SETUP

Firmware & Drivers

Firmware: Update the firmware of the XDJ-RX3 to the latest available version from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/xdj-rx3/#firmware-update (if any available)

Drivers (for both Windows and Mac OSX): Install the latest drivers from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/xdj-rx3/#drivers

VirtualDJ Setup

Download and install VirtualDJ from https://www.virtualdj.com/download/index.html (in case you have not done already)


Once VirtualDJ is opened, a Connect Window will appear to enter your virtualdj.com account credentials.

A Pro Infinity or a Pro Subscription License is required to fully use the Pioneer XDJ-RX3 Without any of the above Licenses, the controller will operate for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ.

https://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html

A detection windows will appear right after, verifying proper connection. Have your speakers connected to the rear-panel of the XDJ-RX3 and click "XDJ-RX3" for VirtualDJ to apply the pre-defined audio setup with the built-in sound card of the XDJ-RX3 You can still change that from Settings->AUDIO tab.

Select the Software Control mode from the XDJ-RX3 if the relative message appears.

1. Press the SOURCE button at the top side of the Display
   
2. Select the SOFTWARE CONTROL mode
   
3. Press the LOAD 1 button at the right side of the Display
   
4. Press the LOAD 2 button at the right side of the Display
   

Click to OK

The unit is now ready to operate.

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 https://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.



Alternative audio configurations can be applied See Advanced Setup

For further software settings please refer to the User Guides of VirtualDJ 8.
https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj8/index.html

Refer to the manual of the unit for further features-settings. at... https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/documents/xdj-rx3/

LAYOUT

S SHIFT. Hold this button down to access secondary functions of the Pioneer XDJ-RX3. Note that the SHIFT button is not a MIDI button and the SHIFT functions on the unit are limited to the ones available from the unit's firmware.

The functionality of each button, knob and slider per section (as shown in the image above) will be explained in detail in the following chapters

A Mixer & Effects
B Deck Controls
C Performance Pads
D Microphones
E USB Sources
F Browser & Display
G Front & Rear panels

MIXER & EFFECT CONTROLS

MIXER CONTROLS

1. CROSSFADER: Blends audio between the left and right mixer channels.
   
   
2. CROSS FADER CURVE: Select a slope for the Crossfader. When in THRU position, the Crossfader will have no affect on the Audio signals from the left and right channels. When in middle position, the blend will be smooth when moving the crossfader from one edge to the other. When in right position the blend will be instant near the edges (for Scratch)
   
   
3. VOLUME: Alter the output Volume of Left/Right Mixer Channel.
   
   
4. CUE (CH PFL). Press this button to send Left/Right channel's pre-fader signal to the Headphones Channel for monitoring. When engaged, the button will be lit.
   
   
5. CUE (MASTER). Press this button to send the Master Output signal to the Headphones Channel for monitoring. When engaged, the button will be lit.
   
   
6. COLOR FX PARAM. Use this knob to apply the selected Color FX. When in middle position, the selected Color FX is not applied, even if it is enabled from the selection buttons
   
   
7. COLOR FX SELECT. Use buttons to select one of the 4 available Color FX (Echo, Sweep, Noise, Filter). Note that the Color FX will sound different, depending on the selected Mixer Mode.In MIDI Mixer Mode, the Color FX can be changed via VDJ Script actions.
   
   
8. 3-BAND EQ . Use these 3 knobs to adjust the 3 Bands of the Equalizer. Adjust the Low (Bass)/Mid (Middle)/High (Treble) frequencies of Left/Right mixer channel.
   
   
9. TRIM: Adjusts the pre-fader output level (gain) of Left/Right channel mixer.
   
   
10. SOURCE : Select the source for the Left/Right Mixer Channel. Select the DECK 1/2 position to control a VirtualDJ Deck or a track loaded from a USB Drive. Select LINE or PHONO to assign Left/right Mixer Channel to the External audio source (connections at the rear panel)
    
    
11. MASTER VOLUME : Adjusts the level of the Master Output (Connection at the rear panel). Hardware Control - Movement visible on VirtualDJ GUI
    
    
12. VU-METER: The 2 middle series of leds Indicate the level of the Master Output. The left and right series of leds indicate the pre-fader signal of the selected Source for the Left/Right mixer channels.
    
    
13. AUX : Use this switcher to turn on/off the signal from the Auxiliary Input (connection at the rear panel). When in OFF position, the signal of this input is not heard. Choose the other 2 positions to route the signal of the auxiliary input directly to the Master Output.
    
