Owner's Manual
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. WARNING: Do not place this product in a position where anyone could walk on, trip over ,or roll anything over power or connecting cords of any kind.
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep these precautions in a safe place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: • Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or modify them in any way.
Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha DJX-IIB! The DJX-IIB is a complete dance-music workstation that can be used both as a real-time performance instrument and a powerful production tool. Its intuitive interface makes real-time operation easy for artists with a DJ background. Read this Owner’s Manual carefully while playing your new DJX-IIB in order to take full advantage of its various features. Packing List ● ● ● CD-ROM DJX-IIB Owner's Manual (Installed at the factory.
What is the DJX-II? DJX-IIB? The new DJX-IIB is a digital DJ powerhouse! If you’ve dreamed of creating and performing your own cutting-edge, phat ‘n’ funky dance music, you’ve come to the right place... The DJX-IIB is a fully digital DJ machine — a revolutionary new instrument that blends the reliability and clean sound of digital with stunningly powerful and easy-to-use analog-like controls.
Contents Packing List...................................................4 How to Use the Manual.................................4 What is the DJX-IIB?.....................................5 Contents .............................................................6 Panel Controls....................................................8 Top Panel.......................................................8 Changing the Scratch Pad CD ...................10 Rear Panel & Connections .........................
Contents Chapter 13 More Pattern Player Power Tips ...47 Tip 59 Tip 60 Tip 61 Tip 62 Creative Fill-in 1................................................... 47 Creative Fill-in 2................................................... 47 Playing intros and transitions.............................. 47 Playing intros and transitions, part 2 .................. 47 Chapter 14 Tip 95 Tip 96 Tip 97 Upside down, inside out!..................................... 64 Taking the pulse .....................................
Panel Controls This is the DJX-IIB! Top Panel q !8 P 01 i o !0 e 01 !1 !4 t w !2 r y u !3 !6 !5 !7 ◆ Be careful! Avoid pressing three or more panel buttons simultaneously. Doing so can cause the DJX-IIB to behave erratically.
Panel Controls q STANDBY/ON switch ................................13 Press to toggle the power on or off. (Power is on when the switch is pressed in.) w MASTER VOLUME.....................................13 This determines the overall volume of the DJX-IIB. e DEMO button This is used to play the Demo songs that showcase the sophisticated capabilities of the DJX-IIB. Press this button to start/stop the Demo songs. To select one of the Demo songs, hold the button down and simultaneously turn the scratch pad.
Panel Controls Changing the Scratch Pad CD Included with the DJX-IIB is a special CD-ROM disc. The disc normally serves as a “platter” for the Scratch Pad function. Since special software is included on the disk, you will need to remove the disc to install the software. If you have a CD with a particular design that you like, you can replace the included CDROM disc with a disc of your choice. To change the disc, follow the instructions below.
Panel Controls Rear Panel & Connections A standard pair of stereo headphones can be plugged in here for private practice or late-night playing. The internal stereo speaker system is automatically shut off when a pair of headphones is plugged into the PHONES jack. • Connect the AC adaptor (PA-5B, PA-5C or other adaptor specifically recommended by Yamaha) to the power supply jack. • Do not listen with the headphones at high volume for long periods of time. Doing so may cause hearing loss.
Setting Up (Power supply connections) Although the DJX-IIB will run either from an optional AC adaptor or batteries, Yamaha recommends use of the more environmentally safe AC adaptor. Follow the instructions below according to the power source you intend to use. The batteries should be considered an auxiliary power source for data backup (page13). ■ Using An Optional AC Power Adaptor • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 2 3 Make sure that the STANDBY/ON switch of the DJX-IIB is set to STANDBY.
Switching On the Power Once you've set up your DJX-IIB, try turning the power on. Make sure your sound system's main level/volume control(s) and the DJX-IIB volume control are turned all the way down prior to turning the power on. 0J'. Set the MASTER VOLUME knob to "min." Turn the power ON by pressing the STANDBY/ON switch. Press the STANDBY/ON switch again to turn the power OFF. • Even when the switch is in the “STANDBY” position, electricity is still flowing to the instrument at the minimum level.
