Keeping it simple

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MMDJS-Gf-MT

MMDJS-Gf-MT

DJ
Nov 21, 2019
4
5
46
Over the years, I have progressed from cassette, to cd, to MD, and then to digital, as many have. For years, we have run 2 PC’s with an older Numark 5-ch mixer, with USB in’s.
Recently, I have purchased a MacBook Pro, as I have seen so much good about their stability and ease of use with DJ controllers.
However, what I have found so far, is that finding/searching my music files on the Apple is way more difficult!
Along with this, my wife is also my DJ partner, and she is a fan of the 2 PC setup, and is very intimidated by Serato, Traktor, etc.

My question is this: as everyone knows, ITunes is not a good program for searching/playing music files. Are there any solid, easy to use apps or programs that you all have found that provide easy searching of music files from the IOS and external hard drive?
Additionally, what do you recommend for the playing of those files? As stated, Serato really is not an option for this setup, any advice for an easy to use MacBook player (like PC’sWinamp easy?)
Thanks for your input!
 
I use VDJ and have for years. I love it. I have versions 7 and 8. 7 is on my backup laptop. I just use 2 portable 2TB HDs that has my music and when needed just add music on to both of them.
 
I think you'll find that many of us prefer iTunes because it is the best at indexing the music and making that music index available to other apps. Apple Music (under MacOs Catalina) might be a little different as many don't have experience with it yet - and last I heard, Serato has advised not to use it yet. My MBP (running High Sierra) is my performance machine (I use Serato). Searching with your Mac should not be difficult. Win10 searches are god awful - I don't understand how something that should take seconds takes as long as it does. I actually do understand why, and MS really fubar'd that one!

External hard disks can be complicated - as the format type determines what actions the OS can take - example, OSX can read an NTFS drive but cannot write to it.
 
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ittigger said:
I think you'll find that many of us prefer iTunes because it is the best at indexing the music and making that music index available to other apps. Apple Play (under MacOs Catalina) might be a little different as many don't have experience with it yet - and last I heard, Serato has advised not to use it yet. My MBP (running High Sierra) is my performance machine (I use Serato). Searching with your Mac should not be difficult. Win10 searches are god awful - I don't understand how something that should take seconds takes as long as it does. I actually do understand why, and MS really fubar'd that one!

External hard disks can be complicated - as the format type determines what actions the OS can take - example, OSX can read an NTFS drive but cannot write to it.
Click to expand...
Serato supposedly has addressed the issue. I haven’t tried it yet (I don’t upgrade OS until a few months have passed). I have a backup to my backup MacBook Pro that I’ll be installing it on after the New Year before I attempt to put it on any actual performance laptop. Oh, I use iTunes as well, as it integrates directly into serato and is easy to keep things matched across all devices.
 
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I haven't upgraded yet for the same reasons. It'll be interesting to see how the Apple Music piece works out (in place of iTunes). Regardless, generic searching on a Mac should not be difficult (unless there are obstacles, such as an NTFS drive). This NTFS issue does not affect iTunes indexing.

W10 searching is awful and takes forever - and that's on an MS formatted drive (no obstacles).
 
Look at MegaSeg.

It couldn't be simpler if you're looking for a WinAmp like solution. You can pick where it blends, blend times, all sorts of easy customization. But at it's core... it's just a good music programming tool. It's not a great tool for a mixing and blending DJ (in my opinion) but it sounds like it's perfect for what you are looking for.
 
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Thanks everyone for the input!
Being new to the whole world of Mac, I’m not really sure why it seems so hard to find files on my Mac and external HD. When I search for a song it never seems to find it, even when I am in the exact folder it is in. Just very odd to me.
Also, I did make sure that I ordered and formatted the HD to Mac OS.
I will look into MegaSeg. Serato is in the picture, probably just not for the gigs my wife joins me on. :)
 
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what type did you format to? I assumed you used Disk Utility. It's possible things have not been indexed when you use the search/spotlight feature.
 
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Thanks everyone for the input!
Being new to the whole world of Mac, I’m not really sure why it seems so hard to find files on my external HD. I did make sure that I ordered and formatted the HD to Mac OS.
I will look into MegaSeg. Serato is in the picture, probably just not for the gigs my wife joins me on...
jaswrx said:
what type did you format to? I assumed you used Disk Utility. It's possible things have not been indexed when you use the search/spotlight feature.
Click to expand...
I will check that tonight, thanks!
 
IMHO, by deliberately avoiding dedicated DJ software, you're just making life hard for yourself. Most of them have a "Search" library function that is very intuitive, and also allows easy pre-listening to the song file (sadly, not Serato), eliminating the need for two laptops. As suggested, try MegaSeg. I personally use an older version of Mixvibes Cross DJ, Version 3.4.3, which is the greatest thing since sliced bread!
 
