DJ Raz
Don't take this the wrong way, but ...
I think VDJ would have been a lot better off if the dev team hadn't spent their time on videomixing.
Videomixing will probably be useful, in a professional context, to maybe 1% of the users.
You need a monster video card, tons of videos, a projector, a club that wants to show videos, and a crowd that cares about videos being displayed.
For VDJ to continue to thrive it should do one thing and one thing only: be the best possible software for DJs to use. Once that's done, then see about a video plugin and other gadgets.
What VDJ needs, as a software for DJs is:
- Better overall sound quality.
- Better sound quality when timestrech is enabled.
- More effects (im sure the dev team could come up with some really awesome ones)
- A (much more) detailed FAQ on how to properly code plugins.
- Fixes for all the bugs from 2.06 (the beatlock bug, the dragging an effect off the screen bug, the HDJ config bug, the going backwards in a loop bug, all the TC vinyl bugs, etc ...)
- Auto gain-matching on the effects
- EQs for the effects
- Making sure the program is 100% stable (not 99.999, but 100%)
- Auto key detections for songs
- Unlimited cues displayed on the SONGPOS element (I know i seem to be the only one who sees how useful this is, but trust me, the rest of you will eventually catch on ;-)
- Shortcut to switch from scratch mode to nudge mode
- Not having the software save for 10 minutes upon close (database was fine in 2.06!)
- Auto-backup of the xml database
- One heck of a good official skin (the one now is pretty good, but Mixstation is better, though still not ultimate...)
- Better compatibility with VST plugins (some don't work with VDJ for some reason)
- Whatever else I'm not thinking of that we can use as DJs
I think things like that should be top priority.
Focus on making this the top professional tool for DJs instead of making it into a tool with a lot of gadgets and VDJ will squash any and all competition.
Just my 2 cents.
Raz
I think VDJ would have been a lot better off if the dev team hadn't spent their time on videomixing.
Videomixing will probably be useful, in a professional context, to maybe 1% of the users.
You need a monster video card, tons of videos, a projector, a club that wants to show videos, and a crowd that cares about videos being displayed.
For VDJ to continue to thrive it should do one thing and one thing only: be the best possible software for DJs to use. Once that's done, then see about a video plugin and other gadgets.
What VDJ needs, as a software for DJs is:
- Better overall sound quality.
- Better sound quality when timestrech is enabled.
- More effects (im sure the dev team could come up with some really awesome ones)
- A (much more) detailed FAQ on how to properly code plugins.
- Fixes for all the bugs from 2.06 (the beatlock bug, the dragging an effect off the screen bug, the HDJ config bug, the going backwards in a loop bug, all the TC vinyl bugs, etc ...)
- Auto gain-matching on the effects
- EQs for the effects
- Making sure the program is 100% stable (not 99.999, but 100%)
- Auto key detections for songs
- Unlimited cues displayed on the SONGPOS element (I know i seem to be the only one who sees how useful this is, but trust me, the rest of you will eventually catch on ;-)
- Shortcut to switch from scratch mode to nudge mode
- Not having the software save for 10 minutes upon close (database was fine in 2.06!)
- Auto-backup of the xml database
- One heck of a good official skin (the one now is pretty good, but Mixstation is better, though still not ultimate...)
- Better compatibility with VST plugins (some don't work with VDJ for some reason)
- Whatever else I'm not thinking of that we can use as DJs
I think things like that should be top priority.
Focus on making this the top professional tool for DJs instead of making it into a tool with a lot of gadgets and VDJ will squash any and all competition.
Just my 2 cents.
Raz
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:38 pm
djservix
I agree. Unless you have a database of 150 music videos, then it's pretty useless.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:40 pm
DJ Cyder
how about a data base of 4900 videos, ask mp3jrick how unuseful it is for him...turst me a lot of users wanted this and welcome it. As always the team is always working on future versions.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:43 pm
DJ Raz
@Cyderhouse
Yeah... mp3jrick falls into the 1% for whom videomixing is useful.