100 Tips to be a DJ! 14 This is NOT an owner’s manual! At least not an ordinary one. But, then again, the DJX-IIB is no ordinary instrument. It’s packed with exciting, easy-to-use dance music features that instantly sets it apart from run-of-the-mill conventional instruments! This collection of 100 hot tips shows you how to get the most out of your new DJXIIB in the shortest time possible.
Chapter 1 Pattern Player Basics 2 Switch between Banks Even though there are five buttons in the PATTERN PLAYER, you have a total of ten Patterns at your disposal — thanks to the A/B BANK button. Each Bank, A and B, has five Patterns. When the A/B BANK button lamp is off, you can play Patterns A1 to A5. When the A/B BANK button lamp is on, you can play Patterns B1 to B5. Pressing the button doesn’t change the Pattern, it only enables the Bank.
3 Mixing Main and Fill-in Patterns Try mixing it up! As you learned in Tip 2 above, each of the DJX-IIB’s Patterns has ten different Variations. The main Patterns are played with buttons 1, 3, and 5, while the fill-in Patterns are played with buttons 2 and 4. (Fillin Patterns are usually used as dynamic breaks or transitions.) Main Patterns In general, the higher the Variation number (A1 - A5, B1 - B5), the busier or more complex the Patterns become.
Chapter 1 Pattern Player Basics q e w q w p 01 Flashes 01.03 Current Pattern — now playing. e p 03 New Pattern — waiting in standby.
5 Come down on the “one”! The key to great timing is knowing where the “one” is. And the “one” is the first beat in a four-beat Pattern. Another key to timing is feeling the downbeats (four downbeats to a Pattern). The DJX-IIB makes this easy to do! Check this out: While the Pattern is playing, the dot in the bpm display flashes rhythmically. (If the bpm display is not shown, press BPM/TAP.
Chapter 1 Pattern Player Basics 6 Keep the bpm steady! Once you’ve started a Pattern, it's better to keep it playing at a steady bpm — unless you’re aiming for special effects and sudden tempo changes. Actually, the DJX-IIB takes care of this for you — automatically! If you change Patterns while a Pattern is playing, the bpm setting stays the same. However, if you stop the Pattern and start a new one, the bpm is automatically reset to best suit the newly selected Pattern. While the Pattern is running...
Chapter 2 Live Effector Basics The effects of the DJX-IIB are more than just frosting on the cake — they’re powerful tools that can completely transform the sounds and rhythms, and put a whole new spin on your tracks! 7 What is the Live Effector? Here’s where you can really get down and dirty with your beats! The Live Effector gives you a wide variety of real-time effects that let you mangle and munge the sound in wild and exciting ways.
Chapter 2 Live Effector Basics 8 Distortion This popular effect lets you distort the sound — from a soft grunge to a full-on metallic assault. Turn the CONTROL knob to the right for more crunch and bite. 9 Auto Pan Get your sound moving in space! This effect shifts the sound in the stereo image back and forth between hard left and hard right.
12 Phaser The Phaser effect is similar to Flanger (in Tip 11 above), but more subtle — not quite as dramatic. Phaser is good for adding a little bit of warm animation and movement to the sound. Use the CONTROL knob to change the speed of the modulation.
Chapter 2 Live Effector Basics 15 Echo Like Delay (in Tip 14 above), Echo produces repeats of the sound for rhythmic effect. However, the CONTROL knob is used to change the number of repeats (also called “feedback”). Naturally, the DJX-IIB automatically syncs this effect to the bpm of the Pattern. 16 Lo-Fi Need to grunge up your sound, but Distortion is too nasty for you? This useful effect lets you slap that retro, lo-rez sound onto your beats — just like they do in hip-hop, trip-hop and other styles.
Chapter 3 Isolator Basics More sonic control to you! The Isolator lets you tailor the sound just the way you want it — phat and round, thin and edgy, or big and banging! 18 Tweak the sound just right! Need a beefier low end? Want to put some edge and shimmer in the top? Tweak these knobs to your heart’s content, and get the sound just the way you want it! Try turning the Low and High knobs of the Isolator a little bit to the right, and make the sound more punchy.
