Denon HD2500 / New Controller? I need some help / advice....please!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

I'll try my hardest not to be too long winded about this but you know me, I like to try and give as much information as possible.
My controller set up for the past few years has been as follows :
Denon HD2500 with 2 x External HD's with Denon X500 Mixer as main system
Laptop with VDJ and Numark DJ2Go Controller as back up (but also as a reference base too).

Now, I love the Denon HD2500, always have. Over the years I have had niggly little issues with external HD's that have needed replacing but overall it has been faultless.
I like how I can use the external keyboard to search for tracks and have them there and ready to play instantly.

Tonight I was doing a wedding and using the Denon HD2500. I usually have USB1 selected for one HD on the left side and USB2 selected for the other HD on the right side.
USB1 was playing fine, no problems. USB2 seemed to be having problems or maybe the right side of the unit was? (I'll try and explain).
On the left side of the unit (USB1) I had a track playing. I had cued up Shannon - Let The Music Play (how ironic!) on the right side (USB2) and once the track started playing, it just skipped about. Luckily I had tracks cued up on the laptop as back up so apart from the usual "D'oh!" from the dance floor, everything seemed ok.
I was pressing buttons on the right side (USB2) and they weren't doing anything. It was as if the right side had frozen? When I pressed the Source button to try and select USB1 so that both sides were reading off USB1, it didn't do anything either. The left side seemed to be fine and I could still search and do what I do normally. I selected Shannon - Let The Music Play again and it was absolutely fine but the right side was still not doing anything.

I switched to using Laptop and VDJ and turned off the Denon HD2500 and then turned it back on. This time I selected USB1 for both sides.
I was searching for tracks on the right side and it seemed to be ok but because I didn't want the potential embarassment again of a track stopping, I went through the rest of the night just using the left side and laptop and VDJ.

What I didn't do was select USB2 on the left side of the Denon HD2500 to see if it was the external HD. You know you kind of get flustered and when you find a workaround you go with that and worry about the problems afterwards, hence this thread. Obviously I will try that out at home.
My first thought was that it could be the unit. It's not been serviced. It's in a flightcase and heavy so I use a little trolly for it and I'm guessing that sometimes little knocks don't do it any favours (going down steps etc).

I have yet to do any testing and my next gig isn't until Friday as I am just providing lighting for an event later today so I will go through it in detail to try and find the cause and hopefully a solution.

This now leaves me with a bit of a dilemma. I guess that maybe I am a bit behind the times because I am still using the Denon HD2500 but like I said, I love the unit and don't want to part with it. I am all up for change but I am concerned about (a) Learning to use a new system and (b) Wondering what system to go for.

I've looked at the Denon MC6000 MKII and Denon HC5000 online this morning and although I like the look of them, they seem a bit complicated to me.
Has anyone moved from the Denon HD2500 to either of the above and found the transition easy?
Is anyone still using the Denon HD2500? Has anyone got one that they don't use that they want to sell?

As I said, I have a Laptop and VDJ as back up already. If I get either of the above units, am I going to need to get another laptop so that I can keep my backup system?
Will the Denon X500 mixer become a spare because the above are mixer controllers?

Apologies for all of the questions. I hope someone can help or advise. I know the time may have come where I will need to move to a new set up but I'm a bit wary as I am sure others were when they moved over?
Ideally I'd like to keep using the HD2500 if it is working properly.
Does anyone know or can recommend someone who can look at it and service it if I can't find the problem?

Phew!
Thanks in advance!

[Excalibur]

Déja vu anyone?

Gary, why don't you wait for the 2500 Mk2? It was due in a few months nearly a year ago. Oh wait, if that were true, it would be here, wouldn't it?

Right, I'll try to be serious. Gary, I too run a laptop with DJ2GO as backup. ( And I have to say that since the arrival of the VMS, it's getting used less and less at every gig. ) I used to run two of them when I had an X-500.What a clutter, two controllers, two external soundcards, ages to set up.