I dont think a software should cater to 1% of its customer base ...
I mean, it is called 'Virtual "DJ"' ;-)
Yeah... mp3jrick falls into the 1% for whom videomixing is useful.
I dont think a software should cater to 1% of its customer base ...
I mean, it is called 'Virtual "DJ"' ;-)
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:45 pm
DJ Cyder
you are right I think software should cater to eveyone, thats way its the way it is now. There are a lot more than you think using the feature.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:47 pm
DJ Raz
@cyderhouse
There are a lot of issues that couldve have been handled instead that would cater to 99% of the users.
There is nothing wrong with VDJ trying to broaden its customer base, but they should do that only once they have the best software (100% bug free) for DJs.
Timestrecth has been a feature for VDJ for a long time, but a lot of other softwares implement it better.
And even if there are 10% for whom videomixing is useful in a professional context, (which I highly doubt), that still leaves 90% of the users for whom it's useless.
There are a lot of issues that couldve have been handled instead that would cater to 99% of the users.
There is nothing wrong with VDJ trying to broaden its customer base, but they should do that only once they have the best software (100% bug free) for DJs.
Timestrecth has been a feature for VDJ for a long time, but a lot of other softwares implement it better.
And even if there are 10% for whom videomixing is useful in a professional context, (which I highly doubt), that still leaves 90% of the users for whom it's useless.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 10:51 pm
DJ Cyder
which is why you can disable it.
to develop costs money, to attact new users takes new features. can you see where i'm going with this. VDJ hasn't forgotton about the audio only users. Fact is this was perfect timing for video, now that staff has more resources to continue development. Relax they have not forgotton.
to develop costs money, to attact new users takes new features. can you see where i'm going with this. VDJ hasn't forgotton about the audio only users. Fact is this was perfect timing for video, now that staff has more resources to continue development. Relax they have not forgotton.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 11:01 pm
DJ Raz
@cyderhouse
I just don't see how videomixing was a priority when the software still has unresolved issues from previous versions
As for attracting new users:
A new user (or any user fo that matter) is better off buying a software that does DJing with 100% quality and one that does Videomixing with 100% quality, instead of a single software that does both at 80%.
If VDJ wants to attract more users they should just focus on making it the #1-best-ever-without-any-doubt software for DJs. That will draw more people.
An all-in-one solution that does everything at 80% will not draw more people, and especially not users that want to use this in a professional context.
I just don't see how videomixing was a priority when the software still has unresolved issues from previous versions
As for attracting new users:
A new user (or any user fo that matter) is better off buying a software that does DJing with 100% quality and one that does Videomixing with 100% quality, instead of a single software that does both at 80%.
If VDJ wants to attract more users they should just focus on making it the #1-best-ever-without-any-doubt software for DJs. That will draw more people.
An all-in-one solution that does everything at 80% will not draw more people, and especially not users that want to use this in a professional context.
Inviato Wed 11 May 05 @ 11:09 pm
Superstom
@ DJ Raz:
It is a pitty that you only speak from your own point of view. You are talking about auto gain samples, and eq on samples. I never use samples so the dev team should not spend any minute on this functionality.... Do you get the picture?
The sound quality is quite good already. I agree that the time stretch could be improved.
A 100% stable system is not possible. Even the best software could fail due to a crappy memory module, resource consuming background services etc. VDJ is created for a large number of different systems and sound cards. Some combinations will give problems. In my opinion VDJ is pretty stable. I had only one crash in 2,5 years, this was caused by the drivers of the Hercules console.
I am creating a video rig at the moment. I have planned to get 2 dvd players, 1 dedicated pc for video, playing short movies and special effects, my vdj system for video clips, a picture viewer, an edirol video mixer and 2 projectors.
Ewout
It is a pitty that you only speak from your own point of view. You are talking about auto gain samples, and eq on samples. I never use samples so the dev team should not spend any minute on this functionality.... Do you get the picture?
The sound quality is quite good already. I agree that the time stretch could be improved.
