cortex hdc 3000

[jimthawley]

hi guy,s hope you all had good holiday season , back to reality now , right just about embark on face lift of rig for the new year ahead , currently working with a couple of dell pc's running pcdj red , thinking of upgrading and looked around and love the look of the cortex hdc 3000 , my question is dose the change from working on a pc screen to working from a small lcd screen on the unit become a problem ie. searching for a track etc... your advice as always is greatly appreciated ......jim

[Excalibur]

hi guy,s hope you all had good holiday season , back to reality now , right just about embark on face lift of rig for the new year ahead , currently working with a couple of dell pc's running pcdj red , thinking of upgrading and looked around and love the look of the cortex hdc 3000 , my question is dose the change from working on a pc screen to working from a small lcd screen on the unit become a problem ie. searching for a track etc... your advice as always is greatly appreciated ......jim

Speaking for myself personally, I find using a ( pair of ) Cortex 1000 for playout, and a laptop for download/catalogue/inspiration works for me.

Look at Numark DDS80 also, cos it's cheap at the moment.

[OllieJames]

I use the Denon HC4500 with a Computer running VDJ, which I love being able to see the full screen. I use a Cortex HDC1000 as a backup, and although the screens are easy to read & simple to use - I still prefer using a full computer screen as main playout.

[Sapphire Disco]

I use a laptop with PCDJ RED VRM and a Numark D2 for back up, which I normally use at the start for an hour or so but always go back to the laptop when things hot up , the laptop is better with big screen & you can change your mind a lot easier.
I always take a spare laptop but no Cd's anymore it's great :D

[DJZIN]

I've been using a Cortex HDC-1000 for almost 2 years now. It's been a great unit - but just recently the keys have become unresponsive. Just in the process of getting that sorted out but otherwise it's been a great unit - simple but effective !

[Creature]

been using cortex 1000 for nearly 3 years and has performed flawlessly eversince initial problems was resolved. dont really use teh buttons a si use a waterproof flexi keyboard instead :)

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

I use a Cortex as a background music/ customers memory stick player.
I could never ever use it for anything else other than a domestic toy.
For Disco / Wedding use i take
a Laptop
a spare laptop,
a netbook ( have used basic windows media player all night on this tiny thing
it never missed a beat)
and 2 hard drives ( identical contents)
on the grounds of " surely all 5 items cant fail on the same night can they??)
Also all laptops / netbooks have a couple of basic parties loaded and sat on the desktop.
Ive been on Laptop since 2000 and could never go back or use a cortex type controller .

cheers

[WWDJ]

I've always used a laptop for inspiration when I was using my hd2500 and more recently I have moved fully over to laptop with Traktor Pro and an X1 controller.

I'm sure that I couldn't go back to just a standalone HDC

EDIT: if you fancy giving a HD2500 a go I do have one for sale in the For Sale forums

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I've always used a laptop for inspiration when I was using my hd2500 and more recently I have moved fully over to laptop with Traktor Pro and an X1 controller.

I'm sure that I couldn't go back to just a standalone HDC

EDIT: if you fancy giving a HD2500 a go I do have one for sale in the For Sale forums

For £200? :D

[CRAZY K]

I use a Cortex as a background music/ customers memory stick player.
I could never ever use it for anything else other than a domestic toy.
For Disco / Wedding use i take
a Laptop
a spare laptop,
a netbook ( have used basic windows media player all night on this tiny thing
it never missed a beat)
and 2 hard drives ( identical contents)
on the grounds of " surely all 5 items cant fail on the same night can they??)
Also all laptops / netbooks have a couple of basic parties loaded and sat on the desktop.
Ive been on Laptop since 2000 and could never go back or use a cortex type controller .

cheers

Domestic toy--I dont think so:confused:

My Cortex is perfect for use at Weddings, Parties and Corporate Events which I cover.

Never missed a beat.

I also have the unit tilted so people walking up to me can see on the screen whats coming up next--rather handy when they say whats next or wheres my request.:D

Downside is last night I had Jump Around cued and the very attractive (but horribly drunk) lady said--nah I want Jump( Girls aloud) its different to that--

Oh really is that right:bang:

5 items--I just have Cortex running and an ipod to start just in case--and the Mini Disc.

[CRAZY K]

the laptop is better with big screen & you can change your mind a lot easier.
:D

How does that work then--is it really any quicker than a Denon, D2 or Cortex--:confused:

[WWDJ]

How does that work then--is it really any quicker than a Denon, D2 or Cortex--:confused:

The laptop is quicker to find tracks than the HD2500 because of the interface. Loading takes a second or so in each case.