    
14. AUX TRIM : Use this knob to adjust the output level of the auxiliary input. When the AUX switcher is at OFF position, the knob controls the Master Volume of the VirtualDJ Sampler
    
    
15. COLOR PARAMETER 2 : When the Pioneer XDJ-RX3 is set to Hardware Mixer mode, use this knob to adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Color FX. When the unit is set to MIDI Mixer mode, this button has no functionality, and can be assigned to a VirtualDJ action. See further details about the Mixer modes in the Advanced Setup
    
    
16. PHONES MIXING: Turn to mix between Cue and Program in the Headphone channel. When all the way to the left, only channels routed to the Headphones channel (via the CUE buttons) will be heard. When all the way to the right, only the Program mix will be heard. Hardware Control - Movement visible on VirtualDJ GUI
    
    
17. PHONES LEVEL: Adjusts the level of the Headphones Output (Connection at the front panel). Hardware Control - Movement visible on VirtualDJ GUI
    
    
18. BOOTH VOLUME : Adjusts the level of the Booth Output (Connection at the rear panel). Hardware Control - movement not visible on VirtualDJ GUI
    

Notes: None of the above mixer elements will move the relative VirtualDJ mixer element on the GUI when the Hardware Mixer mode is selected. When the MIDI Mixer mode is selected, Crossfader, Volume faders, EQ and TRIM knobs will control the internal mixer of VirtualDJ and their movements will be shown on the GUI.

See further details about the Mixer modes in the Advanced Setup

EFFECT CONTROLS

The BEAT FX section is used to apply Hardware or VirtualDJ effects to Decks/Master/Mic/AUX-Sampler, depending on the selected Mixer mode. Hardware Effects will be applied when the Hardware mixer mode is selected and VirtualDJ (software) effects will be applied when the MIDI mixer mode is selected.

19. BEAT: Use these buttons to half/double the Beats Parameter of the selected Effect (for the Effects that are beat-aware). The beats value is displayed on the LCD.
    
    
20. TAP: Use this button (tap on beat) to manually adjust the tempo that will be used for the selected Beat FX. This button has no functionality in MIDI Mixer mode. Hold this button for 2 seconds to automatically calculate the Tempo based on the internal Beat FX engine.
    
    
21. BEAT FX SELECT: Use this selector knob to select one of the available Beat FX. Note that some Effects may sound different depending on the Mixer mode (MIDI or Hardware). The name of the selected Effect is displayed on the LCD.
    
    
22. BEAT FX ASSIGN: Use this selector knob to select to which source the effect will apply to. (Decks, Master, Mic, Sampler/AUX). The selected source will be displayed on the LCD.
    
    
23. BEAT FX TIME: When the unit is set to Hardware Mixer mode, use this dial to fine adjust the time interval between 2 beats for the selected Hardware effect. When the unit is set to MIDI mixer mode, the dial adjusts the 2nd Parameter of the selected VirtualDJ effect.
    
    
24. BEAT FX LEVEL: Use this knob to adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Effect. In Hardware mixer mode, the 1st Parameter is always the Level or Depth of the selected Beat FX. In MIDI mixer mode, this knob always adjusts the 1st Parameter of the selected VirtualDJ effect (usually the Strength , but could be different)
    
    
25. BEAT FX ON: Use button to enable/disable the selected Beat FX. Its led will flash when enabled
    

DECK CONTROLS

S SHIFT.Hold this button down to access additional functionality for several buttons/knobs as described in this manual.

26. PLAY: Play/Pauses the track.
    
    
27. CUE: When the Deck is paused, you can set a temporary Cue Point by moving the Platter to place the Audio Pointer at the desired location and then pressing the Cue Button. During playback, you can press the Cue Button to return the track to this Cue Point. (If you did not set a Cue Point, then it will return to the beginning of the track.). If the Deck is paused, you can press and hold the Cue Button to play the track from the Temporary Cue Point. Releasing the Cue Button will return the track to the temporary Cue Point and pause it. To continue playback without returning to the Temporary Cue Point, press and hold the Cue Button, then press and hold the Play Button, and then release both buttons.
    
    
28. JOG: Touch sensitive platter for scratching or bending. When in Vinyl mode, use the upper part of the jogwheel to scratch and the outer part to bend. When in Bend mode (Vinyl mode is disabled), use any part of the jogwheel to bend.
    Hold SHIFT and use the JOG in Seek (Search) mode.
    