A 100% stable system is not possible. Even the best software could fail due to a crappy memory module, resource consuming background services etc. VDJ is created for a large number of different systems and sound cards. Some combinations will give problems. In my opinion VDJ is pretty stable. I had only one crash in 2,5 years, this was caused by the drivers of the Hercules console.
I am creating a video rig at the moment. I have planned to get 2 dvd players, 1 dedicated pc for video, playing short movies and special effects, my vdj system for video clips, a picture viewer, an edirol video mixer and 2 projectors.
Ewout
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 12:31 am
seanrasta44
Video mixing is the new trend now I don"t know if u know but if U watch MTV 2 YOU will see what I mean.I for 1 do not know of any other soft ware that mix videos, so You (VDJ) can fell proud TO call your self a trend setter.
If you take a look at what are 1 of the customary trend of today You will see more and more people using DVD in their car which means if u are 1 of them with a nice little sound system , you as a DJ can show off your skills in a different way.
Another trend is clubs with videos , you may see music videos but not videos that are mix too keep the party vibes.
If u want to complian about moving into the future I understand ,but remember you have to be ready because that time is now.I will give YOu an example of what I am talking about.I bought Colin MCrea Rally 2005 for my P.C and after I installed it I got alot of bugs and directx errors .I thougt it was the game(original)so I contacted them and down loaded the patch from them ,still no lock.So after coming up with a brain storm with my self I reinstalled my direct X drivers and down loaded THE LATEST VERSION of directx from micro- soft ,and you would not belive how much better my computer is working right now.CM2005,and many other software on my computer works better than before .So my point being, problems you may think is soft-ware is not always the problem.
If you take a look at what are 1 of the customary trend of today You will see more and more people using DVD in their car which means if u are 1 of them with a nice little sound system , you as a DJ can show off your skills in a different way.
Another trend is clubs with videos , you may see music videos but not videos that are mix too keep the party vibes.
If u want to complian about moving into the future I understand ,but remember you have to be ready because that time is now.I will give YOu an example of what I am talking about.I bought Colin MCrea Rally 2005 for my P.C and after I installed it I got alot of bugs and directx errors .I thougt it was the game(original)so I contacted them and down loaded the patch from them ,still no lock.So after coming up with a brain storm with my self I reinstalled my direct X drivers and down loaded THE LATEST VERSION of directx from micro- soft ,and you would not belive how much better my computer is working right now.CM2005,and many other software on my computer works better than before .So my point being, problems you may think is soft-ware is not always the problem.
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 12:37 am
mp3jrick
Rasta has it right imo.
The future IS video, just look at what the clubs are doing with it.
Hard rock has plazmas all over as do many who do retro in simple pubs.
The point is that this is in it's infancy on this level, ask anybody who bought and used beta tape and full sized lazer discs 15 years ago and paid through the ass.
Aah yes, so much has changed since those days.
I think that Promo Only has put video on the map, for you guys in other parts of the world, this is the biggest promotional music subscription service here in the states.
Which btw is selling out of older issues, so if you want the collection do it soon.
The truth is that we have been given a killer tool, I mean weapon that has more loads of potential left undiscovered yet.
Don't boc at it, experience it, beat mix it, loop and studder it, use audio effects that add to the mix like no other program on earth.
You know, djs battle and fight over gigs and work to build up their shows for some it works for some it doesn't.
This is now much more affordable than ever and the impact is incredible on guests, which I can't see most of the time while mixing, but hear squeel, wow and yeahs! when that screen lights up with their favorite HH, rock, country or oldie from the 70's.
Yes the library costs money, but the equipment is only 20% of that and the program is a gimmie.
Also understand that I rip and collect 2 dvds permonth if I just get the promos, and I also have 2 music subs as well. All of which need to be analyzed, cued and aligned in CBG.
Yes it's a lot of work, but I love it.
I am doing 80% video, the guests never know what is happening when I set up.
So don't knock it before you try it.
