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'djay' Application for iPad Released
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Although I applaud them at the interface, there is no practical use of this by any serious dj or even dj-wannabe. This is more of an app for someone who has $20 to blow and doesn't have more money for a real dj-starter kit.
Speaking as a dj, some reasons for non-acceptance:
-it's all on a 9" screen...djs do not work with 2 platters AND a mixer in a 9" space...just too small...for EVERYTHING
-total lack of outputs on the iPad
-forced to use mp3s which are far inferior quality than the full WAV or other lossless format. I find all sorts of problems on my 20,000+ collection of 192k mp3 files...mp3s are great for the headphone or car ride...but in a serious environment when quality counts, no way. And not to mention the artifacts that are in most mp3s. Even if you were to encode everything at 320k, your 64gig iPad would fill up quite quickly...not to mention even faster with lossless.
-due to iPads storage limitations, I don't think djs are gonna plunk down $800+ for the 64GB iPad and then merely $20 for an app.
Spend the $820-$1200 on a REAL nice mid-range dj setup with Pioneer cd players and mixers that will blow the iPad thingy out of the water.
Great little app...and probably appropriately priced. Nice for Timmy who doesn't have $400 to get started on buying a REAL mixer and dual-cd-player combo. And yes, those dual-cd player combos play mp3s off the cds as well as USB sticks.
Put this app on a more specialized and larger tablet with more power and storage and you have gold.
Speaking as a dj, some reasons for non-acceptance:
-it's all on a 9" screen...djs do not work with 2 platters AND a mixer in a 9" space...just too small...for EVERYTHING
-total lack of outputs on the iPad
-forced to use mp3s which are far inferior quality than the full WAV or other lossless format. I find all sorts of problems on my 20,000+ collection of 192k mp3 files...mp3s are great for the headphone or car ride...but in a serious environment when quality counts, no way. And not to mention the artifacts that are in most mp3s. Even if you were to encode everything at 320k, your 64gig iPad would fill up quite quickly...not to mention even faster with lossless.
-due to iPads storage limitations, I don't think djs are gonna plunk down $800+ for the 64GB iPad and then merely $20 for an app.
Spend the $820-$1200 on a REAL nice mid-range dj setup with Pioneer cd players and mixers that will blow the iPad thingy out of the water.Great little app...and probably appropriately priced. Nice for Timmy who doesn't have $400 to get started on buying a REAL mixer and dual-cd-player combo. And yes, those dual-cd player combos play mp3s off the cds as well as USB sticks.
Put this app on a more specialized and larger tablet with more power and storage and you have gold.
I can see it now. DJ MacBoy is on the 1-2 on his iPad and the entire crowd is moving to the mixes, until he gets a iOS push notification that stops the app dead in its tracks, followed by eerie silence across the dance floor.
I don't think I'd get much use out of it.
The visual is entertaining enough. No software needed.
The visual is entertaining enough. No software needed.
"I want the knife..... Please"
Although I applaud them at the interface, there is no practical use of this by any serious dj or even dj-wannabe. This is more of an app for someone who has $20 to blow and doesn't have more money for a real dj-starter kit.
Speaking as a dj, some reasons for non-acceptance:
-it's all on a 9" screen...djs do not work with 2 platters AND a mixer in a 9" space...just too small...for EVERYTHING
-total lack of outputs on the iPad
-forced to use mp3s which are far inferior quality than the full WAV or other lossless format. I find all sorts of problems on my 20,000+ collection of 192k mp3 files...mp3s are great for the headphone or car ride...but in a serious environment when quality counts, no way. And not to mention the artifacts that are in most mp3s. Even if you were to encode everything at 320k, your 64gig iPad would fill up quite quickly...not to mention even faster with lossless.
-due to iPads storage limitations, I don't think djs are gonna plunk down $800+ for the 64GB iPad and then merely $20 for an app.
Great little app...and probably appropriately priced. Nice for Timmy who doesn't have $400 to get started on buying a REAL mixer and dual-cd-player combo. And yes, those dual-cd player combos play mp3s off the cds as well as USB sticks.
Put this app on a more specialized and larger tablet with more power and storage and you have gold.
I think, though, that this could do, in a small way, a similar thing to the DJ marketplace as what's happened in the professional photographer marketplace.
Most people don't care about the utmost quality, or excellence in DJ'ing - just like they don't care about getting the best photographer with the most experience for an event/wedding.
