Hd To Pc?

[lateandlive 0]

Evenin' All!

 

Recently decided that the reason I had 2 bulky cases of CDs is because alot of the time I had 3 or 4 copies of one song, and i oly ever played one copy at a time (obviously!) and usually the same copy each gig! Thinkin about "upgrading" and copying one good copy of each to an external HD....but from there what option should I take?

 

Link the HD to my laptop, and play through that on a relevant program.

 

Buy a HD controller for my laptop which will in turn control that program,

 

or (and I think they're available!) buy a controller which will control th HD straight off, without the need for the laptop and program?

 

Your thought are appreciated!!!

 

Dan

[jeffwall 0]

Dan nobody can really truthfully advise you on which way to go. This is coz its all about personal prefrences and the type of work you do.

 

For example, if you do Karaoke through a laptop, then a computer software controller may be better for you (dac) or similar

 

If you use the laptop for inspiration of what to play next...then its worth going a dac route

 

If your wanting to ditch the laptop completely, then a hard drive controller like the denon 2500 or Numark D2 would may be for you

 

But whatever you choose, its my advise to have a back up device

 

Currently I use denon 4000 cd / mp3 players along side my D2

Also have a laptop that I use.

 

But in total thats effectively 6 players ready for action

 

Dont need 6, but reccomend 2 main players and at least another one incase?

 

ie laptop and cd players or D2 and cd players or D2 and laptop

 

whatever your prefrences really?

[EdBray 0]

So the question is laptop/PC vs DAC2/DAC3/Hercules/Vestax vs HD2500/D2/Cortex ?

 

I now use my HD2500, but I do take a laptop running SAM DJ as my backup. I setup my initial playlist in both SAM and on the HD2500 and I then adjust the list to suit. As I play each song in the HD2500 I delete that song from the playlist in SAM so I always have a running backup which is at the same position in the playlist. Thus if something goes wrong, then I can immediately switch to the laptop and continue from the same position.

 

I also use the playlist in SAM to search for my tracks and also use it as my Crate feature, putting songs into the queue that I might want to use later.

 

I suspect in time I will stop using the laptop, as I do not use it for the DMX either now, but I will continue to use it as a backup until I am fully comfortable with the HD2500's reliability.

 

I have not used any of the PC controllers (DAC2/DAC3/Hercules/Vestax) as none of them work with SAM, and I think that PCDJ is too resource intensive and I was not too keen personally on Virtual DJ.

 

So, my suggestion would be to find someone with a DAC3 and ask to have a go, and then do the same with the various HD controllers. The PC/Laptop software should be easy to try out, just download the various demos.

 

If you were to visit one of the various Trade shows, like the one this weekend (NADJ) then most of the manufacturers will have their wares available to try.

 

You pays your money and takes your choice!

[Gary 0]

Dan

 

You're in the West Midlands yes?

 

This Sunday is the NADJ show, which is being held at the National Motorcycle Museum from 12midday.

 

I'll be manning the Denon stand, with Marky Mark - we'll have (at least) two of the Denon DN-HD2500 Professional media controllers on demo there, for full hands-on usage and I'll be presenting a 45~60 minute seminar on DJs switching onto this option.

 

I think that the couple of other Hard drive controllers will probably be on show too - 2007 is an exciting time in the DJ timeline for those wishing to run their music professionally from a hard drive (or drives)

[FDDJ 0]

2007 is an exciting time in the DJ timeline for those wishing to run their music professionally from a hard drive (or drives)

 

So all the users of OtsDJ/PCDJ etc were not running their music professionally prior to 2007?

 

You work for Denon, have a new product to push and don't like laptops and DJ Software, we get it already! :wall:

 

Has anyone ever told you that trying to plug your product and do down every other possible hard drive solution in nearly every post you make is becoming very very boring?

 

Yawn... :zzz:

 

[jeffwall 0]

Bloody hell that was straight to the heart!!!!!!

