DJ Expo starts today, and with it comes some fresh goodies. After a period of time in the garage, Denon DJ is revving its engine a little right now, and after the real estate grabbing MCX8000 Serato DJ and Engine standalone controller comes a smaller sibling. The Serato DJ specific but no less capable Denon DJ MC7000 has the added bonus of dual USB and the new key sync feature.
Denon DJ’s words follow:
DENON DJ MC7000 DJ CONTROLLER OFFERS UNEXPECTEDLY SUPERIOR SOUND, CONSTRUCTION AND VERSATILITY
MC7000 offers unmatched combination of 4-channel Serato capability with dual USB connections for the ultimate DJ experience, coupled with legendary Denon DJ quality
Cumberland RI, USA (August 15, 2016)—Denon DJ (www.denondj.com), a leading manufacturer of premium DJ products and solutions, today announced the introduction of its new MC7000 DJ controller with 4-channel Serato DJ capability and dual USB connections. These two USB interfaces enable two DJs to play together or ‘hand off’ in a truly seamless, uninterrupted manner. Coupled with Denon DJ’s legendary build quality and superior audio reproduction, this is a no-compromise controller perfectly suited to mobile and club DJs looking for the next evolution of Serato controller. The MC7000 also includes the full version of Serato DJ, plus, 3 creative expansion packs (Pitch ‘n Time, Flip and Video), enabling DJ’s to empower their musical, remix and visual style – to the max!
Special consideration was given to the DJ experience: The dual 6-inch platters have a touch-capacitive design with rotational LED displays, giving a DJ maximum feedback to optimize track manipulation performance in real time. The MC7000’s new, exclusive and dedicated Key Matching and Changing controls give the DJ an unprecedented ability to instantly and harmonically match musical keys, resulting in an enhanced audience and dancefloor experience. In addition, the MC7000 is Serato DVS Upgrade Ready, giving DJs the power to mix a program of digital music sources with the elegance and accuracy of legacy vinyl control. The unit’s comprehensive, multi-input mixer also allows DJ’s to access line/phono inputs from both authentic analog (vinyl) and digital sources for a perfect blend of content and sound.
Key Features
- 4-Channel DJ Controller with Digital Mixer
- Dual USB Audio Interfaces – Connect 2 Computers at once
- 3 Serato Expansion Packs Included (Pitch ‘n Time, Flip and Video worth $200)
- 16 Velocity-Sensitive Performance Pads
- New Dedicated Key Matching and Changing Controls
- Solid 6-inch Touch Capacitive Platters with Tracking LED
- 2 Mic Inputs with Dedicated Controls
- XLR Booth and Master connections
- Serato DJ DVS Compatible
- Solid Compact Design
“The new MC7000 is the 4-channel controller DJs have been asking for,” said Ross Goodwin, Product Manager for Denon DJ. He added, “DJs will love the MC7000’s size, portability and build. The dual USB connection allows creativity, collaboration and most importantly a way for seamless change-overs between DJs, because the music should never stop until it’s the end of the night.”
U.S. retail pricing for the MC7000 is $999.00
Availability is Fall 2016.
OUR FIRST COMMENT
“Unexpectedly superior sound”? Oh how we chortled. Either Denon DJ intended it to be crappy but it still came out better than expected, they underestimate their own ability to produce great sound, or they think that the market is expecting crappy sound from Denon. None of these scenarios are true of course — it’s just a weird turn of phrase.
Aaaanyway… clearly the high-end (or is this now mid range given the MCX8000?) format is established, as to me this is a cookie cutter competitor for the DDJ-SX/RX from Pioneer DJ. You could hide the logos and not immediately tell them apart except for the round buttons and asymmetric layout of the Pioneer DJ units. But Serato created this format with its partners, and for now Pioneer DJ is sticking with it. For now at least.
STANDOUTS
For me, there’s two features that leap out of the page at me:
Key syncing — ewww… that hated sync word. And now with the bundled Serato Pitch ‘N Time plugin, there’s a button that will allow you to key match playing songs. Not an easy task for any software, and something that needs to be played with before entirely changing the tone of your favourite upbeat anthem into a minor key dirge. But clever nonetheless. I trust that Serato DJ offers some help in this area.
Dual USB ports — nothing new per se, but it does indicate that Denon DJ would like to see this being shared in a club rather than being a sole mobile DJ’s unit. That said, it does have dual mic controls, albeit shoehorned int the corners.
There’s also a fair slice of Serato DJ expansion packs bundled too. It stops short of DVS, but if that’s your thing, you can purchase it as an extra.