Handinon said:
IMHO, by deliberately avoiding dedicated DJ software, you're just making life hard for yourself. Most of them have a "Search" library function that is very intuitive, and also allows easy pre-listening to the song file (sadly, not Serato), eliminating the need for two laptops. As suggested, try MegaSeg. I personally use an older version of Mixvibes Cross DJ, Version 3.4.3, which is the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "Easy" pre-listening that Serato doesn't provide. I know since they updated a few versions back they included a dual deck mode, that provides capabilities that didn't exist in past versions without being plugged in to a controller.
 
djtaso said:
What do you mean by "Easy" pre-listening that Serato doesn't provide. I know since they updated a few versions back they included a dual deck mode, that provides capabilities that didn't exist in past versions without being plugged in to a controller.
Click to expand...

I've gotten into this debate before. He doesn't like having to load the track to a deck in order to preview it if I remember correctly.
 
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Albatross said:
I've gotten into this debate before. He doesn't like having to load the track to a deck in order to preview it if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
That's it exactly. Taso's recommendation works quickly only if you play with "unlocked" decks, something I would not suggest to a newbie. Plus, if the crossfader is not fully left or right, you will get a false "song marked as Played". All this is avoided, and a lot more gained, by having a dedicated Preview function.

Software that has this is...well, It's like driving a 2020 mid-engined Corvette with dual clutch 8 speed automatic and paddle shifters - once you've done it, there's no going backwards
 
Handinon said:
That's it exactly. Taso's recommendation works quickly only if you play with "unlocked" decks, something I would not suggest to a newbie. Plus, if the crossfader is not fully left or right, you will get a false "song marked as Played". All this is avoided, and a lot more gained, by having a dedicated Preview function.

Software that has this is...well, It's like driving a 2020 mid-engined Corvette with dual clutch 8 speed automatic and paddle shifters - once you've done it, there's no going backwards
Click to expand...

We don't need to beat the dead horse here, because you DJ very differently than I do and that's totally cool. I do almost no previewing of music at my events. I know my library pretty well, and unless I'm listening to a request I'm not super familiar with... once I load it, I'm generally ready to mix it in.

But in the cases that you described, I've never had an issue with loading the wrong deck, or not having my channel fader down on the next track where I have accidental bleed.
 
Handinon said:
That's it exactly. Taso's recommendation works quickly only if you play with "unlocked" decks, something I would not suggest to a newbie. Plus, if the crossfader is not fully left or right, you will get a false "song marked as Played". All this is avoided, and a lot more gained, by having a dedicated Preview function.

Software that has this is...well, It's like driving a 2020 mid-engined Corvette with dual clutch 8 speed automatic and paddle shifters - once you've done it, there's no going backwards
Click to expand...
Mixing styles affect a lot. I don’t have decks unlocked... and I don’t use a cross fader... it’s actually disabled on my controller. If I’m playing on the left deck... I use the right deck to preview the song. But like Ross I know typically what I’m playing and if it’s loaded I’m generally ready to go with that song within seconds. A lot of my cue points are also pre marked over the years to make jumping to the points I care about more efficient.
 
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Albatross said:
We don't need to beat the dead horse here, because you DJ very differently than I do and that's totally cool. I do almost no previewing of music at my events. I know my library pretty well, and unless I'm listening to a request I'm not super familiar with... once I load it, I'm generally ready to mix it in.
Click to expand...

djtaso said:
Mixing styles affect a lot. I don’t have decks unlocked... and I don’t use a cross fader... it’s actually disabled on my controller. If I’m playing on the left deck... I use the right deck to preview the song. But like Ross I know typically what I’m playing and if it’s loaded I’m generally ready to go with that song within seconds. A lot of my cue points are also pre marked over the years to make jumping to the points I care about more efficient.
Click to expand...

We know this - the OP doesn't. My issue with Serato has always been "why not add it"? Use it or not (like Sync), but make it available - they already allow "Control-O" to bring up the laptops default music player. Or, really move forward into the 21st Century and unlock the Licensing from the sound card!!!!!!!!

I'm proposing these things now because it took what, 8 years, for Day mode. However, as bad as that is, Serato does seem to listen to their users, unlike Traktor and Mixvibes - who don't - and are now paying a heavy price.
 
With Serato, the licensing is unlocked with the hardware (sound card) - this may depend on which controller of course.
 
ittigger said:
With Serato, the licensing is unlocked with the hardware (sound card) - this may depend on which controller of course.
Click to expand...
Serato DJ .. it was locked with earlier Serato products.
 
I had Serato Itch before Serato DJ, that was also unlocked with the hardware - in my case, a Vestax VCI-300. Am I missing something?
 
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