QUICK-START

GUIDE
PIONEER
DDJ-SZ2
Installation and Setup
The Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 requires drivers for both Mac & Windows.

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 2 3
1. Download and install the latest version of Serato DJ from http://serato.com/
dj/downloads
2. Connect your Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 to an available USB Port.
3. Open Serato DJ.

NOTE: The Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 does not require a Serato DJ license purchase.
When you first download Serato DJ you will see the MY SERATO panel 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
appear on the right hand side for you to manage your Serato DJ licenses and
Expansion Packs.
# Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 Control
Simply tick the box in the bottom right hand corner, then
1 HEADPHONE OUTPUT 12 CH3 PHONO/LINE INPUT
click on which will hide this panel. Serato DJ will remember these
settings for when you next open the software. 2 HEADPHONE OUTPUT 13 GROUND TERMINAL
3 CROSSFADER CURVE ADJUST 14 MIC 1
4 KENSINGTON LOCK 15 MIC 2
5 MASTER OUTPUT (XLR) 16 USB A/B
6 MASTER OUTPUT (RCA) 17 STANDBY/ON
7 BOOTH OUTPUT (TRS) 18 POWER IN
8 GROUND TERMINAL
9 CH4 PHONO/LINE INPUT
10 CH2 CD INPUT
11 CH1 CD INPUT
Controller
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

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48 21
47
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46
45 23

44
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43

46
25
26
45
27
28
29
44

43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30
NOTE: The SHIFT button is used with other buttons that have shift modifier functions.
# Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 Function Shift Function
Control
1 PANEL Select panel (Rec/FX/Sampler)
2 FX KNOBS See FX section
3 BEATS Select FX beat parameter
4 TAP Tap to the desired FX tempo Switch between singular & multi FX mode
5 NEEDLE SEARCH When track is paused or platter is held, touch the needle search strip to scroll
through track
6 LOAD Scroll through tracks/Press to load track to deck/Double tap for instant doubles Fast scroll through tracks
7 MIC See MIC section
8 FX Select FX unit
9 CHANGEOVER UNIT See CHANGEOVER UNIT section
10 CHANNEL LED Shows channel output
11 TRIM Adjusts the individual channel output gain
12 MASTER CUE Turn on master cue
13 MASTER LEVEL Adjusts the master sound level output
14 MASTER EQ Displays the master output’s audio level
15 BOOTH MONITOR Adjust the Booth Output Volume
16 CENSOR Censor Reverse
17 SLIP Activate Slip Mode Toggles between Vinyl/Jog Modes
18 BACK Toggles focus between library, crates and open panels Cycle View Modes
19 LOAD PREPARE Press this to add a selected track to the list of tracks in the Prepare Panel Cycle Files/Browse/Prepare/History
20 JOG FEELING ADJUST Adjust platter sensitivity
21 STOP TIME Adjust time it takes for track to stop
22 KEY LOCK/TEMPO RESET Quick press for Keylock/Hold for 1 second to reset BPM Cycle through available Tempo Range
23 PLATTER Adjust/Scratch or Jog Skip
24 TEMPO SLIDER Adjust tempo/pitch Ignore adjustment

25 AUTOLOOP Autoloop on/off Activate selected loop

 # Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 Function Shift Function
Control
26 1/2X Halve Loop Length Loop Shift/Beat Jump Left
27 2X Double Loop Length Loop Shift/Beat Jump Right
28 OUT Set loop out point (Loop in point set)/Adjust loop out point (Loop active) Loop Exit (Loop active)/Reloop (Loop not active)
29 IN Set loop in point (Loop not active)/Adjust loop in point (Loop active)/Hold Saved Loop slot select
for 4 beat Autoloop
30 FLIP START Starts the current Flip / re-trigger Flip Turns current Flip On/Off
31 FLIP RECORD Starts the recording of a new Flip Turns Flip loop On/Off
32 QUANTIZE Toggle Quantize
33 OSCILLATOR See OSCILLATOR section
34 A THRU B Crossfader Assign Switch
35 CHANNEL FADER Adjusts the Channel Output Fader Start
36 SOUND COLOR FX See SOUND COLOR FX section
37 CROSS FADER Outputs the sound assigned with the crossfader assign switch
38 CUE Cue selected channel / Mic Talk Over when Mic is connected Tap BPM of loaded track to selected deck
39 MIXING Adjust headphone output between cue and master
40 LEVEL Adjust headphone output
41 PARAMETER1 Use these to set the Performance Pad parameters A secondary parameter for Performance Pads
42 FLIP SLOT SELECT Cycle through available Flip slot Save current Flip to next available Flip slot
33 PERFORMANCE PADS See PERFORMANCE PADS section
40 PLAY/PAUSE Play/Pause track Stutter Play
41 CUE Add or Jump to Temporary Cue Jump to start of track (more than 2 Sec elapsed)
Previous track (less than 2 sec elapsed)
42 SYNC Sync On Sync Off
43 SHIFT SHIFT button is used with other buttons that have shift modifier functions
44 Deck Select Activates selected Deck
45 Deck Select Activates selected Deck
46 EQ Adjust HI, MID and LOW
47 KEYSHIFT DOWN Keyshift down Key sync
48 KEYSHIFT UP Keyshift up Key reset
Performance Pads
in library panel to the corresponding sample slot. Sampler volume can be
controlled using the SAMPLER VOL knob in the MIC section.

