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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Why Serato is so popular, what does it have different ? - Page: 1

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Ok now, somebody around here popped this questions:
"Ok guys, why do all those DJs use Serato ? Seriously. What does Serato has better than VDJ/CUE ?"
My take:
Serato:
Has a great marketing team focused on their target, (their approach was elitist like Pioneer's, put it in the big clubs and then everybody will want it) they went and did live demonstrations from club to club or at big dj retailers (by the way ableton live is stepping in their footprints doing the same too)
It is associated with a respected name: Rane
Has its own interface which works well and has pass through inputs in case you want to use your decks in normal mode, so you will have a back up in case of computer trouble or if you need to play something that is not ripped yet
Has a simple unique skin (I'm not crazy about it) but ensures multi user ease of use plus easy troubleshooting
Has great looping
it was developed so the top club djs will have a breeze with it, they kept it simple, (the actual djs that did played in a club will be under pressure and they want things as simple as possible) it was introduced as a vinyl tool, an addition to the turntablist that is not required to carry tons of vinyl plus now gets easy cues and great looping, but most important is easy to use if you are a "real" old school DJ, if you are not, you might miss the famous VDJ features like the beatlock, the effects, the multitude of custom skins, the custom keyboard shortcuts, the normal browser etc

For long time VDj users Serato is nothing new, is a follower, not a trend setter, is a newer software in it's infancy but was born with a silver spoon and got on a great path, so it is something you would want to watch, how is going to evolve, how well is going to be supported and how is going to integrate the new controllers, anyway so far is helping the dj world to change for the better, to transit to the digital format and just for this we will treat it with respect.

Happy Spinning!
 
Posted Fri 25 Jan 08 @ 3:53 pm
While I was writting my post, TearEmUp wrote the folowing and I thing that should be in here too.

Serato is no better or worse than VDJ/CUE, it is a different type of DJ software. They are extremely brand loyal for their product and not very willing to think outside of their comfort zone, http://scratchlive.net/forum/area/ you can go look for yourself. As to why there are not as many vids on YouTube..hmm.. not sure maybe because VDJ has been doing videos for a while now and Serato just released their pluggin and it is still a novelty to them, so they are making vids to show off their new toy.

One thing Serato does very well is they actively go after big name DJs, and sponsor them very heavy. VDJ has quite a few famous DJs who use this product, but not a lot of noise (pardon me, no pun intended) is made by them or VDJ to use this wonderful product.

Another aspect of this equation is VDJ does have auto beat matching and Seratro does not. This is a point of issue with many Serato users, they believe it is a cheat, that if a DJ uses auto beat matching they are only a bed room DJ. Which almost everyone here who uses VDJ/CUE to make money with would laugh out loud over.

I hope I got that right ap.
 
If you've used it, you wouldn't need to ask the question. Stability is why it's preferred.
 
that is a valid point too, it is stable due to the dedicated sl1 card, one skin, simplicity
 
I would say stability, easy of use(non-cluttered interface) and last but not least an always working time-code....instant loading of tracks doesn't put it down either.
But another valid point is that Serato wisely teamed up with Rane when they started out, helping them build a steady fan-base based on Rane's solid reputaition.

That said, I still prefer VDJ/VV though ;)
 
Big resource hogger though.
 
I dont know if serato is better than vdj or more stable as lot of djs sais,i only agree that is a dIferent dj software.
BUT one major reason that makes it more pro to the eyes of future clients (i mean to djs that they decided to involve with dj softwares) is that you can use serato with only one way. BUY IT.Because it has no reason to use serato without the slbox it has no internal mixers,no controllers to work with and many others also the software doesnt work (i think) before you plug the slbox.
On the other hand we have vdj wich everyone can find a cracked version (it has no reason to mention the reasons that we must not use cracked softwares at this topic , everyone knows them) buy 2 tcv a soundcard 4x4 and is ready to work.
I think that atomix has made a mistake to that.
They must do something because every computer maniac can rape their kid (i mean vdj).
Its not a type of advertising when you can find a product for professionals for free.They dont respect a software that every version wich come out is cracked.
In my country (Greece) when you talk with djs and you mention vdj EVERYONE HAS IT and if you look at the map of vdj users in Greece you count about 30 people allover the country.
Closing my message if you read on serato forums they keep saying one thing :
searo users=tired to hold reckords
vdj users=never hold a reckord
I think that we must give them an answer.
 
I would not mind seeing VDJ more difficult to crack
 
DJ Marcel_1 wrote :
I would not mind seeing VDJ more difficult to crack


It does matter how difficult you make it to crack, there will be someone out there who will be able to open it up.

The only way to stop it, is to stop allowing people to download the demo, but I guess that's goes against Atomix policy and probably shooting ourselves in the foot.

No Demo - Limited new users.
Free Demo - Cracked Versions.

Just my view.

Jimmy b
 
gluzantzas wrote :

They dont respect a software that every version wich come out is cracked.


Did you know there is a hack of a couple of versions of scratch live floating around on the web as one of their users made a hack which allowed people to use any standard 4/4 interface

he was banned from the board and the topic deleted.

The point is that there will always be dishonest people who try to steal software and you should judge it by its features and not them.

