Hi

For me, I think that AtomixMP3 v2.2 is by far the best and easiest to use DJ Mp3 sorftware around.
AtomixMP3 provides one-click BPM beat matching, beat-aware loop engine, live recording, optional dual soundcard output and master tempo functionality.
AtomixMP3 supports skins and plugins and is designed for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP.

AtomixMP3 provides you with the usual 2 track MP3 player, pitch control, crossfader, BPM counter, you've probably already come across if you're familiar with DJ mix softwares.

In my opinion, what sets this software in a class of its own is its revolutionary one click BPM beat matching.
You can now forget about desperately trying to match the beats of the MP3s you want to mix!

If you choose to match the beats manually, the visual mix tool helps you by displaying curves, the motion of which follows the beats of your song.

You can also automatically run and mix a complete playlist of thousands of songs.

That's not it. If you'd rather use your own mixing desk and have AtomixMP3 match the beats for you, the software supports a dual soundcard output too!

With AtomixMP3, you've also got the exclusive possibility of recording your mix sessions directly into ready-to-be-burnt-to-CDs WAV files.

The sofware costs $59.95 (i dunno what that is in real money. lol ) to buy but you can download the FREE demo version of AtomixMP3 on CNET Download.com

I have the full version.

Cheers 2 u all. bye

Now that's a good post, excately what the forum is about.....help.

Thanks

Andy

Good for dance music but not for anything else!

Ots DJ for us mere mobile jocks is by far the best isn't Chris.

How many more CD's to rip ?

definatly ots dj for me.!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm 6000 tracks in and still ripping

Tony

Do you rip the wholE CD single (tracks 2 to 6) or just the one radio edit ?

i normally take the most usuable version. ie radio edit as thats the one the punters know...

if doing say an 18th birthday i'll take the cd with me and play a club version thru ots and the laptops cd player.. i like the way ots still blends the tracks and that u can play 2 tracks from the same cd back to back..

Wouldn't know where the CD's were, under the stairs somewhere but in no order at all.

well the new version of atomix the Virtual DJ is a bit more... interesting. yeah as u said its a bit of a toy but its good for all those newbie DJ just learning wat mixing is all about.

I use atomix as well and its never let me down yet. I like the automix feature great when you just want background tunes.

Is it really easier to use a laptop vs. a regular rig. I realize it may be less to carry but how dependable is a computer. What happens if it crashes? I guess I'm just trying to figure out where it be benificial to convert eveerything I have into mp3s. It would definattly take a lot time to do so.

Ah but I take 2 laptops with me and 2 hard drive with me to every gig.

I thought the point of going digital was save space?

Hi

Call me old fashioned if ya like, but learning how to mix isn't looking at a computer screen in clicking a mouse a few times.

If you're a beginner, and you ant to learn to mix properly you need turntables or a duel CD unit, auto bpm mixing on computers takes no tallent or inventiveness at all.

Sorry if the above post offends, but that's like saying if you want to learn to play the piano, get a sequencer. nooo way.

Darren

I haven't seen any pc software that can truly mix anyway. A few of them can match upto around 8 or 9 beats and then they go to pot (especially on pre-80's stuff that didn't use drum machines), but as for matching the bars - no chance. They haven't got a clue, e.g. timing the mix so that the intro on the incoming track finishes just as the vocal on the outgoing track finishes; again, no way.
From the software that I've seen, they've got a helluva long way to go before they can truly mix professionally. Simply matching a few beats together is not what I would call mixing!

Sorry, I've checked out AtomixMP3 and though very clever in it's way it beatmixes, it still doesn't come near PCDJ.

One of the great advantages of PCDJ is that there is a "shortcut key" on your keyboard for every function you would need on the road (loading into port/start/stop/speeding up etc. so when you are using it out on the road, there is no dragging around a mouse, just a few simple presses of the keyboard and away you go with Kylie (or whoever).

It is so easy to use, you put your different types of music in a main file (say 2000's) and the sub category's (2000, 2001,2002, 2003) within the main category.

On another forum on this site I did put a picture and downloadable word doc to the stickers that you need to place over the keyboard, so instead of chasing after it again, here it is.
click here

almost forgot, can't find a autoplay on the atoplaymp3 thingy, unless I've missed it this is yet another advantage that PCDJ brings...
Must say Mixmeister is good, but is fiddly loading tracks in (you have to drag and drop) where PCDJ is just a few clicks on the keyboard.

doesn't The Spindoctor use Mixmeister? what's he think of it? over to you fellow Essex jock!!!

