Lunacy, calculated risk, or overdue upgrade?

[Excalibur]

As some of the Members will know, I rashly purchased a Numark D2 from abroad. Yes I know it was silly, but the salesman was very persuasive. :o :o

Only joking folks, if you haven't worked it out, it was courtesy of Vectis, who has now officially retired.

Well, I had oodles of teething troubles, most of which can be linked to having used a Cortex for a long time now. It's a whole new ballgame. Many thanks to Vectis et al for their much appreciated help, so much so that I'm just going outside to see if I can fit it in the rack. Six hours ago, it was nearly going on Ebay, so the turnaround has been staggering. I'll keep you posted. ;)

[Corabar Steve]

At this rate, you'll have progressed to a Denon by the time you retire.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Peter bring it to BPM if your still having issues and we can show you how its meant to work.

[Excalibur]

At this rate, you'll have progressed to a Denon by the time you retire.
Regressed. :p :D :D


Peter bring it to BPM if your still having issues and we can show you how its meant to work.
It will be there, actually. Just look for the big white van in the Car Park. ;) :D :D

[CRAZY K]

At this rate, you'll have progressed to a Denon by the time you retire.

Hope so, ive passed him a booking for next June.

Will you be ready by then Peter:confused:

:whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

I may have to insist the gig is covered by a Cortex:eek:

[Excalibur]

Hope so, ive passed him a booking for next June.

Will you be ready by then Peter:confused:

:whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

I may have to insist the gig is covered by a Cortex:eek:

Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring. ;) There's a Cortex on the other side of the deckstand. ;) :D :D :D

[CRAZY K]

Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring. ;) There's a Cortex on the other side of the deckstand. ;) :D :D :D

Now thats what I call back up;)

[Charlie Brown]

You got it working now Peter?

[Excalibur]

You got it working now Peter?

Well let me put it this way Charlie. It's screwed into the rack, and it's going out with me on Saturday and Sunday. ;)


The simplest things make the biggest difference. You can make a database quickly with the Librarian software. That one's useless. :mad: Or you can make one with every conceivable piece of info listed. You leave the PC running overnight to do it. It falls over during the process, and gives you a one track library. :bang: :bang:

Or you use the middle ground option, which gives you enough info to locate and load the tracks in acceptable time, and only takes a couple of hours to load. Big step forward. :D

[Vectis]

it's going out with me on Saturday and Sunday. ;)

:cool:

[Excalibur]

:cool:

Martin, I guess you didn't use a Cortex before the D2. I now have certain actions hardwired into my brain when searching for tracks, and find myself being presented with complicated info on tracks, when I actually wanted to load the blighters!! :o :mad:
You don't load tracks with the enter key. ;) Having used a Cortex is a hindrance to learning a D2. ;)

As to Saturday and Sunday:

[Vectis]

Martin, I guess you didn't use a Cortex before the D2. I now have certain actions hardwired into my brain when searching for tracks, and find myself being presented with complicated info on tracks, when I actually wanted to load the blighters!! :o :mad:
You don't load tracks with the enter key. ;) Having used a Cortex is a hindrance to learning a D2. ;)

As to Saturday and Sunday:

You'll be fine :)

Just remember that FIRST you find the track THEN you decide what to do with it. Deck A, Deck B or Crate. If you're in the crate already, Deck A (if idle; junks whatever's there), Deck B (ditto), Swap with A (if idle, drops whatever's on A into the crate and loads up the new track), Swap with B (ditto).

Simples :)


Keep me posted...

[Excalibur]

You'll be fine :)

Just remember that FIRST you find the track THEN you decide what to do with it. Deck A, Deck B or Crate. If you're in the crate already, Deck A (if idle; junks whatever's there), Deck B (ditto), Swap with A (if idle, drops whatever's on A into the crate and loads up the new track), Swap with B (ditto).

Simples :)


Keep me posted...

Just try to stop me!! :D :D :D

Herein lies the fundamental and vital difference. With the Numark you're searching if you like in an "offline" mode. You then load the track to deck A. B or Crate.

Denon/Cortex work in a "live" mode on individual decks. In the case of the Cortex, so live that you can actually drop a track onto the playing deck with that last fateful press of the enter key. :o :o

I shall have to get used to a totally different way of working. Not perhaps an ideal way of working, since I formerly had two identical units.

"May you live in interesting times. "

[rob1963]

Peter,

It seems the only reason you're having problems with the D2 is because you're used to the Cortex, which obviously works differently.

Stick with it!

You know where myself & Vectis are if/when you want any help.

:D

[Excalibur]

Peter,

It seems the only reason you're having problems with the D2 is because you're used to the Cortex, which obviously works differently.Stick with it!

You know where myself & Vectis are if/when you want any help.

:D

Absolutely, totally and utterly correct, Rob.

At the moment, I'm taking full advantage of the price inclusive Vectis after sales care and installation package. ( Excellent value, I might add. ;) :D :D ) When the deal expires, your number's on speed dial. :D :D :D

[CRAZY K]

Just try to stop me!! :D :D :D

Herein lies the fundamental and vital difference. With the Numark you're searching if you like in an "offline" mode. You then load the track to deck A. B or Crate.

