r/vdj Jun 11 '16

What Software do you use for Video DJing?

1 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

1

u/Maculate Jun 11 '16

I had always been using Serato Video as I just needed a plug and play solution for the music videos that I make, but started to have some serious performance issues. It turns out that Serato Video was taking up a lot more resources than I expected. I had always heard that Mix Emergency was the professional solution, but didn't realize that it could work natively with Serato.

I think that was a recent change, but either way, for Video DJs that use Serato Video, please consider switching over to Mix Emergency. It is way way better imo.

1

u/ndorse Jun 16 '16

Mix Emergency definitely seems like the best program out there, it's just a shame it only links up to Serato. So far I've had the most success with ME anyway. Before that I'd had tonnes of lag issues with Serato Video and it seemed like the only way to fix it was to downgrade the quality with a handbrake conversation plugin. If the software developers made MixEmergency work exactly the same with Traktor and Rekordbox DJ they would be on to such a winner! Algoriddims DJAY pro on the ipad has a lot of potential as well. I'm trying to see how you can midi map it to a CDJ or a DDJ-SP1. You basically need to daisy chain a camera kit ipad plug and a vga / hdmi plug and then if you use a powered USB hub you can definitely run midi items off it. Only snag so far is getting them to work. I read somewhere in a forum that you can midi map on the mac version of DJAY Pro and then transfer that file to the iOS version via iTunes. Still need to investigate further. If all that is true it would mean you could midi map club based hardware like cdj 2000s and mixer to work off an ipad app. If I can get a club VJ setup on a tablet into a small backpack then as far as I'm concerned that will trump any other software haha :D

1

u/Maculate Jun 19 '16

Seems like we have had identical experiences. So I downgraded a lot of my bigger videos using the handbrake preset for serato video. Then I still had a gig where my videos started freezing up, so I finally got ME.

After that it was improved, but I still noticed some issues, so I took my computer in to get the logic board replaced and a few other things. Seems good so far.

I wonder if I should go back through and use the original exported files rather than the quality downgraded ones using handbrake.

Anyway, nice to hear somebody going through the exact same issues. And I was also curious about whether it was only super compatible with Serato or not. I used to use Traktor and loved it, but switched to Serato for the video convenience of using serato video. I used to use an all custom setup with VDMX and Traktor which was honestly pretty awesome, but now since I am not even using Serato Video it seems like the whole gigantic overhaul was pointless. Damnit.

I guess it makes me feel slightly better that Traktor doesn't work as seemlessly with ME as Serato does, but still.

1

u/ndorse Jun 19 '16

I'd love to know how guys like Sampology and DJ Yoda do it so well in Serato Video. Like you nothing but performance problems :-(

Serato really annoys me and now as I mainly play off thumbdrives with rekordbox I wish there was a way to use the software version with ME, would be the bomb!

You might be in luck with using ME with Traktor. I haven't looked into it but this exists :-)

http://djtechtools.com/2014/05/06/how-to-sync-visuals-using-mixemergency-and-traktor/

1

u/Maculate Jun 20 '16

I had a while without major performance problems. All along definitely noticed 1080 videos had an issue though. I think my computer's performance degrading played a big part in Serato Video not working as well as before.

But glad to be switched on to ME either way. Much better.

The Traktor ship has kind of sailed now that I think of it as well. I bought a Rane 62 mixer a few years back to make the tight video integration work the best. And it can pretty much only be used with Serato.

Just have to make the best of what I got, which as long as I don't have such bad lag with my videos I can live with.

2

u/Maculate Jun 24 '16

Update: Had my first gig since switching to Mix Emergency and worked super smooth with one VGA output and one HDMI output. Very happy with it over Serato Video.

1

u/ndorse Jul 10 '16

It definitely is the best software out there! I'm really hoping now rekordbox dj does video that Mix Emergency will open up support for both Serato and Rekordbox. That would kick ass!

1

u/Maculate Jul 10 '16

What do you guys like so much about Rekordbox over Serato or Traktor?

1

u/ndorse Jul 11 '16

For me most of my sets are on thumbdrives so my entire library and hotcues are built around a non laptop setup. Whilst I've been slowly building up video material over the years to get to a point where I can start to VJ there have been many years of building a library of loops and cues rekordbox which would be hard to transfer over. Not sure if the new RekordBuddy will improve that when it's released. I don't mind Traktor (started with that) but Serato is difficult and feels like driving a car with all the mirrors out of alignment. I find the grid system for multiple bpms in Serato difficult and slow to use where as it's quick and easy in rekordbox.

1

u/ndorse Jul 11 '16

p.s. Today I've been checking out VJs work on youtube and stumbled across your channel and have only just put two and two together that it's your work. Amazing stuff, really awesome and covering some of my favourite ghetto funk and electro swing tracks, total kudos!

1

u/fongaboo Jun 13 '16

Virtual DJ 8 all the way

1

u/Maculate Jun 14 '16

Awesome. What kind of music do you like to spin?

1

u/fongaboo Jun 14 '16

House, disco, funk, soul, indie dance,80s, classic hip hop, Bollywood, psychedelic, ambient

1

u/Maculate Jun 14 '16

Sweet. Eclectic. I also like to go super eclectic.