I thought I'd start a thread for Cortex owners.
There are plenty of threads and forums for the likes of Denon, but the Cortex doesn't seem to have many. Even the Cortex website forum doesn't seem to be frequented that often, some posts have gone months without replies.

Anyhow, I have just taken delivery of a 3000, DJ Mitch has also got one and I know a few others have other Cortex products, I think Nik has a 1000, Andy Goodtimes also has a Cortex too.

So who else has got one?
How do you find it?
What problems have you come across and how have you overcome them?

Some of the problems I have got are my seriously inadequate MP3 tags, it looks like it is going to be a mamoth task to sort them out. The problem with VBR files, I have found a nice program to batch process them into CBRs though. Also the waveforms seem a problem, if you have waveforms switched on then the unit has to analyse the track and produce the waveform before it will play it, you can get the DB software to produce the waveforms for you beforehand though.

Jim

I've got a 1000 which I use as a backup with my denon 2500.

It's a good unit but I've had a few issues with it freezing half way through a song.

I downloaded the latest firmware this week so hopefully this will help.

Yes we have a 1000... But its for Backup on Helens set up... I would hate to have to do a whole night with it because im used to otsdj.... But it is great as a back up and if the S should hit the fan then I am sure I would be very greatfull to it....

Good for the price but I now have a twin Card reader player and for £99 I am very happy with it.

Nik

I have used a 1000 since they were launched. Initially had a lot of teething problems but they were soon sorted with firmware upgrades.

I use it week in week out as my main player...If it were to die I would replace it immediately. I love it. It has run for the last year without a glitch, hiccup or freeze. The best £300 I ever spent on disco kit, and they are even cheaper now.

I use the HDC-3000 regularly without issues. Make sure you have the latest firmware, only have MP3 or WAV files on your removable media and no more than 1000 tracks in any one folder. It's worth re-creating the database from scratch now and again. They will both handle CBR and VBR but better to stick with CBR if you can. The units have to work much harder with VBR files so more chance of having an issue. Oh, and always use a powered hub if you need one. Follow these instructions and you should have no problems with the HDC-1000 or 3000 units.

I ended up getting rid of the Cortex due to what appears to be the company withdrawing support.
When they stop supporting a current model and stop replying to questions on their own forum you start to loose confidence.

Jim

I agree that the forum seems to have bee abandoned a bit. Although a lot of manufacturers don't even have such a facility. Support is still there however. Perhaps just not as easy to access as it was before.

I have the 1000 . like it, use it most nights , but would prefer the D2. but cant afford one , so its the 1000 and twin cd player for me

Yep i have the hdc 1000 tryed it out Saturday will have to get used to it. As i have allways used the numark cdmix still us the unit as me mixer. Looking to get the numark c1 mixes using seagate freeAgent drive must go on the cortex site to keep up to date.
Hope i get on with it's better than taking 7 full cd boxes i must have been Mad

I have one as back up

when the cortex forum was active i gleaned every bit of info i could off the cortex site.

It is essential to update the 1000 to the latest software

I downloaded and printed the manual out as i bought it second hand

you really do need to prepare the mp3 files properly

originally the 1000 only played CBR mp3 files not VBR they added that later and my personal opinion is that it prefers CBR

I made sure the files were all 320 kBps CBR all mp3 gained to 91dB

now i found completely stripping the mp3 tags both ID3V1.1 and ID3V2.X tags of files and any album art etc and then re tagging the mp3 id tags with no album art . and making sure they have nice clean file names helped the 1000 work quicker

Then put the files into there software for the database and wave display

some users on the cortex forum also said the next thing i found was nonsense but for me for the cost it seems silly not to do , i always used a powered hub at the back.. as a illuminated keyboard does take some juice and also always use a powered hard drive (if your using a hard drive and not a USB stick..) rather than one that takes its juice from the built in usb , If your using a USB stick and no keyboard then the built in USB is fine, but if not get a powered hub is my recommendation.

i found all this helped prevent any issues ..now i only ever use this unit as backup , never as my main system.

Cortex on there own forum ..when it was up and running said no further updates were coming out for that unit , then the forum closed ..

This is still a current model.. so for me the company has gone down in my estimation ..but as i bought the unit second hand for £100 ages ago when they were a lot more expensive and that it works ok now i can't really grumble,

if i bought one now brand new i would be a little miffed but to be honest i wouldn't buy a 1000 nowadays as in my opinion there are better units for less money that have appeared since the 1000 first came on the scene was brilliant in its day but things have moved on in my personal opinion.

I'm quite surprised they're so expensive considering their very basic controls...

Last update was 9th March 2009.


Interesting they also provide the software for the HDC-1000 as an open-source package. In theory anoyone could modify/update/fix bugs...

Cheers,

David

I bought the 3000 brand new when it first came out and was pretty expensive and I'm disgusted at how it has failed to perform and also at the lack of support given by Cortex who really don't seem to care about their customers at all. Avoid.

I bought a 1000 2nd hand its not great and it freezes now and then but it works 99% of the time , I would love to buy the D2 but funds wont allow at the mo

Have you loaded the latest firmware?

Since I did this, the unit has not freezed on me and runs like a dream now. I use it with a 64Gb USB Stick as my backup unit.

yup upto date on software , think it was the last one they did.
I have another sort of related question......
would it be an idea to use an antisurge extension lead with my 1000 and hdd?
I ask because when switching my lights on/off using switchig box, my 1000 come up with a message (cant remember what right now some thing along the lines of corrupt disc) but it only does it when using the switching box.
Could it be a power surge thru the extension?

The Cortex is pretty much a computer, (Its operating system is Linux), and is susceptible to crashing like most other computers when they're interferred with.. A Surge could interrupt any part really..

I put anything related to sound through filtered/antisurge extensions. After having an amplifier fry when using the fog machine (on a pretty clean supply as well), I've always used them since.

If you're getting interference from the switching box, then its likely that there are no surge supressors fitted to the back of each of the switches inside (often ommited on cheaper switch boxes to save production $$).

Also (if you're not already), run separate leads from different power points for Lighting and Sound (unless you're stuck with a single double socket!).

Cheers,

David

always try to use double sockets , but they still run off the same ring, so antisurge extensions are my next purchase