Replacement for Denon HD2500

[NKR]

Hello all.

Long time no visit, but thought this would be an apt place to gain some opinions and insight.

I have two Denon HD 2500's - yes the ones with the small screen and amnesia.

It is probably coming up to the time to upgraded as my main one has a few pixel lines from the screen missing (still usable) and it is enjoying locking up requiring the keyboard unplugging and re-plugging into the hub following a random trek into playlist files for no reason. It has also lost communication with its internal HDD. Plus it has developed a Billy Ocean fetish, but that is another story. In short if you leave it on continuous play for a period of time if can sometimes ignore the next track and jump straight to Billy Oceans greatest hits and just play them. The screen shows the next track in the natural progression, but the unit is playing Billy Oceans greatest hits. An odd quirk and only a problem during buffet music. Anyhow I digress, but I can see the growing list of quirks becoming a mid gig breakdown at some point in the future. The spare HD 2500 seems to behave itself impeccably.

I am also becoming increasingly concerned that my external hard drive has been in use for some years and although I carry a shadow spare, the shadow spare sometimes does not always get the new downloads on if done in a hurry, so has some gaps. Plan was to get a new external HDD and just copy across, but as it may be upgrade time thought I would look at alternative playout before doing so.

So what is the digital music player of choice these days? I would retire the main HD 2500 and keep the spare as a backup on the system.

[Daryll]

There a few on here , (me included.........)


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Light, 4 channels , dual mic in with EQ, OK so you will need a laptop, but I am very happy with mine

Daryll

[NKR]

Hmm

I have a mixer, in fact I have two mixers as I run a live vocalist as part of our wedding show, so I want a player to replace the HD2500 ideally, not something combined.

Having just come across another thread in the computer section, I fear there may not be such a thing and I need to find a third HD 2500 and keep the old one for spare body parts.

[Shaun]

I'm still living in hope that a suitable replacement comes along some time for the HD2500. I really don't relish moving down the laptop route.

[NKR]

I sort of hoped someone would have a solution for me, but it would appear laptop controller is the in thing. I just want a media player, now a controller.

I will swap over onto the other HD2500 and see if my contact can get spares for the HD 2500. Denon being bought by Numark means replacement parts for end of production models may become harder to get now. Should get another couple of years from the pair of them.

[Excalibur]

I'm still living in hope that a suitable replacement comes along some time for the HD2500. I really don't relish moving down the laptop route.

Hey Shaun, the Gloucester Old Spots are fully fuelled, and currently taxiing out onto the runway. :p:D:D

Curiously enough, I've gone halfway along your preferred route. I've just got this little fella. (http://www.numark.com/product/hdmix)

I was slowly building a case with a Cortex and mixer in,, for various reasons. Then the Numark came up on Ebay at a very reasonable price, and I bought it. It's fully cased, with a keyboard on a sliding tray. And best of all? Look away Shaun, you won't like this:



It's got a CD drive. :eek:

Neil, other than another HD2500, I think you're out of luck. Everything else has a mixer involved. Except of course, the Denon HC4500. I know three forum members who have binned MC 6000s in favour of this and an X-500 It's halfway towards what you want, as it doesn't have a built in mixer, but it does need a computer. Best I can do, and it does have a Denon badge on it. ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

NKR - I've always been a big fan of the HD2500 as a lot of people know. I think it's one of the best things Denon have ever put out on the market and I'm surprised that they haven't elaborated a bit and put out a new version. I find it very easy to work with so you can imagine how gutted I was when my trusty HD2500 started playing up during the summer. The right side of the unit started freezing up a bit and it was becoming a bit of a pain.
My back up at the time was a basic Numark DJ2GO controller with a Numark DJIO USB Soundcard running via a laptop. It was absolutely fine as a back up system and to be honest it was very rare that I had to use it. When the HD2500 started playing up I found myself using the back up system more but also found that I needed a bit more control over what I was doing rather than just cue up and play.

I managed to find an absolute mint condition (used once) replacement HD2500 for £200.00 and it made my day because I was really unsure of what to do next.
I'd looked around for a controller that suited my needs and lots of people suggested different models. The MC6000 and MC6000 MKII were options but in the end I decided to go with the Denon HC4500. Again, it is so easy to set up and use and I like the fact that it fits in the same flightcase with my HD2500 and X-500 mixer. I would definitely recommend it.

As you can see in the photo, it's pretty tight in there and people probably wonder how I switch the units on as I can't get to the power buttons. I visited a Disco shop sometime last year and noticed that the guy there had more or less the same set up and what he'd done was drill holes in the side of the flightcase so that he could use a pen or screwdriver to get to the power switches so I did the same. I know a lot of people that use an all in one controller with no problems whatsoever. I recently saw the unit that Daryll posted up and it is lightweight and compact and he is very happy with it.
Again, it's one of those 'each to their own' scenarios.