Now I know the VMS will do this, and I'm sure the 6000 Mk1 and Mk2 both will, but one possibility is to have the 2500 with hard drive running into two hardware channels ( effectively what you're doing with the X-500. ) and the laptop into the midi channels. You'd need a small case for the 2500, but I'm sure that's possible.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks for that mate. I'm a bit confused by what you've said but then again, I've had no sleep at the moment.
I will do some testing on Sunday if I can and see what I come up with.

[Pe7e]

I had a HD2500 a while back, and similar to yourself, experienced external HD problems, it turned out that the powered USB hub was the source of the problem, it was replaced with a good quality 'branded' unit and the problem was resolved

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I used VDJ, then went to the HD2500 as it was being a little unreliable and then moved back to VDJ and the MC6000 Mark1 when it came out and to be honest, it was the best move I made. The MC6000 is so much more flexible than a traditional mixer/controller combo for me and a hell of a lot lighter.

I now have a case with the MC6000 running 1 x laptop with VDJ8 and a netbook with USB soundcard with VDJ7 and Daslight for DMX. The advantage of the MC6000 is that it is a software controller and a hardware controller too, so you can use it with CD players or another laptop etc as you have 4 channels. If your software goes down, straight onto your other source, be it laptop, iPad or whatever. I also have a radio mic built in as well as XLRs and power, so it's a breeze to set up.

I had a few little problems when I bought it, setting channels up and suffer with the occasional sticky button, but all in all it has been an excellent choice.

It may look complicated but it isn't really. You can use as much or as little as you want. I mix a little so use the loop and cue points quite a lot. I also use both mic channels which both have eq on them and find the booth output very good too for putting speakers in other rooms and being able to control the volume and eq too.

I haven't used the Mark 2, but I think it has different sound cards and the mic output has been improved. The Mark 1 had a problem with the gains being too loud, but I got round this by using a -10db attenuator switch on the mic.

If you want to have a look at mine, you're quite welcome to and I can show how to use it.

[Excalibur]

I had a HD2500 a while back, and similar to yourself, experienced external HD problems, it turned out that the powered USB hub was the source of the problem, it was replaced with a good quality 'branded' unit and the problem was resolved

How many times has it been posted on here that Denon recommend Belkin? I wouldn't consider using anything else with any make of Hard Drive Controller.

Thanks for that mate. I'm a bit confused by what you've said but then again, I've had no sleep at the moment.
I will do some testing on Sunday if I can and see what I come up with.

I think Darren's pretty much explained it in principle. I think most of the four channel units will operate in a very very similar manner. It's no secret that I prefer the VMS, but I haven't tried the Mk2 Denon, which is supposed to include many upgrades.

[Shaun]

Hi Gary, like you I still use the HD2500, and I'm reluctant to change anytime soon as I don't want to go down the laptop route. One of my HD2500's recently developed a fault, and Clive from CRS1 fixed it. It may be worth givin him a call. You may have to wait quite a few weeks for it's return though, I know mines took a little while (which wasn't a problem as I have several of the units), but if you need it for your main playout it may be worthwhile checking exactly how long it will take him. He did a great job with the repair of mines though.

[Creature]

or alternatively get rid of your harddrives and use mem sticks

one less part with moving parts got rid of and one less thing toplug into the mains

[yourdj]

or alternatively get rid of your harddrives and use mem sticks

one less part with moving parts got rid of and one less thing toplug into the mains

Can it accept solid state that would be good?
I had a Denon and quickly sold it when It had HDD failure one night. Sod that, much rather use my mac.
6-7 year faultless history after that.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks for the comments guys.
Darren, I may take you up on that offer if I can't find the fault. It's been a long and tiring weekend and I haven't looked in to it yet but will do later.
For the record though, I do use a powered Belkin USB hub.
The external HD's are USB1 - Western Digital 2TB and USB2 - Seagate 2TB (both are powered too).

I haven't used the internal HD on the Denon for years as it came up with a 'Can't Access' message ages ago and I've not got round to removing it.

I'll let you know how I get on.
Thanks again.