If you use a cortex unit there have been some recent updates added take a look link below.


released 26-03-08

get the upgread here Click me

It fixes loads of bugs abd adds some more functionality to the unit...

ENHANCED VBR COMPATIBILITY
The Cortex player will Index (pre analyze) any audio file that has been ripped using the VBR or variable bit rate encoding system. Once analyzed (indexed) the indexing information will be saved along with its corresponding audio file on your mass storage device, and will be recalled everytime you play that song from that storage device.

ON-THE-GO PLAYLIST
The playlist on the go gives you the ability to create a playlist as you choose songs that can be recalled later by the CORTEX PLAYER.

FRENCH KEYBOARD SUPPORT
You now have French AZERTY keyboard support, which can be turned on or off in the settings menu.

ID3 TAG BPM READER
The CORTEX PLAYER can now read BPM value off of the ID3 tag of your audio files . You can also search by BPM. If there is no BPM info present the CORTEX player will default to the pitch percent display. You can turn this feature on and off in the settings menu.

PITCH FADER/VOLUME CONTROL
The PITCH FADER can now be used as a volume control for club installations which require volume control at the CORTEX player without a mixer near it. This feature was designed primarily for the HDC-500 but since the three players HDC-500, HDC-1000 and the DMIX-300 share the same operating systems all the players have this feature.

AUTO PLAY
Auto play when activated allows you to simply insert a USB key (or any mass storage device) into the CORTEX player without having to verify it or index it at all. The Cortex player will then search for the first available song on the mass storage device and start playing it upon start up. This feature was implemented for in store display situations and is not recommended for the average user.

As well as adding these new features there have been enhancements made to the following functions:
- Improved File browser search
- Sample rate incompatibility warning
- Display Of Special Characters
- Improved CUE stuttering
- Improved scratch mode tracking
- Quicker file browsing and searching
- Incompatible sample rate warning
- Enhanced file type compatibility


Cheers Nik

Prices are also slashed, probably because new models are on the way.

Very true... Mind you technologie just seems to be getting cheaper all the time. Amazing everything else in our lives goes up but technologie gets cheaper Dont get it

V true Nick...Micro chips come down in price but fish n chips go up? Weird

Paul

I have heard prices are coming down........but havent seen it yet.

So if anyone spots a cheapie let me know.

Have seen a couple on E-bay ... but really want a new one. just as a backup to my existing one, which seems to work flawlessly now.

DJ Empire have the 1000 at £179.95 and the 3000 at £299.95.

Bearing in mind that the 3000 has onboard effects, hot starts etc. plus master tempo, looping etc. it sounds like an absolute bargain.

Have had a chance to look at a HDC 1000 for the first time as it is part of the full mobile rig that is first prize at the NADJ show.

Have to say it is pretty intuitive to use and if the updates increase function and reliability, I'm quite convinced.

The reliability is now spot on. I use it week in week out now as my main player and it is great. I would hate to have to go back to finding and carrying CD's around again.

ok so it hasn't got a lot of bells and whistles.... it just plays mp3's or wav files. but it does exactly what I want it to.

Good to hear, I dipped my toe in the water and got the 1000 last week.Now frantically ripping mp3's, so I can get started using it! I have only played with it in the house, but if it goes as well as it promises, I can se me saving up for a 3000 as well, since I like havng multiple options.

You may find you need to do that sooner, rather than later, since the likelihood is that current models will be replaced fairly soon.