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[yourdj]

I never liked my HD2500 and when the Vestax / Serato came out I have not looked back, especially when i turned up to a gig and had the "no hdd" error! The screen was tiny and finding tracks was a pain, but perhaps never gave it a chance as i moved to scratch using it as a controller not long after. I did however like the Serato controller HD5000. It was simple but did the job.

Is this the sort of thing you are all dreaming of? Only a matter of time looking at Numarks recent attempt.

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http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2014/04/friday-roundup-pioneer-one-controller-might-look-like/

Laptop will possibly be a thing of the past before too long, especially if Quantum computing gets smaller anymore affordable.
I assume it will all go micro tablets and holographic screens (that appear from a tiny bar) at some point soon.

I love laptop and controllers and the only time i have had a problem was when there was some dust in the Sata cable connection, causing it too crash, but thats it. I would however be interested in a decent all in one unit with visual serato control, but still love setting up iTunes playlists on the mac as its so easy now.

This looks very interesting!! Its titled "DJs of the future won't be staring at their laptops" :lol:

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/13/6968625/native-instruments-traktor-kontrol-s8-announcement-price-date

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBNt9feV_XM

[Benny Smyth]

Toby, have you tried using the S8 yet?

[yourdj]

Toby, have you tried using the S8 yet?

Nope. I have not written anything for Promobile for ages but would be interested. I personally think it would be better for someone like Ashley Riggs as I am not a tractor user, so it would be a better review. :)

Might go to BPM this year (assuming its on a better date) and see as only Denon and Pioneer are at the PM conference.

for years I have been saying that Robots & better user interaction will do a much better job than us and this makes good reading:

The Future of DJing: Outsourced to Robotic Intelligence?

http://www.djtechtools.com/2013/08/12/the-future-of-djing-outsourced-to-robotic-intelligence/

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[Benny Smyth]

Nope. I have not written anything for Promobile for ages but would be interested. I personally think it would be better for someone like Ashley Riggs as I am not a tractor user, so it would be a better review. :)

Might go to BPM this year (assuming its on a better date) and see as only Denon and Pioneer are at the PM conference.

for years I have been saying that Robots & better user interaction will do a much better job than us and this makes good reading:

The Future of DJing: Outsourced to Robotic Intelligence?

http://www.djtechtools.com/2013/08/12/the-future-of-djing-outsourced-to-robotic-intelligence/

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That does make interesting reading, although the first flaw that automatically springs to mind is the songs on people's phones that we all skip. It reminds me of a consultation I once did where the groom handed me five sheets of paper with a list of songs that they like on them. After a quick scan, I just replied with "Is this a copy and paste job from your iTunes?" The answer was yes, which is basically the same as talking for an hour and saying nothing worthy of note. How many times do we listen to music on our MP3 players, iPods or phones and press the 'next' button? JUst because it's on there, it doesn't mean that we'll want to hear it on a night out. Still, an interesting read...

As for the S8, I've had a dabble on it, and I'm going to buy one for my home 'studio'. Great for electronic music, but completely wrong for the mobile biz. I actually hope Promobile don't do a review on it because of that. In the last few days, I saw a mobile DJ use one at a gig and then proceeded to use one of the most powerful controllers out there to play mostly 80s cheese. It's basically the same as driving a Ferrari at 20 mile an hour for the rest of your life.

If you're into house etc., then it is so much fun. If not, it really is the wrong controller for you. :)

[yourdj]

In the last few days, I saw a mobile DJ use one at a gig and then proceeded to use one of the most powerful controllers out there to play mostly 80s cheese.

Your judging that by todays technology. I do think things will be much more intuitive and far easier in the future. This is 10 years etc. Can you imagine the record deck people in the 80's reaction to playing digital files on a portable computer, being able to see the wave forms, miraculously purchasing requests you don't have from thin air (internet), playing through 10 kg speaker and only needing several lights!! That would have been inconceivable as they would have judged it on what they had at the time which was probably a BBC, amstrad or Amega etc. that would only just play an 1bit computer game.

On the subject of controllers - I still use a VCI 300 mk2 despite Denon very kindly offering me a half priced 6000 mk2 when it came out. :) Apart from only having 2 decks and no effects, its small, USB powered (so much easier) and ultra reliable. its all I need, although i will get the VFX for more clubby weddings and parties, when one sells for a stupid price on Ebay.

[Benny Smyth]

Your judging that by todays technology. I do think things will be much more intuitive and far easier in the future. This is 10 years etc. Can you imagine the record deck people in the 80's reaction to playing digital files on a portable computer, being able to see the wave forms, miraculously purchasing requests you don't have from thin air (internet), playing through 10 kg speaker and only needing several lights!! That would have been inconceivable as they would have judged it on what they had at the time which was probably a BBC, amstrad or Amega etc. that would only just play an 1bit computer game.

