As you might imagine, the units that have passed before my eyes (both in public and privately) have taken many forms and spanned many price brackets. I have, quite literally, seen it all before. And then something comes my way that makes me stop — it challenges the status quo and established paradigms, and aims to not so much fill a need, but create a whole new one. That’s what the totally unexpected Prime Go does.
Here’s some PR, dual-purposed with the Prime 2. Must add this to my article about product launches that it’s not helpful from an editorial and coverage perspective to use one piece of PR for two launches. Anyway…
DENON DJ® INTRODUCES PRIME 2 & PRIME GO – NO-COMPROMISE, 2- CHANNEL STANDALONE GEAR WITH CLASS-LEADING PRO DJ FEATURES
Next generation DJ solutions: The pro-mobile focused PRIME 2 and the rechargeable battery-powered PRIME GO, fully-featured 2-deck smart DJ consoles for ultimate creative DJ performance at any event
Fort Lauderdale FL, USA (Jan 13, 2020)—Denon DJ (www.denondj.com), a leading manufacturer of premium DJ products and solutions, today announced the introduction of their new PRIME 2 and PRIME GO smart DJ consoles. They share the ultimate touchscreen interface experience, standalone Wi-Fi music streaming and are powered by the lightning-fast ENGINE OS platform. PRIME GO adds a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to provide extreme portability. Together, they represent the pinnacle of fully-featured, no-compromise pro-level gear for mobile and club DJs.
Along with their 7” HD touchscreen UI experience, PRIME 2 and PRIME GO bring feature-rich, premium-level control and creative workflow for DJs. These include a class-leading timestretch and key-shift algorithm, the ability to play uncompressed music file formats plus on-board music management, track preview, internal file analysis and ‘direct to media source’ set recording too.
PRIME GO—Ultimate Portability
Prep your set on the move, throw PRIME GO in your backpack, then rock any gig with a fully-featured, pro-grade DJ performance workflow. Keep the music flowing at any event imaginable, powered by an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. PRIME GO is the best, no-compromise unit for any event.
PRIME 2—True Mobile Powerhouse
Delivering multicore-powered standalone performance, portability and expressive playback features, PRIME 2 is the epitome of future-facing DJ tech to accommodate any mobile or club-based gig. Able to access and play back digital files from multiple media sources, including a built-in internal HDD bay, PRIME 2’s compact footprint ensures that pro/mobile DJs can carry their musical world everywhere.
Innovation Reinvented
- Stream Music Standalone
- Both PRIME 2 and GO have built-in Wi-Fi and wired internet connectivity, enabling DJs to play music from partnered music streaming services, Beatport*, Beatsource*, SoundCloud* and TIDAL (customers receive a FREE 3-month trial subscription to TIDAL)
- Touch and Feel Music
oBoth PRIME 2 and PRIME GO empower DJs with the world’s most innovative user interface with 7” color HD touchscreens handling music library navigation, easy-search, crate management and track load – all with the touch/swipe of afinger.
- Ever-Evolving software
- ENGINE OS is the performance power inside PRIME 2 and PRIME GO. With a proven track record of continuous feature upgrades, ENGINE OS is unmatched in the DJ industry. Denon DJ, the company that listens!
- Lights, Video, Action!
- Expanding further on their no-compromise feature set, the PRIME 2 and GO have StagelinQ connectivity to command impactful AV elements via SoundSwitch lighting and Resolume video control.
Creatively advanced and technologically fast and nimble – for those that live, breath and know ‘DJ,’ PRIME 2 and PRIME GO is their gear!
PRIME GO Features
- Fully-featured, backpackable 2-deck smart DJ console
- 7-inch HD touchscreen with gestures
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 4 hours of unplugged performance
- Built-in Wi-Fi and wired internet connectivity for music streaming
- Dual-bank performance pads for triggering hot-cues, loop and roll
- No-compromise, pro-grade audio and connectivity
- RCA aux input for media players, tablets, phones
- Capacitive-touch jog wheels
- Internally analyze music files & Rekordbox™ collections direct from USB
- Standalone Track Preview
- Assignable FX module, 3-Band EQ and Filter/Sweep FX
- (2) dedicated XLR (¼” combo) mic inputs with EQ/Level/talkover
- USB and SD media source inputs
PRIME 2 Features
- Fully-featured, 2-Deck standalone, smart DJ console
- 7-inch HD touchscreen with gestures
- Built-in 2.5″ SATA drive bay to store music onboard
- Built-in Wi-Fi and wired internet connectivity for music streaming
- Capacitive-touch jog wheels with HD central display
- Internally analyze music files & Rekordbox™ collections direct from USB
- Standalone Track Preview
- Independent FX units, 3-Band EQ and Filter
- [8] Multi-function performance pads for triggered audio manipulation
- (2) dedicated XLR (¼” combo) mic inputs with EQ/Level and Talkover
- RCA aux input for media players, tablets, phones
U.S. retail for the Denon DJ PRIME 2 will be $1399 and PRIME GO $999 PRIME 2 and PRIME GO will be available Q1 2020
“With the introduction of PRIME 2 and PRIME GO, we’re beyond excited that the Prime Series, powered by ENGINE OS, is now truly open to the widest demographic of pro-mobile DJs” said Denon DJ’s Creative Director, Paul Dakeyne. “Both units are Wi-Fi enabled and more than compact enough to be carried to any location, but workflow feature-packed to handle any small, medium or large mobile/club gig or event. Together, PRIME 2 and PRIME GO usher in an exciting new era of accessible, no-compromise, tech-powered DJ performance!”
