move the FILTER knobs of the VirtualDJ GUI, the Color FX of VirtualDJ is still not applied (only provide a visual indicator) - COLOR BUTTONS. Use these buttons to select one of the 4 available Sound Color Effects (Noise, Filter, Echo and Sweep).
Only one Color FX can be selected each time. The Color Effects are Hardware Effects and do not control any internal VirtualDJ Effect. - COLOR FX PARAMETER. Use this knob to adjust the offered Parameter of the selected Color FX (e.g. the Resonance of the Filter Color FX)
- EQ HI/MID/LOW. Use these knobs to adjust the high (treble) / middle (mid) / low (bass) frequencies of each mixer channel.
- TRIM. Adjusts the input audio level (gain) up to +9db of each mixer channel. No boost or cut is at 12 o’clock position.
- INPUT SELECT. Set this switcher to the appropriate position to define which Channel Input will be routed to the 2 Mixer Channel Outputs
Set to USB position to route a VirtualDJ deck output to a mixer channel.
On PHONO/LINE positions the audio signal from the Inputs 1, 2 and 3,4 at the rear panel) will be routed directly to the Output of CH1 and CH2 Mixer Channels respectively. In this case the sound from the computer’s decks will be muted. Use this position to route external analogue media sources.
Set to USB position to use a Timecode (DVS) system. - MASTER LEVEL. Use this knob to control the Output level of the Master Output.
Microphone and Auxiliary Input Controls
- AUX SOURCE Use this switcher to select the source to be routed to the AUX Channel. Its signal will be routed to the Master Output.
Set to USB to route the VirtualDJ Sampler to the Master Output.
Set to LINE to route the audio signal of the external audio source, connected at the rear panel of the DJM-450
Set to AUX/RETURN to output the audio signal after processed from the USB Send FX Input (connected to the top USB port - not supported in VirtualDJ ) - AUX LEVEL. Use this knob to adjust the level of the selected AUX Source. When the USB AUX Source is selected, the knob will adjust the Volume of the VirtualDJ Sampler.
- MIC LEVEL. Use this knob to adjust the Input level of Microphone Inputs (connection at the rear panel).
- MIC TONE. Use this knob to adjust the tone of the Microphone Input.
Headphones
- HEADPHONES SPLIT. When set to STEREO, both sides of Headphones will output the same CUE or MASTER Outputs (depending on the MIXING knob. When set to MONO SPLIT, one side of Headphones will output the Master and the other the CUE decks.
- HEADPHONES MIXING Use this knob to mix between CUE and Master MIX in the Headphone channel. When all the way to the left, only channels routed to Headphones (via the CUE buttons) will be heard. When all the way to the right, only the Program mix will be heard.
- HEADPHONES LEVEL. Use this knob to set the volume to the Headphones Channel
Effects
- SEND RETURN. This section offers controls to an external FX process unit/application connected to the top USB port. Please consult Pioneer DJM-450 manual for further information. This section is not supported in VirtualDJ.
The Beat Effects section of the Pioneer DJM-450 is offering a variety of high-quality hardware beat-based effects that can be applied to any Mixer Channel, Master, Crossfader assigned sides and Microphone Input.
The Effects that come with VirtualDJ can be applied to any of the Mixer Channels as well, using the corresponding Effect buttons from the GUI or an additional MIDI device and will be applied before the hardware effects.
The functionality of this section is briefly described below. Please refer to the Manual of the unit for a detailed description.
- LCD Displays the BPM value of the selected FX Assigned Channel and Time division information. Briefly displays the selected Hardware Effect and the selected FX Assign Channel.
- BEAT MULTIPLIER. Set the Beat fraction for synchronizing the Effect sound.
- BEAT TAP/AUTO. When the BPM measurement is set to TAP, the BPM is manually input by tapping the button. Long press the same button to switch between the Auto and Manual BPM measurement mode. Note that when VirtualDJ is operating, the BPM value will be send from the software.
- EFFECT SELECT. Select one of the available Beat Effects.
- EFFECT CHANNEL. Select the Channel on which the Beat Effect will be applied to.
