Here we have the MIGHTY Denon HC-1000's Midi Controller that we felt deserved a brief but honest review.

Richie has been lucky enough to have been using one of these for a few years now, and after many many many hours of button bashing, knob twiddling, dropping, sandstorms, confetti and even the odd beverage making its way onto it, its still going strong!

Out the Box:

Straight out the Box you can appreciate the build quality in this piece. It hits you as soon as it’s in your hands. Surrounded in a solid metal casing and this bad boy is HEAVY you know this unit is built for miles, rather than metres.

When shipped from Denon, its already programmed with a plug and play default set up for Serato SL that most people will find suitable.

It eliminates the need for most keyboard typing, as nearly all the major essential features are now available using this and with the default set up - the lights all function and light up when a command is available. (IE your cue points, loops etc helping to see what button to abuse in the dimly lit DJ box)

This free's up your eyes to read the dance floor in front of you, rather than having your head buried on your laptop as 1 - 5 cue points, loops, roll loops, scroll through crates / track select, load left deck, load right deck, censor track / reverse, loop in loop out & BPM set are all on this unit, in our opinion the most common features used, with many more that you may use only once or twice during a set.

The First Use:

With space being at a premium in most DJ stands nowadays, the practicality of having one of these is demonstrated in its first use. Using this with Serato Scratch Live (can be used with any most midi mappable devices) this is a great and essential add on to your current equipment list.

You can have your laptop 'over there' wherever is safe and right infrom of you are all the key features, not at the tips of your fingers.

The button layout is ideal, and the buttons themselves have a nice strong feel to them. You can bash away pretty care-free. Although Richie has 'serviced' his unit once or twice with a full strip down, and compressed air fired in to eliminate any foreign objects (sand) that may result in cue point buttons becoming a bit unresponsive.

With this in mind though (and the fact there are no Abs, Rel and Int buttons to switch between) this is the only negative we could find, in a plethora of positives for this handy device.

The Right MIDI Controller??

Definitely an essential item for those DJ's not using a MIDI controller in their sets, and looking for something that’s plug and play and set up for SL already - you can take your sets to the next level.

Update: Denon have also now added a carry case to their product range, that ensures your tool is kept safe when transporting.

Conclusion:

In our opinion and Richie agrees this is one of the best out the box add on's for Serato there is!

Helping to take your creativity and functionality to the next level - its one of them tools that you will wonder what you did without. (kind of like when you first get on Serato itself) The two together will result in sets that are a force to be reckoned with and definitely help you 'Up Your Game' with the competition wondering - just how you did that trickery..

A Very Positive and recommendable - 9/10

For Full detailed features see below, or for full tech spec and more from Denon check out:

http://www.denondj.com/DN-HC1000S-P121.aspx

Enter the DN-HC1000S from Denon DJ. Designed to interface and aid DVS systems (turntables / CD players) with today’s most popular DJ software program, Scratch Live, the DN-HC1000S provides DJs a comfortable plug and play, reliable hardware controller
for all major features and commands of the Scratch Live software system.

Controlling essential features via mouse or laptop keyboard can be a challenge. Especially considering the focused work environment.
This is your moment to keep the dance floor moving and music pumping without room for error.

Key Features:

• MIDI Sub Controller for Serato^TM Scratch Live
• Simple USB Plug & Play Connection (USB MIDI / Bus power)
• Dedicated Tactile Controls to Replace Computer Keyboard Shortcuts
• High Quality Steel Cabinet with Rugged Rubber Keys
• Serato Approved USB Controller
• File Select Knob & buttons w/Back-Forward Action Keys
• EFX Control by new mapping file for v2.1 or higher (DL Here)
• Track Select and Fast Search Buttons
• SHIFT/CLR Button
• 5 Cue Point and 3 Sampler Player Buttons
• Auto Loop Button w/ Loop Cut Knob & Roll
• Loop IN/OUT Button w/ Exit/Reloop
• File, Browse, History, Prepare Keys
• Tap Button
• MIDI Mappable for other DJ Software Systems
• 9.8” width X 3.4” depth
• Under 3 lbs.

What is Scratch Live?

Serato^TM Scratch Live lightened the load for the professional traveling DJ. Heavy crates of records can be exchanged into a huge library of music that can be easily transported on a computer hard drive.
Scratch Live software has an array of unique tools and performance features:

• Beat Extraction
• Real Time Tempo Metering
• Unique color waveforms for easy identification of sound
• Multiple Cue and Loop Points per track
• Record Directly from a Microphone
• Record and Archive your precious Music Collection
• Fast Access to your Music Library and iTunes™ library integration
• Exclusive Access to Fresh Promotional Music with Whitelabel.net
• No Charge Upgrades that constantly add new features and improvements

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