 

To be fair on gary, thats not how I read the post

 

I read it with the context of: yes 2007 is an exciting time for the DJ concept of people wishing to pursue a proffesional music system played on a HD.

 

Also pointed out that diffrent units will be on show at NADJ

 

Also I happen to know that gary has worked very hard for denon, but also for us DJ's accross the forums......to help with tech issues regarding denon and other stuff too. You ask him a question, and we will go to great lenths to answer it correctly......

 

so bit unfair to slate him like you did? IMO

 

 

[Gary 0]

Bloody hell that was straight to the heart!!!!!!

 

To be fair on gary, thats not how I read the post

 

I read it with the context of: yes 2007 is an exciting time for the DJ concept of people wishing to pursue a proffesional music system played on a HD.

 

Also pointed out that diffrent units will be on show at NADJ

 

Also I happen to know that gary has worked very hard for denon, but also for us DJ's accross the forums......to help with tech issues regarding denon and other stuff too. You ask him a question, and we will go to great lenths to answer it correctly......

 

so bit unfair to slate him like you did? IMO

 

Cheers Jeff and YES, I meant that 2007 is an exciting year (and...if you're including the Gemini Cortex then the last couple of months of 2006 was exciting too) :Thumbup: . Professional DJs now have several reliable, dedicated, stand-alone, rack-mountable, non-Windows alternatives for getting music to play from a hard drive. Prior to dedicated hard drive controllers there wasn't a great deal of options which ticked all those boxes .

Edited April 24, 2007 by Gary

[UKHero 0]

Dan

 

You're in the West Midlands yes?

 

This Sunday is the NADJ show, which is being held at the National Motorcycle Museum from 12midday.

 

I'll be manning the Denon stand, with Marky Mark - we'll have (at least) two of the Denon DN-HD2500 Professional media controllers on demo there, for full hands-on usage and I'll be presenting a 45~60 minute seminar on DJs switching onto this option.

 

I think that the couple of other Hard drive controllers will probably be on show too - 2007 is an exciting time in the DJ timeline for those wishing to run their music professionally from a hard drive (or drives)

 

This is surely advertising a commercial undertaking via the back door on this site..

 

Dan there are also other great units on the market such as the Numark D2 and the Cortex unit... HDC - 1000 and HDC - 3000 all very good machines... All I say is dont be fooled by a badge.

 

And for what its worth if you currently use CDs then I think the HDC is the way for you to go... But not neccesarily the Dennon way, Most expensive is not always best...

 

It is £5 to get into the show unless you pre book and then its £3...

 

Nik

 

 

So all the users of OtsDJ/PCDJ etc were not running their music professionally prior to 2007?

 

You work for Denon, have a new product to push and don't like laptops and DJ Software, we get it already! :wall:

 

Has anyone ever told you that trying to plug your product and do down every other possible hard drive solution in nearly every post you make is becoming very very boring?

 

Yawn... :zzz:

 

Agree and you never did answer the question What laptops have you used with what software did you mate.

 

 

Cheers Jeff and YES, I meant that 2007 is an exciting year (and...if you're including the Gemini Cortex then the last couple of months of 2006 was exciting too) :Thumbup: . Professional DJs now have several reliable, dedicated, stand-alone, rack-mountable, non-Windows alternatives for getting music to play from a hard drive. Prior to dedicated hard drive controllers there wasn't a great deal of options which ticked all those boxes .

 

But for laptop DJs these HDC units still dont tick all the boxes...

 

Nik

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

stop trying to turn this into a school yard slaging match.....

 

 

your not being objective at all... your just trying to cause a scean...

 

 

Proof is in the pudding as they say so we shall see you at the NADJ meeting where you will have the chance to see for your self how much better some products are than others...

 

 

 

 

[Jimbo55 0]

I think Gary has always made his comments about the variety of ways to play music from HD quite clear and has made his thoughts of the shortfalls of PC and controllers known.

 

Yes Gary may work for Denon but in the discussions I have had with Gary he has always made reference to other products and actively encourages you to try the other products.

