“it’s a Beauty and a Beast” you may think that I was talking about a Disney fi lm, however, you’d be wrong. It’s the way that I can best sum up Denon DJ’s new, and much-anticipated, fl agship DJ controller, the MCX8000. I currently own and use a Denon MC6000MK2 MIDI controller, and also briefl y fl irted with Denon DJ’s teaser off ering of the MC4000, so when details of a new Denon super controller emerged I was intrigued. I went digging for more information and soon couldn’t wait to get my hands on the MCX8000 and put it through its paces, both at home in my studio and also out on the road in a real live event environment.

7700 While Denon DJ has been a mainstay of the professional DJ equipment industry for years, and is popular with many mobile DJs, the brand’s ownership changed recently. Around two years ago InMusic, the company behind brands like Numark and ALTO Professional, acquired Denon DJ. This led to concerns within the DJ community that this new controller would be more like a Numark product than what we’ve come to expect from Denon DJ. However, I’m pleased to report, that despite sharing a parent company Denon DJ and Numark have maintained autonomy.

Denon DJ has its own research and development team and I’m sure that long-standing Denon DJ users will not be disappointed by the new MCX8000. Upon opening the box, which is most colourful and adorned with a life-size image of the MCX8000 along with an overview of its features, my eyes gleamed at the sight of this beauty of a DJ controller, or should I say beast – it is huge! My MC6000MK2 is a dwarf in comparison. The construction is very typical of Denon DJ products, with a sleek design and an all metal casing.

The first thing that struck me is that, thanks to its large size, the layout of the MCX8000 is very spacious compared to the MC6000MK2. The other thing to note, especially if you’re not an existing Denon user, is that the playback controls are mirrored. This means that the Cue and Play/Pause buttons on both decks are on the inside, close to the mixer controls, while the pitch faders are on the outside, at the edge of the unit. This design is different to Pioneer controllers, for example, which have two sets of identical playback controls.

One of the key features of the MCX8000 is that it can be used to DJ without a laptop. It features Denon DJ’s Engine software on-board, which can be used to play music directly from USB storage devices. Two hi-definition colour display screens are included on the controller itself to display track information and also to facilitate library browsing and track selection. In order to play music using Engine on the MCX8000 you first need to run your collection through the free to download Engine PC / Mac software to catalogue and analyse your tracks.

So, with my back-up DJ laptop, I proceeded to download the Engine software, install it and build my Engine Library, scanning and analysing a selection of Mastermix DJ Beats tracks for duration, BPM, key etc. The Engine 1.5 software has many advantages once installed on your computer. It allows Playlists and Crates to be easily created, as well as THE ADRETN OOFN A DDJV MERCTXI8S0IN0G0 the setting of Cue points. Once my Level control. files were prepared, I removed the its own USB stick and inserted it into one meter, which is of two available USB inputs on the to ensure the MCX8000 and soon had music playtrack matches ing directly from the controller. playing song. be switched Once a USB device is loaded, chanand external nels one and two (which are actualready mentioned ally the middle two channels) are channels also configured to work with the Engine Engine USB software.

This can be selected for each channel by the flick of a switch The Play/Pause above the Gain (Level) control. Seare solid and lecting and loading tracks is a doddle feel we have – by using the rotary knob you can Denon DJ products, easily scroll through your files / foldlatency issues. ers and load up your music to either and tight with deck. As well as the track title and crossfader is playback time, the display screens The cross fader also show a coloured waveform of every channel is the currently loaded track.

This is the left and based on the frequency content of and also has the the music, with low-frequency slices It is also adjustable displayed in red, mid-frequency in Contour feature green and high-frequency in blue. of the unit, This is designed to help identify the headphone percussive elements and other sonic both mini jack features of your music to see in advance up-coming mix points. Around the there are both For those who want the benefi ts of sockets for digital playback, but would prefer not top and also for to have a laptop running at their gigs, ternal hard drive the MCX8000 is a solid standalone via your DJ player.