 
Sky i understand that there will be always be dishonest people but you mentioned one fact for scratch live and maybe the only one i dont know. At the other hand do we
know how many cracked versions of vdj are downloadable through the web?
The answer is Too many.
I dont disagree with you but what i want to say as someone who cares about vdj is that cracked versions hurts the solid image of vdj.
 
On the subject of cracking-

It's somthing I can rember almost as long as I've been alive. But I had hundreds more cracked games for my Commadore 64. I actually learned about Virtual DJ through a free trial version. Then moved onto a cracked version(which without a controler or the latest update is almost worthless). Then bought an MKII and rocked the home edition for quite some time. And finally wound up buying Cue when it became available here in the states. I got a feeling I'm not the only person who followed this course of action.

Sometime inbetween all that I picked up Serato. Somthing I've been using a lot more lately, mainly for it's stability. I never have any problems with it on any computer. It's simplicity is also a nice feature. However, I still prefere the waveforms, browser, and all the extra stuff that VDJ/Cue offers. Midi mapping my DJM_800 is beautiful too. I just have trouble getting everything running smothly... Nothing a different soundcard card and a Total Control, or more likey the new Herc RMX won't fix.

 
Serato is kinda like the Technics SL1200mkII, simple/basic and robust. VDJ is more like the Numark TTX, much bells and whistles, quite usable but just not the SL1200mkII.
 
gluzantzas wrote :
Sky i understand that there will be always be dishonest people but you mentioned one fact for scratch live and maybe the only one i dont know. At the other hand do we
know how many cracked versions of vdj are downloadable through the web?
The answer is Too many.
I dont disagree with you but what i want to say as someone who cares about vdj is that cracked versions hurts the solid image of vdj.



VDJ/ATOMIX has a piracy staff that actively searches for cracked versions and goes after the sites where they are available. So the crackheads go to another site. Anymore there is a crack out there for everything, not just VDJ.
 
So here is a sollution for Atomix, make a real pro version with it's own dedicated controler like Alcatech did back in the day, the ns7 looks good, maybe the ns8 and something like vdj pro club edition bundle will be all we want.
If Atomix needs idees about what we need they could just open a brainstorming topic with this subject.

Anyway it looks like everybody here hates the cracked versions and yes, if you use VDJ in a club and a kid comes around and brags about that he has the same thing and got it for free on the net, doesn't feel too proffessional, but doesn't mean that is a bad software either, it just shows that has a different market philosophy and is not aimed to the pro club dj so we need a pro club bundle

PCDJ DAC3
TORQ - XPONENT
VDJ - DMC2
but none of them is real pro grade but there is light at the horizon:
Pioneer got it's own now
ITCH - NS7 - VESTAX
STANTON SYSTEM
SO LOGICAL WILL BE VDJ - "NS8' OR DN-HS 5500

 
i dont agree that crackers are 'dishonest people'. its the people using the cracks that are dishonest. look at h20's motto in every installer for the last 10 years: "Try before you buy". and every other cracker's nfo file says 'dont use this to make money, support the good folks who made this software'.

its the same thing as saying insurance companies are honest and american HMOs...
 
The Resason why serato is very poplular because it is very stable. It is rare that it gives you any problems. It is a simple software that works flawless. this is what i pulled up from the Virtual DJ creator................ " while beginners will find a way to "play DJ" in a very realistic way without any preliminary knowledge. " Isnt it fair for the starting to to learn to how to mix thatn using auto features. Another thing is that, serato only works with its own interface. If virtual dj can do the same of having its own equipment with its name on it " And i dont mean Numark Virtual vinyl " because if it doesnt say virtual dj, its still not virtual dj. They are both the same but when you buy Virtual vinyl, The money doesnt go to Virtual DJ. It goes to Numark.

Make a Virtual DJ Interface that only works with virtual DJ. This software works with alot interfaces and that is where the problem is. make virtual dj to work only with Virtual dj equipment. using any type of interface all comes down to the same......... They all hook up to your equipment. make your own hardware and sell it to retailers.... Isnt it better for Virtual dj to get the money rather than people buying interfaces from other companies. Its good to have options, but having too many makes people look else where. Ive used Virtual dj, Virtual Vinyl, M Audio Torq, and serato.

People like to buy a all complete package. More Sales would bring more support and more stability.
 
Actually the SL1 box is the weakest link in the Serato chain IMO, it's sound quality is OK, but not great. For me this is a big reason not to use Serato if I do not have to. My own RME HDSP RPM interface is way, way better sounding and with my personal DJ weapon of choice (which is not VDJ) I actually get better results. IF I gig somewhere where they have a Serato system installed I'll work with it, but when I bring my own gear I use something else.
 
Caliente123 wrote :


Make a Virtual DJ Interface that only works with virtual DJ.

People like to buy a all complete package. More Sales would bring more support and more stability.


Yes agree ;) But people have so many prefferences and wants, and needs... so so far, we kept an "open aproach" to all hardware/soundcards

paulheu wrote :
Actually the SL1 box is the weakest link in the Serato chain IMO, it's sound quality is OK, but not great. .


And there is the reason why VDJ supports a WIDE range of soundcards...

From PRO DJ setups, to home beginner DJS

BUT, as Paul said... the soundcard you use with a software matter LOTS!
 
For virtual dj, i dont think its a good sound card. The serato sound card works best with Serato and the sound is excellent.
 
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