At Musikmesse 2012 a week or so ago we snagged a private talkthrough of the Denon DJ SC3900, Denon DJ’s latest spinning platter controller.
It can be used to control timecode software (eg Serato Scratch), as a USB DJ device, as a straight Midi controller, or with an iPad and Denon’s new Engine software. Oh, and if you really want to you can play CDs on it too.
What we liked most about the Denon DJ SC3900 was that the platter feels absolutely consistent with using a turntable (as David explains in the video, they’ve even nailed the startup and stopping speeds to make the experience completely authentic), and of course as you’d expect from Denon, “in the flesh” it is beautifully built.
We didn’t get to play with the parts we really want to investigate further, though, which is the iPad integration and Engine DJ software. We didn’t get to use it as a Midi controller, either.
A pair of these as part of a 100% digital set-up is definitely not out of the realms of prosumer and serious hobby DJs…
Denon has agreed to provide us with two review samples as soon as they can, and we are probably going to take the time to make a couple (at least) of videos explaining these features and how a digital DJ might incorporate such devices into his set-up to get “the best of both worlds”.
After all, these are priced at a lot less than the CDJ2000, so a pair of these as part of a 100% digital set-up is definitely not out of the realms of prosumer and serious hobby DJs. Whether it’s worth paying the extra for motorised platters and the authentic vinyl feel is what we want to find out.
Would you consider investing in a pair of these as a sort-of halfway house between DVS and Midi controllers? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Now go to:
Denon DJ Announces SC3900 Player & Engine DJ Software
Are CDJs Better Than Midi Controllers?
All of our coverage from Musikmesse 2012
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Tags: cdj, denon, midi controllers, musikmesse, Musikmesse 2012
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if they left out the whole cd part & the lcd and put just the platter and controls on a slightly smaller, flatter box, this might be the device that could win me over to controllers and make me give up my technics & x1, but until then i’ll stay with a dvs. it looks like a nice alternative for mobile/touring djs, but i doubt that clubs will adapt this player as the standard is unfortunately still the cdj crap…
[ link ]Why are cdj’s crap, it not like you are using real printed vinyl. Your just “controlling” digital music files in your laptop. Same thing one of these platters does.
[ link ]I think he was saying he doesn’t like the Pioneer CDJs, not the whole concept of CD players in DJ booths.
[ link ]yep. but:
- as a club co-owner, technician and resident dj i hate the lightweight, cheap plastic way cdjs a re constructed…quality wise they just don’t feel worth their price (and i know of several clubs that always have at least 2 brand new ones in storage as they’re regularly breaking mid set). these days we just hire cdjs if guest djs insist on using them…
- as a dj (coming from a mainly hiphop background) i feel i can’t work and control the music properly without a relatively large, spinning piece of vinyl (or similar) under my hands…numarks ns7 is a big step into that direction, that’s why i would welcome a the controller part without all the cd stuff…
(oh and for the record: for “vintage” (60s soul, funk, ska, rhythm’n'blues etc) i play mostly vinyl…it’s again a matter of “feeling right” and a laptop (let alone cds) just feels wrong in that context
)
[ link ]yes i was talking about pioneer cdjs in particular
[ link ]Denon is, in my opinion, an off brand when it comes to industry standards of DJing. They have their heart in the right place, and definitely provide cool features, but my experience with the company has been less than positive.
Technics and Pioneer make/made products that are reliable. The only Denon product I have ever purchased was the HC-1000 controller, and it works about 1 out of every 40 times I connect it to my computer. It might be unfair to call them out over such a limited experience, but it was enough to turn me off to them none the less.
When you are being paid to perform, you need something that is going to work 100% of the time. I use scratch live, a macbook, 1200′s, and a ttm 57 because there is never any doubt in my mind that I will have an issue at my gigs. I would rather stick with the current standard, than by a product because it “might”, and probably wont become the new standard.
[ link ]Denon is hardly an off brand – they are the ones who made CD decks in dj booths a standard, and are known for building high-quality professional gear (not just dj products). If you got a lemon with your unit, it does happen from time to time regardless of the manufacturer. I don’t have enough fingers to count all the times Pioneer products failed on me during shows and they seem to be what everyone holds up as the standard for quality.
[ link ]If you have a bad experience, that doesn’t mean everyone has it.
[ link ]The Denon DN MC-6000 is the best 4 deck midi controller, it’s an absolute bargain.
The other CD players were beutiful too.
They had their issues, but god damn, for the prize, they’re amazing.
Denon an off brand?
Are you serious?
I have the mc6000 and two dns3700 plus the dnx1600.
compared to many things you will get at high price with pioneers.
Denon makes the right gears for the people that can see.
The SC3900 are designed to feel same as technics.
and for the first comment on this post, about making a midi controler only out of this , it’s on his way and its called the denon sc2900.
[ link ]wait and see
I am beyond fascinated with this rig. I started out on vinyl in 2000 and spun on it until 2003 (2 Technics 1200′s and a Pioneer mixer), but I recently re-entered the game after having been out nearly a decade. I decided to try an all-digital solution, and I haven’t looked back since. Sure, I miss vinyl and I would LOVE to get me a controller with spinning platters, I’m a 4-deck guy now and I don’t see a good 4-deck spinning platter solution on the market right now. Buying 4 of these doen’t make much sense to me…
…but I have a question: can 1 SC3900 control 2 “decks” (giving a goal of 4-deck control off of 2 3900′s)? And are there really only THREE hot-cue buttons on this thing?
[ link ]I clearly count four, and in the video he says you can shift for eight in total.
[ link ]Not dual layer,4 cue only but 8 in MIDI
[ link ]Now, these are DJ tools. I have been using two Numark CDx, which have a 12 inch real vinyl spinning with the best torque I’ve ever used, and a Behringer DDM4000 mixer with MIDI mapped my way, and I believed I had it all. With the Denon decks I’ll be in heaven having not only the spinning vinyl and CD playback, but all the control I need to eliminate the mixer and any other toy looking controller from my setup. These decks are really the best of all worlds. The only thing I would probably ask for that is not included is a full size 12 inch platter instead of the current one, but I guess it would have to be huge and not very attractive to also sport all the control knobs and buttons. Great product.
[ link ]I’m sorry but Denon makes toys , for kids.
they will never reach Pioneer.
All Denon users are haters, because with pioneer you need nothing else.
Pioneer decks engineering is way higher than Denon
[ link ]In my home setup, I have 2 Numark TTX’s, 2 Denon DN-S3700′s, and a DDM4000 as my mixer. The 3700′s are absolutely scratch worthy but do not feel quite as precise as a tt. I am waiting to try out the 3900′s. If the 3900′s closed that 15% difference, everything goes and I’m getting them.
[ link ]To all the denon haters here…you are forgetting that Denon set the standard to double CD players that you could properly mix with…it was called the Denon 2000f that was the First CD deck for mixing. I also believe that Denon was the first to have a looping feature with the Denon 2500. So don’t talk about Denton being shit or for kids….they invented what we now supposedly call the industry standard with the pioneer cdj’s
[ link ]