Denon Controller SC-2900

CDs, USB storage and DJ software call for different ways of working in a set. The Denon DN-SC2900 brings these sources together in one device: you can play audio CDs or files from USB storage and also use the player as a MIDI controller. Its 7-inch Eclipse jogwheel with LED markers displays cue and position points directly on the platter.

You can integrate the SC-2900 into a software-based setup via its built-in USB audio connection. The device can be used with Traktor 2; Traktor LE 2 is included. MIDI control is compatible with many MIDI programs. You can switch between media playback and MIDI operation without interruption. In MIDI mode, the MIDI layer option lets you use eight Hot Cue buttons; in Player mode, four dedicated Hot Cues are available.

With Player Link, you can connect up to four DN-SC2900 and DN-SC3900 units in a network. The players can share access to tracks on USB storage; with ENGINE software, playback from a connected PC or Mac is also possible. The included ENGINE music management software for PC and Mac is used to prepare and manage your music library. An optional ENGINE app for iPad can control up to four players over Wi-Fi.

Auto and manual loops, a separate Slip button and BPM Sync are available for direct access to tracks and mix points. The Slip function allows reverse, loop and scratch actions while playback continues at the original beat. The tempo can be adjusted across four ranges; Key Adjust maintains the pitch. Auto BPM, TAP, manual BPM entry and metadata reading offer different ways to determine the tempo.

The slot-in drive plays CDs, while the USB port on top accepts USB storage devices and hard drives. AAC, AIFF, MP3 and WAV files are supported. Waveform display, a multi-line text display and icons help you find your way around; Fast Search and Quick Jump speed up track navigation. Folder search goes down nine levels, and search accuracy is 1/75 of a second.

Analogue and digital audio outputs, USB MIDI and a fader start input are available for connecting to mixers and computers. The integrated audio interface supports ASIO and Core Audio. A Kensington lock connector is also provided. The Burr-Brown D/A converter processes audio signals at 24-bit resolution; the internal DSP quantisation is 32-bit.

The SC-2900 is suited to setups that require CD and USB playback, MIDI control and shared access to music files. Its combination of Player Link and multiple playback modes is particularly relevant for networked DJ setups with up to four compatible Denon players.