Virtual DJ

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jokerswild said:
That's cool...

Any tips or tricks to using it either standalone or with a controller?

That question is for anybody who uses Virtual DJ.
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Well, I upgraded from PCDJ RED 5.2 and was very familiar w/ their shortcuts. Also, very familiar w/ how the DAC-2 and DMC-1 (default controller) works as well.

I use the PERN mapper for said controllers. I also made a mini PCDJ shortcut set for use w/ my lappy.

The best way to quit a habit is cold turkey. The ONLY way I was going to learn VDJ was to make it my default and play. That was late 07 and very early 08. Now it's 2009 and PCDJ has been uninstalled.

I used old Red since spring 2001 - it was very hard to part ways.
 
I assume what you mean by cold turkey not only covers the software but also the way of manageing the music on autopilot.....

I'm not even going to continue trying to tweek VDJ for AutoMix anymore and go cold turkey, while teaching myself to beat mix manually so to speak.

I don't think I'll ever loose the OtsAV habit it has far too many benifits to drop like that... plus the dollars invested in it along with the time to get the music DB just right....
 
Precisionpower said:
The whole "automix" thing is useless to me. I have a guy who swears by Mixmeister.....The mixing from Mixmeister Sucks to me too..

I'm a hands on kinda guy, I rarely use playlists, And prefer to mix on the fly.

Setting up a play list and pushing play is for jukeboxes. (In My Opinion)

I would only use something like that for cocktail music at a wedding.

I lug around the big azz gear, big azz speakers, and i'll be damned if i'm just gonna push play and walk away from my rig....makes it look wayyy too easy for the normal by-stander...(wow, maybe i can be a dj too??)
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Sorry bro but I use playlists all the time and I never sit around and walk away from my system and just push play. Its only a tool and nothing that should be used full time for open dancing. At events you will find me slaving over my system doing the exact same thing CD DJ's are doing which is searching for the next great song and watching the dance floor.

This seems to be a very prevelant thought process by alot of DJ's that use CD's that many just push play which is funny since that is many peoples opinions of DJ's in general. I'm sure that you defy that stereo type as well as do I. Unlike many might think that Digital DJing anyone can do. It takes just as much talent to MC and pick the music as all others. :sqbiggrin: The only differnce is your computer skill must be high (Digital DJ) and your CD mixing skills must also be high (CD Format DJ). I hope you catch my meaning here. I'm gonna tell our clients that you don't like us Digital guys. :sqwink:
 

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I believe OTS helps a lot specially when one is beat mixing challenged (Not meant as an insult) creating great transitions. If you really want to do the beat mixing manually VDJ gets it done. Beat mixing from CD's or on a computer is the same if you're using an external controller and keeps things in check, you follow the same procedure and instead of looking for CD's you do the hard drive search. Yes you can use the sync button but that takes a lot of the fun out of it ;) .
 
I believe there is a tool for everyone.. VDJ's aim is not to be a music automation software like OTS. the automix is limited...It's for more of the cocktail hour type of stuff, or happy hour play.... VDJ is aimed at the more "hands on" DJ. I didn't say "Real DJ" I said "hands on"... For some DJ's, physically mixing each song can be an annoyance.. I understand that.. There's times I wish I could just let er' rip... No software is perfect...

I know some great DJ's who can't beatmix to save their life... but they don't need to... that's cool... there's different types of DJ's... we all do our thing...

I really enjoy VDJ with the DNHC-4500 controller...

it's a mixing machine from hell...

I know OTS now supports some controller options.. Have you tried that route first??? the same controllers will work with VDJ if you find that the ots / controller option doesn't suit you....
 
The only reason I did not use VDJ prior to 08 was the automix. It had a nasty habit of dropping mid tracks and repeating. This, I was told. So when 5.x came out, I tested.

And tested.

And used live.

And never looked back.

And yes, I use VDJ to assist me in beatmixing - manually.
 
nextgen1 said:
Sorry bro but I use playlists all the time and I never sit around and walk away from my system and just push play. Its only a tool and nothing that should be used full time for open dancing. At events you will find me slaving over my system doing the exact same thing CD DJ's are doing which is searching for the next great song and watching the dance floor.

This seems to be a very prevelant thought process by alot of DJ's that use CD's that many just push play which is funny since that is many peoples opinions of DJ's in general. I'm sure that you defy that stereo type as well as do I. Unlike many might think that Digital DJing anyone can do. It takes just as much talent to MC and pick the music as all others. :sqbiggrin: The only differnce is your computer skill must be high (Digital DJ) and your CD mixing skills must also be high (CD Format DJ). I hope you catch my meaning here. I'm gonna tell our clients that you don't like us Digital guys. :sqwink:
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Nextgen.....

Your misunderstanding me totally. I am a digital Dj also.
 
