Pioneer Mep-7000 Announced

[brianmole 0]

This baby will be demo'd at the SEDA ShowNight on 16th March 2008:

http://www.seda.org.uk/images/mep7000web.jpg

 

From Pioneer:

Coming soon (April): our new MEP-7000 multi-entertainment player and controller, especially for the mobile DJ and bar market.

 

The MEP-7000 offers a flexible high quality solution specifically with digital music in mind, being compact and easily to transport, yet inheriting the basic functions and features of our popular CDJ series CD Decks.

 

The MEP-7000 enables your to play MP3/AAC files stored on various memory formats, along with playback of music from conventional media such as CD/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM discs.

 

The system can also be setup to playback and mix music automatically using playlists, allowing the system to entertain when no DJ is present.

 

The MEP-7000 and SEP-C1 Software Entertainment Controller are a response to the trend of laptops being utilised by professional DJs.

 

Recent developments have changed the way mobile and club DJs organise and play their music. No longer carrying boxes of vinyl or CD’s full of music, laptops, USB flash media and hard drives are becoming standard amongst the DJ community.

 

Key new features to this product type are the 4.3-inch colour LCD screen that gives clear accurate information, allowing intuitive and easy menu navigation.

 

The MEP-7000 transforms into a Karaoke playback device when a CD-G disc is inserted, displaying the playback video on the LCD screen, but can also be fed to external monitors using the composite video output terminal.

 

The SEP-C1 (also available as a separate unit) works as a software controller when used in conjunction with compatible software such as our bundled “DJS”. This allows your to manage and control playback of audio files stored on your computer, to give full scale DJ performance without the need for a mouse or keyboard.

 

The MEP-7000 will be available from April 2008 with a suggested retail price of €1499 (excluding VAT), while the SEP-C1 controller stands at €749 (excluding VAT).

 

Dynamic digital media playback and MIDI-control via USB

The MEP-7000 allows USB control from either PC or Mac. So, besides music from CD/DVD, the MEP-7000 lets DJs play music files, such as MP3 /AAC/WAV/AIFF, stored on USB keys, HDD, CD-R/RW and DVD±R/RW.

 

The unit is also compatible via USB with Pioneer’s DJS software or applications such as Serato Scratch LIVE or Traktor – without the need for a time coded disc.

 

USB connectivity furthermore means that the SEP-C1 can easily be used as a MIDI controller for MIDI-compatible computer applications.

 

Area-Colour OEL, 4.3-inch colour LCD for express music mapping

The 4.3-inch colour LCD with high visibility, intelligent GUI (Graphic User Interface) and a rotary selector enables rapid track searches from huge music libraries. To achieve this, the MEP-7000 adopts an industry-first Area-Colour OEL (Organic Electroluminescene) display, ensuring that the user can see performance data in harsh lighting conditions.

 

Scratch-happy Jog Wheel anda wide range of effects

The high quality Touch Sensor Jog Wheel is capable of controlling various scratch sounds and these definitely broaden the scope of any DJ performance. The MEP-7000 carries 3 patterns of Scratch Jog Effects (SCRATCH, BUBBLE and TRANS) and 3 patterns of Digital Jog Break Effects (JET, ROLL and WAH), which vary depending on the DJ’s choice and use of the Jog Wheel .

 

Effects lovers will be pleased to know there are also 8 patterns of DJS Effect (DELAY, ECHO, AUTO PAN, AUTO TRANCE, AUTO FILTER, FLANGER, REVERB and PITCH SHIFTER) available, and that these can all be synced with the BPM (Beat Per Minute), if required. Only when connected to DJS via the USB connectivity.

 

Auto Mix for automatic mixed playback of tracks from Play List

The MEP-7000 uses an Auto Mix function that allows auto mix playback of tracks registered on the Play List. There are then 4 patterns of Mix Mode (ECHO, ZIP, CUT IN and CROSS FADE), allowing music to be mixed in a selected style and played automatically.

 

Other Features

 

1. Library Function: Select tracks from various categories, such as genre/artist.

2. Tempo Control Range : Choose from 4 maximum ranges for the tempo slider: ±6 ％ , ±10 ％ , ±16 ％ , and WIDE ±100 ％ . (WIDE mode is not available with MP3/AAC/WAV and AIFFs files.)

3. Pitch Bend Button: Achieve fine adjustment of track speed simply by pressing the button.

4. eamless Loop: Repeats a loop without interruption. Loops can be set as small as approx. 0.013 seconds up to infinity.