To have 2 videos pulling 32 beat loops with the fader dead center as the images interact in perfect sync is incredible. Add in some audio effects during all of this and pick your next song to mix into.
The mixing of video is to the eye what a good mix is for the ear and when coupled together will blow you away.
The future IS video, just look at what the clubs are doing with it.
Hard rock has plazmas all over as do many who do retro in simple pubs.
The point is that this is in it's infancy on this level, ask anybody who bought and used beta tape and full sized lazer discs 15 years ago and paid through the ass.
Aah yes, so much has changed since those days.
I think that Promo Only has put video on the map, for you guys in other parts of the world, this is the biggest promotional music subscription service here in the states.
Which btw is selling out of older issues, so if you want the collection do it soon.
The truth is that we have been given a killer tool, I mean weapon that has more loads of potential left undiscovered yet.
Don't boc at it, experience it, beat mix it, loop and studder it, use audio effects that add to the mix like no other program on earth.
You know, djs battle and fight over gigs and work to build up their shows for some it works for some it doesn't.
This is now much more affordable than ever and the impact is incredible on guests, which I can't see most of the time while mixing, but hear squeel, wow and yeahs! when that screen lights up with their favorite HH, rock, country or oldie from the 70's.
Yes the library costs money, but the equipment is only 20% of that and the program is a gimmie.
Also understand that I rip and collect 2 dvds permonth if I just get the promos, and I also have 2 music subs as well. All of which need to be analyzed, cued and aligned in CBG.
Yes it's a lot of work, but I love it.
I am doing 80% video, the guests never know what is happening when I set up.
So don't knock it before you try it.
To have 2 videos pulling 32 beat loops with the fader dead center as the images interact in perfect sync is incredible. Add in some audio effects during all of this and pick your next song to mix into.
The mixing of video is to the eye what a good mix is for the ear and when coupled together will blow you away.
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 1:03 am
djcel
Just to tell something about time-strech : some other softwares don't use their own source code but use GPL license master tempo. You have just to look into "about" to know that. I don't respect that even the software is finally better as it's the most difficult and the main part.
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 1:31 am
DJ Raz
@cel
Sorry dude, but there's nothing wrong with GPL.
Actually it's one of the better ideas to come out of humans recently. :-)
There is no shame in using proven code or building on it.
The code has been tested and proven to work, so why not use it and try to make it better?
If we all reinvented the wheel all the time, then we would have never built a car.
Sorry dude, but there's nothing wrong with GPL.
Actually it's one of the better ideas to come out of humans recently. :-)
There is no shame in using proven code or building on it.
The code has been tested and proven to work, so why not use it and try to make it better?
If we all reinvented the wheel all the time, then we would have never built a car.
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 1:42 am
cyberia
@mp3jrick
Can you post your current specs for video in your blog? Trying to get ready for the future here...
Can you post your current specs for video in your blog? Trying to get ready for the future here...
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 2:10 am
mp3jrick
Done.
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 3:37 am
apopsisdj
It's not only video.. See another point of view : They opened vdj for "external" (installed) decoders. This means compatibilty with future audio/video formats.
Very clever move as always
Very clever move as always
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 5:02 am
DJ Raz
@apopsis
I'm a customer, so I'm taking the point of view of me, the customer.
From my point of view, I bought a great piece of software, that unfortunately still has a couple bugs and some features that aren't implemented properly.
I see a dev team, that while they are dedicated to VDJ, while they deliver great work, and while they offer upgrades for free, they don't (well at least not in regard to certain features) prioritize making the software work the way it was meant to work. (I'm sure these things are on their to-do-list, I just think they should have been done now instead of the new stuff)
And with that I take concern.
Now we have to wait for the next patch to fix issues that were brought up 2 patches ago.
Will the next patch solve these issues?
Will they solve the new issues brought forwards by videomixing and multi-instance skins?
Or will they introduce yet more new features without fixing unresolved issues?
