M DJ - 5 0 0

PROFESSIONAL MEDIA CONTROLLER

USER MANUAL
Please read the manual carefully before operation!

W W W. G E M I N I S O U N D . C O M
 PLEASE READ BEFORE USING APPLIANCE USING APPLIANCE
IMPORTANT WARNING AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS!

CAUTION: This product satisfies FCC regulations when shielded cables and connectors are used to connect the unit to other equipment. To prevent
electromagnetic interference with electric appliances such as radios and televisions, use shielded cables and connectors for connections.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
The lightening flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated ‘dangerous
voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons
READ INSTRUCTIONS: All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.
RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS: The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
HEED WARNINGS: All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS: All operating and use instructions should be followed.
CLEANING: The product should be cleaned only with a polishing cloth or a soft dry cloth. Never clean with furniture wax, benzine, insecticides or
other volatile liquids since they may corrode the cabinet.
ATTACHMENTS: Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards.
WATER AND MOISTURE: Do not use this product near water, for example, near a bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink or laundry tub; in a wet basement
or near a swimming pool; and the like.
ACCESSORIES: Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or tab|e. The product may fall causing serious injury to a child
or an adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with
the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the
manufacturer.
CART: A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and
cart combination to over-turn. See Figure A.
VENTILATION: Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable operation of the product and
to protect it from overheating, and these openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by
placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation
such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer instructions have been adhered to.
POWER SOURCES: This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label.
If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company.
LOCATION: The appliance should be installed in a stable location.
NON-USE PERIODS: The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.
GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION:
• If this product is equipped with a polarized alternating current line plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other), it will fit into the outlet
only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug.
If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized
plug.
• If this product is equipped with a three-wire grounding type plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin, it will only fit into a grounding type
power outlet. This is a safely feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete
outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding type plug.
POWER-CORD PROTECTION: Power-supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or
against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product.
OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING: If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the product, be sure the antenna or cable system is
grounded so as to provide some protection against voItage surges and built-up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/
NFPA 70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna
discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, Iocation of antenna-discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes and requirements
for the grounding electrode. See Figure B.
LIGHTNING: For added protection for this product during a lightening storm, or when it is left unattended and unused
for long periods of time , unplug if from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to
the product due to lightening and power-line surges.
POWER LINES: An outside antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other
electric Iight or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside
antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits as contact with them
might be fatal.
OVERLOADING: Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result
in a risk of fire or electric shock.
OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY: Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings as they may touch dangerous
voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never splill liquid of any kind on the product.
SERVICING: Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous
voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE: Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel
under the following conditions:
• When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged
• If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product.
• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
• If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered
by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation.
• If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.
• When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, this indicates a need for service.
REPLACEMENT PARTS: When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the
manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substituions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
SAFETY CHECK: Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that
the product is in the proper operating condition.
WALL OR CEILING MOUNTING: The product should not be mounted to a wall or ceiling.
HEAT: The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

2 m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com
introduction

Thank you for purchasing our Gemini MDJ-500. We are confident that the Gemini Family of products will not only make
your life easier through the use of the latest technological advancements in cross-platform connectivity
and sound reproduction but will raise the bar for DJ and pro audio products. With the proper care & maintenance,
your unit will likely provide years of reliable, uninterrupted service. All Gemini products are backed by a 1-year
limited warranty*.

P R E PA R I N G F O R
F I R ST U S E WE WANT YOU LISTENING
FOR A LIFETIME
Please ensure that you find these accessories included with Selecting fine audio equipment such as the unit you’ve just purchased
the MDJ-500: is only the start of your musical enjoyment. Now it’s time to consider
how you can maximize the fun and excitement your equipment offers.
(1) Power cord This manufacturer and the Electronic Industries Association’s
Consumer Electronics Group want you to get the most out of your
(1) RCA cable
equipment by playing it at a safe level. One that lets the sound come
(1) Operating instructions
through loud and clear without annoying blaring or distortion—and,
most importantly, without affecting your sensitive hearing. Sound can
P R E C AU T I O N S be deceiving. Over time your hearing “comfort level” adapts to higher
volumes of sound. So what sounds “normal” can actually be loud and
harmful to your hearing. Guard against this by setting your equipment
1 Do not use this MDJ-500 at temperatures below 41°F/5°C at a safe level BEFORE your hearing adapts.
or higher than 95°F/35°C.