The next four modes are activated by holding SHIFT and pressing the pad mode
selection buttons. The next four modes are; Cue Loop, Saved Loop, Slicer Loop
and Pitch Play.

• CUE LOOP mode: Press buttons 1-8 to trigger your hot cues. it will also
enable an auto loop after the selected Cue Point with the current auto loop
length. Use the PARAMETER1 buttons to halve or double the loop length.
SEE LOOPING FOR MORE INFORMATION.
• SAVED LOOP mode: Pressing buttons 1-8 can set, save and launch previously
made Manual Loops. Use the PARAMETER1 buttons to halve or double the
loop length. SEE LOOPING FOR MORE INFORMATION.
• SLICER LOOP mode: is a fixed Slicer Domain or “loop”. Use PARAMETER1 to
set the quantization for the slicer function. The quantization can be set in four
The performance pads have 10 different modes you can select. The first four modes ways: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1. PARAMETER2 (Hold SHIFT + PARAMETER1) sets
are; Hot Cue, Roll, Slicer and Sampler. the domain. The domain can be set to one of six settings: 2 beats, 4 beats, 8
beats, 16 beats, 32 beats or 64 beats.
• HOT CUE Mode: When pressing buttons 1-8 you can add up to 8 Cue Points. • PITCH PLAY Mode: Pressing performance pads allows you to play Cue Points
Holding SHIFT and pressing buttons 1-8 will delete the Cue Points. over variable pitch ranges. See the Pitch Play mode section on the follow-
• ROLL Mode: When pressing buttons 1-8 you can activate a loop roll. The ing page for more information.
Loop Length is determined by the Auto Loop Range currently selected in
the Auto Loop section in the software, which you can change this using the The next two modes are activated by pressing and holding the Hot Cue, and Sam-
PARAMETER1 buttons. pler buttons, and activate Saved Flip and Velocity Sampler modes respectively.
• SLICER Mode: A specified range (or domain) is divided into eight equal
sections, and these eight sliced sections are assigned to the respective • SAVED FLIP Mode: Pressing pads 1-8 in will trigger saved Flips, pressing SHIFT
performance pads. Pressing SLICER for the first mode, is a shifting Slicer + pads 1-8 will turn saved Flips on/off. Pressing an empty Flip slot will save
Domain. any active Flip to that slot.
• SAMPLER Mode: Buttons 1-8 Trigger Samples loaded in your Sample Banks. • VELOCITY SAMPLER Mode: Buttons 1-8 behave in the same way as the stan-
Use PARAMETER1 to cycle through Sample Banks. Holding SHIFT and dard sampler mode described above. However, in Velocity Sampler mode the
pressing buttons 1-8 will stop the sample playing. When a sample slot is volume of the sample will be affected by the amount of pressure applied to the
empty, pressing the Buttons 1-8 + SHIFT will load the currently selected track button.
Pitch Play
Holding SHIFT and pressing the SAMPLER performance pad mode on the PITCH PLAY can only pitch one Hot Cue point at a time. To change the
DDJ-SZ2 will enable Pitch Play mode. In this mode you an play Cue Points selected Hot Cue, hold the SHIFT button and press a performance pad
over variable pitch ranges. where the cue point you want to select would be (as shown in the CUES
performance pad mode). While holding SHIFT, press the corosponding
There are 3 key ranges to choose from. The following tables show pitched performance pad for:
key ranges (in Semitones) while using the 8 performance pads in Pitch Play
mode. To toggle beteen key ranges press the PARAMETER-/+ buttons. The Hot Cue 1 Hot Cue 2 Hot Cue 3 Hot Cue 4
root key pad (0) is always lit white, which will play the cue point at it’s
regular pitch. Pressing PARAMETER-/+ while holding SHIFT will shift up or Hot Cue 5 Hot Cue 6 Hot Cue 7 Hot Cue 8
down a single semitone. When in Pitch Play mode, pressing a pad will pitch
the currently selected cue point up or down the following ranges: The selected cue point defaults to Cue Point 1 on track load, even if instant
doubled. If a pad with no cue point is selected, then a new cue point will be
Up Range (Up 7 Semitones) created. Deleting a cue point however, is not possible in PITCH PLAY mode.
Range is remembered if user goes to another pad mode, then back to key
+4 +5 +6 +7 mode. If a new track is loaded, key mode will default to middle range.
0 +1 +2 +3
NOTE: Pitch Play mode is avaialble once the Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion
Middle Range (Up 3/Down 4 Semitones Pack has been activated in the MY SERATO window. Make sure “Enable
Pitch ‘n Time DJ” is checked in the Expansion Pack tab of the SETUP
0 +1 +2 +3 screen.
-4 -3 -2 -1
Down Range (Down 7 Semitones)

