PIONEER DJM-A9
SETUP
Connections
- Connect your computer to USB port A or B at the left-top panel of Pioneer DJM-A9
- Set the SOURCE selectors at the top panel for all Mixer Channels to the Computer position A or B depending on the port you have used to connect with your computer.
- Connect your amplifier/speakers to the Master Out sockets at the rear panel.
- Connect the Pioneer DJM-A9 with AC power using the provided cable and power on the unit
Firmware & Drivers
Windows : Install the Windows Driver from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/mixer/djm-a9/#drivers
Mac : No driver is required for Mac OS computers, but it is highly recommended to install the DJM-A9 Utility Software from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/mixer/djm-a9/#drivers in order to make changes to the audio channels routing.
No firmware update is available at the time this manual is written, but it is advised to check at Pioneer's website https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/software/mixer/djm-a9/
VirtualDJ Setup
Once VirtualDJ is opened, a Connect Window will appear. Login with your account credentials.
A Pro Infinity or a Pro Subscription License is required to use the Pioneer DJM-A9. Without any of the above Licenses, the mixer will operate for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ.
https://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html
Click on the “DJM-A9” button and VirtualDJ will automatically create and apply the default audio configuration using the built-in audio interface of the Pioneer DJM-A9
Click to OK.
The device is now ready to operate with VirtualDJ.
MIDI Operation
The device should be visible in the MAPPING tab of Config and the “factory default” available/selected from the Mappings drop-down list.
Note, that nearly all buttons, knobs and faders of the DJM-A9 offer hardware/firmware/internal functionality, thus it is highly recommenced not to change the assigned actions, as the hardware functionality will still apply. Some of the device's keys are pre-mapped to "fake" mode actions, just as a mixing aid (show status on the GUI).
AUDIO Setup
The device 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. See Advanced Setup
For further software settings please refer to the User Guide of VirtualDJ.
https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj8/index.html
CONTROLS
The Pioneer DJM-A9 offers mostly hardware/internal functionality for which you will need to read the Pioneer DJM-A9 manual from https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/support/documents/mixer/djm-a9/
In this manual we will describe only the additional software functionality and options when using VirtualDJ
SOURCE SELECT
Make sure all the Mixer Channels are set to Computer (USB) A or B source (depending on the USB port of the DJM-A9 you used to connect with your computer) in order VirtualDJ to receive and send Audio and MIDI functionalities.
If any of the Mixer Channels are not set to USB A/B source, then VirtualDJ will not be able to send or receive Audio and MIDI from those Channels.
CHANNELS LAYOUT
By default VirtualDJ is using a 3-1-2-4 Channel order.
This means that from left to right the channels are Deck C, Deck A, Deck B and Deck D
A different Mixer Channel Order can be set via VirtualDJ Settings->OPTIONS tab with the MixerOrder setting.
EQUALIZER & STEMS
The Pioneer DJM-A9 is applying its own 3-Band Equalizer, thus VirtualDJ will not apply its internal one. By default the EQ knobs are assigned to fake EQ mode actions, so that they will show their positions on the screen just as a mixing aid.
Using Stems separation via the EQ knobs is possible only when using 2 VirtualDJ Decks (Decks A and B) and the 2 middle Channels. In this case, you can use the outer mixer channels to apply Stems.
Read more info about Stems at https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj/interface/stems2.html
ADVANCED SETUP
The DJM-A9 offers 2 built-in USB Audio interfaces (sound cards) by connecting the device with a USB port of a computer using the USB A or USB B sockets and each one of them offers 10 Outputs and 12 Inputs. The Inputs and Outputs Channels routing is available from the Pioneer DJM-A9 Setting Utility.
You can open the Utility window with the following ways :
For Windows computer: :
Click on the ASIO button from VirtualDJ AUDIO tab of VirtualDJ Settings,
or navigate using [Windows START] menu [Pioneer] [DJM-A9 Settings Utility]
For Mac OSX computer:
Navigate to [MACINTOSH HD] icon [Applications] [Pioneer] [DJM-A9 Settings Utility]
POST-FADER SOFTWARE EFFECTS
Hardware Effects applied from the DJM-A9 are always Post-fader. For VirtualDJ Effects (applied from skin or other MIDI device), you will need to have the following settings.
- fxprocessing setting to Post-Fader (from VirtualDJ Settings->OPTIONS tab
- In VirtualDJ AUDIO tab, deckfxreturn and deckfxsend are already assigned to the same Channels as in Pioneer Settings Utility.
RECORD & BROADCAST
Recording your mix with a mixer applying it's own audio mixing, Equalizer and Effects, requires a dedicated Recording Input. By default VirtualDJ is using Inputs 1,2 and the special record input is included in the pre-defined Audio setup of VirtualDJ
Just make sure your Audio setup and Pioneer Settings Utility have the same Channels.
RECORDING LEVEL
By default when you are recording with a dedicated Record input, VirtualDJ has no control over the sound levels of the recordings. The Pioneer Settings Utility offers some options over the sound level that it sends back to VirtualDJ for recording. The default value is 0 db but if your recording is low in level, you can change that value to a higher one, from Pioneer Setting Utility.
TIMECODE - DVS
By default up to 4 Timecode inputs can offer DVS control to 4 VirtualDJ Decks, using CH Inputs 1 to 4. Read further information for Timecode Inputs at VirtualDJ Manual
- Depending on the DVS/Timecode device type (Turntable-Vinyl or CD), connect your Timecode device to the LINE or PHONO inputs at the rear panel of the DJM-A9
Pioneer DJM-A9 - Rear panel - Timecode Inputs - Open VirtualDJ Settings and select the AUDIO tab.
- Click on the TIMECODE SIGNAL button at the top-right and VirtualDJ will add the necessary inputs in sound setup. You can remove the inputs that are not connected (e.g leave only 2 of them if you are using just 2 Timecode inputs)
- Click APPLY.
Make sure you use the same Input channels in both VirtualDJ and Pioneer Settings Utilities.
HID VIA LINK
Pioneer DJM-A9 supports Pioneer's "HID via LINK" protocol when used together with compatible devices (CDJ-2000NXS2 and/or CDJ-3000).
"HID via LINK" offers the ability to use only one USB connection (that of the mixer) in order to control all supported devices connected on Pioneer's "LINK" network.
For more information on how to use "HID via LINK" protocol with DJM-A9 and supported devices please read HID via LINK Setup Manual