2 This device should not be exposed to dripping or To establish a safe level, start your volume control at a low setting.
splashing, and no objects filled with liquids (such as drinks) Slowly increase the sound until you can hear it comfortably and clearly,
should be placed on or near the device. and without distortion. Once you have established a comfortable
sound level, set the dial and leave it there. Taking a minute to do this
3 Place the unit in a clean and dry location. now will help to prevent hearing damage or loss in the future. After all,
4 Do not place the unit in an unstable location. we want you listening for a lifetime.

5 When disconnecting the power cord from the AC outlet,

Used wisely, your new sound equipment will provide a lifetime of
always grasp by the plug. Never pull the power cord.
fun and enjoyment. Since hearing damage from loud noise is often
6 To prevent electric shock, do not remove the cover or the undetectable until it is too late, this Manufacturer and the Electronic
bottom screws. Industries Association’s Consumer Electronics Group recommend you
avoid prolonged exposure to excessive noise. This list of sound levels
7 There are NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. Please
is included for your protection.
refer to a qualified technician.
30 dB - Quiet library, soft whispers
8 Do not use chemical solvents to clean the unit.
40 dB - Living room, refrigerator, bedroom away from traffic
50 dB - Light traffic, normal conversation, quiet office
9 Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference. 60 dB - Air conditioner at 20 feet, sewing machine
70 dB - Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, noisy restaurant
80 dB - Average city traffic, garbage disposals, alarm clock
at two feet

The following noises can be dangerous at extended exposure:

90 dB - Subway, motorcycle, truck traffic, lawn mower

100 dB - Garbage truck, chain saw, pneumatic drill
120 dB - Rock band concert in front of speakers, thunderclap
140 dB - Gunshot blast, jet plane
180 dB - Rocket launch pad

Information courtesy of the Deafness Research Foundation.

• In the USA- if you experience problems with this unit call Gemini
customer service at 1 (732) 346-0061. Do not attempt to return
this equipment to your dealer

Selecting fine audio equipment such as the unit you have just purSeSe-
lecting fine audio equipment such as the unit you’ve just purchased is
m d j the
only - 5 0 0start
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a l musical
• gemin i s o u n d . cNow
enjoyment. o m it’s time to consider how 3
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 INTRODUCTION
CLEANING THE USING MIDI
UNIT C O N T R O L A N D AU D I O
When placed in MIDI mode, the MDJ-500 can send MIDI data
To clean the MDJ-500, use only a dry soft cloth and/or
from the buttons and dials to a computer to control the parameters
compressed air. If the unit is soiled with stubborn dirt, we
and playback controls of DJ software. The audio playback from
suggest using a 2:1 solution of distilled water and 30%
the computer can also be output from the MDJ-500.
isopropyl alcohol. Avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals such
as benzene, paint thinner, bleach, or hydrochloric acid, which
Before using the MDJ-500 as an audio device, connect the
will damage the unit.
MDJ-500 with a USB cable and allow your PC/MAC to detect
it. Open your DJ software and select the MDJ-500’s output
O P E R AT I N G device in the DJ software’s settings. For instructions on how to
do this, see your DJ software’s operating instructions.
CONDITIONS
For optimum performance, the temperature of the operating C O N N E C T I N G TO A
environment should be between +5º C to +35º C (+41º F - +95º F).
Failure to maintain proper operating temperature may result in
COMPUTER
difficulty reading the display, thermal overload, or systemwide
The MDJ-500 is a plug and play device that requires no
instability. Avoid exposing the unit to direct sunlight.
software installation. The MDJ-500’s audio and MIDI drivers are
compatible with PC and MAC.
When placing the unit in an installation, make sure that it is
placed on a stable surface, as far away from vibrations as
• To use the MDJ-500 with a computer using Windows, connect
possible. Even though the unit is impervious to vibration, the
the MDJ-500 to your PC after starting up the computer. The
storage devices (specifically hard drive based ones) that are
MDJ-500 will configure standard WDM drivers.
designed to be used in conjunction with it are typically not.
Also be sure not to place or use the player on heat generating
Select the MDJ-500 as your device to use it as your audio
sources, such as amplifiers or near spotlights.
device. ASIO drivers can also be configured for use with
the MDJ-500 and are available at geminisound.com

