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Denon Demo: DJ Switch on the 3900s

Posted by Gizmo on March 6, 2012 :

Having become the poster boy for Denon's new Denon DJ SC3900 deck, I guess it's time to show why DJ Switch has put his name to non-analogue technology. In this new video, he puts out a solid performance using the Denon X1600 mixer and controlling Serato Scratch Live in hybrid mode. But there's more to this video than meets the eye.

Close your eyes, and it sounds like a set carried on on real vinyl or a DVS system, which I guess is why DJ Switch has no issues getting behind them in more ways than one. But vinyl emulation seems to have taken time to mature. I did some digging around in the archives, and Numark's CDX was announced 8 years ago - yes that long ago. And only now is the format maturing into a shape that suits the need of a wider group of DJs. You don't have to like this technology, but I do. A lot.

Now... there's something very interesting happening in this video. You know you sometimes read between the lines to get info that I can't always just blurt out? Well I would urge you to read between the frames in this clip. There's more going on than you might think. The writing is on the wall as they say.

One day, DJ technology will come complete with holographic popup screens. In the meantime, we'll just have to get increasingly pissed off that demo videos remind us of what we can't have just yet.

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51 comments to this story

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On March 6, 2012, nmngh said this:

I wished numark had put more energy into the v7. just read that they are discontinued. Looks like we have a perfect successor (from a different company however).

what is the price again?

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On March 6, 2012, Outrider said this:

Caught the QR code on the wall at 0:18 but can't analyze it. Anyone else?

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On March 6, 2012, PhunkHead said this:

this is what the QR leads to [url=http://youtu.be/znOj9M8LQtI]

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On March 6, 2012, Satsun said this:

The second video contains yet another QR code (at :46). It leads here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS8CcBjBnXw&sns=em

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On March 6, 2012, DJ Flip D'skript said this:

By looking at this video, am I to assume that a Rane/Serato SL interface is hidden somewhere? I see a Denon DN-X600 mixer is being used with rca cables coming in and out of it. Or has Rane made updates to use mixers with their own soundcards?

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On March 6, 2012, Kevin Basher said this:

CD slot gone?!
[url=http://imageshack.us/photo/[img]http://www.skratchworx.com/images/263/bildschirmfoto20120306u.png/][/url]

Could this be the SC-2900?

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On March 6, 2012, Kevin Basher said this:

Also there's no buttons above the display

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On March 6, 2012, Gizmo said this:

It's the lighting Kevin. A few frames later, you can clearly see them.

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On March 6, 2012, Kevin Basher said this:

Yep, I just saw that. My mistake
Were you able to see the CD slot as well?

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On March 6, 2012, Gizmo said this:

Yes I was. This is not the 2900 you're looking for.

...Jedi gesture...

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On March 6, 2012, Kevin Basher said this:

Damn
A Traktor certified MIDI controller with spinning platter and without a cd drive would have been nice!

What else could he have done in the lab?

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On March 6, 2012, Gizmo said this:

Switch is hand making each 3900 himself. That's his own white coat and not a prop. FACT.

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On March 6, 2012, Double_A said this:

quote:
"Yes I was. This is not the 2900 you're looking for.

...Jedi gesture...

Read more: http://www.skratchworx.com/newspage.php?fn_mode=comments&fn_id=1912#ixzz1oMVVBdG6
"

lol, there are some clips on Youtube that have other shows/actors that used that same phrase.

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On March 6, 2012, GroovinDJ said this:

Can somebody tell Switch to knock up a couple of HS5900s while he's in there please? Denon say there are no plans, but there ought to be!

Same platter as the 3900 but no CD drive. Internal SATA hard drive instead, with either a CDJ-2000 style screen or a HDMI/DVI/VGA output for an external one. Put the onboard FX back, put the keyboard socket back, and give it dual outputs like the HS5500.

Thank you very much.

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On March 6, 2012, ace said this:

quote:
"I see a Denon DN-X600 mixer is being used with rca cables coming in and out of it. Or has Rane made updates to use mixers with their own soundcards?

Read more: http://www.skratchworx.com/newspage.php?fn_mode=comments&fn_id=1912#ixzz1oMTibvvA
"

My guess is this will only apply to the 3900.
As the x600/x1600 have already been released.
The hardware (3900) will probably make the link via usb.
Meaning that you would still require the serato soundcard/rane mixer if you wanted to use sl1200's running through a denon mixer.
This is still Huge - Well Done DENON!

