DENON DJ X1800

Much like the Denon DJ SC5000 media player, the X1800 Prime DJ mixer is designed to take on the professional sector of the DJ market, i.e. Pioneer DJ, hence Denon’s worldwide #ChangeYourRider campaign.

The X1800 Prime is aimed squarely at the Pioneer DJM900NXS as it is also a 4-channel DJ mixer, also has a substantial FX section, also has multiple connectivity options, also has a built in high definition sound card and also has dedicated FX per channel.


In short; if you can find your way around the DJM900NXS with ease, the X1800 Prime should feel right at home from the get-go.


Here is a breakdown of the key components to the DENON DJ X1800 Prime club mixer from Denon DJ:
Multiple Connection Options


It’s important to remember first and foremost that the club mixer is the focal point in the DJ booth. Whether you’re playing off the in-house gear or bringing your own laptop and controller to the gig, ultimately you will be using the club mixer in some way.


The X1800 Prime sports 4-channels for mixing but it’s the multiple connectivity options that make it highly flexible and ideal for a club setup. Each channel has 5 input options; digital, line, phono, USB and DVS.


There are two USB ports on the top right hand side of the unit so by simply plugging one’s laptop into one of these you should be able to use the onboard sound card. The fact that there are two also means that laptop DJs can seamlessly change over. DVS will soon be supported too, they say.


The rear of the unit reveals every conceivable connection options I think one would ever need. Aside from the stock standard XLR balanced outputs and unbalanced RCA outs, there’s digital input (4 all four channels) and output, a 4-port USB hub to connect the SC5000 media players to and an additional USB port to connect one’s laptop with the Engine Prime software if so desired.


There are also send/receive jacks for the FX section so one can easily hook up and FX unit – dare I say it – an RMX-500 would plug in seamlessly. J


A notable addition is the MIDI DIN plug connection. This they say can be used to connect a synth or a drum machine and feed BPM data to sync this.
To Effect or not to Effect

Much like the DJM900NXS, the X1800 Prime sports two FX sections.


To the left of the unit we find the channel FX comprising of 4 different effects; Dub Echo, Noise, Wash Out and Gate. Only one of these can be used at a time and they are controlled by a single Sweep FX knob found below the channel strips and filter on each channel.


To the right of the unit we find the BPM FX section (12 FX in total) and this can be assigned to any of the 4 channels, master channel, X-Faders A /B or the microphone. Two notable features on this section are the low and high frequency filter and the touchstrip which works with all time-based FX to quickly move between time signatures ranging from 1/16th of a note up to 8.


The EQs for each channel can also be set to two modes; classic EQ or isolation EQ. The filters sport high and low pass and the channel FX, controlled by one sweepable knob will give you different FX type results depending if you sweep left or right.
Additional Features


The X1800 Prime pretty much matches the CDJ900NXS2 pound for pound in the features department. It sports long throw Flex faders, two microphone channels with dual band EQ with Mic one input on top of the unit for convenience (as opposed to on the rear.)


As a fan of the DJM900NXS series the first thing I want, like most DJs, is to be able to find my way around the club mixer with ease. The Denon DJ X1800 Prime unabashedly achieves this by simply adopting almost identical ergonomics to the aforementioned.


There really are a handful of things they could have done differently; i.e. place the global FX section on the left maybe, or something daft like that, but why try fix what ain’t broke?


So then the question is; why choose an X1800 Prime over a DJM900NXS2?


Well in my opinion they are both excellent units.


From a professional gear perspective and for a club, the X1800 Prime has every conceivable option for connecting devices necessary.


For DJs, the unit matches the 900 for performance and feature set.


There really is not much to choose between them but if I had to split hairs I’d say the X1800 Prime shades the DJM900NXS2 in one department and that is the sweepable channel FX. I’ve always found the DJM900’s to be a little too destructive whereas the X1800’s are highly conducive to using in the mix.


In the end it should really just come down to price as each will deliver on their promise as top-of-the-range club DJ mixers.

Wildgame Innovations Silent Crush 20/August 27, 2017

The next camera I have pulled from the queue is the Wildgame Innovations Silent Crush 20. Unlike the previous WGI cameras tested thus far, it uses a more standard hinged chassis with batteries in back and camera in the front. This is where things get different.

This is a medium sized camera, a bit smaller than the Cloak but in keeping with this year’s theme it has a highly textured surface combined with a camo pattern. Unlike the more standard approach taken by most manufacturers, the LEDs are scattered about the entire face of the unit in groups of 3 and 4 at a time. Access to buttons, sd card, batteries and screen are from the inside. The screen is a simple text only affair with the familiar black on blue (get your magnifying glass out) while both screen and buttons are back lit for night use.