They just care about getting something pretty good, for the lowest price. With dSLRs that can produce 'good enough' pictures without a ton of work on the part of the photographers (just a tiny bit of knowledge about lighting), professional photographers are getting edged out of the market for many weddings...
I think the same thing will happen in non-exclusive clubs, smaller events, etc. Apps like Djay will slowly erode this market.
Is the mp3 thing a djay program limitation? iTunes has a lossless encoder (ALAC) and has had lossless for at least 3 versions of iTunes.
True and I agree...but that's really my lowest-priority point.
I can live with playing MP3s on the iPad as the soundcard itself (and headphone out) are not even that great a quality.I may give this a try if it's on sale...but I think it will be like Baby Scratch where the fun just fizzles out after a few times of use.
"-forced to use mp3s which are far inferior quality than the full WAV or other lossless format. I find all sorts of problems on my 20,000+ collection of 192k mp3 files...mp3s are great for the headphone or car ride...but in a serious environment when quality counts, no way. And not to mention the artifacts that are in most mp3s. Even if you were to encode everything at 320k, your 64gig iPad would fill up quite quickly...not to mention even faster with lossless."
Do you think people going to clubs can actually tell the difference between mp3 and lossless? Really? The clubs, parties and dances I've done it's Beat, Volume, Selection. They have NO idea about the quality of the sound and don't care much, especially since most clubs/bars etc... have horrible acoustics anyways.
Do you think people going to clubs can actually tell the difference between mp3 and lossless? Really? The clubs, parties and dances I've done it's Beat, Volume, Selection. They have NO idea about the quality of the sound and don't care much, especially since most clubs/bars etc... have horrible acoustics anyways.
Sometimes they do (me) and sometimes they do not...if you are playing 160k or 128k mp3s, you can definitely tell the music is not very clean...then you have the problem of artifacts in some mp3s even if they are encoded at 192-320k.
I agree that many people cannot tell the different between very high quality mp3s and a WAV if it's in a loud club and they've had 5 drinks. But you have to be specific in your argument.
Not everyone uses a dj-console for club or mobile use. Yes, a lot do...but many do not...and use it for exporting into production quality stuff. You would never, EVER push mp3 files into production stuff. Nor would you EVER push any sound out of a headphone jack into production stuff.
Interesting, I have Djay on the mac and the iphone remote application. Looks like this bypasses the requirement to have DJay on your mac at all, and works directly with your itunes library... sweet!
I'll get on this later and report back.
I have a "proper" digital dj setup with Ableton Live/Echo Audio interface/FaderFox controllers but this might be good enough for messing around when round people's houses after parties.
I wouldn't use in a club though I don't think.
I have a "proper" digital dj setup with Ableton Live/Echo Audio interface/FaderFox controllers but this might be good enough for messing around when round people's houses after parties.
I wouldn't use in a club though I don't think.
A bigger screen would of course be nice (for lots of uses, not just this) but 9.7" is the only option for now. The interface is well designed e.g. with the EQ hidden behind a popup, and it really doesn't feel too cramped. A cool idea for the future might be something which can make use of other iPads/iPhones to expand the interface on to (e.g. two decks on the iPad and a mixer on the iPhone).
Of course, the counterpoint to your argument is the portability of it versus even a laptop (which is currently the most portable proper DJ solution, excluding the Pacemaker).
I really hope apps like this succeed and this prompts Apple to add a second output to the next generation of iPad. I'm sure there are lots of uses for it (not least, allowing two people to watch a film at the same time, but it'd be nice if they implemented it as two discrete outputs). However, using a splitter isn't a bad solution.
Not worth arguing this point as it has been discussed online ad infinitum but I imagine most people using this app will never be in a situation where the difference in quality between 320kbs mp3 and lossless (or even 192kbs and 320kbs) will ever be audible. The app is designed for parties, I can't imagine it being used in many clubs with the kind of soundsystem that might conceivably show up any flaws. The problems with your mp3s sound like they are down to bad encoding or ripping or whatever. If you buy mp3s from reputable sources such as WhatPeoplePlay, Boomkat or Beatport, you shouldn't have any problems and the quality is absolutely fine.
-due to iPads storage limitations, I don't think djs are gonna plunk down $800+ for the 64GB iPad and then merely $20 for an app.