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On March 6, 2012, dino said this:

it is a x600 right? not a x1600...

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On March 6, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

the only thing that sucks is no ultra pitch on this deck.
i really hope that someone out there takes a look at the vestax pdx 3000 .
to see what i mean that would be great on a deck like this.
but still looks real nice

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On March 6, 2012, Gizmo said this:

My apologies - an x600. Looks like the SL Interface is hidden under the table. That's were all the cables go.

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On March 6, 2012, DENON said this:

@dj cross+fade, what do you mean by "ultra pitch"?
The SC3900 does ±100%

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On March 6, 2012, Gizmo said this:

@DENON - it's the +/-100% joystick found on the old Vestax PDX decks. Now it's a separate small pitch slider. It's quite turntablist specifics far as features go.

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On March 6, 2012, Mike Corlett said this:

Yes Mixer is X600, not 1600, SL gubbins is under the table. The screenshot product IS a 3900, but yes it does look like the cd player slot has gone, but as people say, just bad lighting The mission impossible bit was pretty much one take

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On March 7, 2012, Ragman said this:

Nice vid however they could have at least warmed the place up. Dood was breathing smoke ...

I think this deck is gonna be huge ...

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On March 7, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

@DENON
thats way to much res for one pitch fader .
vestax has 1 fine pitch fader that goes +10 and - 10%
and a ultra pitch fader which i fear will die when they stop making turntables .
that fader goes up by fives
in this vid u will see what i mean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS8Oq_O9fTg

so lets say im mixing on most cd decks out there i need the pitch to go higher
then 10 % .around 20% + there is no fine pitch mixing on that deck anymore .
the pitch becomes to sensitive .

at the very least DENON u should add ultra pitch mode to the fader u have now. by pressing a button the fader goes up by 5% or down by 5% . witch would add or - to the fine pitch fader mode .
when u or done with the ultra pitch u press a button to go back in fine pitch mode and not have a headache when u or trying to remix a song live lol

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On March 7, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

also i use the ultra pitch for mixxing all the time i have a master tempo in my dvs so if there is a old house track thats 120 that im cueing and im playing a track out thats 135 i can mix it .
ultra pitch can be used for more than turntablism

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On March 7, 2012, promo said this:

put Pioneer logos over Denons on all this gear and you'll see everybody happy...

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On March 7, 2012, zykill said this:

Is this a review

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On March 7, 2012, DENON said this:

@dj cross+fade

Thanks for your suggestion.

Actually there are 4 pitch ranges.
±6%
±10%
±16%
±100%

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On March 7, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

@denon yes i know but anything above 10 % resolution becomes to sensitive . thats what i love about my turntable . i have a pitch fader for fine mixing . and a pitch range that does not effect the fine pitch faders sensitive.

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On March 7, 2012, dj keepingitreal said this:

@dj cross+fade....The change mr DENON would actually admit ur point about the pitch suggestion on this deck is actually slimmer than getting spanked by a penguin in Death Valley.
And he damn well knows that.

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On March 7, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

hahahahah

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On March 8, 2012, sgb said this:

Looks nice, however - it looks like both 3900's are connected to the laptop via usb. Add a SL interface, and you need 3 USB ports to work in Hybrid MIDI mode. Gizmo - can you link the 3900's with a crossover ethernet cable so only one USB connection is needed (similar to the V7's)?

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On March 8, 2012, Gizmo said this:

@sgb - no. USB is for MIDI, and the ethernet cable is to transmit music to each device. For link mode, you'll need a router and 2 ethernet cables for 2 x 3900s. In hybrid, you need 3 x USB - decks and SL box.

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On March 8, 2012, KLH said this:

I wonder if the NS7 has just been trumped for best vinyl-feel on a controller (or non-TT)...

If so, Denon had better release this in a controller-only (non-CD playing) version.

-KLH

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On March 8, 2012, Strategy said this:

The new player looks nice....now let's hope that DENON also releases corresponding new Mixer a DN-X900 (2+1 Channels) and a DN-X1900 (4 Channels), Traktor Scratch certied like the 1600/1700 but with 2 USB-Inputs (just like the new Rane mixers) and a nice dedicated Midisection to control Traktor and the likes!

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On March 8, 2012, DENON said this:

quote:
"I wonder if the NS7 has just been trumped for best vinyl-feel on a controller (or non-TT)..."