 

I think you may have been a little hasty with your reply FDDJ.

 

 

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

I think your main priority here Dan is your budget, how much do you want to spend? You can get a external HD for your laptop cheap as chips these days. Or you could get a HD unit from around £300-£700.

 

Only you Dan can make this decision. I personally use CD`s and a laptop however am saving up for the HD 2500 so I can get rid of the laptop.

 

There is all sorts of factors you need to concider. Take Gary`s advice and go and have a look at the different options at the show on Sunday..

 

Go and introduce yourself to Gary as he has a wealth of knowledge on, not only denon but equipment in general.

[FDDJ 0]

your not being objective at all... your just trying to cause a scean...

 

I have read most of Gary's posts across a number of forums and if he can get in a dig he will, he is the one who is finding it hard to be objective.

 

I think you may have been a little hasty with your reply FDDJ.

 

Rubbish, I have bit my tongue for over 4 months on this very subject whilst reading jibe after jibe from Gary about how laptop/PC users are somehow "inferior" and that the new Denon is the best thing since sliced bread and a cure for all world ills...

 

Enough already!

 

Big up your product by all means but stop insinuating that people who don't use it are not worthy/less professional etc. etc. etc.

 

Take the blinkers off and read his posts again.

 

If it helps, I won't be back and I will not be visiting the NADJ show either, especially if Gary is talking for an hour... tongue out icon

 

P.S. For the record, I have met Gary, he is a nice guy and I am a Denon user (both CD Players & Mixer), it ain't personal, I just don't agree with his posts and thoughts on laptop's.

 

I wonder if I spent all of my time posting how great laptops were and insinuating how toilet the new Denon is how many of you would start to feel annoyed?

 

Hmmm...thought so....

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Each to their own and what works for them, why change it. I personally think that the HD units on the market at the moment are the latest invention for the digital media market. Its like the change from vynil to Cd`s if you ask a vynil user which is the best for him/her they will say vynil.

 

laptop are great way to play your digital files, however I do think that the various new forms of HD units are the future especially as you don`t need an operating program to run them ie windows. They are also rack mountable which means it doesn`t have to be on show.

 

It doesn`t matter what form of player you use, if it works for you then stick with it. Why fix something which isn`t broke.

 

 

[Gary 0]

Ok, some clarification is needed here as some people appear to have read things the way that they wanted to read them rather than the way they were intended. Before that clarification however, apologies to Dan/ Laveandlive on behalf of the users who have pulled this thread off course.

 

Firstly, and this is key information - not directed at Dan. This is absolute foundation stuff.

 

I neither believe, or condone the suggestion that DJs who use laptops are in any way inferior DJs to those who use any other musical medium. Never have, never will. If two or more members have just sworn, donned the blinkers and stopped reading at this stage then they again are about to miss a vitally important distinction. Whether someone gently lifts a stylus onto a piece of moving vinyl, or drops a CD into a drawer, double clicks a mouse, closes a cassette drawer, or presses down their i-pod control does not in any way dilute my respect of them as a DJ, nor lessen my respect for that person as a DJ.

 

As others have mentioned above and in other threads, I am a participant on several forums - thats fine, that goes for all of us here - in fact anyone reading this thread is of course a forum member. However, I also benefit from having my perspective kept broad and very well informed with upto date, real ground-level (or should that be stage-level?) real-user experiences courtesy of the DJ exhibitions which I attend on the Denon DJ stand. These attendances equate to around 12 whole days of speaking to predominantly mobile DJs, but some other DJs from other industry areas also.

 

These exhibitions and trade fairs also offer some superb "parallel technology" inside knowledge which I also try to share where possible - a long running recently surfacing example was for the latter part of last year, and the earlier part of this year, some DJU members may remember me advising would-be purchasers of the Bose L1 system to hold off buying their system until April this year. I asked those members to take the information "on faith" as I couldnt disclose any additional information. OK, we know now, that the reason was the launch of the Bose L1 Mk2. I couldnt just breach confidences and yell "Wait for the mk2" but similarly I know exactly how I'd feel if I'd spent a load of money on speakers mk1, only to find out that speakers mk2 were being launched a month or 3 later. I wanted to save those forum members from going through that issue. That's what I do with information I gather - I help. That, to my mind is what forums are all about.

