Pioneer DJM-850 User manual

VirtualDJ 8 –Pioneer DJM-850
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VirtualDJ 8 –Pioneer DJM-850
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Table of Contents
Installation................................................................................................................................3
Connections ...........................................................................................................................3
Drivers....................................................................................................................................4
VirtualDJ 8 Setup ...................................................................................................................4
Advanced Setup.....................................................................................................................5
Controls ....................................................................................................................................7
A.Mixer...................................................................................................................................7
B.Equalizer ............................................................................................................................8
C.Color FX.............................................................................................................................8
D.Headphones.......................................................................................................................9
E.Microphone ........................................................................................................................9
F.Input Selects.......................................................................................................................9
G.Master..............................................................................................................................10
H.Effects..............................................................................................................................11
I. Rear Panel.........................................................................................................................11
Advanced Setup.....................................................................................................................13
Timecode (DVS)...................................................................................................................13
Recording.............................................................................................................................15
Mixer Order...........................................................................................................................17

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Installation
Connections
Connect your computer to USB port at the top panel of Pioneer DJM-850
Connect each of your deck’s RCA cables to ANALOG INPUTs 1.to 4 respectively,
depending on which software deck you wish to control.
If it’s a CD player, use any of the CD/LINE Inputs
If it’s a turntable, use the PHONE Inputs of CH1 and CH4. Secure the ground wire to
a Phono Ground terminal.
Set the SOURCE selector at the top panel for DECKs 1 to 4 to USB
Connect the Pioneer DJM-850 with AC power using the provided cable and power on
the unit
Note: Usage of turntables or CD players (for DVS) is not necessary. The mixer may be used as a
pure MIDI mixer. VirtualDJ is also offering the ability to control all the software decks with even with a
single timecode unit. See Timecode.

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Drivers
For both Windows and Mac OSX computers
install the latest firmware and drivers from
http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/djm-
850#firmware-update and
http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/djm-
850#drivers
If the drivers are properly installed, the DJM-850
Setting Utility will appear each time you connect
your DJM-850 with your computer via the USB
port.
See Advanced Setup for further details.
.
VirtualDJ 8 Setup
Download and install VirtualDJ 8 from
http://www.virtualdj.com/download/index.html
(in case you have not done already)
Once VirtualDJ 8 is launched, a Login Window
will appear. Login with your virtualdj.com
account credentials.
A Pro Infinity, a PLUS* or a Pro
Subscription License is required to use the
Pioneer DJM-850. Without any of the above
Licenses, the mixer will operate for 10 minutes
each time you restart VirtualDJ.
http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
*For DVS Support an additional Timecode Plus
license is required if the Pioneer DJM-850 Plus
license is purchased.
A window will appear next, to verify the proper
detection.
Click on the “Use Soundcard” button and
VirtualDJ will automatically create and apply the
pre-defined audio configuration using the built-in
audio interface of the Pioneer DJM-850
Click on the “Change Skin” button and VirtualDJ
will automatically load the default 4 Decks GUI.
Click to OK.
The unit is now ready to operate with VirtualDJ.

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Advanced Setup
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/VDJscript.html
AUDIO Setup
The unit has a pre-defined Audio setup and a special button in the AUDIO tab of Config to
provide that. Alternative setups can be applied in the same window.
Timecode (DVS)* configuration is not pre-configured (see DVS Support for more details).
*requires Pro Infinity or Timecode License http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
For further software settings please refer to the User Guides of VirtualDJ 8.
http://www.virtualdj.com/wiki/PDFManuals.html

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U. USB Use a USB cable to connect the DJM-850 with a USB port of your computer and
allow DJM-850 to send and receive audio and Midi signals
M. MIDI. Press this button to enable the MIDI Operation of the DJM-850. Once
VirtualDJ is connected, press the MIDI START/STOP button for 2 seconds and a
MIDI snapshot will be sent from the DJM-850 (the position of the faders and knobs of
the DJM-850 will be reported to VirtualDJ)
Controls
Even though the Pioneer DJM-850 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)
A. Mixer
1. CROSSFADER. Blends audio
between the left and right assigned
channels/decks.
2. CF-ASSIGN. Define on which side
(A for left and B for right) of the
crossfader each mixer channel will
be output. If the THRU position is
selected, the corresponding channel
will be heard regardless the cross-
fader’s position.
3. VOLUME. Use these faders to
adjust the Output Volume of each
mixer channel.
4. 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.
5. FADER START. When Fader Start is enabled on a specific channel* the deck will start
playing once its Volume fader moves away from the minimum position and will stop to
the last Cue position when the Volume Fader reaches minimum position again.
If a channel is assigned to a Crossfader side (A or B) the deck will play once the
crossfader moves away from the assigned side and will stop to the previous Cue position
once reaches the other side.
*The Fader Start buttons follow the selected deck/channel order. See Channel Order.

