Archives

# Summary

What follows is a specification for a system that allows digital DJs to port their digital music between file formats and computer operating systems without loss of sound quality or meta-data. Where possible the system uses formats and software that is open source, free (as in beer) and portable between Windows, Mac and Linux.

# Background

The source of a DJs music can be Analogue (such as vinyl or cassette) or Digital (such as CDs or digital files stored on an electronic device).

DJ’ing using digital music files played through a variety of devices is now widely accepted and even the defacto method for Digital DJs to play music.

There are a number of platforms (Pioneer DJ, Denon DJ, Serato, Traktor etc) with which a Digital DJ can play music and there are a number of digital music formats that are supported. Each format has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.

As technology advances and computing power increases older digital music formats will become obsolete. Therefore digital DJs need a system where they can be sure that their music is portable to the technology of tomorrow.

# Motivation

I’ve stored my digital music as mp3 files for nearly as long as the format has been around (23 years if you are counting). As storage (hard disk, sd card etc) has become cheaper and larger I’ve migrated from small, low quality mp3 files (128kbps) in the early days to larger, higher quality mp3 files (320kbps) more recently.

Mp3 is a lossy format. The sound information and quality that was ditched by the mp3 encoding software to reduce the file size can’t be retrieved (it’s a law of physics). Re-encoding mp3 files into higher quality mp3 files or more recent digital formats will degrade the music quality even further.

I’ve been using Traktor Pro to play mp3 files managed by iTunes for a few years now. I would like to convert to a lossy file format of my choice but even though Traktor will play the format, iTunes doesn’t support it.

The new (and shiny) digital media DJ equipment from Pioneer DJ and Denon DJ that can play without a laptop has got me thinking (and wanting). This equipment uses its own music library management software meaning that I can cut loose from iTunes.

So gradually I am replacing my mp3 DJ music library with lossless digital music files. Planning this in a systematic way means that in 10 years time when Kenwood DJ launches the 2.0GTi decks and mixer that I can almost guarantee I can convert my library to the mp13 file format. It will also be possible to transfer digital music files between Mac, Windows and Linux.

# Intent

To maintain an archive of music and album art files that can be easily converted between formats without loss of quality or meta-data. The archive will include music and album art files. The music files must be in a lossless and open format so as to give the best chance of being able to convert to another format in years to come. The lossless format must be capable of storing meta-data to include:

* track title
* track artist
* featured artist
* remix
* genre
* b.p.m.
* Camelot key
* year of release
* album art
* proprietary DJ software meta-data:
* beat grid
* hot cues
* loops
* gain

The album art files will be of a lossy and commonly adopted format.

The meta-data should mirror the filename and vice-versa (with the exception of the DJ software meta-data) such that one could be recoverable from the other if it where corrupted.

The archive is to be used by transcoding software to produce a library of digital music files in a given format that will play on the chosen DJ Software and is compatible with the chosen library management software.

# The Archive

This is the long term digital sound file storage format.

## Location

music: /music/dj/archive/
albumart: /music/dj/archive/albumart/

## File Format

music files: flac
album art: jpg

## Filename format

%tracktitle% [feat. %featuredartist%] [(%remix%)] – %artist% – %genre% – %bpm%bpm – %camelotkey% – %yearofrelease%.%fileextension%

where:
* parameters are surrounded by % (percentage sign)
* text and parameters surrounded by [] (square brackets) are optional
* %tracktitle%: full track title with first letter of each word capitalized
* %featuredartist%: featured artist with first letter of each word capitalized (optional parameter)
* %remix%: name of the remix enclosed in parenthesis with first letter of each word capitalized (optional parameter)
* %artist%: track artist excluding featured artists and remixers with first letter of each word capitalized
* %genre%: name of the music genre with first letter of each word capitalized
* %bpm%: beats per minute rounded to 1 decimal place
* %camelotkey%: Camelot key in lower case and padded with 0 (if necessary) to produce a 3 character string e.g. 01a
* %yearofrelease%: 4 digit year
* %fileextension%: commonly accepted extension for the file format in lowercase
* the values of each parameters must exclude the following characters ” * / : < > ? \ | + , . ; = [ ] to ensure portability between Windows, Mac and Linux filesystems

example:
* Shine On feat. Biti (12 Inch Remix) – Degree of Motion – House – 124.5bpm – 04a – 1998.flac

## Notes
It is important that the Camelot key or Musical Key is tagged in the archive file and filename, therefore the key detection software must support the flac format. Key detection must also be done as a separate process before importing the files into the DJ software for DJ library management software.

# The Library

These are the music files that the DJ controller / software catalogs and plays.

