Just out of interest as I ha this thought a day or 2 back:

Say you have 2 devices connected to the unit with mp3's on (and the internal HDD loaded up too) and you want to search for a file.....

Does the unit only search the selected device (say iPod) or will it search for all devices connected for the track you are trying to find?

The DN-HD2500 creates a small database for each device, and puts that small file onto each device. This is how it achieves such hyper-fast, and "instant" results to both 1-step and even 2-step searches*.

So, if you had two device connected (eg: an iPod, and an external disk drive) you'd need to run the search once on one device, and once on the other. Each search takes less than a second to display it results on screen though, so its no real chore.



*1 step search is where you'd give the DN-HD2500 just one piece of information eg: ABBA... upon which it will instantly display, Dancing Queen, Money money money.... and all/any other songs which it knows by that artist, or type in 1983 and it will display all the tunes that it knows from that year etc, Type in Now 66 and up comes all the track listings from "Now 66"...etc..

*2 step search is a superb way of narrowing down a long list, to something more targeted - as it allows you to pick 2 different criteria to search by - for example... If you're doing an 80's set, or 80's night and are looking for inspiration to keep a packed dancefloor pumping, a one step search (as found on most other hardware) would give you a tedious amount of unusable results...eg: If you searched for just 80's tunes, you'll be wading through slowies, ballads, background music stuff, probably a few Walt Disneys, some TV theme tunes etc.... BUT search for 80's tunes AND enter BPMs starting with 12.... this will ONLY show the tracks from the 1980's where the BPM is 120, 121, 122,....upto 129 etc...

Fast searching through listed results is a doddle too as you can not only use the small parameter knob, but also the main platter/jog wheel can be used to literally spin through the results lists, really quickly. The platter is also touch sensitive, allowing the right hand edge of the platter to be pressed to Select the highlighted track, and the left hand edge of the platter pressed to go "Back" eg: back up a search level - this saves you having to alternate your hand between the platter and the two other Back and Select buttons.

I realise that this is a much fuller answer than you were probably looking for, however the DN-HD2500s search facilities (expecially the 2-step search) are another one of the things which lifts it above the other hardware solutions imo.

Yes another downside to this unit I had not thought of.... With otsdj it covers all my drives in one hyper fast split second search... Though I am sure as newer and better models come out from other manufactures this will be resolved...

Good Point otronics....

Nik

Spending a few seconds twice, rather than once is no tangible issue, considering that for decades, both vinyl and CD DJs have been taking minutes, if not hours (inbetween their other DJ activities of cueing, reading the audience, adjusting the lighting etc), looking for an elusive vinyl or CD track.

The instant "one search" resolution is easy enough, a DJ who has their files on 2 x 250 gig hard drives who feels that they dont have 2 x 5 seconds to perform 2 x searches, need only transfer their files to 1 x 500gb hard drive, and then perform 1 x search. Doddle.

In most issues I agree with much that you say and I dont dissagree with all you say on this issue ... As I have said many times it is down to personal taste what medium each of us use and we all use our equipment in different ways...

For me and in my humble opinion the DN-HD2500 is a step backward for Laptop DJs... Now I know you disagree but this is how I feel... Once some of the issues I have mentioned in other posts on this matter are ironed out then I will probably go down this route also... But for now I dont see how this can improve the service I give my customers.. And cant warrent the spending of over £650 for a piece of kit that in my opinion does not do as much as what I already own and use....

Thanks.

Was thinking the other day that if I did get one (not going to happen by the way!), how I would set it up.

Use the internal HDD for something, but would need to add on an external HDD too to load on extra wav files, so searching came into these factors.

Still not sure how to split it up. Maybe 60s/70s stuff on internal disk and the rest on an external one but then if internal one fills and more 60s stuff has to be put on, then messes it up kind of. Heh! Anyway, does not matter here!

Some of the owners who I've spoken with recently have come up with some interesting ideas for that same thing. For example:

*) Use an external hard drive for all their files - But have the internal drive loaded with 1200 WAVs (or a huge number of MP3s) of selected duplicate tunes which they could use to get to the end of the night, in the event of the external hard drive failing (getting Beer'ed etc)

*) Use the internal hard drive for Megamixes and other "special" tracks, such as Mastermix / DMC mixes, jingles, special versions etc, but use an external drive for regular, ordinary "radio edit" tunes.

