PCDJ REFLEX DJ SOFTWARE
PCDJ Reflex is the all encompassing, real-time performance PC and MAC software solution for every type of professional DJ. Whether you’re a Club DJ, Turntablist, Producer, or Mobile DJ - Reflex offers the rock solid features you’ve been asking for, with the flexibility you’ve only dreamed of. Mix, Scratch, Remix, use VST plug-ins in real-time - all from your computers hard disc or ROM drive. Choose your method of control: time code, midi controller, USB HID device such as the DAC-3 - or any combination for any type of gig in any environment. Reflex can beat-sync for you seamlessly, or you can perform as you would with vinyl with ultra-low latency control. This is the only DJ mixing environment you will ever need. We’ve heard you DJs - and here’s our Reflex…
Features
3 Track/Loop Players
Reflex has the 3 players that can also function as samplers. Each player supports full analog or digital transport capability, looping and playback in both directions.
Interactive Waveform Display
Each player supports an interactive waveform display. This makes cueing and looping easier, faster, and friendlier. Grabbing the wave with the mouse is also supported.
Support For Standard Digital Audio Formats
Reflex supports playback of MP3, Unprotected AAC, WAV files (many formats), and AIF files, OGG-Vorbis, FLAC and Redbook Audio-CDs.
Sample-Accurate Cueing
All cueing and looping is done with sample accuracy, quantization can also be used as and aid. Cueing can also be done automatically, so Reflex can provide access to the very start of any track.
Pitch Shifting and Tempo Shifting
Reflex supports high quality (not buffer based) pitch shifting and tempo shifting independently of each other
Scratching
Reflex provides interactive scratching via the mouse, DAC controller, any midi input device or time code.
Performance Recording
Dedicated control file format for recording and editing a mix without replicating the audio material. This feature records all events as a series of MIDI commands. The user is able to export the complete mix-performance to WAV or MP3 from Reflex.
Automated Tempo and Beat Matching
In addition to allowing the DJ to beat match manually, Reflex is able to assist the DJ in automatically matching beats for perfect mixes. Reflex also uses ”Beat Track”. This allows songs that have inconsistent BPM to be mixed accurately. “Beat track” also knows the start of the bar, this opens up very cool auto mix and help for users that don’t know how to read bars.
Single Touch Loops
Loops with selectable multiples of bars can be set on the fly by only one key press. These loops are quantized for seamless looping. Loop can have 2 trigger points, and can easily be shifted, moved, cut and extended in real time.
Fully Automated Digital DJ Mixer
Full featured, multi-channel DJ mixer that can be completed automated. Includes assignable cross fader, faders for each source and boost and mute buttons. Mixer can also be set to provide automatic cross fades and fades and also synchronized mixing at pre-determined times, and in beat if with the selected auto mix rules. Furthermore a dub mode and an overwrite mode for automation should be included when trying to polish the mix in more than one go.
3-Band EQ
(-24dB…+12dB) Each band has a “kill“ switch. Also, band pass/notch filter with variable width, resonance and cutoff frequency for each channel. EQ is fully automated with a dub mode and an overwrite mode for automation should be included when trying to polish the mix in more than one go.
Flexible Monitoring Options
Separate monitor output supporting multi-channel, 3D and secondary soundcards or 2 mono outputs on a single soundcard. Sound output systems supported includes DirectX, WDM, ASIO, and Core Audio.
MIDI Control Over All Relevant Panel Elements
Reflex is fully MIDI controlled. All features are accessible from external MIDI controllers. A midi-learn function is included to simply select an element you wish to control, select midi-learn and then just move your controller to tell Reflex the corresponding midi-controller. This applies to our DAC-3 controller as well.
The image above may not represent how the final GUI may look when it ships. You can also customize the interface entirely when using a Virtual Control.
Automatic BPM Detection
Reflex provides automatic, hi-resolution BPM calculation. Once a track is loaded into the Reflex record case, BPM extraction begins automatically.
Automatic Bar Detection/Beat tracking
Reflex provides bar detection and beat location marking, so it knows where the beats are, and also the start of the bars.
Automatic Quantization control
Reflex can be set to different quantization resolutions. This ensures that user always starts, inserts or adds other effects on the set resolution. This feature, in conjunction with beat tracking, allows Reflex to automatically adjust any user errors. This can of course be turned off.
Normalization
Reflex allows for loudness detection on audio sources. If one track is quieter than the previous, Reflex can compensate for it.
Turntable Brake
Reflex also features some interesting turntable effects such as Turntable Brake and Start.
Tempo Effects
Reflex also features tempo effects; these are preprogrammed scratch, repeat, spin up/down effects that will be performed in beat when user triggers them.
Play List Logging and Dynamic Lists
Complete logging of all tracks that are played during a performance.
Dynamic lists can also be defined, such as top20, etc.
Complete Media Management
The Reflex Media Management component aids in the archiving and storage of thousands of song files. It can also be used to extract audio from CDs and convert media to other formats. The Media manager also provides line-in recording so that DJs may add other media sources such as tapes and LP’s. Non-performance features of the Media Manager are separated from the actual Reflex interface. This allows for a small footprint performance environment. Internet support for CD-Grabbing with the feature to keep recognized CDs in the database (i.e. you connect to the internet once and every CD that has been identified will show up the same every time you put it in again – even without connecting to the internet). Database functionalities (like search by artist, length, genre, …). A record case player is also included so the user can preview his tracks without loading the track in a player.