-3 -2 -1 0
-7 -6 -5 -4
When Pitch Play mode is first enabled, the middle range is selected. If a new
track is loaded, key mode will default to middle range.
Looping button or Multi FX mode button or by pressing SHIFT + TAP in the

You have up to 8 loops per track in Serato DJ, and the choice between FX section on the DDJ-SZ2.
either manual or auto loops. You can choose whether you have 2 loops (and 8
DDJ-SZ2 Single FX Multi FX Shift
cuepoints) showing on screen, or 8 loops. To store the currently active or most
Control
recently created loop, click in the loop tab in the software.
ON (Button 1) Effect On/Off Slot 1 Effect On/Off Slot 1 Select
DDJ-SZ2 Control Serato DJ function Shift Effect
ON (Button 2) Adjust Slot 2 FX Slot 2 Effect On/Off Slot 2 Select
AUTO LOOP Autoloop On/Off Activate selected loop
Parameter Effect
2X Double Loop Length Loop Shift Right
ON (Button 3) Adjust Slot 4 FX Slot 3 Effect On/Off Slot 3 Select
1/2X Halve Loop Length Loop Shift Left Parameter Effect
IN Set loop in point (Loop not Saved Loop slot select FX KNOB 1 Adjust Slot 1 FX Adjust Slot 1 FX
active)/Adjust loop in point Parameter Parameter
(Loop active) FX KNOB 2 Adjust Slot 3 FX Adjust Slot 2 FX
OUT Set loop out point (Loop in Loop Exit (Loop Parameter Parameter
point set)/Adjust loop out point active)/Reloop (Loop FX KNOB 3 Adjust FX Parameter 5 Adjust Slot 3 FX
(Loop active) not active) Parameter
TAP Tap to the desired Tap to the desired Toggle

DJ-FX FX tempo. To return

to AUTO mode,
press and hold
FX tempo. To return
to AUTO mode,
press and hold
between
Single/Multi
FX Modes
The DJ-FX in Serato DJ are powered by iZotope™. Click the FX tab BEATS (knob) Adjust Beats Adjust Beats
to open the FX panel. Select either 1, 2, 3, 4 or M to assign the selected effect Multiplier Multiplier
bank to a deck or Master Output.
There are two available modes in the DJ-FX. Single FX Mode allows you to FX 1/2 Assigns FX UNIT Assigns FX UNIT
select one effect per FX bank, and has multiple parameters that can be adjusted. 1 or 2 to selected 1 or 2 to selected
Multi FX Mode allows you to select up to three effects per FX bank, and adjust channel channel
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
Sound Color FX Oscillator
The new Oscillator provides four types of sound effects:
NOISE, DROP, LASER and SIREN. Tapping each of the
buttons activates the effect(s), which can also be modified in
volume, and depth. You can also add SOUND COLOR FX to
the sound effects with the FX knob above the oscillator ef-
fects buttons. OSC ASSIGN is used for assigning the sound
effects to channels 3, 4, or MASTER.