P L AYA B L E F O R M AT S • To use the MDJ-500 with a computer using the OSX operating
system, connect the MDJ-500 to your MAC after starting up the
computer. Use the system’s standard Core Audio drivers and
The MDJ-500 plays music files on USB storage devices. All
select the MDJ-500 as the device.
of the following file formats are supported:

• WAV (16-bit PCM, sample rates of 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 12

kHz, 16 kHz, 22.50 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz)

• MP3 (16 bit, 44.1 kHz, MPEG-I, Layer III)

• AAC (16 bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo, AAC Core, AAC Plus, AAC
Plus v2)

• AIFF (16 bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo)

Supported file systems on USB Storage Devices include:

• FAT
• FAT32
• HFS+
• NTFS

4 m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com
 UNIT OVERVIEW
TO P V I E W REAR VIEW

13 14 15 16 17 18

10 28

27
9
26

8 25

1 A B C
7 24

23
6
22
5 21
20

3
19

11
2

24 Vinyl
1 Power 13 Auto / Manual Loop
(Quantize)
2 Play/Pause / II Auto Loop 1 Beat / Manual Loop
14 25 MIDI Select
IN
3 Cue 26 USB Select
15 Auto Loop 4 Beat / Manual Loop
4 Shift OUT
27 Settings
Search / 16 4.3”LCD Screen
5 28 Eject Media
(Beat Grid / Beat Offset)
17 Loop / 2 (Reloop / Exit)
Track Search /
6
(Time / Text) 18 Loop x 2 (Loop Roll)

Reverse 19 Tempo Slider

7
(Wave)
20 Slip Mode
8 Browse / Selec t
(Search) Pitch Bend [+] [-]
21
(Range / BPM Mode)
9 Back
Keylock
10 USB 22
(Autocue)

11 Jog Platter
23
BPM Tap
(Lock BPM)
Hot cues 1-4
12
(Delete Cue)

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 CONNECTIONS

C O N N E C T I N G T H E M DJ - 5 0 0

POWER

Plug the 2 prong power cable into the power input on the back of the MDJ-500 (A), and the other end into Mains power.

LINE OUTPUT USB

Plug one end of the included RCA cable into the Plug in the USB cable into the USB OUT (B) on the
LINE OUTPUT JACK (D) on the rear panel. rear panel. Plug the other end of the USB cable into
any available USB port on your computer. This will
Plug the other end of the RCA connectors into any enable you to use the MDJ-500 in MIDI mode
available line input jacks on your mixer.

If you are connecting the MDJ-500 through a

receiver, you can plug the RCA connectors into the
CD AUX INPUT JACKS on your receiver. If there are
no CD or AUX INPUTS use any line level (not phono)
inputs.

6 m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com
 D I S P L AY S

D I S P L AYS

5 2 10 8 3

9
6
12 7
11

1 CUE 11 WAVE DISPLAY

Shows the position of hot cue points This displays the full song wave display. The white line
indicates the current position of the track, while blue markers
2 AUTOCUE show hotcues and a green waveform highlight indicates a
This appears when auto cue has been enabled in settings stored loop.

3 TRACK NUMBER 12 PROGRESS BAR

This indicates the track number, and the remaining tracks in Indicates the progress of the current playing song. When
the current folder elapsed time is displayed the left edge of the graph lights
green to show how much of the song has elapsed. When
4 INFORMATION DISPLAY SECTION remaining time is displayed the right side of the graph lights
The large waveform, beat grid, and loop area is shown here. green to show the remaining time.
When in browse mode, a list of songs is shown
OTHER SCREEN MESSAGES –
5 TRACK NAME
Track name and other song data is shown here • MSD READ ONLY – Indicates that the inserted media is not
writable
6 TIME DISPLAY
Remaining or Elapsed time is shown here in minutes, • SLIP ON/OFF – Tells you when the Slip feature is active
seconds, and frames (75 frames per second)
• LOOP ROLL ON / OFF – Lets you know when the Loop Roll
7 KEYLOCK feature is on or off.
This appears when the keylock is engaged.
• EMERGENCY LOOP – When the Emergency Loop feature
8 BPM is enabled in Settings, this will let you know when an
Displays the BPM of the track currently loaded Emergency Loop is active.