Spot on Nige, what a good memory you have! I love Mixmeister to bits, and try as I might I don't like PCDJ.

I think its the old each to their own, I even tried OTS at one point but the thought of changing all those Mp3's even just once so it suits OTS seems like making hard work for yourself.

I rip them to MP3 on the desktop, do the ID tags then transfer via USB to the laptop, import them to Mixmeister in whichever category you like and job done!

Just my 4d worth

Sin

thanks Spin, one more question, how do you load/start tracks off, keyboard or "click of the mouse"?

I actually use the left click button of the touch pad. I agree its not instant........
..............

but back in the days we used to wind a 45 back three quarters of a turn then hit start......... the principle is the same............. the delay is a constant 1.5 secs I don't have a problem with that.



Spin... (or call me click)

who cares LOL

I use mixmeister too!!

Does the job for me.

But a laptop carry case doesn't take up too much space does it, also the second laptop is my business one, so whilst the background music is on I can still work, it isn't dead time, and being my business laptop it has all my diary dates on it, so if someone wants to book me I can close the deal there and then, complete with an e.mail already in thier inbox.

Can i just ask, how many of you beat match for your run of the mill disco?
I fined there is little pont in bothering when you have a hall full of kidies who just want to hear the cheeky girls (sends me mad).
But the truly most advantagus advantage :S of computers is just how easy it is to find a song. simple as that, i used to spend ages cataloging my cd's tracks to sheets of a4 now all i need is the song/artist/year/gener/mums middle name to find a song woopy

I'm right with you there Nige! So often if you get asked for something obscure you spend 2 minutes putting something else on whilst you look, 5-10 mins looking for it (really obscure) another 2 mins playing something suitable to bridge the gap to the required tune.............. that is in effect 14 minutes of your gig done with!

Now in my experience with laptops whatever the programme you choose I always say "If I've got it I'll play it"! and yes you can have it NOW! In the time most have been searching I have played 4 - 5 tunes which have been requested and kept even more punters happy............ at the end of the day audience satisfaction is everything!

Spin

Totally agree Spin!

And if you 'still' have'nt got it..........................








Ask Dan who is working in the room next door!



Spin

As a relatively new user to OTS, I have to agree that being able to find a track within seconds gives me more chance to work on entertaining the audience and watching their reaction to the music.

I know the above sounds cliched' or a walking commercial but it's true - often I would fly into a panic to find that special track for the best friend of the brides friends mother. Spending ages looking for a track that I know I have somewhere but hadn't played for 2 years!. So between announcing tracks I would be frantically searching through seven crammed boxes of mainly compilations to find it!!.

With OTS it tacks seconds to find it - simply by typing in the artistes name or track name. How many times have you been approached by a member of the audience saying "What Smiths have you got Mate?" now for me these aren't a play at every gig band!. I know I have several of the more popular tracks from Morrisey et al - but I couldn't list of EVERY single one that was Out-there somewhere in the depths of the CD Cases. Now I simply type "Smiths" and its lists every track almost instantly!.

Even with OTS, I don't believe in playlisting and entire night - gigs are far to individual for that - but you can keep your "Most Requested" in a list ready for instant access!. I also have a list for background music, smoochies, and the more general most requested tracks at the club spot - all accessible at the click of a mouse.

I don't see that OTS kills the skill of a D.J - I see it as being a tool to allow me More time to concentrate on Being a D.J and less time as a record liberarian!

Chris, the next version of Ots will also include the BPM counter and a beat mix button so you can search for a BPM rate then too, also have you looked into the endless list of other things you can search by, anything played in the last 8 hours, anything played between 4 and 6 hours ago, the list is endless.For my money you can't beat Ots for what I require it for.

Chris - if your doing a particular 'dance-set', typing a bpm for a search query would bring up the tracks with the similar BPM.

Handy - too right! You'd love it!!!!

Now this is where I find being visually impaired a real bitch!!!

I'd love to convert to using a laptop and software, but I doubt the audience would appreciate the sound of my voice synthe thingy announcing every press of my keyboard

"And now live on stage, your DJ...Steven Hawking!!!!!"

I'm currently using the demo of OtsDJ, and although I find it pretty user-friendly, there are certain function I can't get around simply cause I can see the screen, a real bind!

I've not found any software yet that is 100% keyboard shortcuts and does everything in a Microsoft kind of way. for all their falts, at least Microsoft products are 100% accessible, but convincing other companies to adopt this attitude is proving tiresome.

Sorry gripe over with.

Incidentally, 99% of the time I know exactly where tracks are, obscure or not, it's my sad little tallent born out of necessity rather than desire.

Darren