    
29. SEARCH: Use these buttons to move track backwards/forward by 4 beats. Keep the buttons pushed for continuous seeking
    
    
30. TRACK SEARCH: Load and play previous/next track from the Browser
    
    
31. DIRECTION: Press and hold this button to play the track in reverse. Track will resume forward playback when button is released. If Slip mode is enabled, and the button is released, track will resume forward playback from the position it would have been if the Reverse button was never pressed.
    
    
32. SLIP: Use this button to enable/disable Slip mode. When Slip mode is enabled, several functions such as Hotcues, Loops, Scratching etc, will act temporary (track will resume playback from the position it would have been if this function was never executed)
    
    
33. QUANTIZE:
    
    
34. LOOP IN: Use this button to set current track's position as the beginning of a manual loop. When in Loop, use this button to set jogwheel to Loop-In Adjust mode and then use the jogwheel to fine-adjust the start point of the loop. (led will blink fast)
    Hold this button down for more than 2 seconds to enable a 4 beats Auto Loop
    
    
35. LOOP OUT: Use this button to set current track's position as the end point of a manual loop. When in Loop, use this button to set jogwheel to Loop-Out Adjust mode and then use the jogwheel to fine-adjust the end point of the loop.(led will blink fast)
    
    
36. RELOOP: When track is in Loop, use this button to exit the Loop. When not in Loop, use this button to enable the last triggered Loop (and jump to its start point).
    
    
37. LOOP HALF: Use this button to half the size of the Loop (in beats)
    
    
38. LOOP DOUBLE : Use this button to double the size of the Loop (in beats)
    
    
39. DELETE: Use this button to delete the Saved Loop of the track (1st-default slot)
    
    
40. MEMORY: Use this button to save (and enable) a Loop at the current position to the 1st (default) Saved Loop slot. When a track has a Saved Loop at the default slot, use this button to enable the Loop at its saved position. Track will jump to this position if current position is later to the Saved Loop, and will not jump if earlier.
    
    
41. JOG ADJUST : Adjust how heavy or light the Jogwheel will be
    
    
42. VINYL SPEED ADJUST: Use this button to enable/disable the play/pause speed. If disabled, the track will immediately start/stop. If enabled, the track will need some time to reach its nominal speed, when track is paused or started. The start/stop time can be adjusted from the RX3 Display (SHORTCUT menu)
    
    
43. VINYL: Use this button to toggle between the CD (Bend) and Vinyl (Scratch) modes for the Jogwheel
    
    
44. SYNC: Use this button to match Tempo and Beat-Phase of the deck with the values of the opposite deck (or Master Deck if more than 2 decks are used). The Master Deck selection is made automatically by VirtualDJ, mostly depending on the Deck that is playing out in Master.
    
    
45. MASTER: Use this button to manually set a deck as Master Deck and force all other decks to sync to the Master Deck when SYNC is used. The Master Deck selection is made automatically by VirtualDJ, mostly depending on the Deck that is playing out in Master. To return to the automatic selection, press again the button on the deck that is currently lit.
    
    
46. TEMPO RANGE: Use this button to select the next % range for the Pitch fader. In order the ranges to match with ones available on the Display, the pitch ranges cycle though the values 6%, 10%, 16% and 100% (WIDE) . Other values can be selected from the GUI of VirtualDJ.
    
    
47. KEYLOCK : Use this button to enable/disable Key-Lock (Master Tempo). When enabled, the Key of the track will retain its value when the Tempo of the track is changed.
    
    
48. PITCH : Pitch fader to adjust the Tempo of the track.
    
    
    
    

PERFORMANCE PADS

The 8 Pads offer various functions, depending on the selected Pad mode. Each of the 4 Pad mode buttons offers 2 individual modes. One with the press of the mode button, and an additional mode with press of the mode button while SHIFT is held down. The 8 modes represent a page of the PADS section on the default VirtualDJ GUI.

49. PAD MODE. Press any of the 4 available Pad mode buttons to set the Pads to one of the following modes
    
    [HOTCUE] : Hotcues page
    [BEAT LOOP] : Loops page
    [SLIP LOOP] : Loop Roll page
    [BEAT JUMP] : BeatJump page.
    