Denon/Cortex work in a "live" mode on individual decks. In the case of the Cortex, so live that you can actually drop a track onto the playing deck with that last fateful press of the enter key. :o :o

I shall have to get used to a totally different way of working. Not perhaps an ideal way of working, since I formerly had two identical units.

"May you live in interesting times. "

Dont you start doing this at my Wedding Booking in Hull next year.

I told them you are the Wedding Disco King of Yorkshire---wouldnt want any compensation claims coming my way for misrepresentation:eek:

eh look DJ cant work his :Censored: decks properly:eek:

:sofa: :sofa: :sofa: :sofa:

[Excalibur]

Dont you start doing this at my Wedding Booking in Hull next year.

I told them you are the Wedding Disco King of Yorkshire---wouldnt want any compensation claims coming my way for misrepresentation:eek:

eh look DJ cant work his :Censored: decks properly:eek:

:sofa: :sofa: :sofa: :sofa:

Don't worry there. Plan B is the Laptop, cos we all know laptops do all the work anyway. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Plan C is the Ipod. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Excalibur]

First time out live tonight. Watch out for the photos later. ;) :D :D

[Vectis]

First time out live tonight.

:sofa: :p

[Excalibur]

:sofa: :p

Haven't you got anything better to do tonight? :confused: :p :p




PS. Crate's quite useful. :D :D :D :D

[Excalibur]

I can't get my headphones over my Afro!!:eek: :( :(

[STEVE HANLEY]

I can't get my headphones over my Afro!!:eek: :( :(

PMSL :Censored: Awesome:youdaman:

[Excalibur]

Interim report. Great gig, 70's all night.

The only similarities in the methods of using the two machines is they both have a keyboard, and play buttons.

As expected, my biggest obstacle was having the Cortex method hard wired into my few remaining grey cells. Each has good and bad points. Both worked as required. Now the big question is, do I continue with two differing systems, or homologate again? :confused: :confused:

[CRAZY K]

Don't worry there. Plan B is the Laptop, cos we all know laptops do all the work anyway. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Plan C is the Ipod. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Gordon Bennett its going from bad to worse--

Laptop:eek: :eek: :eek:

I would trust an ipod more personally--in fact one was used tonight after the Scottish Ceilidh to provide the Disco--no problem.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Gordon Bennett its going from bad to worse--

Laptop:eek: :eek: :eek:

I would trust an ipod more personally

And where would that opinion some from then Mr K? :confused:

[Vectis]

homologate again? :confused: :confused:


Nah ... bin everything except the d2 and keep a laptop handy for standby.

Sorted :)

[CRAZY K]

And where would that opinion some from then Mr K? :confused:

From some real live cases of freezing and dying laptops, including the nightmare story on here about the DJ who totally lost his Laptop whilst playing at some high profile event just towards the end of the evening when the gig was rocking nicely:eek:

I cant remember who that was yet--give me time its Sunday morning.

I am aware the Laptop used was probably not dedicated and clean.

As I have a vested interest in Peters gig--no not money--simply my reputation--a very valuable commodity to me-- I felt a bit uneasy thinking of the backup as Laptop when it could be Cortex in which I have 100 per cent faith from my working experience--its a bit like the Peavey Speakers story--if you set things up properly you dont get any problems.

Im the one ten tons of :Censored: will fall on if it goes wrong.;) which im sure it wont --however personal preferences come into play.

I also lost the Hard Drive without warning on my 18 month old laptop recently which did not exactly inspire confidence.

Im sure Laptop users are 100 per cent happy--:D

Not wishing to revisit the Laptop versus other playouts debate I will:zip:

[Excalibur]

Nah ... bin everything except the d2 and keep a laptop handy for standby.

Sorted :)
Oi Sonny, even the IOW isn't far enough away to preclude savage retribution. ;) :p :p


As I have a vested interest in Peters gig--no not money--simply my reputation--a very valuable commodity to me-- I felt a bit uneasy thinking of the backup as Laptop when it could be Cortex in which I have 100 per cent faith from my working experience--its a bit like the Peavey Speakers story--if you set things up properly you dont get any problems.:
I don't care what you say, it will be an icy day in hell before I turn up to a gig proudly brandishing an Ipod. I have a reputation too, and it isn't as an Ipod DJ. . ;) :D :D

Alan, it's been a long time since I went out with anything less than two HDC players, four hard drives, and a Laptop with two different software playout systems.



Not wishing to revisit the Laptop versus other playouts debate I will:zip:
Aw go on, I haven't had a good laugh for ages. :D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

From some real live cases of freezing and dying laptops, including the nightmare story on here about the DJ who totally lost his Laptop whilst playing at some high profile event just towards the end of the evening when the gig was rocking nicely:eek:

I cant remember who that was yet--give me time its Sunday morning.

I am aware the Laptop used was probably not dedicated and clean.