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B. Equalizer
6. LOW. Use these knobs to adjust the
low (bass) frequencies of each mixer
channel.
7. MID. Use these knobs to adjust the
middle (mid) frequencies of each mixer
channel.
8. HI.Use these knobs to adjust the high
(treble) frequencies of each mixer
channel.
9. TRIM. Adjusts the input audio level
(gain) up to +9db of each mixer
channel. No boost or cut is at 12
o’clock position.
C. Color FX
10. COLOR BUTTONS. Use these
knobs to select one of the 4
available Sound Color Effects
(Noise, Gate, Crush and
Filter).
Only one Color FX can be selected each time. The Color Effects are Hardware Effects
and do not control any internal VirtualDJ Effect.
11. COLOR 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.
When the FILTER is selected, even though the COLOR knobs will move the FILTER
knobs of the VirtualDJ GUI, the internal High-Low Pass Filter of VirtualDJ is still not used
(only provide a visual indicator)
12. COLOR BEAT. Then enabled, the Sound Color Effects will follow the Beat pattern from
the FX section.

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D. Headphones
13. 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.
14. PHONES 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.
15. PHONES LEVEL. Use this knob to set the volume to the
Headphones Channel
16. PHONES INPUT Connect a pair of ¼” Headphones t this socket for
monitoring
E. Microphone
17. MIC1 INPUT Connect a microphone using a XLR 3-pin plug, a
balanced ¼” TRS plug or unbalanced TS plug. An additional
Microphone Input is available at the rear panel as well.
18. MIC LEVEL. Use these 2 knobs to adjust the Input level of
Microphone Inputs 1 and 2.
19. MIC EQ. Use these knobs to adjust the high/mid and low
frequencies of both the Microphone Inputs.
20. MIC ON/OFF/TALKOVER/ Use this switcher to run on/off the
Microphone Inputs. When set to TALK OVER sound will be
automatically dropping when Microphone is used.
F. Input Selects
21. INPUT SELECT. Set this selector to the
appropriate position to define which
Channel Input will be routed to the 4 Mixer
Channel Outputs
Set to USB position to route a VirtualDJ deck output to a mixer channel.
On PHONO/CD/LINE position the audio signal from the Inputs (1, 2, 3 and 4 at the rear
panel) will be routed directly to the Output of this Mixer Channel. In this case the sound

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from the computer’s decks will be muted. Use this position to route external analogue
media sources.
By default VirtualDJ decks 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be routed to mixer channels 2, 3, 1 and 4
(middle channels will control the main left and right decks). Order can be changed to your
needs. See Mixer Order.
G. Master
22. MASTER LEVEL. Use this knob to control the Output level of the Master
Output.
23. BALANCE. Use this knob to balance between the left and right signals of
the Stereo signal
24. CUE MASTER. Press this button to send the signal of the Master Output to
the Headphones Channel.
25. MONO/STERO. When set to MONO, both left and right signals will be
output to both left and right Outputs.
26. BOOTH VOLUME. Use this knob to control the Output level of the Booth
Output.
27. EQ CURVE. Choose between Normal and Isolator (Cut) Equalizer modes.
28. CH FADER CURVE. Select the Curve that the Channel Volume faders will
follow.
29. CROSSFADER CURVE. Select which curve the Crossfader will follow (Cut,
Full, Smooth)

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H. Effects
The Beat Effects section of the Pioneer DJM-850 is offering a variety of
high-quality hardware beat-based effects that can be applied to any of
the 4 available decks, Master, Crossfader assigned sides and both
Microphone Inputs.
The Effects that come with VirtualDJ can be applied to any of the 4
decks 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.
30. BEAT MULTIPLIER. Set the Beat fraction for synchronizing the Effect
sound.
31. BEAT TAP. When the BPM measurement is set to TAP, the BPM is
manually input by tapping the button.
32. BEAT AUTO. Switches the BPM measurement mode (auto or
manual)
33. EFFECT CUE. Use this button to send the applied Beat Effect output
to the Headphones channel (for monitoring prior applying)
34. EFFECT SELECT. Select one of the available Beat Effects.
35. EFFECT CHANNEL. Select the Channel on which the Beat Effect will
be applied to.
36. TIME. Adjust the Time parameter of the selected Beat Effect
37. EFFECT LEVEL. Adjust the quantitative parameter of the selected
Beat Effect.
38. EFFECT ON/OFF. Turn the selected Beat Effect on/off.
I. Rear Panel