Chapter 4 Filter Basics Pump up the energy on the dance floor a serious notch or two with these powerful filter tools! 19 Cutoff and Resonance The CUTOFF and RESONANCE knobs control the filter effects. And what are “filter effects,” you ask? Well, filters have been used for a long time with analog synthesizers, and in the right hands they are capable of turning static, boring sounds into something really dynamic and animated. Turn CUTOFF to the left and the sound becomes darker or “muffled.
Chapter 5 Scratch Pad Clinic The true mettle of a DJ is in his or her turntable work. That’s why the DJX-IIB has a special Scratch Pad that lets you strut your stuff! 20 Work out on the Scratch Pad! Step up to the turntable and work the platter like a real DJ! That’s what the Scratch Pad’s for! Set the Crossfader to around the center, then rock the Scratch Pad back and forth.
Chapter 5 Scratch Pad Clinic ● Scratch List The Auto kit (0) automatically selects a kit to best match the currently selected pattern. No. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Category Name AUTO VINYL LAB HIP HOP X-TRA Scratch Name No.
22 Eighth-note scratching Once you’ve mastered quarter-note scratching, eighth notes are real easy! Just double up your scratching and play two scratches (forward and back) on every beat! For this example, call up P39 and play V B5. For your scratching, try out Scratch 01 and rock the pad back and forth in short 1/8 turns. One Two Three Four 23 Sixteenth-note scratching Now let’s go a little bit faster.
Chapter 5 Scratch Pad Clinic 24 Shuffle feel Here things get a bit tricky! But don’t worry — once you feel the rhythm, you’ll have no trouble playing it! Shuffle rhythms are a cornerstone of hip-hop music, and feature a heavy “swing” feel. Scratching to this rhythm is tricky since the forward scratch and backward scratch are not even — you’ll have to do one slower than the other! To get you into this, select P36 and start V B1.
26 Scratch Pad arpeggios The Scratch Pad has so much more than just scratch sounds! For some examples of how musical you can get with the Scratch Pad, check out the Arpeggiator kits. Try this out! Select P29 and start V A3. Call up Scratch 49. Now the Scratch Pad plays arpeggiated phrases in time with the rhythm.
Chapter 5 Scratch Pad Clinic 29 Stop the turntable You’ve heard the effect — where the whole track drops in pitch and slows down to a grinding halt! Guess what — you can do the same thing on the DJX-IIB, and have fingertip control over it, too! Select Scratch 72. This assigns the Scratch Pad to control both pitch and bpm simultaneously. Spin the pad counter-clockwise — and hear the pitch go down and the bpm slow down. Naturally, the bpm value is shown in the display as well.
Chapter 6 Part Mixer Basics Now that you’ve got your rhythm chops up to speed and some DJ tricks up your sleeve, it’s time to work on the Parts! This chapter gives you the keys to improvising interesting arrangements and instrumental textures. Not to mention creating some slammin’ and smokin’ tracks! 32 What is a Part? The DJX-IIB Patterns are made up of several different instrument Parts: Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, Percussion, Bass, and pitched Phrases.
Chapter 6 Part Mixer Basics ◆ Helpful hint: If you’ve muted several Parts, you can turn them all back on again instantly! Simply press LOOP — do this on the “one” downbeat — and the whole rhythm kicks in at once! 73 BASS BASS KICK SNARE HI-HAT PERCUSSION PHRASE1 PHRASE2 PHRASE3 34 Extra texture! Work on your instrument textures. All the mixmasters and mixologists do it! Why? Because it works like a charm! Here’s a specific example to get you started. Select P05.
Chapter 7 Crossfader Basics The DJX-IIB has a feather-touch Crossfader — just like those found on real DJ mixers — that lets you crossfade between your beats and your scratching! 35 Work the Crossfader! This short-throw, feather-touch Crossfader gives you easy and fast control over the Pattern/Scratch balance. The center spot has a lot of leeway and is very forgiving — just get the Crossfader somewhere near the middle and the level balance is equal.
Chapter 7 Crossfader Basics 37 Crossfader cuts This is one of the most basic moves in the DJ’s collection of Crossfader techniques — cutting in with a scratch. Hit a Pattern and keep the Crossfader all the way to the left so that only the Pattern is heard. While the Pattern is playing, work the Scratch Pad (even though you can’t hear it). Whip the fader to the right and then back left quickly.