Unless you are regularly changing tracks with 20 seconds to go its not really an issue though.

EDIT: Darren, any chance of a bit of movement on your side? :D

[Megamix]

personally, I had a few problems with a Cortex couple of years ago - never got it past the practice stage as it kept having errors.
I lost confidence with that sort of playout system.
I moved to a macbook and prefer it - there is something more reassuring about more screen (although its only 13" ):whistle:

[rob1963]

The laptop is quicker to find tracks than the HD2500 because of the interface. Loading takes a second or so in each case.


Is the ability to find & load a track one second faster with a laptop REALLY going to make any difference in the real world?

I often change the next song which is cued up for something else when there's only about 10 seconds to go.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Is the ability to find & load a track one second faster with a laptop REALLY going to make any difference in the real world?

Unless you are regularly changing tracks with 20 seconds to go its not really an issue though.:confused:

[Corabar Steve]

I can change tracks with 3 seconds to go on the Denon, where's the advantage of a laptop?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I can change tracks with 3 seconds to go on the Denon, where's the advantage of a laptop?

Being a user of both, I can report that the laptop is quicker and easier than the HD2500.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

EDIT: Darren, any chance of a bit of movement on your side? :D

£190? :sj:

[Corabar Steve]

So having a track loaded, you can "eject" it, type in the new artist, select it type in the track, select it & have it ready to play in under 3 seconds then?

& how is it easier? Less stages to the search?

[WWDJ]

£190? :sj:

Hilarious! :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So having a track loaded, you can "eject" it, type in the new artist, select it type in the track, select it & have it ready to play in under 3 seconds then?

& how is it easier? Less stages to the search?

You don't have to eject anything - the search is easier 'cos as you search it narrows down what you are searching for by every letter you type (there's a name for that, can't remember it!)

When you search VDJ, I am automatically searching everything - much like string search on the HD2500, but it is still quicker.

I can search for a track and play it in under 3 seconds, yes. It's not much faster than the HD, but it is easier IMO.

[Corabar Steve]

You don't have to eject anything - the search is easier 'cos as you search it narrows down what you are searching for by every letter you type (there's a name for that, can't remember it!)

When you search VDJ, I am automatically searching everything - much like string search on the HD2500, but it is still quicker.

I can search for a track and play it in under 3 seconds, yes. It's not much faster than the HD, but it is easier IMO.
I put eject inside " because I couldn't think of a better term for unloading the track that is sitting there loaded & ready to play. Are you saying that you can just do another search without removing the loaded track?

You'll have to give me a proper demo next time I'm over your way

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I put eject inside " because I couldn't think of a better term for unloading the track that is sitting there loaded & ready to play. Are you saying that you can just do another search without removing the loaded track?

Yes


You'll have to give me a proper demo next time I'm over your way

No problem.

[Excalibur]

How does that work then--is it really any quicker than a Denon, D2 or Cortex--:confused:
Yes, Alan. Even quicker than th Cortex. Not much, but it is quicker.

The laptop is quicker to find tracks than the HD2500 because of the interface. Loading takes a second or so in each case.

Unless you are regularly changing tracks with 20 seconds to go its not really an issue though.

EDIT: Darren, any chance of a bit of movement on your side? :D
:fp: :D :D :D


So having a track loaded, you can "eject" it, type in the new artist, select it type in the track, select it & have it ready to play in under 3 seconds then?

& how is it easier? Less stages to the search?
Yeah. Just like a Cortex. :p :D :D


You don't have to eject anything - the search is easier 'cos as you search it narrows down what you are searching for by every letter you type (there's a name for that, can't remember it!)

When you search VDJ, I am automatically searching everything - much like string search on the HD2500, but it is still quicker.
I can search for a track and play it in under 3 seconds, yes. It's not much faster than the HD, but it is easier IMO.
I can find a physical CD quicker than a 2500 can. :D :D By the time I've finished shouting at it, I've lost the will to live. :( :( :( :( Cortex or Lappy/VDJ beat it out odf sight.

[Corabar Entertainment]

By the time I've finished shouting at it...See, that's where you're going wrong Peter. It doesn't encompass voice recognition: It's good, but not that good :p

[Excalibur]

See, that's where you're going wrong Peter. It doesn't encompass voice recognition: It's good, but not that good :p

In my experience, it doesn't recognise the keyboard, a raised voice, a raised fist, or an exasperated aged DJ. ;)

I'll stick with the user friendly budget version, thank you.