While I welcome improvements and new features such as videomixing, I think the team should first take care of all known bugs and issues. As a customer, I'd rather have a 100% working version of something I paid for, rather than an 80% working version of something I didn't pay for. (80% is just a number, you can replace it with 99.99% if you want)
I'm a customer, so I'm taking the point of view of me, the customer.
From my point of view, I bought a great piece of software, that unfortunately still has a couple bugs and some features that aren't implemented properly.
I see a dev team, that while they are dedicated to VDJ, while they deliver great work, and while they offer upgrades for free, they don't (well at least not in regard to certain features) prioritize making the software work the way it was meant to work. (I'm sure these things are on their to-do-list, I just think they should have been done now instead of the new stuff)
And with that I take concern.
Now we have to wait for the next patch to fix issues that were brought up 2 patches ago.
Will the next patch solve these issues?
Will they solve the new issues brought forwards by videomixing and multi-instance skins?
Or will they introduce yet more new features without fixing unresolved issues?
While I welcome improvements and new features such as videomixing, I think the team should first take care of all known bugs and issues. As a customer, I'd rather have a 100% working version of something I paid for, rather than an 80% working version of something I didn't pay for. (80% is just a number, you can replace it with 99.99% if you want)
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 5:26 am
DJ Cyder
He has a vaild point as a paid user to be heard. I can promise you the team has heard you loud and clear. The team is listening closely to everyones comments. Post away :)
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 6:18 am
djbambi
cool!
- please make only one skin, at 1920x1200, anything else only serves the "not-me" customers
- I use an external mixer with non-software EQs, so please remove the EQ section from VDJ
- what, some customers don't have xp10s?!? who cares... remove support for any other controller as I really won't use them anytime soon
- please remove beatlock support, as it only serves the "not-me" customers
- correct all bugs I've ever reported in the bug forum. They're very important to 100% of the "me" customers. oh wait, most of that is already done. thanks :)
- leave the video in, I really want to see the effect, on a LSD-induced crowd, of mixing the ear-cutting part of Reservoir Dogs with the dead baby crawling on the ceiling in Trainspotting, with some nice and dark Underground Resistance thumping to cover the cries. Add a few loops of group porn to that and you've got a new following ;]
- if you have any new idea, make sure to run them by me for approval first. as a paying customer, I refuse that features of no interest to me be added to the software, even if they're optional. all you dev effort need to be entirely dedicated to me me me
- the hell with numbers such as 2.1, they confuse everyone. call the next VDJ version "djbambi edition"
*grin*
- please make only one skin, at 1920x1200, anything else only serves the "not-me" customers
- I use an external mixer with non-software EQs, so please remove the EQ section from VDJ
- what, some customers don't have xp10s?!? who cares... remove support for any other controller as I really won't use them anytime soon
- please remove beatlock support, as it only serves the "not-me" customers
- correct all bugs I've ever reported in the bug forum. They're very important to 100% of the "me" customers. oh wait, most of that is already done. thanks :)
- leave the video in, I really want to see the effect, on a LSD-induced crowd, of mixing the ear-cutting part of Reservoir Dogs with the dead baby crawling on the ceiling in Trainspotting, with some nice and dark Underground Resistance thumping to cover the cries. Add a few loops of group porn to that and you've got a new following ;]
- if you have any new idea, make sure to run them by me for approval first. as a paying customer, I refuse that features of no interest to me be added to the software, even if they're optional. all you dev effort need to be entirely dedicated to me me me
- the hell with numbers such as 2.1, they confuse everyone. call the next VDJ version "djbambi edition"
*grin*
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 9:03 am
DJ Raz
@ DJBambi.
I guess you still haven't gotten over me calling you out for bashing VDJ beatlock users.
Get over it and keep stuff like this out of the forums.
If you have an issue with me, take it up with me on msn: raz@djraz.com
I guess you still haven't gotten over me calling you out for bashing VDJ beatlock users.
Get over it and keep stuff like this out of the forums.
If you have an issue with me, take it up with me on msn: raz@djraz.com
Inviato Thu 12 May 05 @ 9:08 am