Chapter 8 Intermediate Techniques This chapter is a grab bag full of various tips that solidify your DJ chops and put you on your way to really mastering the instrument! Take your time and get these down before moving on to Chapter 9...
Chapter 8 Intermediate Techniques 39 Change the bpm Another sure-fire way to stir things up is to play with the bpm. Turn up the bpm and turn up the heat! Press BPM/TAP once and turn the scratch pad. For you techies, the bpm range is 32.0 - 280.0. try starting the Pattern at a slower-than-normal bpm, then gradually bring the bpm up in speed to get the groove really happening! ◆ Be careful! If the Pattern is stopped and you turn the scratch pad past 280.
41 Fade in, fade out Easy, but effective! Simply use the MASTER VOLUME dial to create your own smooth fade-ins and fade-outs.
Chapter 8 Intermediate Techniques 43 Tweak the cutoff Select P06 and start V A1. Set RESONANCE to about 2 or 3 o'clock, then slowly turn the CUTOFF knob to create a slow sweeping effect. Twiddle the knob back and forth quickly and create a wahwah like trembling effect. q Start the Pattern. r Stop the Pattern. w Set RESONANCE to about 2 or 3 o’clock. e Turn the CUTOFF knob.
45 Warped vinyl and a cheap turntable! A lot of dance styles call for a lo-fi, analog sound. This simple trick lets you mimic the wow and flutter of a warped record — or a bad turntable! Select Scratch 72 to call up the Pitch & bpm “kit” — this lets you speed up and slow down the Pattern. While the Pattern is playing, move the Scratch Pad back and forth slowly and over a short distance — just enough to waver the pitch up and down a little.
Chapter 9 Pattern Player Power Tips 48 Hitting a new Pattern and Variation — at the same time! There will be times when you’ll want to change not only to a new Pattern, but to a specific Variation — instantly and at the same time. Here’s the best way to do that! First, simultaneously hold down PATTERN and turn the Scratch Pad to call up the new Pattern number. Remember to keep holding down PATTERN! Then — just at the “one” downbeat in the Pattern — press the desired Pattern button.
50 Break to a new Pattern! One sure-fire method to turn up the heat on the dance floor is to use a break or a drop-out just before hitting a new Pattern! Here, we’ll try dropping everything out for a full measure (four beats). While the first Pattern is playing, count the beat in your mind and tap it out with your heel — to make sure you’re locked into the groove! At the same time, call up the new Pattern by simultaneously holding down PATTERN and turning the Scratch Pad.
Chapter 9 Pattern Player Power Tips 51 One-bar Patterns — all in a row! Nearly all of the DJX-IIB’s Patterns change every bar (four beats). Some loop in two-bar patterns, some loop every four bars. Some Patterns have more obvious changes than others (for example, listen to P59, V A1), but all have some sort of musical or textural progression that make the music flow and breathe. You can create a different kind of flow by playing different Patterns in a row, each Pattern lasting just one bar.
Chapter 10 Crossfader Power Tips 52 Quick Crossfader scratching Here’s a cool way to change the sound of a Pattern — and put your personal scratch touches on it — without disrupting the flow of the rhythm! Select P50 and start V A1. Also, call up Scratch 01. While the Pattern is playing, try scratching along with the rhythm — just to get in the groove.
Chapter 11 Using the BPM/TAP button 55 Tap out the beat! Change the bpm in real time! Tap the BPM/TAP button twice rhythmically, while the Pattern is running — and the bpm automatically changes to the tapped speed. BPM 120.0 The Pattern changes bpm according to your tapping. 56 Start with a tap... You can also get the Pattern going at whatever speed you like by simply tapping it out.
Chapter 12 The Outside World Here are a couple of tips that get you started interfacing the DJX-IIB with external gear. Go for it, and get your sound out there! 57 Expanding your DJ setup The DJX-IIB can easily do double-duty as part of a larger DJ setup. For example, you can connect the LINE OUT jacks to two of the inputs of a DJ mixer.