9 TEMPO
Displays the current position of the pitch fader

10 RANGE
Indicates the range in which the tempo can be adjusted

Once you have connected all your cables, you can turn the MDJ-500’s power on by pressing the POWER (1) button. Pressing the button
again will turn the unit off.

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 LOADING MEMORY DEVICES
SOURCE SELECT B R OW S I N G
T R AC K S / F O L D E R S
USB Turning the browse knob (8) activates the browse screen.
Pressing the USB source button allows you to play music from The browser shows the available files and folders on the USB
a USB device. (Default selection) storage device.

MIDI
Pressing the MIDI source button switches the unit to MIDI / HID
mode with bi-directional support. In this mode, all controls (button
pressings, pitch potentiometers moving and wheel rotations)
are registered on the unit and transferred to PC via USB MIDI.
This can be used in conjunction with software to control the
software’s parameters. The MDJ-500 is also capable of
receiving data from software that can drive information on its
screen (The VirtualDJ software by Atomix offers native support
for the MDJ-500 and allows MIDI control, USB audio, and screen
support).

Rotating the browse encoder (8) allows searching through

LOA D I N G / E J E C T I N G the browser.

USB DEVICES To open a folder, highlight a folder and push the encoder (8)
to select. To load a track, highlight a track to load
and push the encoder (8) again.

To return to the previous folder, press the back (9) button.

Once you have loaded a track, the TRACK TITLE on the LCD
E Screen will display the loaded track.

Once you have loaded a track, the TRACK TITLE on the LCD
Screen will display the loaded track. You can return to the main
screen without loading a track but pressing and holding the
Insert the USB storage device into the USB input (E) on the top back (15) button.
of the MDJ-500. Upon loading the device, the LCD display will
show the folders and tracks on the USB storage device.

To eject the USB drive, press EJECT or MIDI and remove the
USB storage device.

*NOTE: Before powering off the MDJ-500, it’s a good idea to

remove any connected USB storage device

8 m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com
P L AY B AC K C O N T R O L S

P L AY / PAU S E A DJ U ST I N G T E M P O
Pressing PLAY/PAUSE (2) will begin playback of the selected The tempo increases when the tempo slider [19] is moved to the
track. Pressing PLAY/PAUSE (2) again will pause playback and [+] side (down), decreases when moved to the [-] side (up). The
hold the track at the current position. rate at with the playing speed is changed is indicated on the
LCD display.
M A ST E R C U E C O N T R O L S
P I TC H R A N G E
SETTING A MASTER CUE POINT
While the unit is in playback, press PLAY/PAUSE / ll (2) to Pressing shift and pitch bend - (21) toggles the range between
pause the track. While the track is paused, press CUE (3) to set +/- 4%, 8%, 16%, 24% ,50% and 100%.
the cue point at the current position.