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39. POWER.ON/OFF. Power on the unit after all the necessary connections are done.
40. POWER SOCKET. Connect a universal AC cord.
41. SEND/RETURN Use balanced pairs of ¼” TS jacks for the SEND and RETURN Inputs.
These Outputs/Inputs are normally used to connect outboard effect units
42. INPUTS. 2 Phono/CDLINE and 2 LINE/CDLINE inputs are provided by RCA jacks (one
for each Deck/mixer channel). PHONO Inputs on CH1 and CH4 can be used to connect
turntables. CDLINE Inputs (in all 4 mixer channels) can be used to connect CD Players.
LINE Inputs in CH2 and CH3 can be used to connect other analogue Auxiliary Sources.
43. 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
44. 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
45. REC OUT. Additional unbalanced Output. Use standard RCA cables and send the
Master Output to an external recording device.
46. BOOTH OUT Use a pair of balanced ¼“ TRS jacks to connect the unit with your
secondary output (e.g. for monitor). The level of this output is controlled by the BOOTH
knob at the top panel
47. DIGITAL. S/PDIF Output. Used to digitally link mixers without converting to analog.
48. CONTROL. 3.5mm mini phone jack type connections. If you connect a Pioneer CDJ
Player with the supplied Control cables, you will be able to start/stop playback with the
Volume faders of the DJM-850.
49. MIC2 INPUT Connect a microphone using a balanced ¼” TRS plug or unbalanced TS
plug.
50. MIDI OUT Connect this input with the MIDI IN Terminal of an external MIDI sequencer.
Note: The Master, Booth and Rec outputs arrive from the same “Main Mix” signal. The first 2 have
their own LEVEL control at the top panel. Because all signals are identical, users may use any of
these outputs as the “Main” output if a different cable type is required for system connection.

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Advanced Setup
The Pioneer DJM-850 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-850 Setting
Utility (automatically opens when the DJM-850 is connected to a USB port of your
computer)
How to manually open:
For Windows computer:
Click [START] menu [All Programs] [Pioneer] [DJM-850] [Pioneer DJM-850
Settings Utility]
For Mac OSX computer:
Click [MACINTOSH HD] icon [Applications] [Pioneer] [DJM-850] [Pioneer DJM-
850 Settings Utility]
Timecode (DVS)
VirtualDJ is offering DVS (Digital Vinyl System) support for the Pioneer DJM-850. A
Timecode Plus or Pro Infinity license is required. http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
Up to 4 Timecode Inputs are available to control any software decks via Timecode CDs or
Vinyls.
Mixer Channels CH1 and CH4 can accept PHONO (Timecode Vinyls). CD/LINE (Timecode
CDs) can be accepted in all 4 available Channels.
Connect your Timecode devices at the rear panel of the Pioneer DJM-850 to the Inputs 1 to
4 and make sure the Input switchers at the top panel are set to USB position.
Open the Pioneer DJM-850 Setting Utility
and set the USB Channel Outputs to the
appropriate mode.
In this example (as shown in the side
picture), 2 Timecode Vinyls (turntables) have
been connected to CH1 and CH2 and 2
Timecode CDs have been connected to Ch2
and CH3
Close the Settings Utility

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Open the AUDIO tab of VirtualDJ Settings and click on the TIMECODE button. By default
VirtualDJ will auto-create 2 Timecode Inputs. Add 2 more Timecode Input lines and select
the appropriate Input Channels as per the image below
Pioneer DJM-850 –Audio Setup with 4 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 of the 4 software decks.
Timecode Detection
Timecode buttons - 4 Decks GUI (Scratch Panel)

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In this example, 2 Timecode Inputs have
been connected to CH2 and CH3 at the
rear panel of the Pioneer DJM-850.
If any of the available USB Output is not
used, choose None from the list.
REC OUT has been chosen for CH4 in
this example. See Recording.
Pioneer DJM-850 - Audio Setup with 2 Timecode Inputs
Recording
Any of the 4 available USB Output Channels of the Pioneer DJM-850 can be used to record
your Main Mix along with Microphone Inputs.

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Open the DJM-850 Setting Utility and set
any of the 4 USB Outputs as REC OUT.
In this example, USB7/8 (CH4) has been
selected as Recording Output.
Open the AUDIO tab of VirtualDJ Settings and manually add a “record” line to your
current audio configuration. Select the PIONEER DJM-850 sound card and the same Input
Channels from the Setting Utility (in this case IN 7&8), as per the following image.
Pioneer DJM-850 - Audio Setup with Record line
Click to APPLY
Open the MASTER center panel of the VirtualDJ
GUI and click to the REC button (or BCAST for
broadcasting) to record your mix.
Record section –MASTER GUI panel

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Mixer Order
By default Pioneer DJM-850 is pre-configured to control VirtualDJ decks with order 3-1-2-4.
This means that the middle CH2 and Ch3 are assigned to control main decks 1 and 2 and
the side Channels CH1 and CH4 are assigned to control VirtualDJ decks 3 and 4.
How to change the Mixer channel order?
Click on the small round button right above the Crossfader (Mixer Options) to get
the Mixer Options menu. (available in the 4 Decks default GUI of VirtualDJ)
Choose one of the available mixer orders 1-2-3-4, 3-1-2-4 (default) or 1-3-4-2
If the sound card of the Pioneer DJM-850 is used in the Audio setup, confirm the
change of the audio routing in the following window and VirtualDJ will automatically
make the necessary changes to the audio configuration.

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Useful links
VirtualDJ web-page: http://www.virtualdj.com
VirtualDJ Support Center: http://www.virtualdj.com/contact/index.html
VirtualDJ 8 Operation Guides: http://www.virtualdj.com/wiki/PDFManuals.html
Pioneer web-page: http://www.pioneerdj.com
Pioneer Support Center: http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support
Pioneer DJM-850 product page: http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/mixer/djm-
850/black/overview
Pioneer DJM-850 manual: http://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/documents/djm-850#manual
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