## Location

music: /music/dj/library

## File format

music: whatever is compatible

## Filename format

%tracktitle% [feat. %featuredartist%] [(%remix%)] – %artist% – %genre% – %bpm%bpm – %camelotkey% – %yearofrelease%.%fileextension%

where:
* parameters are surrounded by % (percentage sign)
* text and parameters surrounded by [] (square brackets) are optional
* %tracktitle%: full track title with first letter of each word capitalized
* %featuredartist%: featured artist with first letter of each word capitalized (optional parameter)
* %remix%: name of the remix enclosed in parenthesis with first letter of each word capitalized (optional parameter)
* %artist%: track artist excluding featured artists and remixers with first letter of each word capitalized
* %genre%: name of the music genre with first letter of each word capitalized
* %bpm%: beats per minute rounded to 1 decimal place
* %camelotkey%: Camelot key in lower case and padded with 0 (if necessary) to produce a 3 character string e.g. 01a
* %yearofrelease%: 4 digit year
* %fileextension%: commonly accepted extension for the file format in lowercase
* the values of each parameters must exclude the following characters ” * / : < > ? \ | + , . ; = [ ] to ensure portability between Windows, Mac and Linux filesystems

# Software

## Tagging
* mp3tag – free and powerful tagging software available for Windows only but will run on Mac using wine (http://www.mp3tag.de/en/mac-osx.html). Powerful “actions” allow you to capitalise tags and pad the camelot key with a 0 if needed. Can rename a file from tags or populate tags from the filename. Supports album art. (http://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html)
* puddletag – free and powerful tagging software available for Linux. Functionally the same as mp3tag. (http://docs.puddletag.net/#)

## Encoding / Transcoding
* dbPoweramp – Purchase for Mac and Windows. Simple and fast conversion utility that converts as many files in parallel as you have cpu cores in you system (https://www.dbpoweramp.com/)
* flac – Free commandline tool for encoding on Windows, Mac or Linux. GUI frontends are available (https://xiph.org/flac/download.html)

## Key Detection
It’s important to note that the archive files must contain harmonic key information to preserve as much meta-data through any transcoding. Therefore the key detection software built into DJ software or Library Management Software probably won’t do.

* Mixed in Key – Purchase for Mac and Windows. Probably need no introduction. (https://mixedinkey.com/)
* Key Finder – Free and open source software for Mac (http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/)

Hi
At the beginning Sory for my English

I searching for some Dj mediaplayer, something like Pioneer xdj 700 / 1000 but not so expensive. I found Gemini mdj 900 in one of this webstore and it look’s for ok. There any one of you had some experience with this?

This player while be complement of my 2x technics sl1210 and A&H XONE DB2. I’m more Vinyl Dj and this mediaplayer is for tracks what i not found on Vinyl any more. Please maybe you will have another ideas for mediaplayer i have 400 euro for this purpose.

Hello,
I recently bought a new controller – the Pioneer DDJ-RB which is natively mapped to Djay Pro on Mac. Overall, all functions work just fine but I can’t get any master or cue output through my controller and it’s not shown in the audio settings of Djay Pro as well. What can I do now? My previous Hercules controller worked fine. I would really, really, really appreciate help!

• This topic was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by Chuck Van Eekelen. Reason: Changed header - typo

I am planning to build out a studio soon and currently I have a pioneer XDJ-RX and a pair of Yamaha HS7 Studio Monitors. They work great and are connected using XLR cables.
However in the future I would like my HS7 studio monitors to be my permanent speakers for my computer also, for music production or just listening.
Is there a simple way of routing my XDJ mixer through the computer or an interface and into the speakers for easy switching? Since I only have one set of monitors I want a simple way of routing them to both the computer and the XDJ. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hello,

I’ve seen a lot a number of DJs using external mixers to control their sound, mostly at big events. I am wondering if I need to get one.

I do only mobiles and my current equipment is:

YamahaDXR15
Cerwin Vega Sub P1800SX
Pioneer DDJ-SB2
Pioneer DDJ-SX2

For small events (less than 50), I use the SB2 + DXR 15
For larger events, I use the SX2 + DXR15 + Subs

A couple of observations:

— I have found that I do not have enough headroom when I am using the SB2 (which comes with only RCA outs) to connect to my DXR speakers.

— Secondly, I am also often concerned about MCs shouting into my mics – at a recent party, the speakers were redlined a couple of times, and I had to keep controlling the volume to keep things under control.

— Also, there is a feedback noise with the mics I use.

— Some of the house parties I occasionally play at (once a year) have other instruments (guitar, piano) who want to use my speakers, and I am often concerned about overloading them

I thought a mixer will help with any of these, so I went ahead and got a Soundcraft Signature 10 mixer.

I am wondering if this is an overkill. So I am thinking of returning it an getting the Yamaha MG10 or Allen & Health 10fx, each of which are about $100 cheaper. But again, I thought maybe the $100 is worth it, if indeed, the Soundcraft has better sound quality and would serve me longer in the future, as my needs change.

I am so on the fence here and thought I need some guidance in deciding whether to keep it or exchange for something else.

Thanks, Oy

I have a new Pioneer DDJ-SR and I’m trying to use it to rip some vinyl. Problem is, it’s mangling the recorded sound.

I’ve tried recording in Logic Pro X and in Serato DJ, and what happens is that the incoming signal is doubled somehow, and the resulting audio is absolutely horrible and unusable. I’ve tried every combination of volume settings, mix knobs, etc I can think of and nothing seems to affect it. It *should* be able to take the line input signal and mix it with whatever else you’ve got going in order to record, but as soon as the record button is involved in any program, mangle city.

Dos anyone have any idea what to do here?

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know if Pioneer will be competing with Numark’s larger verity of Entry Level DJ Controllers?
especially the New Numark Platinum which boosts features such as the 100mm wide beat mixer, 4 channel and the LED display jog wheels which is reasonably priced with a Pioneer RecordBoxDJ specific controller anytime soon?

I have contact Pioneer but have had no response.

Concerned Retailer
Thank you.