Price wise… we’ll something weird is happening, and I can only put it down to Brexit impacted exchange rates. In the US, the MC7000 is coming in cheaper than the DDJ-RX ($1199 vs $999). But in the UK, it’s more expensive (£759 vs £849). There’s a lot going for both packages, but unlike rekordbox, Serato DJ is established and it does come with video too. Give it a year of bug fixing, and Serato won’t be able to depend on that.
Time will tell what happens with the MC7000. Outside of key sync, I’m not as excited as I once was at the prospect of playing with one, as I feel we’ve been here many times before. But I have no doubt that this is a very solid offering from Denon DJ, aimed at keeping the hearts of potential switchers in the Denon/Serato camp. It absolutely fulfils the needs of many DJs without trying to be too clever. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
GALLERY
Hey Mark, is it that unit that made you have some “wow effects” when you visited inMusic UK ??? I really hope NO !
Denon can do a lot better but I don’t understand their strategy for the moment. They’re trying to replace Pioneer in the Serato controller range but with years delay…
Am I the only one who is quite disappointed by Denon Dj ???
This is not that unit. I certainly wouldn’t have made such claims about this unit. The really special stuff is coming.
Perhaps, an updated controller like the V7, but made by Denon that can also use an Ipad/IPhone as a screen or read music from an external drive… That would be a game changer especially with a slightly bigger platter but smaller body weight than the V7s.
So will they attempt to compete with Pioneer on the CDJ/XDJ front as well??? I know you cannot divulge too much however how about a little hint?
They’ve taken the sc3900 and all of their mixers off the website. I’d expect them to be replaced.
There’s no more other big shows this year since inMusic will be not at BPM Show so I’m afraid we will have to wait until 2017.
Denon words “2016 will be the year od Denon DJ” sound a bit optimistic …
It’s perfectly feasible and probably more visible to announce gear in the other 350+ days of the years when there isn’t a show running though. Pioneer DJ does it all the time and not just around shows.
Yawn. Where is the DIRECT DRIVE 10″ Denon?
EXACTLY !!!!
Couldn’t have said it better myself. mcx9000 with 10″ platters like the 3900.
The old innovative Denon is gone. Best to move on.
Don’t write them off just yet. TRUST ME.
Please elaborate Gizmo. I’m hoping for a 2 channel battle mixer with 16 pads in the middle (ala DJM-S9) and 2 Direct Drive beasts on the side.
I’ve said as much as I can. Sorry. You know how it is.
You cheeky bastard, I knew I loved you for a reason
I’m reading this in the future (August 2017), & your wish has just been granted!
https://djworx.com/dj-expo-2017-ranes-seventy-two-mixer/
https://djworx.com/dj-expo-2017-rane-twelve-12-inches-of-digital-pleasure/
:-)
I almost cried. The mixer is everything I’ve wanted and then some with the screen, Transport?? and Fader FX. My thoughts on the battle TWELVE were mixed like Mark’s first reaction. Love the 12″ Direct Drive Platter but with barely any controls. You got guys saying the will be putting dicers on it already. But if you are going to convince Turntablest to switch to digital, than it has to be the same as a 1200 for muscle memory.
If there was a more compact 2 channel version that retains the tracking LED I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
I would 10/10 buy an updated , still traktor compatible, Dnx-1600 II …
My O.G 1600 is getting a little long in the tooth but i have no reason to upgrade because i love this mixer.
Better Efx and a slightly improved midi section ( squishy buttons would be nice ), and maybe a new magnetic flex fader (rane…. they have the technology), and i think i’ll have the perfect mixer.
Definitely considering that mixer. Been looking for an answer about one detail though. Does the filter control on the FX function in a similar manner to the FX-frequency selector on the new 9000NXS2?
Yes and no… Its a little better, but the efx to choose from are mesurably worse. so they’re fundamentally simular, but different in practice… One day i’ll get a pio rmx-1000 and run that through the send return loop, then it will be a much better solotuion…
the cool thing about the dnx’s filter is that the secondary mode cuts whatever frequency (and only that frequency)the filters set to on the track, and replaces those frequencies with a fx mixed version. I like it alot, just not the efx themselves.
That filter action actually sounds like a really interesting way of doing things. Does that mean on, say an echo effect, that turning the filter up in that secondary mode cuts out the lows going into the FX engine so that those frequencies aren’t repeated into a sub-destroying mess?