5. Hot Loop: Return to a loop-in point during loop playback. Start over the loop playback by just pressing a button.

6. Memory Cue/Loop: The unit can memorise any CUE/LOOP point at the press of a button.

7. Auto BPM (Beats Per Minute) Counter: Automatically measures and digitally displays a track’s tempo.

8. Digital Output and Monitor Out Terminals: Output audio digitally and select tracks using a large external display.

9. Keyboard Available: Select tracks swiftly and input characters directly.

10. Legato Link Conversion: Reproduces richer and more natural sound with WIDE range playback by up sampling, 44.1 kHz → 176.4 kHz, the audio information lost in a CD format.

11. Vibration Proof Construction: Shockproof memory plus floating mechanism used in Pioneer’s Car audio components helps prevent skipping and resists vibration.

12. Rack-Mount-Ready: Ready for rack mounting, which is useful for club/studio installations. (EIA compliant)

[spinner 0]

This could tempt me back to Pioneer.

 

Relatively pricey though.

[brianmole 0]

Yes Pioneer is pricey... Well, now you are a member, there's even more reason to join us on 16th March to see what it's like!!!

[DJGAVT 0]

I will be getting one of these when they are out to buy. Can't Wait!! :bouncy:

[superstardeejay 0]

Isnt this a copy of the Denon one ?!?

 

Here's the rear..it has a duplicated Video Out for connection to LCD TV for the boss-eyed amongst us.

 

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10089/MEP-7000_BACK_MID.jpg

 

 

Edited January 17, 2008 by superstardeejay

[spinner 0]

Yes Pioneer is pricey... Well, now you are a member, there's even more reason to join us on 16th March to see what it's like!!!

 

 

I will if I can.

 

Seriously, though, what will this do that a Denon and a pair of CD drawers doesn't do?

[dh140770 0]

I will if I can.

 

Seriously, though, what will this do that a Denon and a pair of CD drawers doesn't do?

 

It is one sexy unit isn't it!

 

Do you want a list ?

• Karaoke
• Reads DVD with music on, not just CDs
• Colour Screen
• Crate function as far as i can see. The denon operates 2 seperate decks and no facility to lineup requests or tracks to play later.
• More effects
• Better unattended mixing. Denon just fades out and in.

That said, the denon has a 40gb Hard disk built in, whereas this uses external disks I think (so can the denon). 40gb is plenty for me at the moment.

 

 

There isn't anything to tempt me away from the Denon at the moment because it won't enhance my show in any way, but if I was in the market one or the other it would be difficult. The Denon is more proven and you don't want something that could play up

 

 

 

[Gary 0]

There isn't anything to tempt me away from the Denon at the moment // The Denon is more proven and you don't want something that could play up

 

Initial info suggests that the Karaoke ability is the main "plus" of the Pioneer over the Denon DN-HD2500. However, there's nothing to suggest so far that the karaoke compatibility and output is through the hard drive/data route - possibly, it's just from inserted karaoke CD's - like any other karaoke player - we'll have to wait and see on that though.

 

The Pioneer is $2,299, which currently equates to £1,166.52 GBP. Compared to the Denon DN-HD2500, which can be bought from UK suppliers for under £600. That makes the Pioneer twice the price of the Denon DN-HD2500.

 

Being able to read music files from a 4.7gb DVD-ROM seems benefitless to any unit that either has a hard drive within, or connected to it - as even the smallest harddrive, or indeed most pen-drives will exceed the song capacity of a DVD-ROM.

 

Crate/Waitlist is offered by Denon on their DN-HS5500, which is almost identical firmware to the DN-HD2500 - so whilst it's dair to say that the 2500 doesn't do crate/waitlist "at the moment".... :ads: And you've always got playlists which can be created on-the-night/on-the-fly with the 2500 already, and these can be crossfaded through even mixed from track-to-track between two playlists (relay play).

 

Also missing a mention from the specs so far is the pitch accuracy / depth of the Pioneer - eg: How small an increment you can make with the pitch slider. This is critical for DJs hoping to keep two tracks in sync with each other without manual re-adjustment. Also, higher pitch ajustment ranges are lost on the Pioneer if certain file formats (mp3 etc) types are used, as opposed to CD playback. Tagging of the increasingly re-popular and uncompressed WAV files isn't mentioned either.

