User Guide
Table of Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................. 4 Box Contents ........................................................................................................................ 4 Support ................................................................................................................................. 4 Setup....................................................................
Using Engine ............................................................................................................................. 33 Getting Started ................................................................................................................... 33 Mixing with Engine............................................................................................................. 33 Navigating & Loading Tracks ............................................................................
Introduction Box Contents MCX8000 USB Cable Power Adapter Software Download Card Quickstart Guide Safety & Warranty Manual Support For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit denondj.com.
Setup Important: Occasionally, we may update MCX8000’s firmware to improve its performance. Visit denondj.com to check for available firmware updates, especially after you update your software (firmware updates may address new software features). Note: Items not listed under the Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately. 1. Visit denondj.com and log into your account. (Create an account if this is your first Denon DJ product.) 2.
Features Top Panel 51 54 64 57 64 60 65 58 65 59 61 52 53 50 55 60 60 62 61 61 56 63 46 47 31 26 34 33 35 27 42 43 45 35 38 39 40 41 48 10 18 10 10 17 1 18 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 17 4 4 4 4 19 20 21 49 28 3 5 6 8 3 5 6 8 7 3 5 6 8 7 3 5 6 8 7 13 14 17 29 44 45 10 17 16 32 36 16 15 15 12 11 25 7 24 23 22 37 30 9 1.
8. Crossfader Assign: Routes the audio playing on the corresponding channel to either side of the crossfader (L or R), or bypasses the crossfader and sends the audio directly to the program mix (center, Thru). 9. Crossfader: Use this crossfader to mix between the two active decks. 10. Channel FX: Use these buttons to apply Effect A and/or B to the corresponding channel while using Serato DJ.
28. Sync / Sync Off: While using Serato DJ, press this button to automatically match the corresponding deck’s tempo with the tempo and phase of the opposite deck. While using Engine, press this button to automatically match the corresponding deck’s tempo with the tempo of the opposite deck. The Sync button on the master deck will flash. Press and hold Shift and press this button to deactivate Sync. Important: Sync is not possible between Serato DJ and Engine.
37. Pads: These pads have different functions on each deck depending on the current Pad Mode. These modes are described in Using Serato DJ > Playing Tracks > Pad Modes (Serato DJ) and Using Engine > Playing Tracks > Pad Modes (Engine). 38. Cue / Cue Loop / Flip: This Pad Mode button switches the pads between three modes: Cue Mode, Cue Loop Mode, and Flip Mode. When the button is unlit, the first press will always select Cue Mode.
46. Slip: Press this button to activate or deactivate the Slip feature. When activated, you can jump to cue points, trigger loop rolls, or use the platters, while the track’s timeline continues. In other words, when you stop the action, the track will resume normal playback from where it would have been if you had never done anything (i.e., as if the track had been playing forward the whole time). 47.
54. Crates/Playlists: While using Serato DJ, press this to show the different panels. Press and hold Shift and then press this button to change the view layout. While using Engine, press this to view your crates. Press and hold Shift and then press this button to view your playlists. Important: We recommend using the Engine software on your computer to configure the music library on your USB flash drive before connecting it to MCX8000.
64. USB 1/2 Ports: Connect standard USB flash drives to these USB ports. When you set the input selector on Channels 1 or 2 to Engine (the center position), you can use the display on each deck to select and load tracks on your USB flash drives to each deck. Important: We recommend using the Engine software on your computer to configure the music library on your USB flash drive before connecting it to MCX8000.
6. Master Outputs (XLR, balanced): Use standard XLR cables to connect these outputs to loudspeakers or an amplifier system. Use the Master knob on the top panel to control the volume level. 7. Master Outputs (RCA, unbalanced): Use standard RCA cables to connect these outputs to loudspeakers or an amplifier system. Use the Master knob on the top panel to control the volume level. 8.
Using Serato DJ Mixing with Serato DJ Important: In order for the Sync buttons on MCX8000 to work, both active decks must be controlling decks in Serato DJ. Trying to sync a deck playing a track in Serato DJ to a deck playing a track in Engine can produce unexpected results. To set a channel on MCX8000 to control a deck in Serato DJ, set a channel’s Input Selector to PC.
To enter a crate, playlist, or library, press the Select/Load Knob when a crate, playlist, or library is selected. To expand or collapse a “parent” crate or iTunes playlist folder, press Back/Clr. To load a track to a deck, press the Select/Load Knob when a track is selected. Tip: To load a track to both decks (“instant doubles”), press the Select/Load Knob twice quickly. To add a track to the Prepare Crate, press Load Prep when a track is selected.
