Denon Releases Engine 1.5 Version Software
With Denon DJ coming out with the MCX8000, they are also getting in the game of controller with built in software. The first controller that came out with this feature was a lil controller from Stanton.Then Pioneer came out with a controller with Rekordbox built in, Now Denon DJ is doing the same with the release of the Engine 1.5 software.
Engine, the software from Denon is not new. It’s latest version only brings its media player capabilities to a controller. It is said to be able to import Serato DJ hot cues directly, but it doesn’t seem to do that yet for other big name DJ software. Or maybe they see Serato as the only market that they can get some shares from for the time being.
A few things they describe as Unique to the latest Engine Version:
Color Waveforms
Key Filtering
Serato DJ Hotcue Support
Extensive Collection Support
Drop The Music onto a flash drive
As with other similar systems, some people seem to be tired of always having to bring a laptop as they see it as a distraction, a thing that usually makes it hard to interact with the crowd and such. As valid point as this is, you might not be looking at a laptop screen, but you are still looking at a screen regardless (actually two or more screens). You will need a computer to curate, analyze, and do all the other things that can’t be done directly from the controller, and if the software fails, a laptop is still a viable backup. Maybe there is something they are not telling us, but until then, its just seem like something some people want for the sake of wanting something new... We'll see for sure once we get it in the lab for review...
The official press release can be checked out below.