I think you're missing the point a bit there. There's no need to carry 64GB of music with you just because you can, and indeed, I'd argue that being forced to do some degree of picking and choosing what you take with you for when you play out is important for quality control and ensuring you know your record collection! When you look at the price of a 16GB iPad, and bear in mind all the other things you can do with that device (use it for music production, use it as a MIDI controller with other kit, use it for web browsing, etc.) it starts to look a lot more attractive, particularly if you are just casually interested in DJing. Hell of a lot easier to bring your iPad to a party than decks and a mixer too
But of course, this isn't intended to replace decks and a mixer - it's just a very neat portable solution. Seriously, give the app a try, I guarantee you'll have a lot of fun.
Sometimes they do (me) and sometimes they do not...if you are playing 160k or 128k mp3s, you can definitely tell the music is not very clean...then you have the problem of artifacts in some mp3s even if they are encoded at 192-320k.
I agree that many people cannot tell the different between very high quality mp3s and a WAV if it's in a loud club and they've had 5 drinks. But you have to be specific in your argument.
Not everyone uses a dj-console for club or mobile use. Yes, a lot do...but many do not...and use it for exporting into production quality stuff. You would never, EVER push mp3 files into production stuff. Nor would you EVER push any sound out of a headphone jack into production stuff.
I agree, you would never use this or Djay for production work... But, it certainly be more than adequate for a club or party... Like was mentioned earlier, this will do for djing what DSLR's did for Wedding/Baby photography.
Probably worth noting you can happily DJ properly at a party w/ plain old iTunes if you know your music collection. This is more for budding turntablists, or established ones looking for a trinket. The term "DJ" has kind of lost it's meaning, having split into at least three camps, though the original term is just spinning records from a good, deep, carefully selected collection. My favorite part of djay on the Mac was the lazy man's auto-mix feature, and that's not worth 20 bucks. I'll stick to playing my Girl Talk records.
NOTE: I don't mean anything negative about djay. If you want to "DJ" in the mixing, mashing, turntablist sense, it's an excellent piece of software and quite a value for $20 on iPad.
I am tempted to buy this..
I have gone from 2xTechnics 1210's and A Pioneer DJM400 + CDJ 1000
Which I sold before moving to Finland.
Where I started Using an Old HP laptop with Traktor.
I now have a iMac setup with Traktor Pro, and Ableton.
And I am planning on buying a New Macbook Air just to use out in clubs as dedicated DJ laptop.
So the price of 20 is not gonna really put me off buying this for the iPad.
However it is ever only going to be a lightweight app that can be used at after parties for a bit of pissing around on, a proper DJ would never use this in a club situation for all the shouts of 'OHHH Look he's on his iPad, Oi mate can you play angry birds and mix at the same time'.......
I have gone from 2xTechnics 1210's and A Pioneer DJM400 + CDJ 1000
Which I sold before moving to Finland.
Where I started Using an Old HP laptop with Traktor.
I now have a iMac setup with Traktor Pro, and Ableton.
And I am planning on buying a New Macbook Air just to use out in clubs as dedicated DJ laptop.
So the price of 20 is not gonna really put me off buying this for the iPad.
However it is ever only going to be a lightweight app that can be used at after parties for a bit of pissing around on, a proper DJ would never use this in a club situation for all the shouts of 'OHHH Look he's on his iPad, Oi mate can you play angry birds and mix at the same time'.......
I'd try that out first. Airs aren't really well suited to Traktor and Ableton, for several difference reasons. I'd look at the 13" MB Pro.
What about this? http://gizmodo.com/5520913/the-ipad-dj
That was before this came out and pre 4.2.1, she was playing as soon as the ipad came out
My 11" (1.6/4GB/128) is fine for djing. (3 tracks, some effects).
Ableton isn't that much of a hog tbh.
Not sure what you're talking about. Ableton Live and Traktor run just fine on the new Macbook Airs.
I agree with you on most of your comments. This paragraph I'm having a little trouble with. I'm a DJ (and audio engineer) with pretty much a state of the art mobile system and a 192khz mp3 does just fine. Plus I work in a lot of clubs and the average club is rediculously bass heavy anyway so any high fidelity you hoped to gain on wav and lossless are destroyed.
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My in-depth review of djay is now online: http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2010/12/djay-for-ipad-review/ - if you have any questions or comments please either leave them on the blog or in this thread!
Cheers
Cheers