Denon MCX8000 opinion/release

1) No-brainer if you are a mobile DJ. As soon as I can get the money lined up the order is out the door (it will replace my DDJ-SX)

2) Easiest way is to take the second (RCA) set of master outputs and run those into a separate recording device. Best would be to not touch the master volume when you record. Another option is running the master output of your controller into a small USB PA mixer (Yamaha AG06 is my current pick of the season). You don’t have to use the master volume on the controller (you can use the channel fader on the mixer) and you can record through the built-in USB sound card in the mixer.

3) Don’t know, not now I think. But … this is a feature that RekordBox/Pioneer controllers/mixers don’t have either. Those controllers with hardware FX have them fixed as well. I agree it would be nice if you could swap them out though for the FX you use most.

I remember the early days of RB, wasn’t all peachy either. But in a CDJ you could always switch to CD of course.

Having said that. If you use a laptop, it too can crash. And to tell you even funnier things, CDJs can crash, I have had mixers cut out on me mid-song. My point, anything electronic can break down. If it needs software it’s even more likely to break down.

So, making sure you have a plan B is always wise when you are bringing your own gear.

I am pretty sure that if there is indeed a (high) number of crashes with engine, the engineering guys at Denon/InMusic are all over it and will have a firmware/software upgrade out in no time.

“Also, how is this possible that Denon (i.e. professional DJ hardware company) hasn’t tested properly everything before releasing the unit? I mean….really?”

How is it that cars are constantly being recalled? Your Playstation needs a patch? Your laptop is constantly downloading updates? Etc, etc, etc. Any new product from any manufacturer is likely to have a few bugs that don’t become obvious until mass production is underway. It’s how a manufacturer responds to these problems and gets fixes out that is a good standard to judge by.

As for recording, yes it would be nice to have a dedicated record out RCA like on other models, but what is it you think they didn’t think through? A built in recording system? Most professional gear doesn’t have that. Most professionals know what they sound like and recording everything isn’t a very high priority, and if they are recording, it’s likely to be via external hardware anyway.

“imagine a car which during testing loses power or simply turns off –> do you think that this car manufacturer would release the car like that and thought: ‘we’ll deal with it later on/after car has been released with a major recall/engine ECU update?’ Nah… Now tell me I’m wrong.”

Okay, you’re wrong. Totally wrong. 😉 I’m going to let you go Google “GM ignition switch” now, read just how long they knew about their cars doing EXACTLY that (turning off while driving) and how many people DIED because of it. Now I’m going to let you go Google “Volkswagen Diesel Emissions” and see the lengths manufactures will go to just to cover up their problems and mistakes. And that was just the auto industry.

Like all major manufacturers, Denon has had bugs in their early releases. They have generally had a pretty good track record of getting patches, updates and fixes out to the public as they are discovered. It does remain to be seen how the new overlords at inMusic respond to such issues, but early indications are pretty good. And you seem to be forgetting, Engine isn’t mission critical software. It never even connects to the controller, so if it crashes, it is an annoyance, not the end of your show, unlike when a CDJ crashes and you’re right up a certain famously feces filled creak without a paddle.

And again for the recording, it’s not a feature professionals are generally looking for in their gear, so it was probably never even on the development radar. I’d be rather annoyed if the unit cost more because someone thought they should build in that kind of functionality. The MCX8000 is targeted at professional working DJs, specifically the mobile side of things, and they generally aren’t looking to record their sets.

The lack of on-board recording won’t stop them from buying this. If recording is something that is important to you, then this product is not what you need. End of story.

I had a whole long reply typed here, but I am gonna decide against posting this.

We are not in the business of convincing anyone pro or con any brand or model.

If the MCX8000 is not for you, it’s not for you. That is fine. And if you think some feature is missing and should not be, than that too is YOUR opinion. As we don’t know why manufacturers make the choices they make, it’s not really up to us to judge.

All it means that if it is a feature you hold dear, you should let it weigh heavily when picking a controller. If you think, recording is key to me, then you don’t buy the MCX or you get an external unit to record with. For me recording is never a dealbreaker. If two units with identical features were available, then perhaps one having record the other not might swing my decision. However, the MCX has no identical feature twin. The XDJ-RX you mentioned might have record, but it has a boatload of things it doesn’t have (to name only a few major ones: no standalone mixing, no 4 channel faders, no separate mic channels).

We always tell people to get software that most closely matches their (desired) worfklow, because a 100% match is not available. The same is true for controllers. Get the one that ticks most of your prioritized boxes as there isn’t an ultimate controller out there that will tick them all.

And with that … we’ll close this item. I think all has been said.

Keep on spinning all.