Gary, just a question and i would be grateful if you would put the answer on the record so to speak. How many years have you been using a laptop yourself for dj use, what software have you used and what was the spec of the laptop(s) that you have owned.

I'd set it up the same as my laptop i.e the tracks I usually play (a selection of about 400 tracks) on the internal hard drive and then everything else (including a back up of my internal hard drive) on the external, which I then back up again onto another external.

Jase

Just a thought is the internal HD of this unit interchangeable... If you were to bump this unit and the HD corrupted or was permanently damaged can you swap it yourself or do you just not use that part of the system anymore. Or, would it be a case of being sent back to Dennon so they can charge you for replacing it.. With a PC or laptop most people can change and upgrade the HD themselves....

Would a unit that does not have a HD built in such as the Cortex brand of HD controllers be a better choice less built in redundancy.

I do think in some ways the Dennon unit is one of those must own the badge items...

At a radio station I worked at we had pro dennon Cd players, we had so many problems with them skipping, miss cueing and even jamming (not good when timing upto the news) that the engineers ripped them all out and installed Technics instead we had no more problems with the CD players from that point...

As to pro designed for the job products it is interesting to note that just about every radio station in the world use PCs to play in there music.. Using software such as Otsdj, Sam Broadcaster, Enco DAD and Myriad to name just a few....

These computers run 24/7/365 and don't seem to over heat and very rarely fall down... But as I say all run on PC with various components..

I remember in the old days being told a Separates HI-FI system was so much better than a built in one box as in, each of the components in the separate units were dedicated to that unit where in a single unit i.e Record deck, CD, Tuner, Cassette and Amp components were used for more than one operation and so trade offs in components used and quality were always encountered...

This being the case, then surely as I have said before going from a PC with all its individual and dedicated components is in my opinion better than a catch all component such as the Dennon..

I am sure there are people on here who love the dennon or the Pioneer or even the cortex... But like wise there are people on here who love there PC DJ system... and untill these units are of comparable use to me as my Laptop system then that is where I will stay as it serves me perfectly for what I want it to do..

I have puchased a HD controller the cortex HDC-1000 and find it a very good machine but it will be used as my back up should in the unlitley event my laptop fails. PC DJed for over 10 years now and have never been let down...

Nik




Interesting Question

Nik

I've seen all variety of laptop systems, different spec, different software, different users.
More or less, the same can be said of the Turntable and the CD player, etc, etc, etc.

Don't think it should really matter to the end user what they utilise to play music on.
Does the end user really give two hoots about what others use as a tool at the end of the day as long as THEY are satisfied and happy with the tool that THEY use to do the job, that is what is important, no?!
If they wish to upgrade, downgrade or simply stick with a piece of kit - that's their business regardless if they have shares, other vested interests or not.

Whilst I would support the argument that it shouldn't really make a difference whether it is a disc based music format, vinyl or digital file format we use on the variety of systems available, apparently it does make a financial difference to the end user because of those individual donuts in the music collection agencies deciding that we (DJs) were all criminals and stole music.
We apparently purchased all the blank media under the sun, copied music and flogged-it at boot sales or down the local, we shared music across the internet via p2p networks.....and the music industry was brought to it's knees by the humble mobile DJ pirate, or something as stupid and daft as that!
Who needs enemys when bright sparks think those gems of a licence up?

Truth be known and giving a simplified example, the amount of money for the legal cases these music collection agencies probably have to spend out to defend themselves when a case is brought against them DOES speak volumes - dare I repeat another persons quote "the ongoing mismanagement of their members funds....and we are going to be milked for the float."
Hey! Does that give us licence to call THEM legalised criminals?!

Back on point, keeping an open mind and embracing new technology has already seen an impact on the music industry, our lives and our work.
But as long as the end user is happy to work with whatever performance tool is ideal to make his or hers DJ vocation a straightforward and non fuss process, we should really respect that individuals decision and leave it at that before any friendly banter turns into handbags at twenty paces.



Just my 2p worth.

Wow and all that for 2p here@s a fiver lol

Very good points and I do agree


Nik