Hi,
I am a DJ and I like this board very much. I´ve learned so much of it.
But there was never a question about the best DJ-software.
Personally I use Mixmeister PRO (www.mixmeister.com).
I think this is the best professional DJ-software after testing a lot of different demo-versions.
If there are any DJ´s here around please tell me, which software do you use for mixing?
For organizing my MP3 files (of course encoded with lame --alt-preset standard :-) ) I like the Dapyx MP3 explorer most (www.dapyx.f2s.com).
I hope I´m not the only DJ at www.hydrogenaudio.org .

Hey,

Nice tip that mp3 explorer... Very clean and handy piece of software that is!!!

For mixing mp3's....

Native Instruments Traktor DJ (latest version) made quite an impressionon me. Very very good and cool looping support and scratching like in no ather app...

I'm not a DJ so never mind if this was a lousy tip..


Mikez

I really like this MP3 explorer too...

thanks a lot... I was starting to get lot in my 12000 songs collection and this really made my day

Thank you very much for your recommendation, Mikez!
Traktor is a real good DJ-software and the guys from Native instruments (the developers) told me, that in future versions such a "sequencer view" like in Mixmeister Pro would be added.
Then it would be possible to edit your mixes at home, and in "live-mixing situation" you could override some settings, because you have to react to the wishes of the dancing people.
The GUI of traktor has to be overworked, too.
Maybe you´ll have a look at BPM-Studio 4.2 (www.alcatech.com) - very easy GUI, but Mastertempo isn´t real good.
I´ll test further demo-versions of professional DJ-software and let you know, if a better one is on the market.

Mark

To handle your music collection you could use helium2.

www.helium2.com



Jan.

I´m sorry, Jan!

I don´t like Helium 2.

Mark

Are you saying that as everybody else without having tried it?

sorry, i only mix vinyl

As you said, Traktor is really nice and fancy (scratching, quick loops and shit) and to bring both tracks to same tempo is real easy, but I tried it a couple of times and I'm not satisfied with the results it gives me for getting the beat right. It just fucks it up, better recognition is needed. (Yeah I know it's difficult but hey it's a repeating pattern aint it). Regarding beatmatching, DJ Mix Pro (www.djmixpro.com) does a much better job, but at the cost of those fancy extra features. Additionally it doesn't bring the track back to tempo once it has faded and as them Traktor-one-button-fancys are missing it is hard to get it back to right tempo and have it sound cool aswell. Btw, those Traktor-features are not real mature yet 2, i.e. the scratch speed is either too slow or too high, and that reverse button could (should) have a much nicer effect. With what I am satisfied is the outfit, it's cool, and that you can mix via keyboard. That needs some update aswell though, because I do not first want to switch to the other deck before I can do something (via space), I wanna do shit with both decks simultaniously!
I am perhaps DJing at the Vorabi (Pre-A-level-exam)-party of my grade, and I do not know which software to use yet as all lack important shit. Anyone got an idea?
cya zero
P.s.: As for that MP3 database prog, I don't like Helium either (looked @ them screenshots and they look officelike, but that is not always best guess when it comes to efficiency). Dapyx MP3 Explorer has a good interface and does a very nice job in handle them gigs of MP3, but I bet Winamp3 will be way superior once it's finished... component system rules!

anyone tried VTT (virtual turntables) ? it (i think) can use some winAMP plugins & i heard my pal's mixes made using it - sound great (but dunno if it's anything 'bout the prog)

Hi zero08,

have a look at www.atomixmp3.com. Totally easy to use- very good automatic beatmatching, but you have to turn off mastertempo, if you want good sound - real worth a try.
I think Atomixmp3 is the most popular one besides www.pcdj.com .
Did you try Mixmeister Pro? For my needs it´s the best.
I can make perfect mixes at home and edit everything live (Mastertempo is very good).
Please let me know, what you think about it!

Hi Maciey,

VTT was the first one on the market and the first one I tried :-) . It isn´t bad, but the development has stopped.
Thank you very much for your hint!

Mark

so is there a DJ program which uses winAMP plugins (input & maybe DSP & output?) - it would be awesome to mix with MP3 AND OGG AND AAC AND MPC AND... just about anything else? there even is a 'vinyl sound' DSP for winAMP (iZotope Vinyl) ...

>>>'I think this is the best professional DJ-software after testing a lot of different demo-versions.'<<<

i don't think its the best. i know a lot of people like it because of the auto beatmatching, but personally don't like it

imho... the best "digital" DJ program is BPM studio from alcatech, followed by traktor DJ studio from native instruments. none of these sadly support ogg or mpc... only mp3, wav, wma :/

edit: links

bpm studio: www.bpmstudio.com
traktor: www.native-instruments.de

happy mixing

Hi outscape,

I had already decided to buy BPM-Studio, because I thought that it was the best one.
But before buying it I saw, that there was a new Mixmeister "Pro" version with which is it possible to "prehear" your mix.
I think the advantage of Mixmeister Pro is besides better Mastertempo the possibility to make "perfect" mixes at home, and in live situations, when the dancing people want other songs (special wishes) you can react and change everything, but still having the ability to prehear your mix.
Please don´t think I´m bad in mixing - I have two
Technics SL 1210 MKII and my mixes sounded good with them, but with Mixmeister I can make absolutely perfect mixes.

I have to admit that it is an other way of mixing and if you want to make everything live (mix live, bass lowering on one tune etc.) BPM-Studio is a very professional solution for you. I like it, too.

Mark

(Slightly off topic)

Are people who EXCLUSIVELY use CD-J's called DJ's? In my opinion they should not, why? Becuase CD-J's almost require no skill on the user to use, I can use one and I almost know nothing about DJ'ing (still learning but other matters are pressing such as learning PHP).

Cheers
AgentMil

It really depends on your definition of a DJ I suppose. I have seen many DJs using records that display less skill than some on the CD and PC based systems. If you like to scratch then the CD solutions are not likely what you are looking for. Though I have seen some equipment advanced enough to do so with CD. It just was not quite the same.

Personally I dislike this talk about vinyl DJs having so much more skill. Many actually say, that mixing with vinyls is easier because it's more natural. There is so much more to making a good mix than just beatmatching.

Anyway: I personally really like Traktor for it's nive features like real time EQs and easy to use interface. Although like someone allready pointed out you should be able to simultaniously control the two decks. I once tried Mixmeister to sequence a mix but either I or Mixmeister was too dumb to align the tracks. You can (ab)use Acid Pro though to do sequenced mixes.

Hi Gecko,

please try Mixmeister Pro again.
Load some dance-tracks into the playlist . Select all tracks in the playlist - the tracks change colour into orange ! right-click - select sort by BPM (ascending) - select use beat mixing. That´s the first step.
Normally all of the selected tracks should have the beats in sync. The synchronized parts of the mix are shown in pink and grey (probably you have to zoom in). These automatically created beat-mixes sound fine with some tracks, but in many cases you will get a better sounding mix, if you adjust the tracks manually.

If you want more information please let me know. There´s a manual in the Demo-version of Mixmeister Pro, too.

Now Mixmeister Pro should work fine for you and I think you´ll like it, too.

Mark

Hey,
If you guys are still there... since the last post was Posted on Jan 21 2002, 01:51 PM... There has been a lot going on out there since the start of this discussion.
I DJ on the computer and I have been for 6 years... I know what's up... If your still there...


-Jay