Portable Prime Power
First thing — console, not controller. The Prime Go is designed to be entirely standalone and self-contained, even to the point of cutting the power cord. So before anyone asks about using it with Serato DJ Pro or any other software, you’re doing it wrong. The Prime Go’s very reason to be is to cut as many cords as possible, including the USB cord between you and DJing freedom. I would actually be sad to see this work with a computer — if as a brand you’re going to tout fully standalone, stand behind that decision.
Depending on the order in which you read these articles, I’ve covered some key points in my Prime 2 piece already, namely about how providing a subset of features from a bigger unit doesn’t mean that everything should be cut. Wifi in particular is probably more essential in this unit that the Prime 4. This is a portable first on-the-go unit, and getting access to the assorted streaming platforms is an ideal feature rather than a luxury.
So while it is smaller and cheaper, The Prime Go is no less capable, and is most of Denon DJ’s current tech, squeezed into a battery-powered box.
Some casual observations
• Booth output is a nice but perhaps non-essential addition.
• Why is the easily removable and grabbable USB media port at the back when the hard to remove SD slot is at the front?
• Seems that the shift to asymmetrical layouts is complete.
• No fader controls. I’ll assume there are some hiding in the preferences especially as scratching is featured in the promo.
• Is it just me or is this the best controller NI never made but perhaps should have? The design cues are very striking. The pads on the SC6000/M also adopt this colour bar design rather than full button approach.
SUMMING UP
The Prime Go will be available Q1 2020 and will cost $999/£929. Ouch — that’s quite a ticket for a controller with a battery.
And there’s the rub. For that kind of cash, you’ve got to see real value in being totally portable, otherwise spending a few hundred more gets you the slightly larger but higher specced Prime 2.
Gallery
Denon has dropped the Bomb..this is HUGE!
The InMusic design catalog is labeled “Steve Brown -DJWorx database”
Why don’t you just become my agent Mark, and we’ll partner, officially as a consultant company.
My first recommendation is that Focus get his due respect and be brought in to design a C1 version of the 6000.
#makeitofficial
#peoplewithpassion
This might need to happen…. with an external battery modded inside of course (similar to the digitakt mod).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e94c8dc80be952e35afb8a4b64d065d4571af0114584aeef4a19fb9fb34e666.jpg
It will happen with InMusic breaking the genres to give their consumers what they are dreaming of.
This looks like a Twitch and an S4 had a baby. I am in love. Everytime I look at it one more time. damn
Bigups Denon, this looks great!
If only Denon did DVS, a unit similar to this that had turntable inputs/DVS capability would be drool worthy
Ok,
Now do a single s6000, with mixer stuff on it, on battery
#andilllosemygdmind
First impression – that’s a LOT of money! Seems at odds with the sort of DJ who might need/want this (mobile, beginner).
Most people already have a screen and a CPU, a.k.a. smartphone or tablet. Add (e.g.) a Pioneer DDJ-200 for circa £100 and you’ve got a portable system. This thing is nearly ten times that!
I can agree on the pricepoint. $799 would have been more of a fair target.
Agreed.
The idea is innovative.
Device looks good, except the eq placement (why not have a vertical line of knobs on each side of the screen?) and the jogs.
I’m curious if it’ll be successful at that price.
This is the first piece of DJ equipment in years that I’d conside buying. It reminds of the Stanton SCS.4DJ. I wonder what the overall physical dimensions are – if it will fit in a Technics record bag, for example.
I’ve been using an SCS.4DJ for about five years, this would be a nice upgrade path for me. Not at that price, though. Will have to wait and see if the price comes down, or maybe pick one up used.
I have a SCS.4DJ that was bought from Mark here at DJ Worx when they had a sale as a spare backup machine and its toured the world with me for the last 3 years. Admittedly almost unused but still… it’s always there!
You may recall that I commented on your Pioneer XDJ piece, basically bemoaning the fact that the controller I want doesn’t exist…I need to go back and edit that statement. This ticks every single box, plus some I didn’t know I wanted ticked!