    [SHIFT] + [HOTCUE] : KeyCue page
    [SHIFT] + [BEAT LOOP] : Saved Loops page
    [SHIFT] + [SLIP LOOP] : Slicer page
    [SHIFT] + [BEAT JUMP] : Sampler page
    
    All the above pre-assigned pages can be changed. See VirtualDJ Manual
    
    
50. PADS. The 8 Pads offer different functionality depending on the selected mode.
    

The Parameters of each mode can be adjusted from the VirtualDJ GUI (Pads section)

Note: Due to hardware limitation, the Split Page feature is not supported.

Read further details about Pads in the VirtualDJ manual

Microphone Inputs

51. MIC ON/OFF: Set this switcher to OFF position to prevent audio signal from the Microphone Inputs (connections at the rear panel) from output. Set the switcher to ON position to allow audio signal from the Microphone Inputs and route to the Master Output. Set the switcher to the TALK OVER position to automatically lower the Master Output level when signal is detected from the Microphone Inputs.
    
    
52. MIC EQ: Use these knobs to adjust the Low and High frequencies on both the Microphone Inputs signals
    
    
53. MIC 1 LEVEL: Use this knob to adjust the level of the Microphone 1 Input (connection at the rear panel)
    
    
54. MIC 2 LEVEL: Use this knob to adjust the level of the Microphone 2 Input (connection at the rear panel)
    

Note that the Microphone Inputs are not part of the USB Audio Interface, thus they cant be included to the Audio Setup of VirtualDJ, and the MIC Controls of the VirtualDJ GUI will not control these inputs (or vice versa).
Microphone Inputs can be recorded along with your mix, only when recording to the USB 2 Source via the MASTER REC button.

USB SOURCES

55. USB 1: Use this socket to connect a USB Flash Drive. When connected, use the USB 1 button at the left side of the Display to Browse through its content. This source is not used within VirtualDJ.
    Press the STOP button below this socket, to stop reading its content and eject the Media
    
    
56. USB 2: Use this socket to connect an additional USB Flash Drive. When connected, use the USB 2 button at the left side of the Display to Browse through its content. This source is not used within VirtualDJ.
    Press the STOP button below this socket, to stop reading its content and eject the Media.
    This USB connection can be used to record your mix, including any External Source and Microphones
    
    
57. MASTER REC: Press this button to start/stop recording your mix in the USB 2 Source. The recorded tracks are stored in a PIONEER DJ REC folder in WAV format
    
    
58. TRACK MARK: Use this button to split the recording and continue as additional track.
    
    

BROWSER & DISPLAY

59. SOURCE: Press this button to read and browse the content of the USB Flash Drive connected to the USB Source 1 socket.
    
    
60. BROWSE: Press this button to display the Browser view on the Display. Press again to return to the Waves/Decks view
    
    
61. TAG LIST: Not available in Software Control mode
    
    
62. PLAYLIST: Not available in Software Control mode
    
    
63. SEARCH: Not available in Software Control mode
    
    
64. MENU: Hold this button down for more than 2 seconds to access the Utilities menu of the unit and adjust several settings.
    
    
65. BACK: Press this button to set focus to the Folders list of VirtualDJ Browser and get the Folders view on the Display. If focus is on Folders, use this button to expand/collapse sub-folders
    
    
66. TAG TRACK: Press this button to open the File Info window on the Browser of the VirtualDJ GUI and view additional track information.
    
    
67. BROWSE/ZOOM: When in Waves/Decks view, use this rotary to zoom waves in/out.
    
    When in Browser view, use this rotary to scroll through folders and tracks. Push the rotary to set focus to the Songs list (if not already) and view the content of the folder on the Display
    Hold SHIFT down and then push the rotary to select the Sideview and view its content on the Display. Hold SHIFT down and then use the rotary to cycle through the available lists of Sideview (Automix, Sidelist, Sampler, Karaoke and Shortcuts)
    
    
68. TRACK FILTER: This button is not used in VirtualDJ.
    
    
69. SHORTCUT: Use this button to show some additional settings Display view to adjust the Quantize step value, Lock/Unlock the Needle on the Decks/Wave view, assign unit to Decks 3,4 etc.
    
    
70. LOAD: Use these buttons to load the selected track to either left or right deck. Fast double press these buttons to clone the other deck to the respective deck.
    
    

Display

The display of the XDJ-RX3 is not a touchscreen, but there are a few operations offered by pressing some areas on the display.