A DJ USTING THE MASTE R CUE POIN T K E Y LO C K

After the cue point has been programmed, press PLAY/
PAUSE (2) to pause the track at the cue point. Press SEARCH (5) KEY LOCK (22) allows the user to adjust the tempo (speed) of
or rotate the jogwheel to adjust the cue position. Press CUE (3) the song without causing a noticeable change in pitch.
to set the cue point at the play marker.
BPM
R E T URNING TO THE MASTE R CUE PO I N T
While the unit is playing and after the cue point has been Pressing shift and pitch bend + (21) button allows the user to
programmed, pressing CUE (3) will cause the unit to enter the toggle through the different BPM modes: ID3 / AUTO / MANUAL
PAUSE mode at the programmed cue point. Holding down the / TAP.
CUE button changes the function to preview, and allows you to
stutter start or play from the programmed CUE POINT. Releasing BPM TAP - When BPM mode is set to TAP, the BPM TAP
the CUE button will return the track to the preset CUE point. (23) button can be used to set the BPM of the loaded track. BPM
You can press the PLAY/PAUSE button while holding the CUE is calculated through a rolling average, with each tap increasing
button to allow playback to continue from the current position. the accuracy. To re-start the calculation, don’t touch the BPM
TAP button for 2 seconds.
AU TO C U E
MANUAL BPM - When BPM mode is set to MANUAL, the browse
The AUTO CUE (22) function sets the Master Cue at the point knob (8) can be used to set the beats per minute of playback by
immediately before sound starts, skipping the beginning silent rotating to the desired tempo. Hold shift and turn the browse
section of tracks. Press shift and keylock (22) to enable auto cue. knob for fine control. Press the browse knob to set the new
The audio level threshold determines where the auto cue is set, BPM.
and can be adjusted in Settings>Autocue Level.
ID3 - when BPM mode is set to ID3, the BPM information from
the ID3 tag will be displayed.
SEARCH
AUTO BPM - When BPM mode is set to AUTO BPM, the beats
Pressing SEARCH FORWARD (5) will fast-search through the per minute are calculated automatically and corresponding info
track in the forward direction, and holding SEARCH BACK (5) is displayed on screen.
will fast-search through the track in the reverse direction.
NOTE: If a BPM value is present in file info ID3 tag, the
value is loaded into the unit and displayed.
T R AC K S E A R C H
B P M LO C K
Pressing TRACK SEARCH FORWARD (6) will advance to the
beginning position of the next track. Pressing TRACK SEARCH The BPM LOCK feature allows the user to lock the BPM of all
BACK (6) will return the current track to the beginning position. songs to a specific value. To use, enable the feature by pressing
shift and BPM Tap buttons. By default, the BPM value will change
P I TC H B E N D to the BPM of the current song. To change this value, turn the
browse knob to the desired value and press the browse knob
Pressing the PITCH BEND - / + (21) will temporarily raise or lower to set. All songs played from your MDJ-500 will now be at the
the pitch from the existing pitch setting. Releasing the buttons selected tempo.
will return the pitch to the original setting. To turn off, press shift and BPM TAP again.

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 P L AY B AC K C O N T R O L S

H OTC U E S 1 - 4 AU TO LO O P R O LL
Press shift and the x2 button (18) to activate loop roll
mode. Press and hold any of the AUTO LOOP buttons
to set a loop to your desired length with slip mode
S E T TING HOT CUE S activated. Release to exit the loop and turn off slip mode.
During playback or in pause mode, press HOT CUE 1, 2, 3 or
4 (12) at the point in the track where the HOT CUE is to be set.
Once pressed, the programmed HOT CUE (1, 2, 3 or 4) should JOGWHEEL CONTROLS
now be illuminated. To delete a hot cue, press shift (4) and
select the hot cue to be deleted VINYL MODE
Pressing the VINYL (24) button enables VINYL mode. Enabling
P L AYING HOT CUE S VINYL mode allows scratching when the JOGWHEEL (11) is
During playback or in pause mode, press HOT CUE 1, 2, 3 or 4 touched and rotated. When VINYL mode is disabled, the
(12) and playback starts instantaneously from the point recorded JOGWHEEL (11) will be in SEARCH MODE and will allow
on that HOT CUE. searching through the track.
LO O P C O N T R O L S
P I TC H N U DG E
It is possible to increase or decrease the pitch temporarily by up
S E T TING A MANUAL LOOP to 8% by using the platter. If the platter is in VINYL mode, then a
During playback, press LOOP IN (14) at the desired starting pitch nudge can be done by turning the platter by touching only
position for the loop (loop in point). Press LOOP OUT / ADJUST the outer (rubber) edge. If VINYL MODE is off, then you can turn
(15) at the desired ending position for the loop (loop out the platter from anywhere (including the top) to nudge the pitch.
position). The loop out point is now set, and loop playback
starts from the loop in point. R E V E R SE M O D E
Pressing the REV (7) button causes the playback to run in
A DJ USTING A LOOP reverse direction at the same speed as the forward playback.
To adjust the loop once the loop is set, press the IN (14) button
to adjust the in point or press the OUT / ADJUST button to
adjust the out point. The length of the loop can be adjusted by S LI P MO DE
rotating the jogwheel (11) to move the loop point. When the loop When SLIP (20) is enabled, normal playback continues
points are correct, press the IN or OUT button to set and exit. inaudibly underneath SCRATCH, LOOP, and REVERSE effects.
Press the /2 button to half the size of the loop, press the x2 When SCRATCH, LOOP, or REVERSE mode is exited, normal
button to double the size of the loop. playback resumes from the inaudible playback spot.