It's not the same thing though, is it? You're talking about the way technology evolves and the way people choose whether or not to embrace it, and the point I'm making is what is the point in having a controller like the S8 if all you're going to do is press play and some occasional basic mixing? Those remix decks, for example, aren't there for asthetics. It's a big controller too - bigger than the S4. Like I say, I think it's someone driving a Ferrari at 20 mph and no faster.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I don't see what the problem is playing 80's cheese (as you put it Benny) on a decent controller like that just the same as I wouldn't see a problem playing some super duper all bells and whistles dance tune on a simple controller or dare I say it.....CD player.

Ok, I don't do a lot of remixing and manipulating when it comes to tracks. I just do basic looping and effects every now and then (even on the 80's cheese) but I do make my own electronic music too. I have never used a controller to do it as I have a totally different set up for that.

Toby, with the HD2500 I have never used the Internal HD and have always used external HD's with it. I had that error come up when I had a handful of basic party savers on there but I don't think I ever used it. I also heard a lot of people say that the screen was too small but I've never had a problem with its size personally.
Around the time when all of these all in one controllers started appearing on the market I was in DJkit getting some stuff and one of the guys said to me that one of the reasons they were coming out as all in one's was because the 'top' DJ's (I guess he meant the big names?) were turning their backs on controllers and laptops and moving back to the likes of the Pioneer CDJ's that have evolved even more now because of the reliability when playing big gigs with lots of smoke that affect the laptops.

I guess there's a part of me that doesn't want to put my trust in something that is all in one but then again I don't know much about these things. I'd hate there to be a problem and the whole thing just mucks up. What do you? Do you have 2 of the same controller so one is back up?

[Benny Smyth]

I don't see what the problem is playing 80's cheese (as you put it Benny) on a decent controller like that just the same as I wouldn't see a problem playing some super duper all bells and whistles dance tune on a simple controller or dare I say it.....CD player.

Buying a four bedroom house and only using two rooms.

Getting the full Sky TV package, and restricting yourself to watching BBC one.

Investing thousands of pounds on a state of the art kitchen and just using the microwave.

It's not a case of playing these tracks on a controller like that - it's why spend money on features that you don't use?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

But they're there if you feel the need to use them or want to learn how to use them.

[Excalibur]

What do you? Do you have 2 of the same controller so one is back up?

Gary, yes a catastrophic failure would make life difficult, but let's say just the sound card goes wrong. You've already got your spare playout plugged into the two analog channels, so immediately, the show goes on. You can have all four channels operating simply as an ordinary mixer if you wish, just like your X500.

If your X500 turned its toes up at a gig, how would you carry on now?

[yourdj]

It's not the same thing though, is it? You're talking about the way technology evolves and the way people choose whether or not to embrace it, and the point I'm making is what is the point in having a controller like the S8 if all you're going to do is press play and some occasional basic mixing? Those remix decks, for example, aren't there for asthetics. It's a big controller too - bigger than the S4. Like I say, I think it's someone driving a Ferrari at 20 mph and no faster.

I know and i agree, which is why i have not upgraded my controller. :)

I was referring to new technology that will come out enabling (for instance) the terminator on the decks to cognitively evaluate a dance floor, based on very advanced algorithms and such like. its very speculative, but judging by recent technology advancements it won't be too long until a computer will have some form of consciousness and even be able to out think a human. Such as Data in Startrek. Who knows, but it will be interested either way, especially with quantum computing technogly coming through to the mass market before too long. :)


Toby, with the HD2500 I have never used the Internal HD and have always used external HD's with it. I had that error come up when I had a handful of basic party savers on there but I don't think I ever used it.

Probably the best option then. at least you have a second drive if there is an error message. I never really gave it a chance tbh. as it sat on my shelf for a year. :)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

If your X500 turned its toes up at a gig, how would you carry on now?

I always have a spare mixer in the van.

[mattydj50]

Nope. I have not written anything for Promobile for ages but would be interested. I personally think it would be better for someone like Ashley Riggs as I am not a tractor user, so it would be a better review. :)

Might go to BPM this year (assuming its on a better date) and see as only Denon and Pioneer are at the PM conference.

BPM is on Sat 12 to Mon 14 September this year.

[yourdj]

BPM is on Sat 12 to Mon 14 September this year.

Great. got another 2 bookings on the weekend. don't see any point in going up for the day as its a bit of a trip :(
3rd year in a row I have missed it now.

[Twinspin]

I used to have a HD-2500 and X500 mixer sold the full lot and bought a Denon MC6000 MK1 and ended up selling that and getting
another DN-X500 mixer and a Denon DN-HC4500. I'm happy with my console again.

