VDJ7 vs VDJ8
- Thread starter Mack Entertainment
- Start date
I do run video from time to time, but I've never used the clipbank and stick to running a visualizer for audio-only tracks. No problems thus far.
Okay, I used VDJ8 last night on my first wedding. Ran into three issues that I didn't like. Any input on how to correct these would be appreciated.
1) Ran a quicktime video (slideshow with music). This was on my pentium laptop and I fully tested it on Thursday with no problems. When I played it at the event, the video automatically found my projector and opened full-screen. Problem was, the video playback wasn't smooth. It obviously was choking on it and would jump several second of video. The shots didn't transition, they'd jump, herky-jerky. The client noticed it and I was at a loss. Very not cool. By the way, CPU was roughly 50%. Audio did not have any drop-outs.
2) Used automix most of the night. Noticed that even songs that had a decent level for the beginning section, it would jump, sometimes to half-way through the song. I set it to auto-clip silent sections but this is ridiculous.
3) I've always had a habit of putting my special event songs at the top of my playlist. I had put "Everlasting Love" at the top but later decided I'd add it at the bottom of the list. When I played the cut at the bottom of the list, when it was finished, it jumped up to the top of the playlist and started playing the next selection from there, which happened to be my bouquet song. Very not cool. I want it to stay at the position I told it to be.
4) Was searching for a particular song, and not sure what button I pressed but playback stopped. I've gotta go back through the keyboard shortcuts and disable a few things.
5) Didn't realize how much I used play counts on winamp. Key in "hip-hop" and it comes up with songs with the highest play count. I know VDJ keeps up with play counts, but obviously it hasn't been used enough yet.
Overall, I'm disappointed. The unlimited content feature is nice, but at this point that's about the only benefit I can see over winamp. VDJ seems much more willing to stop music and doesn't seem as quick and solid on the control portion. I know it'll just take some more time to get comfortable with it. My next gig is a Bnai Mitzvah, in two weeks. I may just use VDJ for hot downloads. Not sure at this point.
1) Ran a quicktime video (slideshow with music). This was on my pentium laptop and I fully tested it on Thursday with no problems. When I played it at the event, the video automatically found my projector and opened full-screen. Problem was, the video playback wasn't smooth. It obviously was choking on it and would jump several second of video. The shots didn't transition, they'd jump, herky-jerky. The client noticed it and I was at a loss. Very not cool. By the way, CPU was roughly 50%. Audio did not have any drop-outs.
2) Used automix most of the night. Noticed that even songs that had a decent level for the beginning section, it would jump, sometimes to half-way through the song. I set it to auto-clip silent sections but this is ridiculous.
3) I've always had a habit of putting my special event songs at the top of my playlist. I had put "Everlasting Love" at the top but later decided I'd add it at the bottom of the list. When I played the cut at the bottom of the list, when it was finished, it jumped up to the top of the playlist and started playing the next selection from there, which happened to be my bouquet song. Very not cool. I want it to stay at the position I told it to be.
4) Was searching for a particular song, and not sure what button I pressed but playback stopped. I've gotta go back through the keyboard shortcuts and disable a few things.
5) Didn't realize how much I used play counts on winamp. Key in "hip-hop" and it comes up with songs with the highest play count. I know VDJ keeps up with play counts, but obviously it hasn't been used enough yet.
Overall, I'm disappointed. The unlimited content feature is nice, but at this point that's about the only benefit I can see over winamp. VDJ seems much more willing to stop music and doesn't seem as quick and solid on the control portion. I know it'll just take some more time to get comfortable with it. My next gig is a Bnai Mitzvah, in two weeks. I may just use VDJ for hot downloads. Not sure at this point.
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When you move a song around in automix, or move a song into automix from another playlist, make sure you don't leave it highlighted (click on the song at the top of your aoutomix section again, the next song is always the highlighted one). If you leave the song you move in highlighted, it will play next and start your automix from there.
Put all your special songs at the bottom of your automix playlist, not at the top as you are used to. When you need one of them move them to the top of the auto mix playlist (making sure it is highlighted as mentioned above), or to your other deck, and turn off automix. Once the special song is played, start automix again. The reason I suggest turning off automix for a special event song is you don't always let that song play out.
Once you get automix tuned in, and get used to moving songs in and out of the playlist, you will seldom ever use your other deck.
Put all your special songs at the bottom of your automix playlist, not at the top as you are used to. When you need one of them move them to the top of the auto mix playlist (making sure it is highlighted as mentioned above), or to your other deck, and turn off automix. Once the special song is played, start automix again. The reason I suggest turning off automix for a special event song is you don't always let that song play out.
Once you get automix tuned in, and get used to moving songs in and out of the playlist, you will seldom ever use your other deck.
