Ian Wild
There's one thing I can't explain
Let's imagine that you have loaded a track on deck A which is master and it is currently playing.
I load a track onto deck B and enable quantization.
Since deck A is master, Deck B will automatically synchronize, which is the expected behavior.
During my transition between deck A (outgoing track) and deck B (incoming track) I therefore lower the volume fader of deck A, then I stop playback on this deck.
Most of the time Deck B will then automatically become master.
But for some reason, it sometimes happens to me that the automatic switching of the master from one deck to another does not happen.
I've often had this problem when I let another DJ do a set and I pick up after him.
I suspect that at some point he will probably have either used sync or used the master button on one of the decks, which means that the assignment of the master deck will now be done manually, until I close VDJ which is really annoying.
How to reactivate automatic Master assignment on the deck that is "on air" once the other deck is shut down?
I don't see any option in the settings to modify the behavior of "Master" mode.
Let's imagine that you have loaded a track on deck A which is master and it is currently playing.
I load a track onto deck B and enable quantization.
Since deck A is master, Deck B will automatically synchronize, which is the expected behavior.
During my transition between deck A (outgoing track) and deck B (incoming track) I therefore lower the volume fader of deck A, then I stop playback on this deck.
Most of the time Deck B will then automatically become master.
But for some reason, it sometimes happens to me that the automatic switching of the master from one deck to another does not happen.
I've often had this problem when I let another DJ do a set and I pick up after him.
I suspect that at some point he will probably have either used sync or used the master button on one of the decks, which means that the assignment of the master deck will now be done manually, until I close VDJ which is really annoying.
How to reactivate automatic Master assignment on the deck that is "on air" once the other deck is shut down?
I don't see any option in the settings to modify the behavior of "Master" mode.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 1:35 pm
djdad
You can use masterdeck_auto to bring the automation back and/or query (see if enabled or not)
Note, some controllers have SHIFT+SYNC as masterdeck assigned which could cause the automation to stop if user doesnt know how it works and/or pressed by mistake. Serato users are mostly used to think that Shift+Sync turns off the sync ;)
Note, some controllers have SHIFT+SYNC as masterdeck assigned which could cause the automation to stop if user doesnt know how it works and/or pressed by mistake. Serato users are mostly used to think that Shift+Sync turns off the sync ;)
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 2:14 pm
Ian Wild
I think it would be useful to add the auto/manual master deck option directly to the VDJ settings.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 4:29 pm
PhantomDeejay
Usually (90 times out of 100) any controller that offers you the ability to control the master deck directly, also offers you the ability to restore the automatic selection.
As a quick example, on most Pioneer devices that have a "MASTER" button, the mapping actually checks:
If button is heald, automatic MASTER deck operation is resumed.
Otherwise, set master deck manually.
Therefore I would advise you to check the manual of your controller(s) and see if, where and how masterdeck operation is done.
As a quick example, on most Pioneer devices that have a "MASTER" button, the mapping actually checks:
If button is heald, automatic MASTER deck operation is resumed.
Otherwise, set master deck manually.
Therefore I would advise you to check the manual of your controller(s) and see if, where and how masterdeck operation is done.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 7:24 pm
Ian Wild
They are SC6000Ms.
In the factory mapping, "Masterdeck" is assigned to the Master button, and by default, the Shift+Master input isn't used.
So, I assigned "Masterdeck_auto" to Shift+Master, as DJDAD suggested, and it seems to work.
I'm pretty sure that once you use the Master button on a deck, it switches to manual mode; that deck remains the Master indefinitely until you assign the other deck as the Master.
I have to say, I find this behavior quite confusing.
Even if I—or someone else—manually assign Master to a deck at some point, VDJ ought to be able to switch back to automatic Master mode once the track on that deck stops playing.
It took me a long time to figure out why one of my decks was staying as the Master permanently and failing to sync with the other deck when playback started (meaning the other deck didn't become the Master, even though it should have), despite quantization being enabled.
In the factory mapping, "Masterdeck" is assigned to the Master button, and by default, the Shift+Master input isn't used.
So, I assigned "Masterdeck_auto" to Shift+Master, as DJDAD suggested, and it seems to work.
I'm pretty sure that once you use the Master button on a deck, it switches to manual mode; that deck remains the Master indefinitely until you assign the other deck as the Master.
