QUICK-START
GUIDE
VESTAX VCI-400
Installation and Setup
Serato DJ Activation
The Vestax VCI-400 is a class compliant USB plug and play device for Mac,
however requires drivers for Windows. You will find these on the installation cd
provided with your Vestax VCI-400.
To find out how to activate Serato DJ by either starting your free 14 day trial,
or purchasing a license for Serato DJ, click here for the most up to date
information.
NOTE: Please ensure you have the latest available drivers AND firmware updates,
which may be required in order to be compatible with Serato DJ. Please go to
http://serato.com/dj/support
1. Download and install the latest version of Serato DJ from http://serato.com/dj/
downloads
2. Connect your Vestax VCI-400 to an available USB Port.
3. Open Serato DJ.
Mic Inputs1& 2
Input Level
1 & 2
Input Routing
Mic Routing
Mic Levels 1& 2
USB
Inputs 1& 2
Power Adaptor/
On/Off
Master Out (XLR
Balanced.)
Master out (Phones
Unbalanced.)
2 3 4
7 8
10
11 12 13 14 15
16
17
18 19 20
21
47
46
22
45
44
23
43
24
25
26
27
42
41
28
40
39
38
37 36 35 34
33 32
31
30
29
NOTE: SHIFT button is used with other buttons that have shift modifier functions.
#
VCI-400 Control
Function
Shift Function
FX ON 1 (button)
Slot 1 Effect On/Off
Slot 1 Select Effect
FX ON 2 (button)
Slot 2 Effect On/Off
Slot 2 Select Effect
USB LED
The USB LED indicates USB connection with your computer. (The LED will not turn on if
the power adapter is not connected.)
ADAPTOR LED
The Adaptor LED indicates the power status. The LED turns on when the power adaptor
is connected the the power switch is set to ON.
FX ON 3 (button)
Slot 3 Effect On/Off
TAP (button)
Tap to the desired FX tempo. To return to AUTO mode, press and hold
TRIM (knob)
Adjusts the gain for each channel
EQ (knob)
Adjusts the EQ for each channel
BACK (button)
Navigate back in currently focused area
10
AREA (button)
Cycle Files/Browser/Prepare/History Panels
11
MASTER (knob)
Adjusts the master output level
12
MASTER PFL (button)
Instant PFL selection to monitor the master output through your headphones
13
PANEL (button)
Cycle REC/FX/SP-6 panels
Cycle REC/FX/SP-6 panels in reverse
14
PREPARE (button)
Loads track to prepare panel
Open Prepare panel
15
SYNC (button)
Sync on
Sync Off (Press twice to return to
Absolute Pitch when in Relative Mode)
16
LOAD (button)
Load track to selected deck
17
FX 1 (knob)
Adjust Slot 1 FX Parameter
18
FX 2 (knob)
Adjust Slot 2 FX Parameter
19
DATA SEND LED
The Data Send LED indicates the MIDI data transmission from each VCI-400 control
20
FX 3 (knob)
Adjust Slot 3 FX Parameter
21
BEATS
Adjust Beats Multiplier
Slot 3 Select Effect
Cycle View Modes
VCI-400 Control
Serato DJ Function
22
SHIFT
The SHIFT button is used with other buttons that have shift modifier functions
23
AUTO LOOP
Auto Loop On/Off (Click Knob) Auto Loop Length (Twist Knob)
24
HOT CUE
Activate Hot Cue performance mode
25
LOOP
Activate Loop performance mode
26
ROLL
Activate Loop Roll performance mode
27
SAMPLER
Activate SP-6 Sampler performance mode
28
VINYL
Toggle between Scratch or Jog mode
29
HEADPHONE
OUTPUT
Headphone connection. Connect your Headphones to this socket.
30
CUE/MASTER
HEADPHONE MIX
Control knob to adjust the headphone monitor mix balance between master output and
monitor output.
31
FILTER
LP/HP Combo Filter adjust
32
FX ASSIGN 2
Assign FX UNIT 2 to the selected channel
33
FX ASSIGN 1
Assign FX UNIT 1 to the selected channel
34
CROSSFADER
Crossfades the output sound between the two selected decks
35
BROWSER
Browses through currently focused area (library/crates/etc)/Click to navigate forward
36
SAMPLER VOL
Adjusts the master volume of the sample player
37
PFL
Cue selected channel in headphones
38
PLAY/PAUSE
Play/Pause
39
CUE
Temporary Cue
40
CENSOR
Reverses the track while held down. When Censor is released, the track will continue as if
censor had not been pressed.