On the face of the camera you will notice that there are two camera lenses. This allows the camera to have firmware and hardware specialized for night images and day images without having to compromise like most vendors do using a single lens and CMOS sensor. Most likely they use a 5 megapixel CMOS for day time and a 2 or 3 megapixel CMOS for night images. I have not taken the camera apart but this is my guess. Two lenses and CMOS sensors also keep the camera from needing a moving filter arm, so no clunk noises and no delays waiting on filter arm to flip over and finally no worries about a stuck or broken filter arm. I am anxious to get some day and night photo samples on this unit.

The setup is no nonsense and simple. Set date/time initially, and choose from only nine (9) options, photo or video mode, PIR interval, PIR sensitivity, Resolution, etc. The camera is easy to set up. Very easy provided you can see this tiny blue screen with black writing in a lilliputian font size.

The camera is a red flash camera ( for example: MOULTRIE PANORAMIC 180I ) and the flash is definitely visible. The LED array is scattered about the front face and this provides break up and it has the honeycomb break up pattern overlaying the clear plastic areas. I wonder if spreading the LEDs out like this has an imaging benefit or did it simply allow WGI to make the camera smaller by using the wasted space for LED emitters.

The surface of the camera is highly textured with the camo pattern which should hide well. Holding this unit in my hand, pleases me. I like its size and its look.

Another thing to note is that the battery compartment where 8 AA batteries are slid in, has a separate flap protecting the batteries and holding them secure. With many cameras, a bump will dislodge the batteries and you wont realize the camera is running off fewer or stops running even though you have switched it on. There is no external battery port. The rear of the camera has slots for a strap and a place to pull a python locking cable through. The bottom has a threaded insert. Included is a single strap with plastic buckle.

Interesting to note is a single plastic arm which protrudes from the inside front towards the rear such that when closed aligns with the python slots on the rear half. A python will keep someone from opening your camera in the field. This is cool.

I am trying to determine if steel lock boxes are available yet for this model.


Manufacturers specifications:

The Silent CRUSH™ 20 debuts some of the most innovative technology ever to come out of Wildgame Innovations. The goal for this camera was stealth, silence and superior quality. The Silent CRUSH™ 20 is all that and more.

This camera is so discreet, it’s tough to spot even if you’re looking. It uses Zero Detection™ technology so there’s no noise – period. Another new feature is the Tru-Dual Cams™: rather than attempting to achieve optimum day/night images with one camera, the Silent CRUSH 20 uses two cameras to get the job done right. The day camera promises crisp, radiant images and videos, and the night camera captures strikingly vivid images and videos with reduced nighttime blur. The ½ second trigger is indiscernible, the 42-piece infrared flash illuminates up to 120 feet and the 20MP image quality is unmatched.

Zero Detection™ technology keeps all operations completely silent
Tru-Dual Cams™ optimize images for day and night
Day images customized for superior HD quality
Night images with improved clarity/illumination and reduced night blur
Highest image quality available in Wildgame Innovations camera
Captures HD photos and videos (up to 30 seconds)
Time lapse mode with Flextime+™ technology
Wide angle 16:9 aspect ratio option
Anti-fog lens eliminates dew and moisture
Backlit buttons for easy programming
Water-resistant housing combats weather
Up to 32GB SD card and 8 AA batteries required (not included)
The MSRP on this camera is around $159.99.

Review: Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Power Pack

This summer I was fortunate to do a multi-day paddling adventure down the Bow River through Banff, Alberta. Although I was stoked to be out in the wild for that long, I was a bit worried how I was going to keep the cameras running for not only myself, but also for team filmmaker David Jackson. (I knew that nothing drained camera batteries like DSLR filming!) Thankfully I acquired a Goal Zero Sherpa 100 lithium-ion battery pack before the trip. It turned out to be just what we needed to keep the juice flowing to our thirsty devices.

The Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Power Pack is a happy medium for adventure filmmakers and photographers. It cranks out 120 watts of power and weighs in a bit over two pounds with the optional inverter attached; it’s just big enough to keep 2-3 DSLRs running full tilt while out in the field. (The inverter is a required accessory to plug in your camera’s battery charger.) The Sherpa’s two onboard USB plugs worked well to keep our fleet of GoPros, cell phones and GPS topped off. It also comes equipped with a LED light and a special plug that fits most laptops, although not my Macbook Pro, further increasing the need for the optional inverter.