CA N CELING A LOOP S LI P WI T H S C R ATC H

While the loop is engaged, press RELOOP/EXIT (17) to To use SLIP while scratching, enable VINYL mode by pressing
disengage the loop. Playback continues after the loop out point. the VINYL (24) button. Enable SLIP mode by pressing the SLIP
(20) button. Using the jog dial will now create scratch effects
R E T URNING TO A LOOP while normal track playback continues inaudibly underneath.
After canceling a set loop, press RELOOP/EXIT (17) Once the jogwheel is released, track playback will continue
during playback to reengage the last set loop. Loop playback from the playback position playing underneath.
begins at the loop in point.
S LI P WI T H LO O P
S H R INKING OR EX TEND ING A LOO P To use SLIP with loop playback, enable SLIP mode by pressing
Once a loop is active, it is possible to double or halve its size the SLIP (20) button. Set a loop using the IN / OUT controls and
by using the “/2” and “x2” buttons (SHIFT + IN or OUT/ADJUST loop playback will begin. The SLIP (20) button will begin flashing
buttons). This can be used (for instance) to create breakdowns indicating SLIP mode is active and the position playing
and drops in songs. underneath is shown on the jogwheel display. Upon exiting the
loop, track playback will continue from the playback position
playing underneath.
AU TO BEAT LOOP
Press any of the AUTO LOOP buttons (14 and 15) to set a 1 or 4
beat loop. The corresponding button will light up when the loop
is active. Auto beat loops are set based on current BPM of track.

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P L AY B AC K C O N T R O L S
S L I P WITH REVER SE T I M E F O R MAT
To use SLIP with reverse playback, enable SLIP mode by TIME FORMAT toggles the display between ELAPSED or
pressing the SLIP (20) button. Press REVERSE (7) to begin REMAINING time. This feature can either be accessed by
playback in the reverse direction. The SLIP (20) button will begin holding shift and pressing the TRACK SEARCH + button (6),
flashing indicating SLIP mode is active and the position playing or through the SETTINGS menu.
underneath is shown on the jogwheel display. Press REVERSE (7)
again to exit reverse playback. Upon exiting reverse playback, T E X T D I S P L AY
track playback will continue from the playback position playing This feature allows the user to select what information shows
underneath. up at the top of the display for the loaded track. To change this
setting, hold the shift button (4) and press the TRACK SEARCH
Reverse in Slip mode can also be used as a Censor feature. + button (6). At the top of the LCD screen, the information will
change between the following parameters on each press…
B E AT GRID
The MDJ-500 is able to generate a beat grid by either internal • Song Name
analysis or track analysis done in VCase. A beat grid is used to • Artist Name
align events to beats in the track. Turning the beat grid on or • Album Title
off can be done by holding shift (4) and pressing SEARCH – (5), • Genre
or via SETTINGS (27). It is highly recommended that you use
VCase to analyze your music to create the most accurate beat DATA B AS E SE AR C H
grids possible. The MDJ-500 is capable of creating a searchable database
for any attached USB drive. Once created, this database
B E AT OFFSE T can be used to search the USB drive using a number of
This allows the user to move the beat grid to the play marker. modifiers. And the database is carried on the USB drive itself,
It is used to align the beat grid to a specific beat in the track so it is always available for any Gemini device.
(creating a kind of “anchor” for the beat grid). To use BEAT
OFFSET, first move the play marker to the event you would To create the database, hold shift and press the browse knob
like to snap the beat grid to. Then hold shift (4) and press the (8). You will be asked if you would like to create the SearchDB.
SEARCH + button (5). Once you’ve answered yes, a progress bar will appear while the
USB drive is indexed.
If you find that you are not able to adjust the beat offset, try
enabling it in the SETTINGS menu. Once indexing is completed, search is available by FILENAME,
ARTIST, ALBUM, TITLE, and GENRE. Turn the browse knob to
choose your search parameter, then push to select.
Q UA NTIZE
Once a beat grid is set, the quantize feature allows you to “snap” From there, you will be able to select alphanumeric characters
events to the beat grid. With quantize on, loop markers, cues, to search through the tracks. To back out of results to search
etc will all align to the closest beat marker, even if you aren’t with a different alphanumeric character, press the back button (9).
quite perfect.
If you would like to change your search field (for instance, from
To turn quantize on, press and hold shift (4) and press the vinyl FILENAME to TITLE), hold shift and turn the browse knob.
button (24). You will see the word QUANTIZE in the LCD display,
indicating the feature is active. You can also turn on quantize If you add or remove music from your USB storage device. It’s
from the SETTINGS menu. a good idea to also update your SearchDB. To do this, just hold
shift and press the browse knob again. You will be asked if you
would like to update your database or use the existing. Choose
B R OW S E R M O D I F I E R S update and let the MDJ-500 re-index your drive.