Personally, I like the fl exibility plenty of audio of DJing from my laptop, but having sockets, giving the Engine feature is perfect for my when it comes mobile DJ work as a reliable backup mixer into a should my laptop crash mid-gig. would expect, Switching between soft ware control provided via and USB playback is as simple as the However, fl ick of a switch. What’s more, the XLR sockets USB devices can be safely ejected and the Booth output, removed and replaced without any for use with power down or aff ecting playback [The Booth from other sources.

This feature alcated two-band lows for seamless transition between a level control, DJs at events where multiple DJs are panel]. There playing sets in continuous succession. of unbalanced for the Master The mixer section of the MCX8000 Mono/Stereo has four channels, each with a is useful if you dedicated 3-band EQ, Filter knob, in a venue with and, as already mentioned, a rotary that is configured DENON DJ MCX8000 denon DJ mcx8000 Each channel also has In terms of inputs, there are four 10-segment LED channel stereo pairs of RCA Phono sockets useful when mixing for connecting line-level inputs level of an incoming such as CD players.

Two of these that of the currently are also switchable to Phono level, All four channels can and are provided with a Ground between soft ware input binding post, to allow vinyl playback line input, while - as or, more likely, DVS software con- - the central two trol. There are also two microphone have the option for inputs, one provided as a combinaplayback. tion XLR / ¼” jack socket and the other just as a ¼” jack. There is also and Cue buttons an Ethernet link connection which have that traditional has been designed to work with come to expect from StageLinq technology to synchrowithout any real nise lighting and video. (InMusic has The sliders are slick just launched a new lighting brand a nice glide and the Marq, which is designed to work fast and responsive. with the MCX8000).

The unit is is fully assignable; powered by an external AC adapter switchable between with the low voltage input socket right side of the fader located on the back panel alongside option to bypass it. a push-button power switch. via the X Fader on the front panel The MCX8000 works straight out where you will also fi nd the box with Serato DJ, which is outputs provided as available to download online for and full size ¼ jack. free once you have registered your product with Denon DJ.

The unit is back of the MCX8000 also Serato DVS ready (with an op- USB-A and USB-B tional expansion pack). As I am not a connecting to your lap- Serato DJ user myself, I’ll hand over hooking up an exto Jack Wilson now to review using for track playback the MCX8000 to control Serato. software. There are also input and output So, first things first, after getting plenty of flexibility the MCX8000 out of its box I knew to integrating the I’d need to install the drivers on my mobile DJ setup.

As you windows machine and upgrade to the Master Output is the latest version of Serato (a scary balanced XLR sockets. thing if you’ve been using the same unexpectedly, balanced version for a while, as you know are also provided for it’s stable!) The installation went which is perfect swimmingly, with both pieces of powered DJ monitors. software easily available online, Output has a dedijust remember – don’t plug in the EQ, in addition to controller until the driver installalocated on the front tion software gives the instruction! is also a stereo pair RCA phono sockets Once connected to Serato, I found Output as well as a that the controller was very responselector switch which sive, which I really liked.

I also liked find yourself playing the layout, everything was where it a house PA system felt like it should be. Being a native in mono. 71 ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 SSeerraattoo ccoonnttrroolllleerr,, nnaavviiggaattiinngg aarroouunndd TThhee ssccrreeeennss aarree nniiccee tthhee vvaarriioouuss bbuuttttoonnss wwaass pprreettttyy bbrriigghhttnneessss ccaann bbee easy after a short while, although your taste too) as well locating the labels in the dark did ity and of ample prove to be a little challenging at that all of the first.

One feature I couldn’t find tion can be displayed, was the ability to navigate through notice that Artist is Serato’s History on the screens of on the screen – no the controller itself (as this review nice to have it there. is of the MCX8000, I tried to use will be solved in a the on-board screens as much as at some point!) When possible!) Unfortunately, not only I noticed the screens couldn’t I navigate through the ing the track BPM History on the controller’s screens realised a simple but pressing the Load buttons tion could be pressed also didn’t work when I navigated between BPM and through the History on my laptop is ok, but I’d have liked screen.