Sound Color FX are hardware effects built into the Pioneer DDJ-SZ2. The 4
hardware effects are ECHO, JET, PITCH, and FILTER. These can be applied to
each channel individually, the MIC channel, and the master channel. The Color
FX knobs are used to control the depth of each effect.

Changeover Panel

Two USB ports enable two computers to be connected at the same time.
A dedicated A/B button on each side of the controller enables DJs to split
the controller and assign each half between the two USB ports. The INPUT
SELECT switches allow you to switch individual channels between LINE,
PHONO or USB for channels 3 and 4, and CD, or USB for channels 1 and 2.
MIC Serato Flip
Flip is an Expansion Pack for Serato DJ. Flip controls are only available
once the Flip expansion pack has been purchased and activated. The expan-
sion pack can be purchased in-app through the Serato DJ Online window, or
online at http://serato.com/accessories

Press Hot Cue mode + Shift to enter Saved Flip mode. Pressing pads 1-8 in
will trigger saved Flips, pressing SHIFT + pads 1-8 will turn saved Flips on/
off. Pressing an empty Flip slot will save any active Flip to that slot.

DVS Expansion
The Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 is Serato DVS Upgrade ready. Use turntables or CD
players to control Serato DJ using NoiseMap™ Control Tone records or
CDs. You can enable CD and Vinyl control through the Setup screen in the
software.
For more information about the Serato DVS Expansion Pack, please visit
http://serato.com/accessories

The Pioneer DDJ-SZ2 has 2 MIC inputs, allowing you to use 2 MICs at
anytime with this controller. The OFF/ON/TALK OVER switch is to switch
your MIC on/off and onto ‘TALK OVER’ mode.

The LEVEL knobs are used to adjust the volume of the MICs, and the
HI & LOW EQ knobs are used to adjust the EQ. You can also use the
SOUND COLOR FX with your MIC.

The FX knob is used to control the depth of your select effect.

Beat Jump MIDI
The MIDI feature in Serato DJ provides the ability to remap Serato DJ
To activate Beat Jump, open the Setup screen and under the DJ
software functions to your primary Serato DJ controller, interface or mixer.
preferences tab turn on “Show Beat Jump Controls”.
You can also assign controls to a secondary MIDI controller to further
enhance your performance.
For more information on MIDI mapping with Serato DJ click here.
When you close the Setup screen you will see Beat Jump controls To remap your supported Serato DJ device, open the SETUP screen and
underneath the existing Auto Loop values on each deck. Checking click the MIDI tab. If your Serato DJ device supports hardware remapping it
this box will turn on Beat Jump features in the deck area and let will show up in the MIDI Devices list at the top.
you control Beat Jump from on your supported Serato DJ hardware.
Select your connected device from the MIDI Devices list and make sure the
“Allow Serato Hardware Remapping” option is checked.

When the Beat Jump option is enabled, controllers with 8

performance pads that have an AUTO LOOP or LOOP ROLL mode Once checked, the MIDI assign button at the top of the screen will become
will use the bottom row of 4 pads (pads 5-8) as Beat Jump controls. available for you to start remapping.
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).
You can save, edit or delete MIDI presets in the MIDI tab of the SETUP
Performance Pad 5 Pad 6 Pad 7 Pad 8 screen. Clicking ‘Restore Defaults’ will erase any custom mappings for all
Pad Function connected devices and revert their functions back to default.
Download the Serato DJ software manual for further information.
Beat Jump Auto Loop/ Auto Loop/ Auto Loop/ Auto Loop/
disabled Loop Roll 5 Loop Roll 6 Loop Roll 7 Loop Roll 8 NOTE: Official Serato Accessories do not currently support user remapping.
Beat Jump Beat Jump Beat Select Beat Select Beat Jump Hardware features that cannot be remapped at this stage are Jogwheels/
enabled Left Left Right Right Platters, Input Switches, Shift buttons and Performance Pad Mode buttons.
Re-mapping any pad(s) in Hot Cue mode will also re-map the same pad in
Saved Flip mode and vice versa.
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.
Using the Tool Tips
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.

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