WAVE
The WAVE feature allows you to zoom into the waveform of the
selected track. To cycle through the available views, hold the
shift button (4) and press the REV button (7). Multiple presses
will toggle through different zoom levels.

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 After configuring the MIDI settings on the MDJ-500, start the
MIDI CONTROLS DJ software:
• Select the MDJ-500 as your MIDI device*
M I D I MODE • Select the MDJ-500 as your AUDIO device*
The MDJ-500 has MIDI mode, which allows the data from the
buttons and dials of the MDJ-500 to be encoded into MIDI format. *Refer to DJ software’s instructions
If the unit is connected via a USB cable to a computer with
MIDI-compatible DJ software, the DJ software can be operated S O U N D CA R D
from the unit. The computer audio can also be played from the
MDJ-500’s audio outputs. It may not be possible to use some The MDJ-500 USB audio interface has the following bit depth /
buttons to operate the DJ software. sample rate options available…

H I D MODE • 24-bit/192kHz
In addition to MIDI, the MDJ-500 also uses HID protocol, which • 24-bit/96 kHz
allows more verbose (and higher resolution) messaging. If your • 24-bit/48 kHz
software supports HID devices, disable MIDI devices in your • 16-bit/48kHz
software and search for HID devices. This should locate the • 16-bit/44.1 kHz
MDJ-500 and allow you to use it as an HID device.
To change these settings, press the USB source select button
(26), and then press the SETTINGS button (27). Scroll down to the
CONFIGURING MIDI MODE SOUND CARD entry, press the browse knob to select, turn to
select one of the available options, and press the browse knob
M I D I CHANN EL again to activate that setting.

It is possible that you will need to change the MIDI channel your NOTE: Higher bit depth and sampling rates will create
MDJ-500 is using – either to gain compatibility with software or to greater latency and may impact performance.
resolve a conflict with another connected MIDI device.

To change the MIDI channel, make sure that you have the USB
source selected, then press SETTTINGS (27). Scroll down to the
entry called MIDI CHANNEL. Press the browse knob to select that
entry, then turn the browse knob to select the desired channel
(0-15 are available). Once you’ve selected the correct MIDI
channel, press the BACK button to exit Settings.

NOTE: In Settings, the MIDI channels are presented in hexadecimal.

If your software defines the MIDI channel in decimal, just add 1 (so
if Settings says channel “0” is selected, that is channel “1”, and
so on).

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 SETTINGS
1 - Press the SETTINGS button (27) to see the settings screen.
2 - Use the browse knob (8) to select the settings item.
3 - Set the cursor to the item you want to change, then press the browse knob.
4 - Turn the browse knob to highlight the setting you want.
5 - Press the browse knob to enter the setting. Press the back button to abort the change.
6 - Press back to exit the settings menu.