Check out this fresh SC3900 Video & online review from dj mad flip.

[url=http://www.uniquesquared.com/blog/7120/knowledge-base/product-reviews/denon-dj-sc3900-review/][/url]

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On March 8, 2012, rs_ said this:

There are starting to look pretty good...

What I'd personally like is the simplest, most solid thing possible that lets you play digital files without a laptop.

If I were to dream up my ideal it would be a Tech1200 with a very small monochrome screen and a USB plug and a network connection. I'm not sure there's a market for that though.

rs

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On March 9, 2012, WildchildeX said this:

It's great in everyway ...except no strip search for needle drops!!!! If it had that it would be the best.

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On March 9, 2012, DENON said this:

@WildchildeX

When used with "engine" on your laptop, you can needle search the waveform as you wish using your touch/mouse pad, thanks.

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On March 9, 2012, DENON said this:

Thanks dj cross+fade.

We reached out to many turntablists and none of them requested this feature. If you feel its real important, we should consider for future models.

Many of the new ideas found in the SC3900 comes from our user base and classic turntable users.

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On March 10, 2012, seriouscyrus said this:

quote:
"One day, DJ technology will come complete with holographic popup screens. In the meantime, we'll just have to get increasingly pissed off that demo videos remind us of what we can't have just yet."

This is something I'm working on, the holographic stuff is possible with stage effects, this video by neurosonics does it nicely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNs3EifbabE

Trouble is, it takes quite some setup I reckon, for that demo anyway. Not quite as advanced, but I'm working on making something that's easy to setup in any situation, the technology is within reach, and affordable, though not *that* cheap just yet, new tech come out all the time, and get cheaper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNHCD8XMWdc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUog1s1dhY

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On March 11, 2012, Richard said this:

It does disappoint me to find out in the accompanying video that the control is back to timecode.

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On March 12, 2012, rs_ said this:

The Pioneer CDJ series has a feature I love: you can "fast search" by holding down [FF] or [REW] and spinning the disc. One full rotation transports you about a minute or so.

I think I tried this on a Denon 5500 or so at a music store a few years ago and it didn't work. If Denon is reading, have you ever considered a feature like this?

rs

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On March 12, 2012, DENON said this:

@rs_

For years, Denon DJ has had a feature called, "Quick Jump".
You can set the jump search times from; 10,20,30,60 sec.
Each short tap to the, << or >> keys jumps accordingly.

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On March 12, 2012, dj cross+fade said this:

yes i think it is bit off sub but here is my mix http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB22246874FDE5B62

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On March 13, 2012, rs_ said this:

DENON: thanks. That kind of sums up the design philosophy difference between Denon and Pioneer. Pioneer elegantly adds the feature and puts it in the domain of the expressive (and it works anytime, anywhere), and Denon adds another nested menu to worry about.

I'm sorry if that comes off as a harsh potshot. But I think that's why Pioneer usually wins in the "Industry Standard" game. They understand that solid simplicity trumps the "add every possible option" school of design.

rs

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On March 13, 2012, DENON said this:

Well spoken rs, well spoken, i agree with every single word

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On March 14, 2012, Jack said this:

Why do these still have CD players built in? It's 2012 for cryin' out loud. lol

Yank the CD out, lighten the load, save some cost, make it truly SSL/ITCH/TSP2 native and I'll buy four of them.

Til then, it's just another silly CD player.

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On March 14, 2012, Jack said this:

Oh, and quit making stuff out of kid's plastic. Make it out of anodized aluminum. Think TOOL like a Technics TT, not a cheap TOY.

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On March 14, 2012, Gizmo said this:

The cost of adding a CD drive is peanuts. And for that peanuts cost, a huge sector of the market is still included. Not everyone is down with ditching media just yet, especially Denon's core customer.

Does it really matter if there's a CD drive in it? You don't have to use it. And the unit wouldn't physically be any different either.

Leave them in and then the maximum number of customers can buy the unit.

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On March 15, 2012, DENON said this:

Thanks @rs_

Each single push to the << >> search keys advances the track by 10,20,30,60 sec. How is it nested?

The Pioneer method requires 2 hands, the Denon method requires 1 finger....

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On March 15, 2012, DENON said this:

@Gizmo,

Thanks, you are absolutely correct with your assessment.

@Jack
Btw, we made the worlds first spinning platter MIDI controller Media Player (HS5500) without a CD deck 3 years ago. Its was way ahead of it time, with small demand.