Do you use a DVS Software? Or only CD's/USB's? Need help

Hi there!

No, you don't HAVE to have a laptop when DJing but, given that most DJs tend to now download their audio files, it does make life a little easier to work from the laptop. Think of it as an electronic way of flipping through your CD wallet.

Depending on the DVS software you use, you will see that pressing play on the CDJ350 will engage play on the software - the CDJ is acting as a 'controller'.

The benefits of using a DVS with the CDJs are that you have multiple formats to play music from - a laptop / USB stick or CD. You can access your entire library from the software and then the software plays that music.

I do use a mixture of setups depending on the gig I am doing. If its a mobile gig I tend to go for the laptop approach as I have faster access to a wider variety of music than I might have on some USB sticks (for example, I was playing a Rihanna song last night when I got a request for Garth Brooks - there is no way I would have had those tracks on the same CD or USB stick).

Its not quite plug and play but its getting there. You have to do a certain amount of 'mapping', that is, to assign specific buttons on your CDJ to control specific functions within the software. You can download mapped templates. Do a search on these forums for some .tsi files.

you mean you don't use rekordbox?

Using Recordbox, you can just organize your music collection & have it played via cdj-900 or cdj 2000 connected to Lan hub. Analyzing the tracks should also be more accurate when using effects , loops and hotstarts.

Using a DVS software, you could also add effects to your music (much more than those you can find in any mixer), add samples (synced) and depending on the software you could just remix easily and create your own music. But remember that computers tend to crash, so if you are in a gig imagine what it would happened if the music have stoped for about a minute that you need to restart. 

I swear by RekordBox and use it religiously, but I also know DJs who feel the same way about Traktor.

I think it comes down to two selling points for them:

1. The effects and sync feature of Traktor, I don't have a problem with syncing as long as they're using that time and effort that they're saving on other creative elements of their DJ sets (like loops/filters/samples and the like).

and 2. As Gavin pointed out the other big one is flexibility, Traktor originally became popular  because it allowed DJs to play digital files from their laptop using turntables and time coded vinyl (hence the word DVS, Digital Vinyl System), and it's also possible to use Traktor on a pair of CDJ1000's or other non RekordBox Link enabled CDJs.

I much prefer RekordBox myself (I've played around with Traktor, not for me). Taking a pair of USB flash drives to gigs for me with minimal effort in preparation, not having to bother with CDs and being able to leave my laptop at home is a major convenience for me.

Angus, sounds interesting why you use it - can you tell me exactly how are using it? What do you do? Organize all your tracks before? How do you organize on it? Any good tutorials for RekordBox online?

Add me on Facebook bro - would love to ask you questions - Umar Salman

Thanks!

Sure thing mate, I looked you up on FB but there's a few of you, feel free to add me here: www.facebook.com/angus.gibbins1 only too happy to help!

If you want, have a read of how I organise my music collection here: http://www.trancetribe.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3547  I post under the name Angus van Beeran (on account that I'm a trance DJ, and a few years ago you'd never see me without a pint of beer in my hand)

angus, just sent ya a fb request too, Brian C.