 

The Pioneer doesnt appear to have any Hot Starts - either on the front panel, or mentioned in the specs - that's gotta just be a typo though surely. Hot Starts are fairly commonplace on almost every player nowadays.

 

Another closer look at the specs says that the Pioneer stores memo points INSIDE the unit itself - as most of you know already, the Denon 2500 stores all your tunes memo points on the SAME DRIVE as the track that you're memo'ing is on - The Denon way means that if you have your 2500 at home with your music on various external drives, pen drives/thunmb drives, and set up all sorts of handy memos, loops, cues, hot starts etc, you can simply take the hard drive, pen drive etc along to your gig at the club/venue etc, and all your memo points travel with the tunes which they were set for.

 

The Pioneer specs also don't mention how large the Pioneer's internal hard drive, if it has one, is.

 

Even if all "missing" features were there - the Pioneer costs double/£600 more than the Denon.

[Dukesy 0]

Expensive karaoke player then.....with additional features!

 

[bigMCben 0]

Crate/Waitlist is offered by Denon on their DN-HS5500, which is almost identical firmware to the DN-HD2500 - so whilst it's fair to say that the 2500 doesn't do crate/waitlist "at the moment"

 

You said this a few months ago. Any update?

[cmj 0]

Pioneer twin CD players have never really took off in the same way Denons did either....

[stoke53 0]

Ive always used pioneer cd players cdj's and cmx's and found them extremelly reliable never had a problem with any in over 10yrs never really been a fan of denon cd players

 

alan

[Gary 0]

You said this a few months ago. Any update?

 

I wouldn't expect to see any of the DN-HS5500 features released on the DN-HD2500 until the DN-HS5500 has been out for a little while. It's virtually the same programming/software guys who work on both the 5500 and 2500.

 

The Waitlist/Request list is certainly one of the features of the DN-HS5500 which I'd like to see ported over to the DN-HD2500 if/when. There are a few other 5500 features I'd like on the 2500 too, but the 2500 is any extremely usable, versatile unit already.

 

[superstardeejay 0]

Also missing a mention from the specs so far is the pitch accuracy / depth of the Pioneer

 

±6％, ±10％, ±16％, and WIDE at 0.1% steps! (1% for 100% range).

 

For me the main advantage is the video monitor out and the ability to control CDG files.

 

There is no built-in hard drive but for a 250GB USB hard drive from maplin at 40 quid its not an issue!

 

I think if I had the Denon version I'd use an external drive anyway to minimise wear and tear to the internal one! Bit like using an external DVD burner on a laptop etc.

 

Won't buy either one unless I can sell my body.

 

 

Screen closeup:

http://www.djresource.eu/images/topics/pioneer/MEP-7000_pod.jpg

 

 

Edited January 19, 2008 by superstardeejay

[Gary 0]

0.1% steps!.

 

That's 5 times less accurate than the 0.02% pitch depth on the DN-HD2500 at +/-4% pitch range - meaning that a DJ performing a long running mix between two tracks could have to manually re-sync the Pioneer more frequently than the DN-HD2500, for the mix to stay matched.

 

Even at the +/-10% and +/-16% pitch ranges, the Denon offers 0.05% pitch depth, which is twice as accurate as the Pioneer.

 

 

For me the main advantage is the video monitor out and the ability to control CDG files.

 

Thus far, it appears that the CDG control is only over CDG discs inserted manually into the drives, not CDG files ripped to a hard drive.

 

Still, the Pioneer is another dedicated, stand-alone, Non-Windows reliant Hard drive controller device , and with that in mind, it's another step forward for DJs, just like the Denon/Numark et al.. Shame they forgot Hot Starts though.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

My friends at a trade supply type place have hinted at a retail price of about £1,500 + VAT

 

I also notice that there is only one set if audio outputs.. when using the HD2500 with CD draws you can play music from 4 places.. 2 CD and 2 Hard drive.. you can start a CD playing and then switch back to the hard drive and cue and mix the next track in ...

 

im guessing but i think the pioneer will limmit you to 2...

 

it looks nice.. and its been a long time coming, but a colour screen is not going to make me spend the extra money..

 

 

[DJGAVT 0]

Hmmm.... Marky Mark Decks already have it on there site for sale at £1199 including VAT.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

Decks already have it on there site for sale at £1199 including VAT.

 

thats cool becuase then its only just over £200 more expencive than a 2500 + bu4500 retail...

 

 

[DJGAVT 0]

I would far rather have the pioneer and will be happy to pay the extra