41
DECK SELECT
Select Deck C/A (Left Deck) or B/D (Right Deck)
42
PERFORMANCE
PADS
SEE PERFORMANCE PAD MODE SECTION
Shift Function
Loop Shift/Beat Jump Left/Right
Slip mode
Click to navigate Back
Reverse
VCI-400 Control
Serato DJ Function
43
TEMPO FADER
Adjust Tempo
44
PARAM
Function is determined by Performance Pad Mode selected
45
PICK UP LED
The Pick Up LED turns on when there is difference between the pitch fader position when
switching decks. The LED will turn off when the pitch fader is moved and the difference in
tempo is resolved.
46
FX MODE
Toggle between Single/Multi FX Modes
47
MASTER FX
Assign FX to Master Output
48
JOG WHEEL
Scratch, Jog and Slip which are determined by the VINYL button
Shift Function
When in Sync mode, used to disable the
Pitch Fader temporarily and change the
zero position
Skip
Looping
You have up to 8 loops per track in Serato DJ, and the choice between
either manual or auto loops. You can choose whether you have 4 loops
(and 4 cuepoints) showing on screen, or 8 loops. To switch between Manual
and Auto looping, click
(Manual) or
(Auto) onscreen. When using
your VCI-400, Manual and Auto Loop modes are available when using the
peformance pads by selecting the LOOP mode, or using the AUTO LOOP
knob.
Manual Mode is one of the performance pad modes and controlled using the
Performance Pads. SEE PERFORMANCE PADS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
VCI-400 Control
Manual Loop Mode
Buttons 1-4
Select Select Saved Loops 1-4 If there is no
saved loop, pressing these buttons will save
any currently active loop to that slot.
Button 5
Set loop in point (Loop not active)/Edit start of
loop point (Loop active)
Button 6
Set end of loop point (If Loop in point set)/Edit end
of loop point (Loop active)
Button 7
Selected Loop ON/OFF
Button 8
Reloop
PARAM
Halve or double Loop Length
NOTE: The best way to edit the in and out points of a loop is with the jog
wheel/platter on your Vestax VCI-400.
VCI-400 Control
Auto Loop Mode
Shift
AUTO LOOP (Knob Press)
Auto Loop On/Off
Reloop
AUTO LOOP (Knob Twist)
Adjust Loop length
Loop Shift/Beat
Jump Left/Right
PARAM
Adjust Defined Loop
Length Range
NOTE: You can also save a loop to the next available free loop slot in the
software. To do this, either click the
button in the manual/auto loop tab
or click
on an available loop slot. Your loops are saved to the file and
recalled the next time it is loaded. They are not lost if the file is moved or
renamed.
DJ-FX
The DJ-FX in Serato DJ are powered by iZotope. Click the FX tab
to open the FX panel. Select either 1, 2, 3, 4 or M to assign the selected effect bank
to a deck or Master Output.
There are two available modes in the DJ-FX. Single FX Mode allows you to select
one effect per FX bank, and has multiple parameters that can be adjusted. Multi
FX Mode allows you to select up to three effects per FX bank, and adjust only
one parameter, the FX Depth. The same effects available in Single FX mode are
available in Multi FX mode, as well some additional presets.
You can select between the two FX modes by clicking either the Single FX
mode button
or Multi FX mode button
VCI-400 Control
Single FX Mode
Multi FX Mode
FX MODE (button) Toggle between
FX Modes
Toggle between FX
Modes
MASTER FX
Assign FX to
Master Output
Assign FX to
Master Output
FX ON 1 (button) Effect On/Off
Shift
Slot 1 Effect On/Off Slot 1 Select
Effect
FX ON 2 (button) Adjust Parameter 2 Slot 2 Effect On/Off Slot 2 Select
Effect
FX ON 3 (button) Adjust Parameter 4 Slot 3 Effect On/Off Slot 3 Select
Effect
FX 1 (knob)
FX Dial 1
Adjust Parameter 1 Adjust Slot 1 FX
Parameter
FX 2 (knob)
FX Dial 2
Adjust Parameter 3 Adjust Slot 2 FX
Parameter
FX 3 (knob)
FX Dial 3
Adjust Parameter 5 Adjust Slot 3 FX
Parameter
TAP
Tap to the desired
FX tempo. To
return to AUTO
mode, press and
hold
Tap to the desired
FX tempo. To
return to AUTO
mode, press and
hold
BEATS
Adjust Beats
Multipler
Adjust Beats
Multipler
The effect time is set using the tracks BPM value, but by applying the
Beats Multiplier you can increase or decrease the effect timing. Modify this
by using the BEATS knob on the controller. Automatic tempo requires that
the track on the deck assigned to the FX Unit has BPM information. Manual
tempo mode allows you to tap in the tempo yourself.