 

Also from the face-to-face exhibitions, trade fairs etc over the last few years, I hear time and time again from professional DJs using laptops and PCs...and let me repeat that......I said professional DJs using laptops and PCs about issues that they are having. These problems are in nearly all cases 99% certainly NOT the DJ Application software which they've chosen to use - the DJ applications such as OTS/PCDJ etc are, in the most part, pretty rock solid and this is why I've not bothered throwing myself onto the Mortons Fork interogations of "what DJ software have I used?". Most laptop DJs with problems are NOT having DJ Application problems - their problems lay not with the leaves of the solution tree, but with the roots. The laptop hardware itself, the configuration, the Bios, the operating system, conflicting devices, conflicting drivers, system resources, sound cards, memory capacity (the machine, again not the user), conflicting software packages on the system etc.

 

A very common enquiry on the Denon stand is laptop/or PC users asking to look at an entry level CD-deck, like the DN-D4500 as a simple back-up device to their laptop etc. This initial enquiry is often expanded upon by the visitor, telling me of how their laptop/pc solution suffers from some form of performance issue - either all night, or after an hours usage, or half-way through the night, or during hot nights in non-air conditions venues etc. These people have got no reason to fib to me about whats happening to them with their current solutions. Maybe there is a reason, and I'm just not aware of it.

 

These, together with numerous forum postings from professional DJs using their various PC/laptop based solutions have firmly, repeatedly and steadfastly resolve me in my understanding that there are professional DJs out there using overall solutions that are not as professional as the user themselves. Again, let me re-iterate this is not pointing the finger at the user themselves, nor the generally solid DJ software application itself.

 

As with many other bits and pieces of information which I've gathered over the years, be it reading audiences, using request slips, using TXT requests, DMX, CD-decks, secret speaker info, money saving tips etc, I like to share that information with members.

[Dukesy 0]

Some interesting stuff there Gary and I don't think you need to defend yourself.

 

Please keep the topic debate lively folks but on topic.

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

Well said gary....

 

 

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Well put Gary :nbow: . I`ll re-iterate what I said earlier to our mate Dan who is looking at his options at the moment. Gary is very knowlegable on all equipment not just Denon...

 

Can I also say Gary`s advice can be trusted and not percived as taking the Micheal. I remember when Gary made the statement (below) last year and cos he said `wait till April` some members assumed he was taking the p*ss as to buy the Bose stuff on April Fools day.

 

Without kissing Gary`s ass to much it is great to have someone as knowlegable as he is on our forum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

some DJU members may remember me advising would-be purchasers of the Bose L1 system to hold off buying their system until April this year. I asked those members to take the information "on faith" as I couldnt disclose any additional information. OK, we know now, that the reason was the launch of the Bose L1 Mk2. I couldnt just breach confidences and yell "Wait for the mk2" but similarly I know exactly how I'd feel if I'd spent a load of money on speakers mk1, only to find out that speakers mk2 were being launched a month or 3 later. I wanted to save those forum members from going through that issue. That's what I do with information I gather - I help. That, to my mind is what forums are all about.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2007 by Steve_Mitchell

[Jimbo55 0]

FDDJ ... Ok you win I give up. Gary, Stop working for Denon and go work for Bill Gates

 

"Big UP" to laptop and Pc Dj's.....wait ... that's me.. :love:

 

Peace and goodwill to all (except Denon HD2500 users) ..wait.... That's me (soon to be) :Thumbup:

 

 

:moon: Happy whatever it is today.. Today, this day will forever be known as......Wednesday :bouncy:

 

Sorry guys .. I just fail too see the seriousness of this. It just falls into the category of equipment snobbery.

 

Dan.