S E T TINGS PRE FER ENCE S

(Default in bold)

Options Settings Settings Range Description

Current Song BPM Normal, *2, /2 Allows user to correct double or half BPM analysis
errors
AutoCue On, Off Sets the master cue point at the first audible level
AutoCue Level -36dB, -42dB, -48dB, -54dB, -60dB, -66dB, -72dB Sets Autocue detection level
Eject / Load Lock, Unlock Lock media when playing
Time Format Elapsed, Remain Show elapsed or remaining time
Pitch / Tempo Range 4%, 8%, 16%, 24%, 50%, 100% Sets pitch/tempo range
Keylock On, Off Turns on Keylock
BPM Mode Auto, Tap, ID3, Man Selects BPM mode
BPM Lock Value, Off Sets BPM Lock on or off
Beat Grid On, Off Shows beat grid on waveform
Quantize On, Off Turns Quantize on or off
Beat Offset On, Off Allows manual adjustment of beat grid
Emergency Loop On, Off Creates 4 beat loop when usb stick is removed
Sound Card 44/16, 48/16, 48/24, 98/24 Sets sound card setting
MIDI Channel 0-15 Sets MIDI Channel
Vinyl Mode On, Off Turns Vinyl (scratch) mode on or off
Platter Nudge 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Determines platter nudge sensitivity
Load Settings from MSD Loads stored settings off mass storage device
Save Settings to MSD Save setings to mass storage device
Reset Settings Reset settings to default values
Software Version Current software version
Exit Exit the menu

Settings are stored and loaded from the USB storage device when one is connected. To manually set or recall your settings, use the
“Load Settings from MSD” or “Save Settings to MSD” features from your settings page in the MDJ-500. The Gemini VCase software can
also create and set settings data. This allows you to configure one device the way you want it, then export those settings to your other
MDJ devices.

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T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G / S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

T R O U B L E S H O OT I N G S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

U S E STORAGE DE VICE E RRORS GENERAL

Some USB devices may not operate properly with the MDJ-500. Type............................................…..USB media player w/ MIDI and HID
Gemini accepts no responsibility for any possible data loss that USB output type.................................................................................Type B
may occur. To ensure that data is not permanently lost, please Power Supply......................................................AC 100/240V, 60/50 Hz
make sure to backup any data prior to connecting the USB Power consumption................................................................................10W
device to the unit. Dimensions............................................................13.125 x 12 x 4.5 inches
(333 3/8 x 304 x 114.3 mm)
- USB hubs cannot be used with the MDJ-500. Weight................................................................................... 7.2 lbs. (3.3 kg)

- If the unit does not read the USB storage device, first check A N A LO G AU DI O
to see if the drive was inserted completely. Frequency Response.....................................................20 Hz to 20 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion.............................................Less Than 0.05%
- If a “ERR E-1006 Too many devices” message appears, it is Signal to Noise Ratio......................................................................< 100dB
because a USB hub is in use. The MDJ-500 does not work with Dynamic Range............................................................................... > 100dB
USB hubs. Disconnect the USB hub and connect the USB Output Level....................................................................1.0 +/- 0.2V R.M.S.
storage device directly into the MDJ-500.
U SB AU DI O
-If a” ERR E-1003 Media error” message appears, this signifies Bit Depth....................................................................................24-bit, 16-bit
that your USB storage device is formatted incorrectly. Sampling rate........................................192kHz, 96kHz, 48kHz, 44.1kHz

- If you receive any of the following errors, please contact SPE CIFICATIONS AND DESIG N A RE SU BJEC T TO
Technical Support… CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE FOR PURPOSE OF
IMPROVEME NT.
ERR E-1001 Bad Update
ERR E-1004 Unsupported file format
ERR E-1007 Incorrect processing

M I D I ERRORS

-If the computer does not recognize the device, try powering the
unit off and rebooting the computer.

-If the DJ software does not list the device, ensure that you are
using the latest version by downloading any updates to your DJ
software. If the MDJ-500 mapping does not appear in your DJ
software’s list, go to geminisound.com for downloads and support.

G E N ERAL TR OUBLESHOOTING

Make sure your MDJ-500 is running the latest firmware! Visit

www.geminisound.com to download and run the Gemini Updater
software

14 m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com
m dj - 500 m a n ua l • geminisound.com 15
 IN THE USA: IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNIT
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DO NO ATTEMPT TO RETURN THIS EQUIPMENT TO YOUR DEALER.

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