Dn-hd2500 Software

[brianmole 0]

Perhaps this is a question for Gary, I can't find the answer anywhere. Does the software that manages the DN-HD2500 run on a Mac as well as a PC? Many of us use Macs for pro-audio applications, and some of us :ads: wouldn't even allow a PC anywhere near our homes.

 

This is one of the central questions which will influence my buying decision!

[RichardP 0]

After a quick look at the DN-HD2500 Microsite reading between the lines I'm kinda betting it's initially going to be PC-specific, i.e. Windoze, though as you say I'm sure Gary will have the official line shortly.

 

This reminds me of an unresolved question following the SEDA meeting about whether the DNHD mounts itself as an external hard drive on PC/Mac (just as other add-on external USB drives do) so that in theory we could drag & drop mp3's directly onto the DNHD's internal drive.... if that were so, then perhaps the software might not be completely necessary?

 

On all platforms we can rip audio from CD & manage mp3's reasonably well nowadays, create playlists, interface with Gracenote CDDB/FreeDb to fasttrack most ID3 tag info (maybe there's even a tool out there that offers tag merging of BPMs?) so fingers crossed if this HD2500 does removable hard drive support, maybe the partner software wouldn't be critical to getting the most out of it.... :shrug:

[brianmole 0]

...and the other question on my mind is will it support the itunes files with DRM? I suspect not at this time....

[Gary 0]

I've got one of the answers straight away. I'll look at getting the other answers which I had "hinted answers" at, confirmed soon.

 

The Music Manager software is PC only. Going by recent statistics recent statistics, this means that 2.4% of the people will be less than happy, but the other 97.6% will be happy. It's a Betamax/VHS thing... the Betamax/(MAC) offers a number of superior features (and less nasties), but the masses voted in the other direction.

 

As far as the internal drive of the DN-HD2500 goes, I'll find out for you whether than shows as an external drive letter, or not - obviously I'll only be able to test this on Windows - mind you, Brian, if you want to lug-a-long-a-mac to the next SEDA meet, on March 11th with a USB B (printer) type lead, we'll give it a go.

 

However, nothing at all stopping a mac user from connecting up an external hard drive to their Mac, dropping a load of tunes onto it, and then connecting that drive up to the DN-HD2500 and playing from that - the drive needs to be formatted in FAT32.

 

 

 

 

 

[brianmole 0]

I've got one of the answers straight away. I'll look at getting the other answers which I had "hinted answers" at, confirmed soon.

 

The Music Manager software is PC only. Going by recent statistics recent statistics, this means that 2.4% of the people will be less than happy, but the other 97.6% will be happy. It's a Betamax/VHS thing... the Betamax/(MAC) offers a number of superior features (and less nasties), but the masses voted in the other direction.

 

As far as the internal drive of the DN-HD2500 goes, I'll find out for you whether than shows as an external drive letter, or not - obviously I'll only be able to test this on Windows - mind you, Brian, if you want to lug-a-long-a-mac to the next SEDA meet, on March 11th with a USB B (printer) type lead, we'll give it a go.

 

However, nothing at all stopping a mac user from connecting up an external hard drive to their Mac, dropping a load of tunes onto it, and then connecting that drive up to the DN-HD2500 and playing from that - the drive needs to be formatted in FAT32.

 

Many thanks for the speedy response, shame about the software, but as you say, not really an obstacle.

 

The reason PCs outnumber MACs is for every MAC used, there are 10,000 broken ones afflicted by various virii, vulnerabilities, etc... :ouch: :bouncy: Ie: 84% of stats were discovered to be made up!

 

[Gary 0]

...and the other question on my mind is will it support the itunes files with DRM? I suspect not at this time....

 

Theres a bit of confusion on this - so I'll say "NO".

 

There is no DRM support - eg: You cant download any DRM hindered tracks from sites onto a harddrive, or straight into the 2500 and expect them to play - they wont. DRM is (supposedly) about to have additional layers of protection added to it, and theres little point in having a unit that will only play "lesser"/Original DRM protection, but not newer DRM protection - it would all get too complicated.

 

However, it is established that you can plug an ipod into the DN-HD2500 and play tunes from that. I've seen this work, but of course, maybe the files stored on the ipod were not DRM protected. The only other option is that the the files on the ipod were DRM protected but that the ipod passed on a "DRM OK" message to the 2500, but...I think I'll go for the "The ipod files were not DRM protected" option there.

 

 

 

[brianmole 0]

Theres a bit of confusion on this - so I'll say "NO".

 

There is no DRM support - eg: You cant download any DRM hindered tracks from sites onto a harddrive, or straight into the 2500 and expect them to play - they wont. DRM is (supposedly) about to have additional layers of protection added to it, and theres little point in having a unit that will only play "lesser"/Original DRM protection, but not newer DRM protection - it would all get too complicated.

 

However, it is established that you can plug an ipod into the DN-HD2500 and play tunes from that. I've seen this work, but of course, maybe the files stored on the ipod were not DRM protected. The only other option is that the the files on the ipod were DRM protected but that the ipod passed on a "DRM OK" message to the 2500, but...I think I'll go for the "The ipod files were not DRM protected" option there.

 

Ah, good point. Can I bring an ipod full of DRM'd purchased tunes to try next month?