This was a little disappointof these pieces of ing, as I often find it useful to look played together. back at the tracks I played at other parties for inspiration mid-gig. At the bottom of FXs are shown Apart from the History issue, I assigned knob, along found navigating through all of current value, which the menus a doddle using the conful. Unfortunately, troller, as the dedicated buttons these knobs are beside the screens got me exactly close to the Needle where I needed to go (there’s even so make sure you a Load to the Prepare List button, ture whilst a song which is VERY handy!) Serato settings) 72 aanndd bbrriigghhtt ((tthhee aacccciiddeennttaallllyy ssttaarrtt jjuummppiinngg bbaacckk aanndd aaddjjuusstteedd ttoo ssuuiitt ffoorrwwaarrdd tthhrroouugghh tthhee ttrraacckk wwhheenn as good qualapplying FXs! size.

This means necessary informa- At first glimpse the controller itself although I did looked huge, although when standnot displayed ing behind it, I felt that I was in a biggy, but it’s perfect position and that every- (I’m sure this thing was very nicely spaced – not firmware update too close and not too far apart! I first looked, The large platters make searching weren’t showthrough a song easy and effortcounts, but I then less and I must say I much prefer button combinathem to those found on my current to toggle controller (MC6000mk2).

Another Track Time. This bonus feature of this controller to have both is the ring of LEDs that surround information disthe platter itself to indicate the playback position. As with other controllers that offer this feature, the screens the the LEDs can be changed between relative to their ‘single on’ and ‘single off’ modes. with their The LEDs also flash when a track is is quite usecoming towards its end, if the relin my opinion, evant setting is enabled in Serato, placed far too which is very handy!

Drop control, disable this fea- It was nice to see features on the is playing (in MCX8000 relating to Serato that otherwise you may you don’t often see together on DENTOHNE D EJA MRLCYX D80A0Y0S other controllers: a dedicated Slip night long. I’d Mode button, a Beat Grid editor and it to all of my a Stop Time knob. There are eight suppose the multi-colour performance pads per would I buy deck which can be used in diff erent ‘yes’ from me. modes to trigger cue points, samfeatures, I’d be ples, loops etc.

I predominately used of these as this for cue points and it was nice ment inventory. to see that the colours of the pads over to Glenn matched those of the cue points on screen and that they changed col- The MCX8000 our for the diff erent modes so you new Virtual DJ always know which mode you are in. to a recently mapper, although To sum up, I think Denon DJ has yet to be created a fantastic product to rival going to press. the other leading controllers on the tunity to use market and the icing on the cake at home and will be when they release the in- Virtual DJ 8.2, formation/products on how to use worked flawlessly the controller to control lighting via with the feature the Ethernet link (I’m really looking VDJ has to offer. forward to see what that can do!) The controller’s stability was fan- As a mobile tastic and it didn’t miss a beat all MCX8000 to denon DJ mcx8000 be confident to take game-changer and a real joy to gigs using Serato.

I work with. It offers great build final question must be quality, lots of connectivity and one?... I think that’s a a full complement of controls Given its specs and whether you use its internal playhappy to have one back capability or its ability to conpart of my DJ equiptrol your DJ software of choice (or Now I’ll hand back both!) Denon DJ are definitely on to finish the review. the right track with this controller and I think it will help to put the also works with the brand at the forefront of DJ crea- 8.2 software, thanks tivity and technology once again. released MCX8000 the screens are Because of its quality build and supported at the time of comprehensive feature set, a fairly I’ve had the opporhefty price tag was inevitable. the MCX8000 both However, at £949, I really don’t at a live event with think we can complain!

Whether and to date it has you are a mobile DJ or a club DJ and seamlessly (or both), the MCX8000 is a perrich elements that fect choice for both performance and quality. If I had to sum up the MCX8000 in three words it would DJ, I found the be “Go Buy One”! be something of a