The Performance View includes the following items: 1 2 8 7 6 3 4 11 5 9 10 12 13 12 13 12 13 14 1. Deck: This is the currently selected deck in the software, which is controlled by the left or right deck on MCX8000. Press the Deck button to switch between the layers. The left deck on MCX8000 controls Deck 1 or 3 in the software; the right deck controls Deck 2 or 4. 2. Title: This field shows the track’s title. 3. Key: This field shows the track’s key. 4.
• Hot cue points are represented by triangles () whose color depends on the hot cue point number. • Loops are represented by a light-blue-shaded region. A loop that is brightly lit is active, while one that is dimly lit is inactive. 10. Audio Waveform: This large waveform represents a section of the current track. You can use the Zoom In / Zoom Out button to adjust the view. • The waveform color-coding indicates the frequency of the audio signal: o Red represents low-frequency (bass) content.
Pitch Functions To adjust the speed (pitch) of a track, move the pitch fader on the corresponding deck. To temporarily adjust the speed (pitch) of a track, do one of the following: • Press one of the Pitch Bend –/+ buttons on the corresponding deck. • When the Vinyl button is off, move the platter. • While touching only the side of the platter, move the platter. To adjust the range of the pitch fader, press and hold Shift and then press one of the Pitch Bend –/+ buttons.
Beatgrid Functions See the Serato DJ manual to learn more about using the beatgrid. To adjust/“warp” the entire beatgrid of a track, press and hold Adjust and move the platter on the corresponding deck. Your track must have a set beatgrid for this feature to work. Important: Using this feature will change the track’s BPM. To set a beat marker at the audio playhead’s current location, press and hold Shift and then press Adjust/Set on the corresponding deck.
Loop Functions To create an auto-loop, press Auto Loop when it is unlit. A loop will be automatically created and activated at the current location. The Auto-Loop Length field shows how long the loop will be. To create a manual loop, press and hold Shift and press X1/2 / Loop In at the desired starting location. Playback will continue. At the desired ending location, press and hold Shift and press X2 / Loop Out. Playback will return to the Loop In point and the loop will be activated.
Pad Modes The pads on each deck of MCX8000 controlling Serato DJ have different functions depending on the current Pad Mode. These modes are described on the following pages. Click a name to jump to its section: Cue Mode Roll Mode Slicer Mode Sampler Mode Cue Loop Mode Saved Loop Mode Slicer Loop Mode Velocity Sampler Mode Flip Mode Pitch Play Mode Cue Mode In Cue Mode, each pad assigns a hot cue point or returns the track to that hot cue point.
Cue Loop Mode In Cue Loop Mode, each pad assigns a hot cue point or returns the track to that hot cue point (like Cue Mode), but in both cases, it also creates an Auto-Loop at that point. To enter Cue Loop Mode, press Cue / Cue Loop / Flip so that it lights green. To assign a hot cue point and auto-loop, press an unlit pad at the desired point in your track. The pad will light up when it is assigned. To jump to a hot cue point and auto-loop, press a lit pad.
Flip Mode In Flip Mode, Pads 1–6 each trigger a Flip, which you can assign in the software. See the Serato DJ manual to learn more about Flips. You can use this if you have installed the Serato Flip Expansion Pack. To enter Flip Mode, press and hold Shift and then press Cue / Cue Loop / Flip so that it lights red. To start or stop recording of a Flip, press the button. To play a Flip, press the corresponding lit pad (1–6). The pad will flash as the Flip plays.
Roll Mode Note: The pad layouts here match the software’s default Auto-Loop time division layout. If you shift the range of time divisions displayed in the software, the pad layout will change to match it. In Roll Mode, each pad triggers a momentary Loop Roll. To enter Roll Mode, press Roll / Saved Loop so that it lights aqua. To trigger a Loop Roll, press the corresponding pad. To shift the Loop Roll left or right, use the / buttons.
Saved Loop Mode In Saved Loop Mode, each pad will return the track to one of your saved loops. The pad layouts for the two banks are identical. To enter Saved Loop Mode, press Roll / Saved Loop so that it lights yellow. To create a loop, press and hold Shift and press X1/2 / Loop In to set the Loop In point. Then, press and hold Shift and press X2 / Loop Out to set the Loop Out point and trigger the loop.
Slicer Mode Important: Your track must have a set beatgrid for this mode to work. In Slicer Mode, the eight pads represent eight sequential beats—“Slices”—in the beatgrid. The currently playing slice is represented by the currently lit pad; the light will “move through the pads” as it progresses through each eight-slice phrase. You can press a pad to play that slice. When you release the pad, the track will resume normal playback from where it would have been if you had never pressed it (i.e.