1 LEFT DECK: Tap this area to swap Left Decks (Deck 1 and Deck 3)

2 RIGHT DECK : Tap this area to swap Right Decks (Deck 2 and Deck 4)

3 TIME : Tap this area to toggle between Elapsed and Remain Time

4 SONG PROGRESS WAVE : Touch and scroll though this area to seek through Track. When Track is audible, this operation is blocked by default. You can unlock this operation from VirtualDJ Settings->OPTIONS. See XDJ-RX3 Settings

5 STATUS / BEAT FX : Tap this area to toggle between the Pads view (Status) and Beat FX shortcuts view. Note that the Status view is not operating in Software Control mode (firmware limitation)

6 INFO : Tap this area to get the Loaded Track Ingo view. Tap again to return to Deck view.

ADVANCED SETUP

There are a few settings available for the XDJ-RX3, to set the Mixer mode, unlock Needle Search on the display or turn off auto-switch to Deck view after loading a Track.

Open VirtualDJ Settings, select the OPTIONS tab and then the CONTROLLER sub-category.


XDJ-RX3 Settings - OPTIONS tab

MIXER MODES

The Pioneer XDJ-RX3 offers 2 modes for the mixer, the MIDI and the Hardware/RX3 modes. Both are supported in VirtualDJ and have their own special features.

MIDI MIXER MODE

Select the MIDI option from the XDJRX3-MixerMode setting to select the MIDI Mixer mode (default mode). In this mode the Audio setup of VirtualDJ needs to be as Master & Headphones as per the image below


MIDI Mixer Mode - Audio Setup

This Audio setup is the pre-defined (default) and offered when the "XDJ-RX3" button is pressed on the Detection Window or the special XDJ-RX3 button you see at the top of the Audio Setup tab of VirtualDJ Settings.

In this mode :

• The audio mixing is performed from the VirtualDJ mixer, so all the mixer elements such as Crossfader, Volume faders, EQ and Trim knobs control the VirtualDJ Mixer elements (and vice versa)
  
• The BEAT FX section is controlling the VirtualDJ Effects and the applied effects from this section are software.
  
• Color FX are applied from VirtualDJ and the COLOR FX Select buttons can be assigned to offer different Color FX via VDJ Script actions (customized mapping)
  
• Recording can be performed from VirtualDJ (including Video recording), however, Microphone and LINE/PHONO/AUX Inputs are not included in the recorded mix.
  

HARDWARE MIXER MODE

Select the Hardware option from the XDJRX3-MixerMode setting to select the Hardware RX3 Mixer mode (default mode). In this mode the Audio setup of VirtualDJ needs to be as External Mixer as per the image below


Hardware Mixer Mode - Audio Setup

In this mode :

• The audio mixing is performed from the XDJ-RX3 mixer, so none the mixer elements such as Crossfader, Volume faders, EQ and Trim knobs control the VirtualDJ Mixer elements (and vice versa). The mixer elements of VirtualDJ will not move when the relative mixer element is moved from the XDJ-RX3.
  
• The BEAT FX section of the mixer is offering Hardware effects (built-in the XDJ-RX3) , and software Effects can be applied as well from the Effects section of the VirtualDJ GUI
  
• Color FX are Hardware (built-in the RX3)
  
• Recording cannot be performed from VirtualDJ.
  

NEEDLE LOCK

This option is useful to prevent accidental track jumps when the Needle (Song Progress Wave on Display) is accidentally touched

When XDJRX3-NeedleLock setting is set to Yes (default selection), the Needle is locked and touching the Song Progress will have no effect.
When XDJRX3-NeedleLock setting is set to No, the Needle is unlocked and you can touch the Song Progress wave and jump to a position on the loaded track.

BROWSER VIEW SWITCH

When XDJRX3-BrowserAutoSwitch setting is set to Yes (default selection), the Browser view Switch is set to Automatic. In this mode, when a Track is selected and loaded to a Deck, the Decks/Waves view will automatically offered without pressing any other buttons.

When XDJRX3-BrowserAutoSwitch setting is set to No, the Browser view Switch is set to Manual.and the Browser View will remain active after loading a track and the BROWSER button above the Display needs to be manually pressed to return to the Decks/Waves view.

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For further Technical features and specifications, visit
Pioneer XDJ-RX3
Product's Page

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Hardware Integration Department 2022 - ATOMIX PRODUCTIONS


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