I was able to fit the Sherpa, Nomad 20 solar panel and other camera stuff into a DryZone 40L made by Lowepro. Whenever we were in camp, the panel was out, milking energy from the sun. I was even able to charge it from a car battery one night while at Lake Louise campground. While I couldn’t have been happier with the charging results, both David and I pretty much took it to its limits. For a larger expedition or those employing more filmers, I would recommend either one of Goal Zero’s larger batteries or daisy chaining together additional solar panels. I still feel it’s always wise to invest in extra camera  for those long days on the river or if working in inclement weather as the panel really does benefit from direct sunlight; charging the battery via solar can take between 7-30 hours. If you plug it into a wall outlet it only takes 3.
All told you’re looking at about $600 to get fully equipped with the Sherpa 100, Nomad 20 solar panel and inverter. But those of us requiring constant use of our digital equipment in the field will no doubt see the value here. This solar kit gives us the ability to venture farther and stay longer.

Smart Collector: Top-notch Philippe Patek brings $227,000 at auction

WHAT: When a 9-year-old wristwatch sells for $227,000 in competitive bidding at auction, it has to be special.

In a recent $3.6 million Antiquorum sale of fine timepieces and jewelry, a Patek Philippe Ref. 5971 proved why it is “top of the market,” as the house put it. For starters, the watch has more complications than Bayer has aspirin. Begin with a perpetual calendar and a square button chronograph, then add 24-hour indication, moon phases and a tachometer.

MORE: The solid platinum case back and platinum buckle, which is set with diamonds, are elegant. Gems on the buckle are calibrated while those surrounding the dial (the bezel) are matched baguettes.

SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: At the very top, exclusivity centers on model name and number.

HOT TIP: The timepiece sold with its original fitted box, certificate of origin, and setting pin. At this level, paperwork is vital and adds to salability.

BOTTOM LINE: Though specific Rolex and Firemark watch sells high, fine Patek Philippe wristwatches have led the secondary market for decades. In this sale, international bidders also pushed values high on watches by Franck Muller, Richard Mille and Chopard.

FYI: When Sotheby’s London recently announced the highest result ($240.8 million) for any London auction, ever, was it surprising that no buyer in the top 10 was identified by name? “Anonymous” and “private collector” led the buyers, including a Gustav Klimt painting, “Bauerngarten,” for $59.3 million.

How to Use Wistia: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're a B2B or B2C business, videos can help you strengthen relationships with your customers, save time, and boost conversion rates. And if you haven't experimented with this powerful medium yet, you're missing out -- 66% of B2B marketers are already creating video content to support both their marketing department goals and larger business initiatives.

When it comes to the use cases for video, the possibilities are endless across your organization: Sales teams can close deals with personalized video voicemails, support teams can walk customers through frequently asked questions with engaging tutorials, and HR teams can onboard new teammates with ease. But that's just the beginning. Businesses that have fully adopted video are constantly coming up with new ways to make meaningful connections with their audiences through video content.

In this post, we're going to review the business value of video and walk you through a step-by-step guide for using Wistia -- a video hosting platform -- to create video content for all of your marketing and business needs.

Another Day, Another Attempt to Unseat Snapchat: Facebook Unveils Messenger Day

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

This is a lesson Facebook has perfected over the last year as it continues to launch products to compete with Snapchat, the app it tried and failed to purchase back in 2013.

The battle over the disappearing social media story continued yesterday with Facebook’s launch of Messenger Day. Messenger Day works like Snapchat Stories, Instagram Stories, and WhatsApp Status: Users share photo and video messages embellished with text, drawings, filters, and emojis with friends that disappear after 24 hours.

As of yesterday, the new feature was being gradually rolled out to all iOS and Android Messenger apps. In this post, we’ll cover what Messenger Day is all about, how to use it, and how this announcement changes the ephemeral messaging competition heating up between Snapchat and Facebook.

Demystifying Creative Success: How to Build a Creative Career from Scratch

If you start your career at a corporate bank, the path to success is usually presented as a clear progression of incremental promotions, straightforward skill requirements, and predictable time lines.

For those of us hell-bent on pursuing a creative career, there is no luxury of a well-trodden path.

Achieving big league success in a creative field can seem like an elusive confluence of meeting the right people, pushing your work into the right hands, and stumbling into the right room at just the right time. It's grueling, inexact, and more than a little dependent on luck.

While there's never going to be a simple, tried-and-true road map to creative success, there is value in speaking to people who have forged their own path in a creative industry, and learning from their experiences.

To start demystifying the path to creative success, we turned to Vanessa Holden, the newly-appointed executive design director of Sub Rosa, a strategy and design practice based in Manhattan.

If anyone's "made it" in a creative field, it's Holden. Her expansive career includes creative leadership roles at some the world's most highly-regarded lifestyle publications and brands, including West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, Martha Stewart Living and Weddings, Vogue Living, Real Simple, and Marie Claire.