Slicer Loop Mode Important: Your track must have a set beatgrid for this mode to work. In Slicer Loop Mode, the eight pads represent eight sequential beats—“Slices”—in the beatgrid. The currently playing slice is represented by the currently lit pad; the light will “move through the pads” as it progresses through the eight-slice phrase, which will loop (this is the difference between this mode and Slicer Mode). You can press a pad to play that slice.
Sampler Mode In Sampler Mode, the pads will control the SP-6 sampler within the software. Pads 1–6 each trigger a sample at a specified volume (you assign both the sample and its volume in the software). To enter Sampler Mode, press Sampler / Velocity Samp. so that it lights purple. To assign a sample and its volume, use the software. See the Serato DJ manual to learn more about using samples. To play a sample, press a lit pad (1–6). The pad will flash as the sample plays.
Velocity Sampler Mode In Velocity Sampler Mode, the pads will control the SP-6 sampler within the software. Pads 1–6 each trigger a sample (which you assign in the software) at a volume proportional to how heavily you pressed them. In other words, the pads behave as they do in Sampler Mode, but they are velocity-sensitive. This mode can give your performance more of a “human feel.” To enter Velocity Sampler Mode, press Sampler / Velocity Samp. so that it lights light blue.
Pitch Play Mode In Pitch Play Mode, each pad plays the track from a hot cue point at a different transposition (adjustable by semitones). You can use this if you have installed the Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Pack. See Cue Mode to learn how to assign hot cue points. To enter Pitch Play Mode, press and hold Shift and then press Sampler / Velocity Samp. so that it lights green. To select which hot cue point to use, press and hold Shift and then press a dimly lit pad.
Playback/Performance Functions To activate or deactivate a platter’s “vinyl mode,” press Vinyl. When activated, you can move the platter to “scratch” the track as you would with a vinyl record. To activate or deactivate the Censor feature, press and hold Censor. When activated, the track will play in reverse, but when you release Censor, normal playback will resume from where it would have been if you had never engaged the Censor feature (i.e., as if the track had been playing forward the whole time).
Effects Important: See the Serato DJ manual to learn more about using effects. To switch between Single FX Mode and Multi FX Mode, press and hold Shift and press Tap / FX Mode on the desired deck. To select an effect, do one of the following: • Press and hold Shift and press On / FX Select under the effect slot on the desired deck. The effect slot will cycle through the available effects. • Press and hold Shift and turn the FX Level knob under the effect slot on the desired deck.
Using Engine Getting Started To prepare a USB hard drive or flash drive to use with an Engine-compatible player, we recommend using the Engine computer software to create an Engine Target database on your USB drive. When MCX8000 plays the tracks on that USB drive, it will reference its Engine database information, resulting in a smoother performance. Analyzing your music library in Engine also enables you to use hot cue points, crates, and playlists as well as view color-coded waveforms.
To show your track list in the display, turn the Select/Load Knob or press View. The track list includes the following items: • Drives: The list of USB drives connected to MCX8000. o All: All tracks in the Engine Target database on the USB drive. Just before seeing the list of tracks, you will see a list of categories by which you can sort them. See the following Categories to learn about this feature. o Crate: The top level of crates in the Engine Target database on the USB drive.
Categories Before seeing a list of tracks under All or a crate, you will see a list of categories by which you can filter them: Title, Genre, BPM, Key, Artist, and Album. These categories enable you to display tracks only when they belong to the category/categories you select. You can select an option in one or more categories. To select an option in a category: 1. Turn the Select/Load Knob to select a category, and then press the Select/Load Knob to enter the category. 2.
Crates Using the computer version of Engine software, you can manage the tracks in your Engine Target databases by sorting them into “crates.” A crate will reference the tracks in it as well as the tracks in any sub-crates below it. You can create up to 8 levels of sub-crates. Multiple sub-crates can be created on the same level. The tracks in each crate will be sorted by their titles. To enter a crate or sub-crate, press the Select/Load Knob when a crate or sub-crate is selected.
Playlists Using the computer version of Engine software, you can use playlists to manage tracks in your Engine Target database and the order in which they play. You can add up to 1,000 tracks to each playlist. A track can appear on a playlist multiple times. The tracks in a playlist will appear in the order they were added to it. To enter a playlist, press the Select/Load Knob when a playlist is selected.
Playing Tracks To play or pause a track loaded to a deck, press Play/Pause. To switch between Single and Continuous play, press Single/Cont on the desired deck. When the button is lit, the deck is in Continuous Play Mode; after a track ends, the next track in the track list will start playing. Continuous Play Mode will last for 60 tracks. After that, playback will stop.
Performance View The Performance View lets you view the currently loaded track’s information, monitor its playback, and control its effects. This section explains the different parts of the Performance View and how to DJ with Engine while in this view. To show Performance View in the display, press View so it is not showing the track list. The Performance View includes the following items: 1 2 7 8 9 3 4 5 10 6 11 12 14 13 13 13 15 1.