 

As already suggested. Try all the equipment you can, only you can choose, use whatever works for you.

 

 

[UKHero 0]

FDDJ ... Ok you win I give up. Gary, Stop working for Denon and go work for Bill Gates

 

"Big UP" to laptop and Pc Dj's.....wait ... that's me.. :love:

 

Peace and goodwill to all (except Denon HD2500 users) ..wait.... That's me (soon to be) :Thumbup:

:moon: Happy whatever it is today.. Today, this day will forever be known as......Wednesday :bouncy:

 

Sorry guys .. I just fail too see the seriousness of this. It just falls into the category of equipment snobbery.

 

Dan.

 

As already suggested. Try all the equipment you can, only you can choose, use whatever works for you.

 

I agree Jimbo...

 

As to Gray I read all of your last post and found it very interesting.. I too would like to say I think your a knowlegable guy and enjoy your interesting if sometimes long posts...

 

But There have been occasions where you have derided DJs who use laptops in the recent past...

 

The funny thing is people on here think I am knocking HDCs not at all but for me the best solution is till my laptop... I too have spoken to DJs who have laptop DJd for many years with out a single problem.. smile icon

 

I too have spoken to CD and Vinyl DJs who have had problems... And I to have spoken to DJs who have had problems with HDC units... I have worked for the likes of the BBC ITV ILR and all have problems from time to time with kit... It makes it no less pro...

 

A laptop installed with the correct software is as profesional as any other bit of kit available IMHO... :chad:

 

I, and I would imagine our customers don't give a :poo: What you use, what badge it has on it or how much it cost you, just so long as they have a great party... :good:

 

I do feel to many DJs on here hide behind badges and the like...

 

I wish I could come to the trade show but some of us have to work for a living lol :Thumbup:

 

 

Nik

 

[jeffwall 0]

Nik

 

Was intrested in your post saying " For some laptop users, HDC's dont tick all the boxes"

 

Can I just ask, what boxes have you found to be these?

 

Because after using my D2...Ive found that it can do anything if not more than my laptop can, without huge resorces being used for the operating system etc

 

Not playing the comparing game, or having a go at laptop users (as im one of them) but wondered what the laptop gives the user, that a HDC doesnt?

 

And that question comes from a "years of laptop DJ" me!! who has been transformed!!

 

 

 

 

 

was on my D2 the other night as you do with the phones on ya head.......in the kitchen pretending to listen to the girlfriend!!

 

Now I was playing on deck 1......errrrr the new Bob sinclair track (everybody movin...eddie and kurd remix)

 

Ok I happen to be playing on deck 2, the begining of the broomstick song (you know where the woman says "the yard man and all that"

 

decided to mess about and try to scratch and mix etc ctc..........wow!

 

Brill! I was scrathing and messing and going back , forward, looping in, looping out, relooping.....just muckin about....scratcing here, scratcing there, genrally being a dick!!

 

What hit me (even being a laptop DJ for years) was the pure versility of the HD controller

 

More features than I can do with the denon4000 players I have too

 

So got thinking, I know there is lots of software out there for PC, but the "Hands on" loopin, scratching, muckin about was something ive never really had the courage to do on the laptop.

 

Is there sodtware for the laptop that can do all this, but with a hands on feel?

 

The D2 has really opened up a new concept for me personaly, so glad I bought it now

 

As I expect the denon, D2, cortex, and other HDC's will do for others?

[Dukesy 0]

So got thinking, I know there is lots of software out there for PC, but the "Hands on" loopin, scratching, muckin about was something ive never really had the courage to do on the laptop.

 

Is there sodtware for the laptop that can do all this, but with a hands on feel?

 

Via controller, look out for the full release version of Deckadance:

 

Deckadance can be controlled using a mouse or MIDI controller as well as most (if not all) of the existing timecoded vinyl & CD systems, via our 'autolearning' function. Deckadance has been tested with timecode vinyls & CDs from msPinky, Stanton FinalScratch, MixVibes, Serato Scratch Live, Virtual DJ & Torq. We have more support in the making and if you have another system that you would like to see support for, don't hesitate to let us know!

