And really engine doesn’t do a good job at being library software simply because you can’t view streaming playlists. Streaming is supposed to be a main selling point of these products.
As a streaming service I use Tidal, every time I listen to something interesting, I create the playlist, insert the tracks I like directly from my smartphone, turn on the SC6000s and I find everything at hand, with the CDJ3000s this is not possible
I also do hope streaming prep will become a part of the desktop version at some point. Did you vote for the feature request already?
Can’t really work this post out at all - been on board with the Prime series since day 1 and to see how they’ve improved is unbelievable. The beat grid detection algorithm isn’t that bad anymore, but before Prime, Serato had loads of adjustments that were needed. The fact that you can live grid on the players for the Prime kit is amazing, and other than minimal tweaks, the players are practically perfect now. Do we need Beatport locker, it’s been promised since 2019 so it’s time Denon pulled their finger out. New FX for the mixers and not just the all-in-ones, 100%. Both player waveforms on 1 deck, would be great, but none of these deflect from how good the players are.
Meanwhile, my almost 7 year old SC5000’s are still working like new.
Yeah, beatgrid analysis in engine is subpar, but so is rekordbox beatgrid analysis. Track prep is just part of being a DJ in the digital era. If you are passionate about the music, it is something you will enjoy doing, as it brings you closer to the music you play.
Agree the players are cool but there are just small problems with steaming playlist preparation on the players and in the desktop app. we need to be able to view and batch analyze large streaming playlist in the desktop app as this is the future of DJing. Actually the future is now. We have the functionality to do this track by track on the players but some info about streaming tracks needs to be displayed on the players. Being able to sort streaming playlists and hard drive analysis info are some of the items that have been overlooked. I can’t look at a streaming playlist and tell what has been analyzed or not w/o loading each track. On small lists this is no issue, but bigger playlists of over 100 tracks and multiple genres gets tedious. No doubt the players are nice just some of the features are pushed out w/o consideration of full functionality.
The playlists (certainly Beatport) can be organised in Beatport, so no need for the app to do that (I appreciate that it isn’t the most convenient way to do it), and analysing track by track, I’m not sure I see the issue with that, unless you can’t beat match by ear (not meant as a criticism), where it can cause problems if it isn’t analysed well (had some bizarre ones come through recently). Easily fixed in 15-30 seconds in the player though, again needs a little of your own skills though.
Denon desktop does need some improvements, the simplest being library management for the players, making search and selection much quicker, but nothing that detracts from the player’s quality and fun - the reason I think most of us own Prime over Pioneer
Let’s not forget they have just released crowd sourced analysing of streamed music too, so over the time the libraries will grow and grow of already analysed tracks. This will mean unless you’re purposely playing some ultra obscure music, it’s likely your tracks will load from the streaming source already analysed.
That restriction with the BPM range though, is IMO a real hindrance to the usefulness of the idea.
Once Denon add streaming service access to Engine DJ desktop (which urgently needs to happen) maybe they can incorporate an automated 5 way scan that analyses all ranges at once - or just remove the restriction.
I read this and TBH it raises my blood pressure!
If the intention is to get recompense then “sell the gear” and move on. It will hold it’s value and should get you someway towards your desired rig.
If your intention is to allow “new users to make an informed decision” then please provide both pros and cons (or make a YT video. I have used Reloop, Pioneer, Numark and Denon - I am constantly torn with moving to Pioneer (and have been offered several chances to get some great kit!) but I just can’t do it! My various pieces of prime kit get better with time, there are some things I would prefer but the dance music genres were born out of compromise and “getting on with it” - we have it so blooming easy now!
If you want to find a way to help Denon improve then be a positive member of the forum and vote for Feature requests - design feature requests and contribute…
There have been so many references to the various improvements made that I will not restate them but what I can confirm is that I have several buddies with XDJ units that have gotten worn and older but rarely better with time… They look at my All in one and wish that they had the same capabilities! They also can’t believe that they can use their USBs in it too!!
I don’t want to bash your view but I do feel that it needs balance and more substance!
It does make you wonder after so many years why these ranges exist on so many platforms still. Are there any that don’t use them?
Yes actually, I noticed that Algoriddim’s Djay Pro 5 has a default option of “none” for BPM range. I don’t know if that’s new since they introduced Fluid Beatgrid™ but it does make you wonder why we have such restrictions now, with all this clever AI this, AI that.
If you use the beat jump function this is a huge deal because the song won’t jump the correct amount of beats. I can surely beat match, but when I go to jump to a section of the song by beat jumping 32 beats it is thrown off because the songs grid. Sure you can go and cue each section but this will take a lot longer than using the beat jump function on the fly. If you don’t use beat jump your missing out on a lot of fun as you can line up drops and breakdowns and any other part of the song almost instantly when hearing the song for the first time.
You don’t need to grid the entire song though, no new song is written with true swing to it, or live instruments, they’re all midi and drum machines (or certainly the music we’re all talking about mixing). Simply go into the track, put in a BPM, check it beatmatches, if it doesn’t, adjust up or down 1 BPM, until you find the correct BPM. The grid is then set. As I said, 15-30 seconds. If it’s an old track in your collection, then you should’ve fixed them yourself offline (we are talking only the streaming tracks here).
Yep not difficult at all I’ve done this hundreds if not thousands of times. I’m talking first time plying songs in the mix on the fly. Sometimes 30 sec go by and you’ve missed your cue especially if your already on the second drop of the song your mixing out of. Nowadays tracks be like 2 min 30 sec ya know
You’ve never mixed on vinyl then have you? You used to be 5-10 tracks ahead in prep on those back in’th day…
It’s great to see that the original fire in this thread paled and mellowed and just drifted into pacified nonchalance as more and more members with correct views added their very justified replies.
Sure have that’s where I started on my tech 12s, got to change with the times homie. New styles of music and technology come new styles of mixing. Some people be like I’m never mixing with anything but vinyl, to each his own. Nowadays I like mixing fast with lots of new music, some tracks I will play once or twice only with all the new music coming out all the time. I get bored with music very easily now always wanting the new tunes, and with streaming it keeps it very interesting every time I get behind the decks.
My $0,02.
Sure, there are tracks that have a faulty detected beatgrid, but most modern tracks are detected fine. Some need a slight shift or downbeat adjustment, but I personally can’t say I needed to adjust 1000s of tracks manually.
Are those tracks simply “old” (pre-90s) or recorded by a bad turntable?
Mostly Riddim and dubstep that are off nowadays. Tracks that are 140 or 145 will come in at 105-109. You really have to tap the bpm in then adjust from there.