Auto Play Features
Reflex supports the standard array of auto play functions such as shuffle play, list play etc.
Plug-In Support
The digital mixer section of Reflex supports VST plug-in effects with a maximum 2 plug-ins on each player.
Midi clock
Reflex can lock all its players to a master clock, or send out clock to other applications or hardware.
Customizable GUI
Color themes for the GUI can be chosen and customized by the user
System Requirements:
Windows
Windows XP, Pentium-II 800 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 16 bit sound card, CD-ROM 24x
Macintosh
Mac OS X, PowerMac G4 867 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 16 bit sound card, CD-ROM 24x
REVIEW OF PCDJ REFLEX:
PCDJ Reflex: the wait is over.
By, Dave Gadbois
Well it’s finally here. After being introduced at the 2007 DJ Times Convention, PCDJ “Reflex” has been released and many are asking, was it worth the wait? After spending a week with it I can answer that question with a resounding “YES”! Let’s first get all of the basics out of the way. Reflex is the new flagship DJ software for PCDJ, replacing what was their FX program. So as with any of the other DJ programs out there, it will play, loop, beat match, and allow creation of play lists. It will also make use of VST effect plug-ins, has a bpm analyzer, and supports playback of MP3, Unprotected AAC, WAV files, and AIF files. Ok so why is this software any different and why do I need to get it? I can break it down into 4 main reasons and these of course are from my review process only.
First is what they call “Smart Lists”, think of this as a search engine on steroids. The first thing you have to do is add tracks/folders to the scanner. This will start a process which will analyze all of the tracks for BPM, the beat grid, the auto cue, and the perceptual volume of the track. This info will be added to a master data base located in you’re My Music folder on your C drive. After this is done you may have to fix a few BPM’s but I have never used an analyzer that is perfect. Just remember that this will take some time, depending on how many songs you have. It took about 10 seconds per track so do the math. Ok now that is all done, it’s time to play. There are 2 parts to the “Smart”, the waitlist and the search. The smart waitlist logs what you play and then as it learns your style; it will make mix suggestions based on your history. This can be up to 100 suggestions for each individual track; this is not a misprint. This program learns you and then helps you come up with alternatives to your old boring play list. After DJing for 28 years my show gets stale to. Next is the smart search feature. When making the old groups in you record case, you had to place each track in a group and that took a long time. The new way is by using tags that are queried by the group itself. So you would edit the group tag on the track or multiple tracks and then create a group that would include those parameters, allowing you to automatically include tracks in multiple groups. A great tutorial about this feature is on their web site.
The next feature I really liked was the beat and quantize controls. One of the bits of info learned during the scan was the “beat grid”. This tells the program basically where the beats are and this is what allows for quantization. This is a bit different then sync, in which you sync the BPM’s of the players. When using the quantize feature, you lock all players to a master BPM. This is a great feature because it really locks them tight and makes mixing really fool proof. This also locked the loops. For DJ’s just starting and needing assistance with their mix, this is your program. Just remember, it’s not the mix grasshopper. It’s what’s in the mix.
The last two features were the cue/loop list and the skin. Most every program allows you to set cue and loop points but Reflex gives you unlimited points and the ability to name them. This is a great feature if you’re playing a club mix and you want to set cues that get you right to the verse. Or you found some good loops in a track for wedding party events and you need to find them fast (named).
Some would ask who cares about the skin, I do. I’m old and have a hard enough time reading the track list, so when a company gives me a user interface that is not crammed with everything I don’t need, I love it. This skin allows you to only have up what you want. Don’t need effects, mixer, 3rd deck, and plug-ins, then just close them. You young ones might love all those bells, whistles and flashing lights, I just want my shit to work and not go into an epileptic seizure.
In closing, I have been a fan of PCDJ since it began; they have always been cutting edge and open to its users. I know the staff and know that the delay was because they want to make sure their software works. They also have a great support system and when you call them you talk to a real person. That being said, this review was in no biased, I am a DJ first and just like most of you want my software to work every time. I have only had this program for a week but feel comfortable enough to gig with it tonight. I ran into no problems that weren’t answered by the manual. The new features are many and this is a complete overhaul of their software not an upgrade. One last thing Denon has teamed up with PCDJ and offers Reflex light bundled with their new DN-HC4500 controller. If you have a DAC 2/3 or any midi controller Reflex will work perfectly. This is a buy.
And I’ll see you at the top.
PCDJ WARRANTY INFORMATION:
Have a question or a PCDJ software problem to solve? Make the PCDJ Message Board your first stop on your search for a technical solution. Still can't find the answers you are looking for email our trained PCDJ support team.
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Defective or Damaged Merchandise will be replaced with prior authorization. Call Customer Service 727-799-3828 for a Return Merchandise Authorization Number. Returns must be complete with original materials and packing. A 20% Restocking Fee will apply on all returns other than damage or defective replacements.
No returns are accepted on software or computer cards and circuit boards.
In the unlikely event of damaged or defective software media or circuit board damage, the original manufacturer must be contacted directly for replacement of defective media or electronic components in accordance with the particular manufacturer's warranty. Return requests must be made within 30 days of receipt of the merchandise.
Repairs on the DAC products are offered under limited warranty due to the nature of use and environment. Any DAC product that is faulty due to improper use or has been opened exposing circuit boards voids any warranty.
30 days on parts and labor
60 days on labor
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9.00 AM to 6.00 PM EST.
PCDJ Customer Service: customerservice@pcdj.com
Toll Free: 877-999-7235
Office: 727-799-3828
