Chuck Van Eekelen

I don’t usually go into too much discussion about opinions, but this time I will 😀

The reason for DJs to bring their own gear is not so much the pay, it’s because they are a) totally at home with them and b) they can do so much more than the “club pro standard”. Also I know DJs today that will actually charge more to play on club gear if they can’t bring their own!

So, the question really becomes, do you want to change your DJ workflow to accommodate what just happens to be in the club. Back in the day the stuff in the clubs would -generally speaking- be the best around due to the fact that is was (and still really is imho) so ridiculously expensive that getting it as a private DJ was either a financial hardship for years or just not doable. So anything you’d have at home would be less in quality and options.

Alas, Pioneer fell asleep at the wheel and never really improved on the CDJs. Yes, they added center displays to their jogs, yes, they added touch screens, and yes, when really pressed by the big name DJs they bolted on iPads to their “touring” series. But in essence nothing really changed. All the features that are standard on even the most basic started controllers (dual FX bank, performance pads offering cues, loops, slicers and what have you) can still not be found on the most expensive (and expensive they are) CDJs.

And then for “entry-level” stuff. Please tell me why you’d need to start on a CDJ-350 in order to be able to “progress” to a NXS2 when they are, at the end of the day, pretty much the same only fancier? Any media player would let you get familiar with the basic of CDJ-like operation (play/cue/loop/jog operation/etx.). Once you master that, 5 minutes on a NXS2 will have you spinning.

As for durability and reliability. Denon has, since forever, been the most sturdy kit on the market. DN-S2100s and 2500 still working after 20+ years and I don’t mean in bedroom environments. MC-series controllers built like tanks are the proverbial workhorse for many a mobile DJ who knows his stuff has to stay in working order no matter what.
Knowing quite a few people that professionally have to open up CDJs from time to time, the innards aren’t exactly what you’d expect from gear at this price range. Rental companies report lots of defects upon gear return. Clearly if your gear is out there more than all other gear combined, you will be the one with the most defects, but it just isn’t accurate that CDJs don’t break.

Finally, and you may have missed this, but Denon’s Prime Series isn’t just a set of “me-too” CDJ-like units. They don’t even play CDs anymore. What they are though is an answer to question from the pro-DJs to have more features on their decks. Laid Back Luke said it in his interview over on the blog. He wasn’t aware (!) that controllers had come this far and that the stuff that he raves about on the SC5000s (dual deck, performance pads, lots of computing power in the box/etx.) have been mainstay features on controllers for the longest time.

Like Luke, Tiesto, Oliver, Fedde and Paul Oakenfold are all guys that don’t have to switch their rider because of some advertising deal. And they most likely wouldn’t if it meant working with similar or only slightly better gear. As you correctly stated, these guys get what they want in the booth by just handing in their rider. Pioneer is always there and most of these guys have 10s of years on those decks. Switching means learning new gear, not something you do for a lucrative contract because it touches the core of what you are doing.
For these big-name DJs to change their rider is really saying something.

So, my personal expectation is that we WILL actually see at least a partial move to Denon in the pro DJ booth in the next year or two. I have no fear about their durability and stability as I said before. Superior stand-alone options, great integration with DJ software (expect all major software to natively support these players) and many other features (just to name another something totally lacking on CDJs = totally out-of-this-world key locking ala Serato Pitch n Time or better). With the high-end computing power on board they are also much easier to upgrade to new features. On-the-fly track analysis if you show up to them with a usb-stick with just a bunch of tracks. And we can go on.

Yes, I am a total Denon fan and have been since forever, but I have also played for years on Pioneer gear. I try to look at what’s being offered without the PR and the reputation. And honesty dictates that the new Denon Prime series is definitely a big step ahead in pro-DJ gear.

Hi and welcome to the forums. Thanks for the introduction. Made me wanna go check out flights to T&T for Carnival!

Enjoy your time here.

Whether as a full-time job, a part-time job or just as a “paid” hobby, there aren’t many that can top DJ-ing 😀

Well, nothing wrong with a 2x 15″ 1 or 2 18″ sub setup for mobile use. Hopefully the x-over frequencies of the Behringer cover the cut-off point of the Dynacords.

Ah, ok! Like I said. Nothing wrong with the brands. The EV Force 15 I only know as a bass speaker. If that is the one you mean, it would mean you have nothing for mids and highs. Which clearly would not sound like music :-).

The Dynacord sub (the 118A that is) I know and have used in it’s active form. Good sub. Nice solid sound.

Don’t know the particular amp, but QSC is usually a good bet.

p.s. on keeping the lights. While they might not do what you want them to in a DMX controller situation, their sound activated and/or static and preset programs might work fine for those with lesser demands.

You might be able to donate them to a charity, small school, local club-house, etx?

In general.

And you are welcome.

As for the Prime series, Tiesto, Laid Back Luke, Oliver van Helden and Paul Oakenfold can’t all be wrong about these units.

And I feel your “how to tell the mrs.” pain. I promised the MCX8000 I got september last year was REALLY gonna be the last major controller purchase. 😀