I want to replace PCDJ RED VRM

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Jun 30, 2008
344
0
59
I've been using PCDJ Red VRM for about 3-4 years. Perhaps even longer. Although I can't remember when I got it... I've learned to use it, and it seems to work fairly well... but sometimes it just CRASHES. I've gotten nowhere with their tech support department.

I have checked out trial versions of Virtual DJ (I like it, but the user interface is a little less intuitive in terms of managing lists and programming them). I also recently downloaded a copy of Rockit. Seems like a fairly similar interface to Virtual DJ, but I'm not sure about its reliability and support. In addition to these two, I looked at traktor (didn't like it).

Could you guys share your experiences and opinions about the software programs and what you like most? I'd rather avoid bashing, and I know at least in the case of ROCKIG, he is a sponsor here, so can we keep things factual?

Thanks,

Carlos
 
Try Traktor. It can be intimidating with all its bells and whistles. It has never let me down once.
 
well i can say the support with Rockit is the best i've seen so far in DJ programs.

Stop it Colin -- my head is growing too large -- it may explode soon... :sqlaugh: :rofl:


@Carlos,

I'm not a salesman, but if you have any questions about Rockit -- give me a shout anytime (except when I'm sleeping -- I get busy with Shania dreams then) :)
 
Try Serato I will be switching pretty soon I use PCDJ Red too but I want a DJ software that offers more and this is it Serato.
 
:sqwink:I brought the PCDJDEX when it first came out and love it and never looked back would not trade for the world because I feel so comfortable using it.
 
Another vote for RockIt here.

It's not Serato Itch - nor does it try to be. It's a different animal - a much simpler and better layout plus you can not only choose the skins, but change them to your tastes and whims.

I used Red 5.2 since 2002 but switched to RockIt last year and haven't looked back nor have I needed to. I'm a wedding jock and this does me good.

And yes Rick, while sounding a little goofy and off beat on these boards, is actually very good at what he does and responds quickly to all inquiries with solid dependable answers.
 
+1 for VirtualDJ

I too was a PCDJ Red user and completely lost faith in their product/support, especially if I had to change out a piece of hardware and re-register my key on a weekend! That was the straw that broke this camel's back.

I've been with VirtualDJ for nearly a decade. Initially VDJ was quite a buggy piece of software, but with time has become rock solid. The developers work closely with the user community and are quick to work out any reported issues. The software works with Music/Video/Karaoke, with each extension having a spread of plugins and skins. I have yet to meet a piece of MIDI-mappable hardware that it couldn't handle in some form or fashion (I use primarily Denon gear, but have used DAC2/DAC3s in the past)

Best piece of advice I can give you is: Map out what you (as a company) are providing. Find a piece of software that presents a solution and allows you to control it comfortably. For us it was Music/Video/Karaoke and seamless Denon hardware integration--which VDJ handles well (even down to the cross-fader on our mixers!)
 
:sqwink:I think it is best to try as many Dj Softwares as you can and then decide on one that fits your need
 
I recommend you examine the features you need, the ones you want, and the ones that would be 'nice to have' or you expect to grow into in the near future.

Look at your work flow and then start looking for a product that has the features you want/need and works best with your work flow.


For example:
If you are comfortable with a DAW setup, then something like MixMeister Fusion could be a good solution. But if you prefer the Deck A/Deck B approach to DJ'ing then it's a very poor choice.

There are PLENTY of other options.
Serato Scratch Live/Serato Itch - but it doesn't have any function to 'beatmatch' the tracks. For some, not an issue, for others, a major shortcoming. There are other issues - including the inability to use any other sound card besides the SL1/SL3/TTM57SL/etc. A lot of people tout it's stability, but I had 3 crashes in 6 months - which is why I stopped using it (BTW, on 3 different computers, including 1 on a friend of mine's computer who used Serato exclusively). The point is that there aren't any solutions that are 'perfect'. You have to prepare accordingly... I've even seen video of CDJ's being swapped out during an event.

Torq/Torq LE - A nice product but because of a reorganization, and a variety of other challenges, the updates have been slow in coming lately. I've used it extensively with both external control and with midi - using sound cards from a variety of different companies. I've found it to be quite stable and one of the most feature rich products on the market.

