YOU CAN TURN AN OLD PIONEER DJ DECK INTO A MODERN CDJ
Marc Monka gave a worn Pioneer CDJ-100S a touchscreen, colour waveforms and hot cues, then made it run Mixxx without a laptop.
by Marc Monka
AudioOpen-hardware
Built withRaspberry PiTeensy3D printing
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE260 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 · 260 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a complete, well-documented retrofit that turns a discontinued Pioneer CDJ-100S into a modern standalone DJ player. You get a 5-inch touchscreen with waveforms, hot cues, loop rolls and beat jumps mapped onto the original buttons, while the original jog wheel, buttons and pitch fader stay in use through a Teensy LC. It runs Mixxx, the open-source DJ software, with a custom skin, and needs no laptop once built. The 44-page manual is thorough, a ready Raspberry Pi 3B+ image is provided, and the 3D files are included. The hardest part is not the build itself - it is finding a CDJ-100S in working condition at a price that makes this worthwhile, and the repo does not help you source one. If you already own the deck or can find one cheaply, this is a weekend-plus project for someone comfortable with soldering, flashing a Teensy and setting up a Raspberry Pi. The one thing most likely to go wrong is buying a CDJ-100S with a faulty jog wheel or pitch fader - test those before you commit.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —The repo has Teensy firmware, STL files for the touchscreen mount and printed skin, the Mixxx skin and MIDI mapping, install scripts, a Raspberry Pi image and a 44-page PDF build manual with the full parts list.
- —Code is GPL-3.0, documentation and 3D models are CC BY-SA 4.0 — both allow commercial use with share-alike conditions.
- —There is no custom PCB: you gut a used CDJ-100S (CD unit, main PCB and power supply come out), wire its front-panel controls to a Teensy LC and fit a Raspberry Pi 3B+ with a 5-inch touchscreen.
- —The repo does not state the price of a used CDJ-100S and that market varies widely, so no total build cost is given.
- —The manual is detailed but assumes familiarity with soldering, firmware flashing and Raspberry Pi setup.
- —Actively maintained: the creator released a new Raspberry Pi image with updates in June 2026.
Parts to buy
10 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
XDJ100SX: Open Source Standalone Deck BREAKDOWN (Marc Monka)
Marc Monka's own breakdown of the XDJ100SX: what was changed inside the CDJ-100S and how the standalone deck works.
More builds like this
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the 44-page build manual (It has the complete parts list, wiring diagrams and step-by-step assembly instructions)
- 2.Source a working CDJ-100S(Test the jog wheel and pitch fader before buying — if either is faulty, the build will not work as intended)
- 3.Flash the Raspberry Pi image and Teensy firmware (The Pi image is pre-configured with Mixxx and the custom skin; the Teensy firmware turns the deck's original buttons, jog wheel and pitch fader into MIDI messages for Mixxx)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The price and availability of a working CDJ-100S is the single biggest unknown — if you overpay for the donor deck, the project stops making sense financially.
- The manual assumes you know how to solder, flash firmware and configure a Raspberry Pi. If you are learning those skills for the first time, add time.
- The touchscreen mount is 3D-printed. If you do not have printer access, that is an extra step or cost.
- Use the current Raspberry Pi image (June 2026) — it already includes the latest updates (USB network share, USB eject, safer power-off); older images and guides from earlier versions miss these.
- Join the project's Discord early (linked from the README) — that is where the creator and other builders help with problems, alongside GitHub issues.
- Unplug the CDJ-100S before you open it: you test it on mains first, then remove its original power supply - the finished deck runs from a 5 V 3 A adapter.
Can I use a different Pioneer CDJ model?
No. The firmware and wiring are specific to the CDJ-100S. Other models have different boards and button layouts.
Do I need to keep the original CD mechanism?
No. The manual has you remove the CD unit, the main PCB and the original power supply; the jog wheel, buttons and pitch fader stay and are wired to a Teensy LC.
Can I use this with a laptop and Traktor or Serato?
The build is designed to run Mixxx standalone. You could theoretically connect it as a MIDI controller, but that is not what the repo supports.
What happens if the CDJ-100S jog wheel is worn or scratchy?
The build relies on the original jog wheel encoder. If it is faulty, the deck will not perform reliably — test it before you buy.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The CDJ-100S has been discontinued for years, so the price of the donor deck is the entire decision. What would you pay for a working CDJ-100S before this stops making sense?
Marc Monka
Marc Monka is a DJ and maker who wanted modern features on a classic Pioneer CDJ without buying a flagship deck. He documented the retrofit and released the firmware, 3D files and a 44-page manual so others could do the same.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM9d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repo is complete and the 44-page manual is genuinely detailed, there is an official build video by Marc Monka, and the README links a Discord community for help. The project was updated in June 2026 with a new Raspberry Pi image, USB network sharing, USB eject and a safer power-off. The biggest surprise is what is not in the repo: any guidance on sourcing the CDJ-100S itself. Prices for used decks vary and a faulty jog wheel or pitch fader will waste your weekend, so test the donor deck thoroughly before you buy. The Mixxx skin and MIDI mapping are in the repo, while the Raspberry Pi image is hosted on Google Drive and linked from the README — it only works on a Raspberry Pi 3B+. Code is GPL-3.0 and documentation and 3D models are CC BY-SA 4.0, so commercial use is allowed as long as you share modifications under the same terms. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.