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My current console box in 8u rack flightcase

The HC-4500 has been discontinued though now by Denon which is a shame. But would be a good replacement for a HD-2500. (Some shops might still have the HC-4500 in stock still)

[Pe7e]

A quick look on Google shows it to be available all over the place @ around £425 - £450

[yourdj]

Here you go - only a matter of time before this came out.
One for you laptop haters.

This is good for this Knob Twiddler, but totally wasted on me. :)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coYP7YR7M9o&feature=youtu.be

[funkymook]

Good if you have a limited, pre-planned set, not really for the mobile/wedding/family events market though.

Noticed there’s starting to be a Pioneer backlash, perhaps the badge is becoming too available to the masses with their lower priced products?

[Nakatomi]

Meh. Another Pioneer toy as big as a suitcase, costing more than my last car :D

What about this to replace a HD2500? Looks not too shabby, has full analogue mixer capabilities, plays CDs, files from up to 2 USBs AND can be a MIDI controller.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Audio-1115000004-Multi-Media-Workstation/dp/B004STXTIY

[Excalibur]

Meh. Another Pioneer toy as big as a suitcase, costing more than my last car :D

What about this to replace a HD2500? Looks not too shabby, has full analogue mixer capabilities, plays CDs, files from up to 2 USBs AND can be a MIDI controller.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Audio-1115000004-Multi-Media-Workstation/dp/B004STXTIY

Close, but no cigar. Short of two faders. Yes, there are four channels, but you can only use two at once.

Pioneer's offering. (http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/newsroom/news/XDJ-R1/page.html)
Highly featured, but also missing two faders.

A creditable try. (http://www.numark.com/product/hdmix) Third channel switchable between mic and line, and one CD drawer, one internal HD. Accepts external Hard Drives too, and the third channel can accept your backup tablet. Not ideal, but a contender.

[Shaun]

Here you go - only a matter of time before this came out.
One for you laptop haters.


Close. Hopefully more manufacturers will take Pioneers lead.

If it had 4 faders, a three band EQ for the mic, and the ability to plug in a keyboard for music search I would be seriously tempted (in fact, I'd be more than tempted).

I downloaded the 'rekordbox' software last night to see what it offers. And it pretty much allows the user to setup folders and playlist just like the HD2500. Again though, it really needs to be able to hook in a keyboard to be useful for me.

We're slowly getting there though! Hopefully we'll see more options soon.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Same as!

[Benny Smyth]

Again though, it really needs to be able to hook in a keyboard to be useful for me.

Touchscreen. That's the best way forward, in my humble opinion.

[funkymook]

Touchscreen. That's the best way forward, in my humble opinion.

Tried that, too fiddly, easy to move the wrong thing...and the screen gets greasy after you’ve been eating the buffet.

[Benny Smyth]

Tried that, too fiddly, easy to move the wrong thing...and the screen gets greasy after you’ve been eating the buffet.

If it can be done with with mobile phones, it can be done here. The alternative is to have a keyboard that needs to be plugged in and that seems more of a faff than it needs to be.

As for the buffet...wash your hands, yer animal! :p

[Excalibur]

If it had 4 faders, a three band EQ for the mic, and the ability to plug in a keyboard for music search I would be seriously tempted (in fact, I'd be more than tempted).
Oh dear, oh dear. oh dear. I find myself in almost total agreement with Shaun. For the sake of tradition, I'll point out that it needs a CD drive for me. :D:D


I downloaded the 'rekordbox' software last night to see what it offers. And it pretty much allows the user to setup folders and playlist just like the HD2500. Again though, it really needs to be able to hook in a keyboard to be useful for me.
Re Rekordbox, those folk going out with 397,455 tracks will have to start pruning viciously, or by more drives. According to the blurb, and also to someone already using it, it can't index more than 9,999 files. It can read more, but not index them for easy search.

Re the keyboard, the lad's spot on. < Smug mode enabled: My Numark comes with its own keyboard already. Smug mode off. >


We're slowly getting there though! Hopefully we'll see more options soon.
You would expect that, wouldn't you? My but it's taken an awfully long time to even get close.

[Shaun]

Right Pioneer. What I want is the xdj-rx, but with a larger screen, on a hinge that can be folded over for transport etc. 4 channels, plus a incorporated illuminated keyboard on sliding tray coming out underneath at the front. If you can sort that out for me that would be super. :)

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Re Rekordbox, those folk going out with 397,455 tracks will have to start pruning viciously, or by more drives. According to the blurb, and also to someone already using it, it can't index more than 9,999 files. It can read more, but not index them for easy search.


I wasn't aware of that. Pioneer.....sort that out too please!