 

Deckadance can map to any generic MIDI device using our 'auto-learning' midi function, and it natively supports Vestax VCI-100, Behringer BCD2000 & 3000, M-Audio XSession, Allen&Heath Xone:3D, Hercules DJ Console MP3 & MKII & EKS XP10

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[jeffwall 0]

Sounds good

 

But that's using a controller yes?

 

Im talking about just the laptop with software?

 

Coz if your going to use a controller and a pc, surely just a HD controller would be cheaper and easier, and use less resouces, and tidier set up (rack mount no laptop)?

 

Just a thought

[Danno13 0]

True.. but the PC/laptop has the advantage of a larger screen, and being able to use other applications at the same time. Plus, hard drive controllers are still in their infancy, whereas PC + Controller systems are more of a tried and tested solution.. so I'm not ready to jump ship just yet!

[UKHero 0]

Nik

 

Was intrested in your post saying " For some laptop users, HDC's dont tick all the boxes"

 

Can I just ask, what boxes have you found to be these?

 

 

 

So got thinking, I know there is lots of software out there for PC, but the "Hands on" loopin, scratching, muckin about was something ive never really had the courage to do on the laptop.

 

Is there sodtware for the laptop that can do all this, but with a hands on feel?

 

The D2 has really opened up a new concept for me personaly, so glad I bought it now

 

As I expect the denon, D2, cortex, and other HDC's will do for others?

 

 

No problem... For me the HDC units don't truly mix in auto from one song to another (YET) I know they can crossfade but this is not the same... If a song has a fade any way then a timed 5 second end fade should not be to bad but take a song like Roxy music's virginia plane and it screws it up as this song ends on vocals...

 

Also for a lot of work I do I need to set up a playlist and leave the machine running four hours at a time (when doing Shop promo work etc)... I also found that i could see the results of the search faster and easier than with my HDC...

 

I am not a scratch DJ and can beatmix good enough with my laptop for what I need to do and have gotten used to all the shortcut buttons etc so don't find that a problem..

 

I have said on another thread I like the look of your rig and the D2 as the screen is so much bigger and this alone will be better (IMHO) for laptop DJs who want to delve into HDC units... I have brought the Cortex HDC-1000 and this is what I have based my findings on plus I have read about the Denon and Numark systems also...

 

If you are so happy with your new unit why do you want some more software for your laptop???

 

Nik

 

 

True.. but the PC/laptop has the advantage of a larger screen, and being able to use other applications at the same time. Plus, hard drive controllers are still in their infancy, whereas PC + Controller systems are more of a tried and tested solution.. so I'm not ready to jump ship just yet!

 

Well yes and no to the above... Denon Numark and Gemini have been making items for the DJ market for a few years now so I am sure they know what there doing..

 

While I agree about the screen etc

 

I think it will be a matter of time as these items become more used that a virus will be written by some git for them... As is the case with mobile phones now... So its not just Windows that has this problem...

 

I can see benefits of all the systems offered just for me the laptop is the best at this moment in time...

 

And like you say you can run more than one thing on your laptop and no I dont mean solitare..

 

On mine I have otsdj, Sports sounds pro, Audition and notepad running all at the same time This gives me two decks (otsdj) a jingle sound fx player (Sports Sounds Pro) a place to keep notes such as requests info about event etc (Notepad) and I am able to record the whole night back into the laptop (Audition) So I see my machine as versatile...

 

I have used it in radio situations, Shop promotions, for playing in click tracks for bands etc etc...

 

I can record someone making a request edit it and play it out while mixing music or sound FX under it..

 

Now when a HDC can do all that I will put my hands up and say yep cant beat them join them but for me right now I think i got my ideal machine of choice..

 

Nik

 

[C.S 0]

Good thread ! You guys make it sound so pretty that if i was a little further from retirement i might well of been converted !