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I understood the Cortex required FAT32 to work properly. Is exFat OK too?

Once your hard drive is formatted and named you should have no more problems.

Download, free, a copy of Easus partition software which will allow you to format the disc in FAT32.

Fine. The only problem I had was copying one hard drive to another. When in the drive unit and connected to the D2 I got a message telling me I couldn't use the search system, just the file browser. It was the method I had used to copy. I changed the method and everything was fine. I have done all this for convenience. It means I can keep a drive unit connected permanently to one of my PCs and simply transfer caddies between it and my road unit whenever an update is required.

It comes with power and data connectors for a 3.5" IDE drive (40 pin IDE connector and 4 pin power connector). The manual mentions that it will accommodate a 2.5" drive but a 44 pin to 40 pin adpator will be needed.

I used them a few years ago when I bought a DAP Soundmate (since sold on) at a very competitive price. Good service and good communication too.

It is possible to get a SATA/IDE converter lead. However, there may not be room for it inside the DDS caddy. If there is then 300gb will give you loads of capacity for mp3 files, even at 320 kbps.

This type of controller appears to be proliferating whilst there is nothing new on the hard drive controller front.

According to some US websites it is no longer available new. The Nearest equivalent is the HDMIX. The D2 Director was announced at the end of 2006 and became available in March 2007. Within a year it was discontinued (apparently there was a D3 which was tested but never manufactured) and replaced by the DDS80. The DDS80 didn't do so well and the DDS control unit was sold on its own. Now that is discontinued as is the Denon DNHD-2500 The HDMIX and IDJ2 use the same basic system as the other Numark models but, unless there is a D4, it may be that Numark will desert hard

Should be. The hard part (depending on Sky+ box manufacturer) is getting the hard drive out. Best to do an internet search on replacing a drive for your particular box then you should find instructions. Don't forget you'll need to reformat to FAT32 (Sky+ uses NTFS I think).

No. There is no hard drive, just the caddy and DVD-ROM drive. I fitted a spare 160 gb drive (that came out of a Sky + box!!) to the first of mine to arrive, just to test it. In the box you will find the unit, a USB lead, a mains lead (Euro plug -you'll need an adapter or to replace it with a UK plug), quick start guide and full instructions, screws to retain a hard drive in the caddy, 4 keys (for locking and unlocking the caddy bay) and a spare lock.

That may well be true although it may be at the start of being on the way out, since it's still shown as current on the Numark site. I'm not a fan of all in one anything where a mixer is part of the unit. I much prefer separates. That aside a number of units seem to be discontinued relatively soon after they hit the market these days.

Unfortunately very few markets are unaffected by the current economic situation. One of my other occupations is management headhunting (recruitment) in construction and housebuilding. It's dead! The other is advertisement sales in a specialist bioscience journal. I lost the contract a year ago and I've just got it back so there will be a gap in income! However, all is not lost since I can always look for other ad sales contracts.

Singles (usually) go for a lot more than albums

I think you may be getting confused here. You will be able to rip to whatever hard drive you are using via your pc CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive - you don't need the DDS Drive unit for that. Why do you need a 4 channel mixer? The Cortex only has 2 stereo outputs.

There are a number of good ripping programs around which will connect automatically to an online database and name the tracks on a CD (assuming they're on the database). It is certainly possible to rip from the DDS DVD-ROM drive to whatever hard drive is in the DDS unit but this has to be done via a PC (or a laptop).

I've sold loads from collection of 60's soul, motown and rock 45's on E-Bay using the Record Price Guide (published by Record Collector magazine) to get an idea of value. In the end, of course, they're worth only what someone will pay!

Depends where you buy one! I'm looking around for the best deal now.

The DDS drive is realy not much more than a USB hub with a built in fan and DVD-ROM drive (which plays movies when connected to a PC). So there should be no reason why it shouldn't work with any other USB unit. Don't forget you'll need an IDE hard drive to go with it.

No. I'll probably keep one unit indoors for an easy way to update the hard drive (in the caddy - I don't know how else to connect it to a PC). If I could make some kind of docking station I would put the second unit in my back-up console with my second D2. Good point. It looks as if a twin CD player base unit carcass has been adapted. I'll post some pics in a few days when I've installed it in my flightcase.

The Numark D2 Director was successful, as far as I know. The DDS80, which replaced it, was less so and some were sold off at a similar price to the DDS (the control deck) which is the standalone replacement for the D2 Director. I was looking for a way to tidy up my main console, which contains a D2, standalone hard drive and standalone DVD-ROM drive. Browsing the Thomann website I was pleasantly surprised to see the DDS drive unit on offer for £48 (rrp £299)!! I bought 2 and with a 500gb drive I now have what is more or less a D2DS500.

"A pensioner"? That's someone who has given up work isn't it (at any age)? I don't expect to ever be one.

I had examples of both today - a booking for a wedding in 6 months time and an enquiry for next year!