10. Auto-Loop Length: This field shows the current auto-loop length as a division or multiple of the current BPM. Press the X1/2 or X2 buttons to decrease or increase the value. 11. Track Overview: This smaller waveform represents the entire current track. You can use the Needle Drop strip to jump to a specific point in the track. • The waveform color-coding indicates the frequency of the audio signal: o Red represents low-frequency (bass) content. o Green represents mid-range-frequency content.
Pitch Functions To adjust the speed (pitch) of a track, move the pitch fader on the corresponding deck. The Current BPM field will show the new BPM, and the Pitch Adjustment field will show the change as a percentage. To temporarily adjust the speed (pitch) of a track, do one of the following: • Press one of the Pitch Bend –/+ buttons on the corresponding deck. • When the Vinyl button is off, move the platter. • While touching only the side of the platter, move the platter.
Loop Functions To create an auto-loop, press Auto Loop when it is unlit. A loop will be automatically created and activated at the current location. The Auto-Loop Length field shows how long the loop will be. To create a manual loop, press and hold Shift and press X1/2 / Loop In at the desired starting location. Playback will continue. At the desired ending location, press and hold Shift and press X2 / Loop Out. Playback will return to the Loop In point and the loop will be activated.
Pad Modes The pads on each deck of MCX8000 using Engine have different functions depending on the current Pad Mode: Cue Mode, Roll Mode, and Slicer Mode. These modes are described on the following pages. Cue Mode In Cue Mode, each pad assigns a hot cue point or returns the track to that hot cue point. To enter Cue Mode, press Cue / Cue Loop / Flip so that it lights blue. To assign a hot cue point, press an unlit pad at the desired point in your track. The pad will light up when it is assigned.
Slicer Mode Important: Your track must have a BPM for this mode to work. In Slicer Loop Mode, Pads 1–4 (the top row) represent four sequential beats—“Slices”—in the beatgrid. The currently playing slice is represented by the currently lit pad; the light will “move through the pads” as it progresses through the four-slice phrase, which will loop (this is the difference between this mode and Slicer Mode). You can press a pad to play that slice.
Using the Utility Menu The Utility menu contains settings that determine some of MCX8000 default functions. Some are relevant to overall operation, while others are relevant only to Engine. To enter the Utility menu, press and hold View/Utility/Column for 2 seconds. To exit the Utility menu, press View/Utility/Column. To change a setting: 1. Turn the Select/Load Knob to move through the list of settings. The currently selected one is highlighted. 2.
Engine Settings Important: These settings affect only how MCX8000 functions while using Engine. • Auto Cue Level: This setting determines the location of the initial cue point at the start of a track. The initial cue point will be placed where the track’s signal level first exceeds -48dB, -54dB, or -60dB. When set to Off, the initial cue point will be placed at the very start of the track.
• • Needle Drop Mode: This setting determines how the Needle Drop strip functions: o Play: While playback is stopped, touching the Needle Drop strip will immediately start playback at that location in the track. o Scan: While playback is stopped, touching the Needle Drop strip will preview a small section of audio from that location repeatedly. This is useful for auditioning a precise location in the track.
• MCU Version: This field shows the current version of microcontroller unit (MCU) firmware your MCX8000 is using. • Network Address: This field shows the current network address of your MCX8000. This information is relevant only when using its Link (Ethernet) port to control lighting and video via StageLinQ. • MAC Address: This field shows the current media access control (MAC) address of your MCX8000.
Technical Specifications Specifications are subject to change without notice. Playable Media Type USB mass-storage devices (flash memory, external HDD enclosures) connected to toppanel USB Ports 1/2 File Systems FAT16 FAT32 File Formats AAC (CBR/VBR, 44.1 kHz, stereo 64–320 kbps) AIF/AIFF (44.1 kHz, 16-/24-bit stereo) MP3 (CBR/VBR, 44.1 kHz, stereo 32–320 kbps) WAV (44.
Analog Input Analog Output Connections Mic Inputs -40 dBu (unity); -60 dBu (minimum) Line Inputs +18 dBV (maximum); 0 dBV (unity) Master Outputs (balanced) +24 dBu (maximum); +4 dBu (unity) Master Outputs (unbalanced) +20 dBu (maximum); 0 dBu (unity) Booth Outputs (balanced) +24 dBu (maximum); +4 dBu (unity) Headphones Outputs > 150 mW @ 40 Ω Audio Outputs 2 XLR outputs (master left/right, balanced) 1 RCA output pair (master left/right, unbalanced) 2 XLR outputs (booth left/right, balanced)
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