As I have a vested interest in Peters gig--no not money--simply my reputation--a very valuable commodity to me-- I felt a bit uneasy thinking of the backup as Laptop when it could be Cortex in which I have 100 per cent faith from my working experience--its a bit like the Peavey Speakers story--if you set things up properly you dont get any problems.

Im the one ten tons of :Censored: will fall on if it goes wrong.;) which im sure it wont --however personal preferences come into play.

I also lost the Hard Drive without warning on my 18 month old laptop recently which did not exactly inspire confidence.

Im sure Laptop users are 100 per cent happy--:D

Not wishing to revisit the Laptop versus other playouts debate I will:zip:

Have you read the thread on here about someone's CD player draw sticking? Electrical items go wrong. My Denon HD2500 has gone wrong a few times as I'm sure have people's D2 and Cortex's.

[Excalibur]

Have you read the thread on here about someone's CD player draw sticking? Electrical items go wrong. My Denon HD2500 has gone wrong a few times as I'm sure have people's D2 and Cortex's.


Hence this humorous riposte to someone doing the hard sell on insurance for said items.






A letter to MasterCare

A friend of mine bought a washing machine from Currys. They attempted to sell him a MasterCare "maintenance" deal.

My friend declined, with extreme prejudice.

The man at MasterCare wrote, urging him to reconsider. His letter included the following:

'I'd like if I may, to offer just a word of caution.

'Here at Mastercare, we've had a great many years of experience in dealing with consumer electrical products and if there's one thing we've learned it's this; as products have become increasingly sophisticated in their manufacture, more things can go wrong.

'Currys make every effort to ensure that the products they sell are manufactured to the highest standards to give long-lasting, reliable service. But this isn't always enough.

'I'm sure that, once you've read through the enclosed material, you'll agree that a Mastercare Coverplan Service Agreement really does make good sense.'






A letter to MasterCare


Here is my friend's reply :

Tony Croft
Customer Services Director
Mastercare Coverplan Service Agreements Limited
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead
Herts HP2 7TG


Dear Mr Croft,
Thank you very much for your letter of 23rd December 1998 concerning the £580 worth of equipment I bought at Currys recently, and for your quotation for extended guarantees for it.

Unfortunately, your word of caution sounds too late; had I received your counsel before my purchase, I would surely never have made it. Currys' equipment, by your figures, seems to be almost criminally unreliable. A back of the envelope calculation with some schoolboy statistics shows that if, as you assure me, your premiums are genuinely worth paying, these appliances are each likely to suffer complete and irretrievable mechanical breakdown once a year, or less serious flaws even more frequently. I knew that quality of consumer durables had declined in recent decades, but I hadn't realised that it had reached such depths.

The curious thing is that such a statistic simply doesn't square with my experience -- indeed I don't think a hi-fi or dishwasher I have owned has ever gone wrong -- but perhaps I've just been lucky so far.
I shall certainly make a point of going to nearby Tempo in future, instead of Currys. Thanks for tipping me off to their shoddy quality, particularly your point that despite their efforts, their products aren't always manufactured to the highest standards: quite credible, if your statistics are true.

As for the Currys stuff I'm lumbered with -- perhaps I'll see if I can get a refund, using your letter as a vouchsafe of its unreliability. Or maybe I'll see if your figures aren't indeed a little on the over-cautious (one might say alarmist*) side, and be so reckless as to try surviving four years without spending a further £200 on repairs.

Thank you, too, for sharing with me, free of charge, the only thing that Mastercare is sure that they have learned in their great many years of experience -- the insight that in more sophisticated equipment there is more to go wrong. I have taken careful note, and in future will arrange to make my international flights on pre-war planes if possible (as I presume you wisely already do), thus minimising the chances of mechanical breakdown and accident.

Furthermore, should it ever be necessary for me to require complicated surgery, I shall ask for the least sophisticated equipment to be used, so that there is less to go wrong. In fact, I would hope that you would join me in condemning the dishonest practice of Currys and similar retailers of charging more for those products which are most enriched with features, demanding them instead to offer them much more cheaply, in deference to the fact that they are, as you point out, so much more likely to fail. Thank you again.

Yours sincerely,

signed: [a customer]

* Someone has just suggested to me that you might actually want to alarm those who can't do the sums -- particularly the elderly or uneducated -- into paying way over the odds for protection they don't need. But I assured him that such appalling behaviour couldn't possibly be found in a reputable company such as yours, and that the young salespeople in the branches must surely be doing their best for the customer when they so enthusiastically promote the extended guarantees at the point of sale, scarcely taking no for an answer. I deplored his suggestion that they were in fact only interested in earning lavish commissions for themselves, and knew 'damn well' that the guarantees were a 'rip off', as he put it. It wouldn't be right, after all, to prey on the very people who can least afford it, would it?

cc: Managing Director of Dixons Group

[CRAZY K]

Have you read the thread on here about someone's CD player draw sticking? Electrical items go wrong. My Denon HD2500 has gone wrong a few times as I'm sure have people's D2 and Cortex's.

I accept that --its just a personal preference.;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I accept that --its just a personal preference.;)

Indeed, but you don't get people saying that all CD players are unreliable when one person has a problem!