I have to say, I find this behavior quite confusing.
Even if I—or someone else—manually assign Master to a deck at some point, VDJ ought to be able to switch back to automatic Master mode once the track on that deck stops playing.
It took me a long time to figure out why one of my decks was staying as the Master permanently and failing to sync with the other deck when playback started (meaning the other deck didn't become the Master, even though it should have), despite quantization being enabled.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 7:41 pm
PhantomDeejay
That's your reasoning and it's respected, but on the other hand, as soon as you "choose" to manually pick a master deck yourself, it means that you want to stay on the controls and that you don't want automations to decide for you.
That's why automatic master deck selection stops "permanently". Of course the vdj script verb to restore the automatic master deck selection has been there from day one, and all those years I don't think there were many cases with people that misused the "masterdeck" selection, or complained about it not resuming auto selection after a while..
That's why automatic master deck selection stops "permanently". Of course the vdj script verb to restore the automatic master deck selection has been there from day one, and all those years I don't think there were many cases with people that misused the "masterdeck" selection, or complained about it not resuming auto selection after a while..
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 10:52 pm
Ian Wild
Perhaps the master deck's behavior could be defined within the software settings, offering three typical modes:
- Auto (the most recently "on-air" deck automatically becomes the master).
- Temporary Manual: when you manually assign master control to a deck, VDJ reverts to auto mode once that deck stops. This is useful if you want to assign master control to a deck temporarily without it becoming the permanent master.
- Manual: gives you full control by letting you manually assign which deck acts as the master.
For someone like me, who uses quantize in my workflow almost 100% of the time, it is crucial that the "on-air" deck automatically becomes the master. Otherwise, even if quantize is enabled on the other deck, playback won't start in sync or quantized.
I’m used to playing this way because I’ve optimized my workflow for it. If I let a guest DJ play for a bit and they switch to manual master mode, I want to be able to return to the automatic behavior once I take the decks back.
DJDAD’s script helps now that I know about it, but I was caught off guard during a gig by this behavior, which wasn't what I wanted. If this setting had been available in the options, I wouldn't have had to spend ages trying to figure out the source of the problem.
I think that if this happened to me in the middle of a gig, it could happen to others, too.
- Auto (the most recently "on-air" deck automatically becomes the master).
- Temporary Manual: when you manually assign master control to a deck, VDJ reverts to auto mode once that deck stops. This is useful if you want to assign master control to a deck temporarily without it becoming the permanent master.
- Manual: gives you full control by letting you manually assign which deck acts as the master.
For someone like me, who uses quantize in my workflow almost 100% of the time, it is crucial that the "on-air" deck automatically becomes the master. Otherwise, even if quantize is enabled on the other deck, playback won't start in sync or quantized.
I’m used to playing this way because I’ve optimized my workflow for it. If I let a guest DJ play for a bit and they switch to manual master mode, I want to be able to return to the automatic behavior once I take the decks back.
DJDAD’s script helps now that I know about it, but I was caught off guard during a gig by this behavior, which wasn't what I wanted. If this setting had been available in the options, I wouldn't have had to spend ages trying to figure out the source of the problem.
I think that if this happened to me in the middle of a gig, it could happen to others, too.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 11:41 pm
locoDog
It's not something that saves across sessions so isn't suitable for settings.
You turn auto off then next start auto will be back on.
You turn auto off then next start auto will be back on.
Inviato Mon 06 Jul 26 @ 11:55 pm
Ian Wild
Of course, but it was impossible for me to close VDJ in the middle of a gig just to switch the master deck back to automatic mode.
When I realized the guest DJ had likely switched the master to manual, my first instinct was to check the VDJ settings, hoping to find an option to switch it back to automatic. Naturally, I didn't find one.
And I wasn't aware that the `Masterdeck_auto` script command existed.
We don't all know every existing script command by heart.
I think that for most users, the first instinct during a gig would be to look in the settings rather than the mapping for something like this.
When I realized the guest DJ had likely switched the master to manual, my first instinct was to check the VDJ settings, hoping to find an option to switch it back to automatic. Naturally, I didn't find one.
And I wasn't aware that the `Masterdeck_auto` script command existed.
We don't all know every existing script command by heart.
I think that for most users, the first instinct during a gig would be to look in the settings rather than the mapping for something like this.