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

you should have said somthing about this at the last seda meeting.. i had my ipod and usb lead in my jacket......

[Gary 0]

It was very hit'n'miss as to whether or not I was going to have a DN-HD2500 with me at the SEDA do or not, which is why I didn't have a proper "demo" fully worked out, or a complete selection of USB add-ons ready to roll. As it was the DN-HD2500 still had a distinct wiff of rootbeer and popcorn, due to where it had been 48 hours previous... :usa:

 

But, hopefully on Match 11th, I'll have more DN-HD2500's with me, and a USB hub, keyboard, Multi-card reader etc - and more answers to more questions - or even just some of the remaining answers to last SEDAs questions.

 

But, by all means, bring along an ipod, USB enabled MAC, USB enabled laptop (if there are any DJ's still owning up to laptop-ownership :ads: etc,etc..)

 

This reminds me of an unresolved question following the SEDA meeting about whether the DNHD mounts itself as an external hard drive on PC/Mac (just as other add-on external USB drives do) so that in theory we could drag & drop mp3's directly onto the DNHD's internal drive.... if that were so, then perhaps the software might not be completely necessary?

 

Right. Yes, the DN-HD2500 shows itself to a PC as an external drive, with its own new drive letter, just like you'd expect Windows to trat a new Pendrive/Jumpdrive etc. On the DN-HD2500, all you have to do is set the Source button to "PC", which puts the 2500 into a sort of off-line (non-DJ'ing) mode, ready for drag'n'drop or mass cut'n'paste file moves. You'll then need to move the source selector on the DN-HD2500 to HDD (the units internal Hard Disc Drive), then Hey Presto, all those files you've moved will be accessible/playable.

 

 

 

[Dukesy 0]

Two questions Gary!

Do all versions of Windows O/S read 'external drives' the same or will some require a driver disc?

Could you list the compatible versions of compressed music file formats and non compressed music file formats the Denon drive can read including the rates.

Cheers.

 

[spinner 0]

Perhaps this is a question for Gary, I can't find the answer anywhere. Does the software that manages the DN-HD2500 run on a Mac as well as a PC? Many of us use Macs for pro-audio applications, and some of us :ads: wouldn't even allow a PC anywhere near our homes.

 

This is one of the central questions which will influence my buying decision!

 

 

Interesting that you should ask this question.

 

I've just bought a Numark ICDX, which reads from an external hard drive as well as playing CDs. It does not recognise external sources using NTFS which is, I believe, Windows-specific, but does recognise FAT32 and HFS+ the latter being, I think, MAC-specific.

 

I wonder if the D2 Director will operate in the same way?

 

[Gary 0]

Two questions Gary!

Do all versions of Windows O/S read 'external drives' the same or will some require a driver disc?

Could you list the compatible versions of compressed music file formats and non compressed music file formats the Denon drive can read including the rates.

Cheers.

 

You'd need a computer bod for the first question - off hand I recall that Window 98 Service pack 2 (and all later OS's) recognised USB drives without any driver disks.

 

Supported music files:

 

Uncompressed: WAV (including Metatag Data - YES! that means TAG data with WAV files)

 

Compressed: MP3 upto 320kbps - with both CBR and VBR supported.

 

 

 

[Dukesy 0]

You'd need a computer bod for the first question - off hand I recall that Window 98 Service pack 2 (and all later OS's) recognised USB drives without any driver disks.

Thanks for the info.

 

Have just spoken to a computer bod who reckons that users of the 98 O/S may indeed require a driver disc to read the drive.

Is there one available?

 

But, by all means, bring along an ipod, USB enabled MAC, USB enabled laptop (if there are any DJ's still owning up to laptop-ownership :ads: etc,etc..)

 

Have all the important issues noted here been addressed yet Gary?

?

[RichardP 0]

Right. Yes, the DN-HD2500 shows itself to a PC as an external drive, with its own new drive letter, just like you'd expect Windows to trat a new Pendrive/Jumpdrive etc. On the DN-HD2500, all you have to do is set the Source button to "PC", which puts the 2500 into a sort of off-line (non-DJ'ing) mode, ready for drag'n'drop or mass cut'n'paste file moves. You'll then need to move the source selector on the DN-HD2500 to HDD (the units internal Hard Disc Drive), then Hey Presto, all those files you've moved will be accessible/playable.

Wahey! Spot on. Cheers for finding that out, Gary smile icon

[Gary 0]

Have all the important issues noted here been addressed yet Gary?

?

 

Some. Although, few of us are expecting last years PPL DDJ license to be THE license of 2007 - if of course the BPI's statement of June last year, didn't knock any type of license requirement on the head totally. The server issues mentioned in the PPL license don't apply to a DN-HD2500 as its not supplying data, only music (to the public). The only thing that did apply might have been the ability for the unit to provide a dump of its playlist, which it doesnt do (thankfully). However, most of us know what we play at most gigs, so could easily compile this information IF ever requested by a power-that-be.

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

windows 98 and millenium are no longer current or suported operating systems, so its only out of kindness that some hardware makers are writing drivers..

 

any windows 2000 or XP system with all the service packs will work with these devices PLUG and PLAY

 

Windows Vista will also work but I'm not sure if they have tested the denon software on windows vista.

 

but ill bet a mcdonalds that it does...