The only issue is the price. It’s really expensive, albeit jam packed full of features. Bravo Denon.
Is the Mic EQ buried in the on-screen settings?
I’m impressed though. If I could drag myself away from the powered monitor I like to take to gigs, & transfer to I.E.M’s. Then my rig for corporate walk ins could be one smallish case.
I don’t know. Maybe ask at Digital DJ Tips.
Almost perfect…Why is it only one USB input? :(
I live in a rural community on an island. There is no “Club” scene here. Barely a bar scene. But there is a community of DJs who like to go play all night long on a beach or on a farm once a month. We need a setup that allows multiple DJs to play together. We need a setup that allows an unexpected guest DJ to stop by and pop on the decks for an impromptu set.
Battery power is awesome, but why only one USB? I don’t know any DJs who carry around SD cards full of music.
You can use a USB hub if you have more than 1 USB drive for the night. If it’s your rig you can leave a 256GB SD card inside it and not need to fuss with USB drives!
Class 10 Micro SD Cards put USB thumb drives to shame as far as performance goes. My prime-ready storage devices are SD cards.
I agree with everything you’ve said except that it SHOULD be a controller. For that price, it should control everything the Prime series does.
Also, $900 is far to high for this type of unit. $500-$600 maybe.
Correct this part in your article…”Way is the easily removable and grabbable USB media port at the back when the hard to remove SD slot is at the front?”
I think you mean “Why”
More like a $1000.
I think it will be a controller, but they can bake that in later. I would love Serato on this. Not for me as much as having a guest DJ who is Serato-centric be able to play (see my earlier comment about beach & farm parties).
Agreed, Prime 2 and Prime Go shouldn’t be entirely locked on Standlone (the small 7″ are just not good enough for heavy 8hrs wedding gigs, they just aren’t) plus they also lack proper inputs for external sources. Now, VDJ had been added, but with Serato Pro support, interest would be much higher. Think alone about all those Pioneer SB/SR/SX users out there, for whom the Prime 4 is simply too bulky, but the Prime 2 would be perfect. I am one of those.
Fixed. Thanks.
Well done to DenonDJ!! Great little unit. For the price I think it should be able to connect to dj software, more options adds value.
I just wish they would release stand alone DVS interface.
1. They did — https://www.denondj.com/products/dj-interfaces
2. But nobody does that anymore. It’s all built into the mixers.
Imagine this device. Remove the jog wheels. Put the eq knobs vertical on the sides of the screen. Put the FX controls next to em. Place 8 hotcue buttons in a 2×4 vertical placement directly below that. Replace the faders with three mini innofadrs or Rane Mag4 faders. Add DVS capability. It’ll be the Thud Rumble Mixer done properly.
as to why the USB port is on the back and the SD slot on the front, most likely because an USB stick sticking out the front would make laptop use (in taxi / airplane) problematic.
Well I was wrong about the Prime 2 being battery powered….but the Prime Go is perfect for us mobile guys who need a quick and easy ceremony system. This is perfect! Denon is really pushing things forward!
Without question a very innovative unit, which comes with a few compromises.
Give it bluetooth (for speakers) and Serato DJ support, lower the price to 700-800$, and it will sell very well!
i have prime go & 4 the engine prime software is ridiculously slow& cpu hungry & when a crash occurs it wreecks the data base it has not been made with open format dj’s in mind who have large music collections plus it you plug a sd card or usb drive in it will not be able to search until it has been analysed you cant just add to database as in vdj which takes a very short time to this the go needs to be able to link to vdj to make it usable for me it would have been nice to have had two line inputs as well. i also have had the prime 4 lock up when messing with effects & vdj did the same also when messing with effects denon need to be quicker with updates also
Hmmm….
I’m an open format DJ with a large music collection, and I’ve not had any crashes or database issues with Engine Prime. I think most of the issues posted on their forum are caused by user error or using Engine Prime in a way other than as directed.
It is quirky though. There’s certainly room for improvement. Repeatedly “checking files”, and the “update missing artwork” every time it starts up, even though no artwork ever seems to actually get updated. The tag editing method could be improved too.
when you say large im talking 1.75tb i also have a very capable pc & engine prime hogs the cpu which causes blue screen of death as for user error i cant see how this would effect the process just look at the denon site you will see no end of complaints vdj does it much quicker & easire plus all you have to do is add the music to its database & it will search for whatever quickly
If you’re getting BSOD that’s usually a sign of an underlying serious issue with the OS, not with software.
VDJ is quicker, yes – but it’s a different type of DB. Denon could have used a similar system, but they chose to use SQLite which uses a bunch of separate files, some of which are huge. I don’t know if the format is the problem, or their implementation, but I agree it’s dire in comparison to the VDJ system.