Inviato Tue 07 Jul 26 @ 12:03 am
locoDog
I'm explaining why it isn't in settings.
If you have guests on your rig you should have a higher level of understanding of the system for those odd places they can get you.
Clicking on the thing stuck should have been your first port of call.
If you have guests on your rig you should have a higher level of understanding of the system for those odd places they can get you.
Clicking on the thing stuck should have been your first port of call.
Inviato Tue 07 Jul 26 @ 1:46 am
PhantomDeejay
I don't think this conversation has any real point.
I mean, you were caught of guard. Ok. You can excuse yourself for not knowing how "MASTER" deck selection behaves in VirtualDJ.
Now you know, and also you have learned for the script that restores the behavior back.
There's no point to further "micro-analyze" this since this behavior exists for more that one decade and almost nobody ever complained about it.
So, now that you know the behavior and how to deal with it, there's no point to discuss if it should be a setting or not when it has been less than 10 people in a decade that "complained" about it.
PS: As I said, on most controllers that offer a manual "MASTER" deck selection we also provide a way to restore the automatic master selection back.
You were unfortunate enough to be using a controller that we missed to include this.
That's something that indeed can be improved, and we should indeed check and if no other issues arise, include on factory default mapper.
So, IMHO we should only be really talking about this.
Take a look here:
https://virtualdj.com/manuals/hardware/alphatheta/xdjaz/layout/decks.html
Read button 48
You'll see that it explains how holding the MASTER button restores automatic master deck selection.
This is present as I said on about 90% of the controllers we have mapped and offer a "MASTER" button.
Now, we will check the mapping of SC6000M and if it's ok (there's not any firmware weirdiness with the button) we will implement an automatic master deck restore.. :)
I mean, you were caught of guard. Ok. You can excuse yourself for not knowing how "MASTER" deck selection behaves in VirtualDJ.
Now you know, and also you have learned for the script that restores the behavior back.
There's no point to further "micro-analyze" this since this behavior exists for more that one decade and almost nobody ever complained about it.
So, now that you know the behavior and how to deal with it, there's no point to discuss if it should be a setting or not when it has been less than 10 people in a decade that "complained" about it.
PS: As I said, on most controllers that offer a manual "MASTER" deck selection we also provide a way to restore the automatic master selection back.
You were unfortunate enough to be using a controller that we missed to include this.
That's something that indeed can be improved, and we should indeed check and if no other issues arise, include on factory default mapper.
So, IMHO we should only be really talking about this.
Take a look here:
https://virtualdj.com/manuals/hardware/alphatheta/xdjaz/layout/decks.html
Read button 48
You'll see that it explains how holding the MASTER button restores automatic master deck selection.
This is present as I said on about 90% of the controllers we have mapped and offer a "MASTER" button.
Now, we will check the mapping of SC6000M and if it's ok (there's not any firmware weirdiness with the button) we will implement an automatic master deck restore.. :)
Inviato 7 days ago @ 9:31 am
Ian Wild
PhantomDeejay wrote :
You were unfortunate enough to be using a controller that we missed to include this.
That's something that indeed can be improved, and we should indeed check and if no other issues arise, include on factory default mapper.
You were unfortunate enough to be using a controller that we missed to include this.
That's something that indeed can be improved, and we should indeed check and if no other issues arise, include on factory default mapper.
Well, after checking, the SC6000M isn't the only controller that doesn't have Masterdeck_auto assigned in its factory mapping—whether via Shift+Master or a long press on Master.
The same applies to the SC6000, SC5000, and SC5000M.
Only the LC6000 includes a Masterdeck_auto assignment via Shift+Master in the factory mapping.
Just so you know.
Inviato 7 days ago @ 11:59 am
djdad
btw, if masterdeck_auto is not mapped to any button, but you still have a button mapped as masterdeck, you can bring back tha automatic selection by just clicking on the manually enabled MasterDeck button.
So no real need of an extra button. Having a skin custom button mapped as masterdeck_auto might help you perhaps to keep an eye on the status if you dont regularly force any manual selection.
So no real need of an extra button. Having a skin custom button mapped as masterdeck_auto might help you perhaps to keep an eye on the status if you dont regularly force any manual selection.
Inviato 7 days ago @ 4:02 pm