- TIME. Adjust the Time parameter of the selected Beat Effect
- EFFECT LEVEL. Adjust the quantitative parameter of the selected Beat Effect.
- EFFECT ON/OFF. Turn the selected Beat Effect on/off.
Front & Rear Panels
- DC-IN & ON/OFF. Connect the provided AC/DC Power adapter to a power outlet. Power on the unit after all the necessary connections are done.
- MASTER 2 (UNBALANCED). Connect your amplifier using a pair of RCA cables. The level of this output is controlled by the MASTER LEVEL knob at the top panel
- MASTER 1 (BALANCED) Connect your amplifier using a pair of balanced XLR jacks. The level of this output is controlled by the MASTER LEVEL knob at the top panel
- CH INPUTS. 2 pairs of PHONO/LINE inputs are provided by RCA jacks (one for each Deck/mixer channel). PHONO Inputs can be used to connect turntables. LINE Inputs can be used to connect CD Players or other analogue Auxiliary Sources.
The signal of these inputs will be routed to a Mixer Channel, depending on the selected PHONO/LINE source of each channel from the top panel switchers. - AUX INPUT. A pair of inputs is provided by RCA jacks to any external analogue Media Source. The audio signal of this input is routed to the Master Output if the LINE is selected as AUX Source from the top panel.
- MIC INPUT Connect a microphone using a balanced ¼” TRS plug .
- USB Connect this USB port to a USB port of a Windows/Mac computer to allow MIDI and USB Audio signals and controls from VirtualDJ.
Pioneer DJM-450 - Front panel - PHONES INPUT Connect a pair of Headphones using the 1/4” or 1/8" socket for monitoring
Advanced Setup
The Pioneer DJM-450 offers a built-in audio interface with 4 stereo Outputs and 4 stereo Inputs. The Inputs are determined by the Input Select switchers at the top panel of the unit.
The USB Output Channels can be set to different modes via the Pioneer DJM-450 Setting Utility
How to open the DJM-450 Utilities:
For Windows computer:
From VirtualDJ Settings AUDIO tab, click on the ASIO button,
or from Windows Desktop, click [START] menu [All Programs] [Pioneer] [DJM-450] [Pioneer DJM-450 Settings Utility]
For Mac OSX computer:
Click [MACINTOSH HD] icon [Applications] [Pioneer] [DJM-450] [Pioneer DJM-450 Settings Utility]
Timecode (DVS)
VirtualDJ is offering DVS (Digital Vinyl System) support for the Pioneer DJM-450. A Timecode Plus or Pro Infinity license is required. http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
Up to 2 Timecode Inputs are available to control any software decks via Timecode CDs or Vinyls.
Make sure the Input switchers at the top panel are set to USB position.
Open the Pioneer DJM-450 Setting Utility and set the USB Channel Outputs 1/2 and 3/4 to the appropriate mode.
In this example (as shown in the side picture), 2 Timecode Vinyls (turntables) have been connected to CH1 and CH2 PHONO Inputs
Close the Settings Utility
Open the AUDIO tab of VirtualDJ Settings and click on the TIMECODE button. VirtualDJ will then auto-create 2 Timecode Inputs.
Click to APPLY.
Press PLAY on your timecode CD and/or Vinyl device and VirtualDJ will automatically detect your Timecode type and make the appropriate adjustments for best performance.
Open the TIMECODE tab of the VirtualDJ Settings and choose the CALIBRATE button if for any reason the signal is not detected (possibly due to reversed phase connections).
Click on the ON buttons from the TIMECODE panels of the Default Skin (in the SCRATCH center panel) to enable the Timecode control to any software deck.
Recording
The Pioneer DJM-450 is offering a Record Output channel which by default is used to record your mix (and Aux/Mic Inputs) via VirtualDJ Record function.
Just make sure the USB 5/6 Output is set to REC from the Pioneer DJM-450 Utilities
Open the MASTER center panel of the VirtualDJ GUI and click to the REC button (or BCAST for broadcasting) to record your mix.