I am going to be the unpopular or depending on the few and proud. I use Rockit and mix manual. Once I get the HD2500 and other things totally in full sync I will be deleting my 1500 CD backup and add my additional HD. I can not play with a playlist cause even if I wanted to my show would change at minimum every other song. Directions change on the spot and I am ready with a hare trigger finger no matter what device used.
 
I'm guessing that when one wants automix, they're talking for dinner, or cocktail. VDJ's automix has improved. With tweaking it works well... for dinner music. I would never use it for the "show"

OTS's automixing can't be beat...That being said, I wouldn't use it for a show. Think radio......For the one track to another track mix (fade out-fade in) it's top notch....

I use the playlist feature in VDJ; more as a crate for dropping songs that I want to play later.
 
You buy VDJ, and it's yours forever. No selling off a license, period.

stability, VDJ lacks this. If you think Ots might bork, you better know that VDJ will indeed before Ots does.

I own both, and VDJ has never proven itself reliable enough for me to take on the road.

In the end, it's your decision, and your reputation on the line.
 
thatmusicguy said:
I'm guessing that when one wants automix, they're talking for dinner, or cocktail. VDJ's automix has improved. With tweaking it works well... for dinner music. I would never use it for the "show"
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What's funny, is I feel the same way, but...

After talking to many of my customers, I've found a majority use AutoMix for the entire show... Probably in the 50-60% range.

I'm not talking just casual DJs (friends parties and such) -- many are full time folks, doing 4-6 gigs a week, big time formal weddings, etc!

It amazed me, but just goes to show how many DJs have different styles...
 
I don't know I've banged on VDJ pretty hard and haven't been able to crash it yet....

I just like having many tricks in the bag and right now VDJ seems to fill the gaps the best at this point for what I'm wanting to be able to do...

Rick: I do like Rockit but it still needs features like which are available in VDJ namely being able to drag and drop on the playlist and mobility of the skin.... beat syncing etc... otherwise I think it's a fantastic program. I may add it later however as a third backup.

Like my gear I want redundancy in my software too.
 
Jeff,
Over the time I've run VDJ on both XP and Vista It's been very stable. No crashes at all. I don't have parties every weekend but I play with it for long periods of time as I enjoy mixing. But in the parties I've used it it has been trouble free using it 10+ hours straight.

The only problem I had was with video transitions with an older Sony Vaio with the NVidia card. But in Vista video has been flawless. That's why I've started buying videos at this time since the ones off of youtube suck when enlarged ;););););) J/K I'm getting them through the local suppliers :D:D:D:D:D
 
I've had VDJ playing a song, and the GUI becomes unusable. The track plays out, but I then need to do the three finger salute, and restart. Not something I like doing personally, especially in the middle of a gig.

Video was also never always smooth as I'm used to with Ots.

That said, don't let me disswade anyone from the use of VDJ. If it works for you, as you like it to, then by all means use it.

I still load it up from time to time to play, and see if it's any better than before, and this latest version is much better, but still not anything I'd personally use in the field.
 
Jumpin' Jeff said:
You buy VDJ, and it's yours forever. No selling off a license, period.

stability, VDJ lacks this.
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Jeff, First off, yes you can transfer the license, so that is incorrect point #1.

Incorrect point #2 Virtual DJ does not lack stability, you just lack the necessary skills to operate a professional audio workstation properly.

People wanna' bitch because VDJ won't just install and play perfectly on their crappy old assed laptop.

For those in your boat, there are lesser featured, and simpler programs like OTS. Keeping it as basic as possible eliminates the possibility that you might get in over your head and have problems...

Just like jumping into a brand new Ferrari after having driven a ford escort your whole life... you're gonna' stall that thing 50 times before you get the hang of how to drive it...

It doesn't matter that it's one of the finest automobiles known to man...

You like countless others will simply stall the car twice, throw the keys, and say Ferrari sucks... it's an unreliable car...

Do not make the mistake of confusing user error with reliability...

It disappoints me to see so many people short changing themselves because they're too stubborn to follow directions from those who know.
 
Steve, I've built all my systems for the past 15 years, and feel I know a little but about PCs and software. VDJ has not worked as stable on any of my systems I've ever loaded it on. Most people consider me the computer expert in my area. I've also been supported in this comment several times by more than a few VDJ users, so no comments on my skills. Sorry you felt it necessary to personally attack my skills as a computer tech.

And don't give me that crap about not being able to transfer a license as I got it off the VDJ forums directly from a VDJ guy by name of Norway. Has this changed by chance in the last 2 years? If so, I'll readily sell my copy of VDJ.

And Ots is not really of much lesser features than VDJ. In fact, it excels in many areas such as video output. I don't see VDJ outputting in High Def as yet.
 
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