The Last DJ Controller? Our XDJ-AZ Review - Digital DJ Tips

Phil, just received mine. I'm a Serato user and spent the weekend mapping out "Stems" and My Dj Effects/Drops. Here's the issues i'm coming across and hope that AT makes these corrections:
1. When mapping out Stems you have to map out each channel / deck individually. When doing that for some reason the bright pad lights go away and become dark blue.. The pads function however it is difficult to know when a stem is applied because the pads won't blink, light up, change color or anything. You literally have to stare at laptop screen under stems option to make sure stems are ON or OFF. It'd be nice if we could change pad colors or have them blink when using stem mapping feature or at least turn off that way it would be easier to identify which stem is in use or not.

2. There's no effects pad so again I mapped one out however the same issue with pad lights and also you have to map each deck individually now when doing this for some reason... After mapping out deck 1 it works great then mapping out deck 2 it takes what I did for deck 1 away and applies it to deck 2 and i'm sure if I map deck 3 it'll then take away from the previously mapped deck. There is a feature when mapping that prompts "Hold down Control to add mapping commands" And when I set deck 1 back up and went to deck 2 I held control and added the effects to deck 2. Now the pads turned dark blue to let me know the feature was applied but when using deck 2 no sounds come out of speakers even when looking at serato the effects features aren't showing any movement as they do with deck 1... Is there a fix to any of this? Hoping this gets to Pioneer/ AT. Thanks, Dj Statik

Not for the turntablist, get Rekordbox DVS if you are a real DJ to play your digital! I had the XDJ-RX3 for a year but it was too micky mouse for an original Turntablist DJ, which as we know are the real DJs so I changed it for a pair of MK7s and a DJM-250-MK2! And packed my 1992 MK2s away so I can sell them for 1000s in a few years time when they are collectors along with my CDJ400s!

Can you stream music from Tidal

Would be great if they added Spotify

Hey Phil, is there a way to touch the small waveform and skip forward in a track that’s loaded? I know there is sound preview but wondering about skipping. I do realize you have the back/forward physical buttons but would be nice to skip forward with a tap of the finger.

I prefer the Name Pioneer DJ, Just saying lol

Awesome gear

The only thing that i feel is missing is the inscription “PIONEER DJ” behind the screen and on the sides. I feel Alpha Theta logo at the back doesn’t give the feel of a professional tagline.

Is this the best Pioneer can do in terms of an XZ replacement? I fear it’s over for them as market leaders, others such as Denon are more innovative and have benefited from more powerful tech for several years. Denon have just launched STEMS on some of their devices! The AZ already seems old - come on Pioneer, up your game!

Is there an ETA on the in-depth tutorial video?

Hey Phil, love that Amadeus Mozart is the 2nd artist in your library (presuming that’s tidy Amo and not classical Amadeus 😉)

Why no Magvel faders?

What was the issue with the layer setup?

it is absolutely ridiculous that there is no USB-B, no internal SSD capability, no stem capabilities. So to me it's still far behind Denon in terms of latest features. Only one USB-C in the back? Really? Also why are they pushing subscriptions for Rekordbox? Rekordbox should be absolutely free with all features for someone who just paid $3200 f'ing dollars on a unit!!! After you spend over 3k they have the nerve to push Rekordbox subscriptions pushing $400/yr!!! WTF

It's not a controller come on guys. Its an all in one. A controller is something that requires a computer 😂

can you show how one would dj with 4 decks with this setup?

$4,599 Canadian. That's all I have to say.

Hello, I tried to update to the latest version of rekordbox, I’m using a very much older version. I believe I’m using record box 5 still…. However, I’m planning on purchasing the XDJ-AZ understand in order for it to work. I have to update to the latest version of rekordbox… so I did just that and downloaded the latest version rekordbox, however, when I try to open the rekordbox icon on my desktop which is a PC by the way, it doesn’t not open… is there a reason why? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance.

I’m using an older version of rekordbox that I can still use with the cdj3000… Am I going to be able to use my old version of rekordbox with the XDJ-AZ?

I’m just gutted it didn’t include stems me

Thanks so much fo the tutorial Phil! U r # 1 ! 🤙

Hi Phil, how about stems?
Is it also available on it, with easy access to select them? Cheers

Still only one laptop input. What a letdown on that. Otherwise a decent side grade

Is this for djing, making people dance or is it for programming a self driving car 🤔🙆🏽‍♂️

I use Quantize values as a performance tool, 1/2 for finger drumming on the pads and then back to 1.0 for a drop. Having the values inside a settings menu isn't good for this trick! Same for the vinyl speed settings, bring back a dedicated knob for this! Especially as swapping the knob for a button doesn't really free up any space!

Can it Halftime/Double Time Beat Sync on standalon?

Hi Phil, my gripe with Alpha Theta controllers, is that they don’t have labels on the hot cues. Is that still the case with the AZ? It’s a bit pointless adding them in Rekordbox if they’re not visible on the controller. 🙃

You say it's showing 13 tracks when browsing, meanwhile it's only showing 11. How come?

Can you hook up the rmx1000 to this with the xz it was buggy

My car cost that much

Nothing can beat the denon prime 4 , pioneer just copy it , and the price 🤪🤪

For crying out loud - they removed the bl**dy send! So does this mean some kind of workaround will have to be employed to get full DJS1000 integration?? The one thing I want! - So frustrating.

3000 dollars?
NOPE!!

Another tamagoshi, when it's going to be outdated?

NO! He dont have everything ! He wave ONLY ONE USB PORT FOR COMPUTER !

the AZ is nice but a logical purchase would be the prime 4 plus which has everything you need to get started with several streaming services to boot the AZ should have been launched when all its featured were ready.

Could you use 2 Denon DJ SC6000m as deck 3 and 4 without losing any fonctions ?

Will sell like sliced bread

damn idk....2 2000 CDJ 2 or this haha

Tidal, Amazon? Why no possibility to put a SSD in the Controller? Zone Out? And the price.... ^^

can it run two channels of serrato or recordbox and two channels for ableton at same time ?

Only thing that's good to buy is the looks..😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Its the same as the others..Y'all spend all that time making the same unit and you should of came up something better..For that price this product is a flop...No deal

When are you going to do the in-depth tutorial?

I'm so tired of hearing the excuse that if you ever want to play in a club or festival you should by a Pioneer DJ/AlphaTheta. Sorry, but any good DJ that should be playing a club,festival should be able to play on any gear. It's like saying that if I own a Honda, I wouldn't be able to drive a Porsche. A car is a car. DJ gear is DJ gear. 2 mins to get to know where things are located and your off. This is the lamest excuse to go for a certain brand.

Do the EQ knobs and tempo faders have the tactile feedback in the centre (like older pioneer gear did)? I know that was something that was missed off the FLX10

I dont get what everyone is so excited about?we have had the Prime 4 for a while now and that is a far superior unit to this. The outputs options on the back of this unit are poor in comparison, and so are so many other specs. it rally bugs me when you go on about "pro" dj gear, if a dj is a pro, they they can play on anything!

No stems, no magvel...
I'll keep my FLX 10

Still don't look as good as the opus quad