Calling all Numark D2 Director users

[rob1963]

When I go digital, I'm starting to veer away from the Cortex, and am now seriously considering the Numark D2.

This is partly because I haven't seen any forum threads about problems with the D2, and partly because of the crate facility.

I understand you can load individual tracks or even a playlist into the crate, and set it to automatically play all the songs in the crate one by one.

This leads to my question.

When you have it in the mode which plays all the tracks in the crate one after the other automatically, is there a gap between them (like a CD album), or do they fade into each other, or are there various options, such as being able to set the length of the gap between tracks?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

[spin mobile disco]

Auto fade is available you set how long from the end of a track in seconds you wish to start new track from. However I have never actually used this feature myself.

more info here http://www.numark.com/d2director

[Vectis]

Yes, but it's badly implemented in that you fix the number of seconds before the end of a song that the fade kicks in. So if you say 15s, then with 15s to go with EVERY song, it'll fade. Now for some songs that's fine, but what about those with a strong, sudden ending? Or those that have a very long fade-out where 15s is virtually silent?

Nope, not for me. I thought I'd get away with it for background music and with carefully-chosen songs you could.

I just use mine in a traditional "I'm in charge" mode just like a pair of CD decks. I use a laptop with OTS for background sequences, or for backup when I'm using the d2 for the main part of the evening.

That said, "crate" is amazingly good. There have been 3 or 4 versions of the firmware now and each one is dead easy to apply and so far haven't caused any problems. New features with every one and a handful of bug fixes.

I'm a picky git but I'm very happy with my d2.

[rob1963]

Thanks for the info, guys.

So can you set it to play tracks from the crate with no gaps (a bit like using auto DJ in OTS)?

[CRAZY K]

When I go digital, I'm starting to veer away from the Cortex, and am now seriously considering the Numark D2.

This is partly because I haven't seen any forum threads about problems with the D2, and partly because of the crate facility.

I understand you can load individual tracks or even a playlist into the crate, and set it to automatically play all the songs in the crate one by one.

This leads to my question.

When you have it in the mode which plays all the tracks in the crate one after the other automatically, is there a gap between them (like a CD album), or do they fade into each other, or are there various options, such as being able to set the length of the gap between tracks?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

Just so you know Rob, I would suggest if you read the threads on here carefully that without exception ( to my knowledge) all Cortex problems have been caused by the users files being the culprit.

If of course those same files would play on a D2 or a Denon with no problem fair enough thats an advantage.

regards

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

Mine has played everything I've thrown at it, and the majority of my files are VBR type (the ones that Cortex had issues with). In fact, my OTS laptop occasionally refuses to index a file properly - says it's corrupt - but the d2 plays the same file perfectly.

[CRAZY K]

Mine has played everything I've thrown at it, and the majority of my files are VBR type (the ones that Cortex had issues with). In fact, my OTS laptop occasionally refuses to index a file properly - says it's corrupt - but the d2 plays the same file perfectly.

Fair enough BUT what is a VBR file THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE OVER.

All my MP3 files play fine on Cortex whatever they are--I just use I tunes downloads burnt on to CD then ripped or of course rip my own CDS to MP3.

Never have a problem.

I cant play WMA files though on Cortex--not that I need to!

cheers

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

VBR=Variable Bit Rate
CBR=Constant Bit Rate

When you compress an audio file to MP3 format, CBR allocates so many bits per second - usually between 128 and 320,000 - so not the optimal use of storage as quiet portions use the same amount of space as noisy portions a la vinyl disc.

VBR allocates between 0 and x bits per second (x being the "ceiling" that you set, eg 256,000) and provides for a better compression rate = more files in the same space, quicker file transfers etc..

Think of a sequence of digits 111100001111000011110000

CBR would record this as 111100001111000011110000

VBR would record this as '4x((4x1)(4x0))'

Probably a :BS: example from a technical perspective but it illustrates my point.

[CRAZY K]

VBR=Variable Bit Rate
CBR=Constant Bit Rate

When you compress an audio file to MP3 format, CBR allocates so many bits per second - usually between 128 and 320,000 - so not the optimal use of storage as quiet portions use the same amount of space as noisy portions a la vinyl disc.

VBR allocates between 0 and x bits per second (x being the "ceiling" that you set, eg 256,000) and provides for a better compression rate = more files in the same space, quicker file transfers etc..

Think of a sequence of digits 111100001111000011110000

CBR would record this as 111100001111000011110000

VBR would record this as '4x((4x1)(4x0))'

Probably a :BS: example from a technical perspective but it illustrates my point.

Ok, so when, where and how would Rob encounter these type of file--I dont appear to have any as my Cortex has never had a problem.

I rip all my CDs including downloads with WMA on my Computer to MP3 to maximum file size.

Is there an option to produce VBR as opposed to CBR and if so why would I use it--would I get more compression--not that I need it on a 320gig hard drive.

Now if your talking of buying a hard drive off e bay with 18,000 tracks, as per yesterday--I can see problems:D

thanks

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

Some rippers have a VBR option but generally the default is CBR.

There is no difference in sound quality because on decompression the '4x((4x1)(4x0))' is translated back into '111100001111000011110000' before being presented to the host application.

What I find with the Numark is that VBR files, because they're a little smaller, are marginally quicker to load from disc when they are allocated to a deck. All my stuff is either 256k or 320k and a normal 4 minute song probably takes about 6 or 7 seconds to call to deck if CBR, 4 or 5 seconds if VBR. Doesn't sound a lot but just gives you that little extra time to change your mind at the last moment!