Traktor - Another nice setup, and I've been using the Traktor LE product with a Stanton SCS System 3 rig. It's a nice product and integrates well with the System 3. It has limitations, but that's a limitation of this particular version of the software. The Duo and Traktor Scratch versions have more features.

MixVibes - It's out there but I haven't use it.

RockIt - Haven't used it.

OTSAV - Haven't used it, but know a number of people that do, and love it.

BPM Studio - Haven't used it, but know a couple people that have used it in the past or still do.

MixMeister Fusion - I originally got Studio to do some remixes (long story) and it worked flawlessly for this purpose. I started playing around with Fusion and found that the work flow is very similar to using a DAW. It's a nice product, but in all honesty, I feel 'out of touch' when using it. I don't feel like I can affect the music 'stream' live. I've considered adding the MIDI controller for it, and still may - but it's a GREAT product for doing expanded intro's and the like because you can set up the playlist using a pause as the transition and rearrange if you have to on the fly. All in all, not a bad product - it just takes a little getting used to.

Virtual DJ - Havne't used it.

MP3 Tunes V2 - Free product - if you can still find it that runs on almost any hardware (it runs on a Pentium 233MHz machine with 64MB of ram with Windows 95!). It's feature rich for a free product and was designed for use with internet radio stations - which means it has shoutcasting/icecasting/etc built right into the software. It has the ability to do drops and a lot more - but no midi control is offered and the updates won't be happening any time soon (development is basically dead). I've used this for a 'backup' solution and it was one of the first products I ever used for computer based DJ'ing. I still recommend it as a 'starting' point for those just considering the move to a computer based product.

MegaSeg - a Mac only product, and based on my original research, the only one that will play DRM tracks from Apple (iTunes). While not a problem any more, it was at one time. It's one of those products that people either love or hate.
The list goes on and on.... LOTS of products... LOTS of solutions.... LOTS of ways they work. The problem is finding the one that works best for YOU.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I guess I should add my own version of my experiences:

Virtual DJ - I find this to be the most flexible DJ program I have used. I have used it with three different configurations:

1) With a PCDJ DAC3 controller and Numark USB200USB mixer (using the USB ports as independent sound cards.
2) With Numark DMC2 Controller and a standard 5.1 Sound card, using front/rear speakers to separate two outputs.
3) With Denon DNHD-2500 controller/hard drive. I thought I had everything working fine using the ASIO driver, but it looks like some of my mappings may be wrong - or I have an issue with my controller. In either case, I still prefer to have the built-in sound cards in the DNHD2500 and wish I had purchased one more.

Going back to Virtual DJ, I enjoy the ability to change skins on the fly, the ability to resize skins and create play lists on the fly. One thing I wish you could do is drag and drop files to a playlist without having to re-save it, but that's a minor concern. Another concern or drawback is how long the software takes to scan through BPMs and MP3 tags.

And, since this one was left out - Rockit! I really like the user interface. It has some great features but the reboot to re-skin bothers me. I love the separate BPM scan software and the ability to have multiple databases. Those are great features. But the difficulty in mapping MIDI controls and no standard interface for the DMC2, the DNHD2500 and the DAC3 made me lose interest. I think if I had gone with the original Denon 4500 controller, I would probably be very happy with Rockit, but at this point it's not working for me.
 
Hmmm... Any chance of getting SCS System 3 support for Rockit? How about supporting the Xponent? X-Session Pro?

I have LOTS of midi devices.... just need them supported. ;)

And I'm wondering about ASIO support since I have an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R that has an 8x8 analog interface...

I guess I should start another thread instead of derailing this one... ;)
 
Hmmm... Any chance of getting SCS System 3 support for Rockit? How about supporting the Xponent? X-Session Pro?

I have LOTS of midi devices.... just need them supported. ;)

And I'm wondering about ASIO support since I have an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R that has an 8x8 analog interface...

I guess I should start another thread instead of derailing this one... ;)

You can start a MIDI thread if you like, but just a couple comments...

X-Session Pro mapper is included in Rockit.

Rockit has a MIDI Learn Utility built in, so you can build your own mapper.

If you want more info, start a new thread :)