Performance Pads
Serato Video
Serato Video is a software plugin for Serato Software which adds the ability to
playback and mix video files, use effects and fader transitions with your Serato DJ
Controller, an additional MIDI controller or your mouse/keyboard.
For more information on Serato Video click here.
MIDI
The performance pads have four different modes you can select. The four modes
are; HOT CUE, LOOP, ROLL and SAMPLER modes.
HOT CUE Mode: When pressing buttons 1-8 you can add/trigger up to 8 Cue
Points. Holding SHIFT and pressing buttons 1-8 will delete the Cue Points.
LOOP Mode: Buttons 1-4 select the first 4 saved loop slots. Buttons 5 and 6
place in the IN and OUT points of loops. Button 7 turns the currently selected
loop slot ON/OFF and Button 8 will Reloop the currently selected loop slot.
SEE LOOPING FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ROLL Mode: When pressing buttons 1-8 you can activate a loop roll. The Loop
Roll Length is determined by the Auto Loop Range shown in the software, and
can be adjusted by using the PARAM knob.
SAMPLER Mode: Buttons 1-6 Trigger Samples loaded in your Sample Banks.
Use the PARAM knob to toggle between Sample Banks.
The MIDI control feature in Serato DJ provides the ability to map Serato DJ
software functions to MIDI controller functions such as keyboards, triggers, sliders,
and knobs. Integrating MIDI controllers into your Serato DJ setup can improve live
performance usability, such as hitting pads on a MIDI controller to trigger Loops
and Cue Points.
For more information download the Serato DJ manual here.
NOTE: You can not MIDI Map your Mixtrack Pro, you will need to connect
an additional MIDI controller to use these MIDI functions.
Beat Jump
Using the Tool Tips
To activate Beat Jump, open the Setup screen and under the DJ
preferences tab turn on Show Beat Jump Controls.
Click on the
icon to enable Tool Tips. This is located in between the
MIDI and setup button in the top right hand corner of the screen. Tool Tips
provide a handy way to learn the various features of Serato DJ.
When you close the Setup screen you will see Beat Jump controls
underneath the existing Auto Loop values on each deck. Checking
this box will turn on Beat Jump features in the deck area and let
you control Beat Jump from on your supported Serato DJ hardware.
When the Beat Jump option is enabled, controllers with 8
performance pads that have an AUTO LOOP or LOOP ROLL mode
will use the bottom row of 4 pads (pads 5-8) as Beat Jump controls.
This is designed to mirror the change in deck Auto Loop area (from
8 Auto Loop sizes to 4 Auto Loop sizes + Beat Jump controls).
Performance
Pad Function
Pad 5
Pad 6
Pad 7
Pad 8
Beat Jump
disabled
Auto Loop/
Loop Roll 5
Auto Loop/
Loop Roll 6
Auto Loop/
Loop Roll 7
Auto Loop/
Loop Roll 8
Beat Jump
enabled
Beat Jump
Left
Beat Select
Left
Beat Select
Right
Beat Jump
Right
Controllers with Loop Shift controls can now do a Beat Jump by
enabling Beat Jump in the Setup screen. Regular Loop Shift is still
available if Beat Jump is disabled in the Setup screen.
Move the mouse over a section of the screen to bring up a context sensitive
tool tip. Holding the mouse over the
button with Tool Tips turned on
will show you a list of all keyboard shortcuts.
For more information about how to use Serato DJ, please go to our website
www.serato.com or refer to the Serato DJ Software Manual. For more information on your controller, please refer to the hardware manual.
For further help, please contact [email protected] or go to www.serato.com/
dj/support