[rob1963]

So can you set it to play tracks from the crate with no gaps (a bit like using auto DJ in OTS)?

:confused:

[Vectis]

Yes, but as I said, it's clunky in that you tell it how many seconds before the end of song 'A' to start playing song 'B'. That's a global setting, not a per-song setting, so it's not ideal and can result in some songs with a strong ending getting their ending 'chopped' and some with a long quiet ending introducing effective silence.

[rob1963]

Yes, but as I said, it's clunky in that you tell it how many seconds before the end of song 'A' to start playing song 'B'. That's a global setting, not a per-song setting, so it's not ideal and can result in some songs with a strong ending getting their ending 'chopped' and some with a long quiet ending introducing effective silence.

Thanks, vectis.

It sounds like I could get away with using the crate's auto play for the background music at the beginning of a gig (I currently use CD albums with tracks which fade out and have a gap of at least 5 seconds between tracks) but certainly not for the main part of the gig. Would you agree?

I guess that the main advantage of the crate is the fact that you can put a load of songs into it (in the order you want to play them), and then just move each one from the top of the crate to the player.

This is obviously easier than always having to search through to locate the next track while the current one is playing.

[Vectis]

Thanks, vectis.

It sounds like I could get away with using the crate's auto play for the background music at the beginning of a gig (I currently use CD albums with tracks which fade out and have a gap of at least 5 seconds between tracks) but certainly not for the main part of the gig. Would you agree?

I guess that the main advantage of the crate is the fact that you can put a load of songs into it (in the order you want to play them), and then just move each one from the top of the crate to the player.

This is obviously easier than always having to search through to locate the next track while the current one is playing.

Yes, auto-play without a defined cut-off works OK but you do get that gap. So no different to now I guess. Personally I prefer them to crossfade which is why I use a laptop for background. But each to his own eh?

Crate is great. You just drop tracks into it as and when, then scroll through anytime you want and hit 'Deck A' or 'Deck B' and off it goes and cues it up. It won't let you send a track to a live deck either, which is nice :D

[rob1963]

Yes, auto-play without a defined cut-off works OK but you do get that gap. So no different to now I guess. Personally I prefer them to crossfade which is why I use a laptop for background. But each to his own eh?

Crate is great. You just drop tracks into it as and when, then scroll through anytime you want and hit 'Deck A' or 'Deck B' and off it goes and cues it up. It won't let you send a track to a live deck either, which is nice :D

Thanks for the info, vectis.

Much appreciated.

:)

[addoaddo]

Being relatively new to the forum I have generally just been reading post but feel that I need to reply to clarify this post on audio compression.

The way VBR works is not how it is described in earlier post, this is non liner compression which is better than no compression but not how MPEG works (MP3 compression is a special verison of MPEG).

MPEG compression is all about what sections of the sound can be lost as the ear does not hear all the sound. For example (very simple just for to show the point) if a drummer hits the kick hard and the tom ligtly the ear will only ear the kick drum. MPEG knows this and therefor only encodes the frequencies from the kick.

Think of the compression as a gate in a pipe of water, the larger the gate the more water flows = compression ratio. If the gate is fixed and not much water is flowing the rest of space is taken up by air.

VBR therefor gives the same qaulity as CBR but uses less disk space. No so much of problem for HDD now but still used in boadcast.

In a VBR system the size of the gate changes to give optimum compression for every section of sound

[Dazzler]

Please forgive a newbie if this has been answered elsewhere. Believe me when I say I have been making extensive use of the search facility over the past week :) and I am more than happy to be directed to the answer in another thread if it is there.

Whilst researching into the PPL Digital DJ Licence (and thanks to everyone who has told me to hold fire on this for the time being), in the FAQ section it mentions that in the future your digital music may have to have Digital Rights Management..... I presume this means copy protection?? Looking at the Numark site it says that it the D2 will not play protected ACC files - are there other formats with Digital Rights Management? Does the Numark/Cortex/Denon play these? I am pretty sure I will be going the route of digital DJing and I am considering one of these (and haven't ruled out using a laptop yet either) but I don't want to invest and then find that when a licence is finally sorted I can't play files with Digital Rights Management.

I hope I am making sense :confused: and sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

Thanks :beer1:

[One Vision]

We dont tend to use this feature (crate) that often although its handy for throwing tracks in for later use, if for instance I want to go for a sig I just put on a pre-made mix.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What feature?

[One Vision]

The crate

[Danno13]

if for instance I want to go for a sig I just put on a pre-made mix.

Does it take you that long to sign an autograph? :D

[One Vision]

lol im on rollies so have to roll them takes me longer to smoke, usualy only get chance for one :D

[JackC]

I'm hiring a D2 on Monday for a disco at my College in London. DJing is not my hobby/livelyhood, but I've got some experience so will be having a go on the night. And it gives me a chance to use this new bit of gear; exciting! :)

My 'vision' for the evening is that as well as bringing along my own (very limited!) music collection on my external HD, I can tell all my mates to bring along thier Ipods, plug them into the D2 and off I go!

Will this work?!

I know that the D2 has to 'catalogue' or 'library' the music on a device before it allows you to search through it, can you do this while you're in the middle of a set, and music is actually playing? In short, is it really as 'plug and play' as Numark suggest?

Thanks very much for your (anticipated! :)) help!

Jack