Yes it does, but it also means those frequencies are cut from the main track as well. flexible input routing means you can easily “clone” your track to another channel and use the cloned channel as a kind of aux effect channel… thats my workflow anyway
Ah, so it’s essentially moving the lo/hi filter from the channel strip to an assignable FX module, such that doing the filter+echo on a DJM is simply moved to separate section of the hardware, but is still doing the same thing to the signal in the end.
So basically a DDJ SX that’s smaller, mirrored layout, and two USB soundcards. I’ll laugh if this is cheaper than the MCX8000 because it’ll make the exclusion of two USB soundcards on the MCX8000 look like a terrible decision.
*DDJ SX2 I think you mean?
Considering they’re the same form factor ‘cept one has RBG pads and other slight improvements, they’re interchangeable at this point.
Totally my bad, I thought the SX was the two channel version. I shall feel shame for the rest of today. ;) Carry on.
You’re thinking of the SR :)
With dual soundcards like a Pioneer DDJ-SZ/RZ. Way to go Denon!
True, but one of the marketing points of the MCX8000 was how its standalone ability made it easier to switch DJ’s by plugging in a USB stick and either playing off that or only playing off of it ’til the new laptop was fully connect. The MC7000 makes it even easier, so what’s the point of the MCX8000 unless you want something bigger with screens and a (lackluster) standalone DJ software?
You have options. Bring your own laptop(s) and pay less or bring your own USB sticks and pay a little bit more. Also the MCX8000 has control of video whereas I don’t know if that is possible with Serato unless you purchase added apps and have the necessary hardware. For people who are shopping the DDJ RX or SX2 this will be a viable option and competitor as it provides more capability for less $ than the Pioneer controller.
And the MCX8000 has the screens and onboard FX. But MC7000 comes with Flip, Serato Video and a couple of extra hardware dedicated controls.
I forgot about those on-board effects, though those don’t work with Serato DJ. According to a DJ Expo video I’m currently watching, it’ll cost as much as a DDJ SX2 but will include a license for Serato Video, Pitch ‘N Time, and Serato Flip. Now THAT is a good value, especially considering you get none of those with Pioneer gear.
Whilst Engine and USB sticks can be used for changeovers on the 8000, they can also be used for 100% standalone playability or as backup for if Serato/”insert software here”/your computer goes down. That same flexibility cannot be said of 2 x USB interfaces – unless you bring a spare laptop to gigs, and even then, you’re not standalone.
Nice. A PROPER pioneer alternative.
With dual soundcards for way less than a Pioneer DDJ-SZ/RZ.
Hey Mark! Def not an SZ/RZ competitor “too small” ;-)
The point of what I said is that it offers some of the features of the more expensive Pioneer unit for less money. The two compete on more than size. If someone is looking at an SX2 or RX the Denon looks like a better value with a feature only found on the larger, more expensive SZ/RZ.
A little bird tells me that this will have mappings for Traktor and VDJ on release.
Can you please make a video of switching over DJ’s for Traktor on a dual USB interface. I always wondered about this on the RANE 2016 / 2014 and now this MC7000.
tweet, tweet. . .
MCX 6000 would be nice. And a DNX 600MK2 mixer. What says the birdie?
More controller for serato wow! Not for nothing controller are starting to get played out an boring. Denon should start working on there table top players. They are so behind on there game. Wish Silvio was still around for denon. Don’t get me wrong there controller are nice. But how much more u need for serato? Not everybody are into laptop djing.
It’s one of the most popular selling product categories in the industry. . . . and that’s not a guess by any means. . . the controller market is going to continue to grow and grow. Everyone is different and has different needs, while some of these pieces may look the same there’s one or two features that distinguish them from each other.
As for table top players, the 3900/2900 sat on the shelves sadly as the market shifted. It’s just the current state of the industry and I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
And yes, we all miss Silvio that goes without question
Still waiting for the almighty Twitch V2 equivalent. Denon, make it happen.
I think native’s got you covered man.
Not moving to Traktor. To much overhead and not as reliable in my experience so far.
Two D2s and a mixer of your choice should be exactly what you`re looking for. Traktor has been very stable and reliable for years for me – and still is – on my six years old MacBook Pro. You should give Traktor another try.
I want a full controller type setup I can pick up and play at a house party/small space/in a pinch. When it’s at home/at a show I want two turntables on either side. If I was to go Traktor it would be the S8 & 2 tables but I’m really holding out though as I’ve had too many bad experiences with it.
Can you tell me where is the VL-12 turntable?
Any tension control on the platters? If not, the SZ definitely has the upper hand in that department.
“Unexpectedly superior sound” – Probably directly (badly) translated at the Japanese end of Denon.