BPM sync with DJ software

[DHoude]

It would be nice to have a way to link the BPM value of a playing song directly from a DJ application to the live screen. I use a desktop to mix music videos in Virtual DJ and it does not have a mic to Auto sense the beat. It would be really nice to grab it from the Computer Beat Grid in VDJ.

Another vendor reased a VDJ plugin that does that and can pass that value to a networked PC that controls the show.

From what I understand, you can already remotely control a light show that is connected to another PC if they are both running Show Express, have the scenes, etc. So this may not be too hard.

This really would make Show Express the most universal app out there. Just an idea..

[support]

So far, we do not know any possibility for VDJ communication with another software.

If you tell us more about that pluging (for instance where to find it), we will check the possibilities.

[DHoude]

Awsome, This plugin is under their Dwonloads/Effects/Other catagories. This one is from a competitor:
http://www.virtualdj.com/addons/13707/V ... lugin.html

You can see it in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHAMXqy ... e=youtu.be

There is also another Plugin created for the open source DMX software Freestyler, done by a VDJ user.

I know enough to be dangerous, but have never programmed anything (other than GUI programming). VDJ publishes some refference material on how to make plugins under the Wiki area here: http://www.virtualdj.com/wiki/Plugin_Guide.html

I would look at connecting with the Computer Beat Grid (CBG) in VDJ, that is just linked to the beat. It should work just like the "Drum" button on the live screen. Also in VDJ, they have the bar with 4 beats. Just like the one above the "Drum" button.

Thanks for considering it! Let me know if I can help. I am pretty good with ideas, etc.

[support]

Thank you for these informations.
We will try to have a look at this after some big projects for coming tradeshows, and before the end of this year.

[DHoude]

Sounds great, good luck on the big projects.

[DHoude]

I know this is an old post, but I have found this request on Virtual DJ forums. One of thier best plug in developers is asking if Show Express has "either an external trigger or an external timing mechanism such as MIDI Clock". In order to develop this plug in from the VDJ side.

Is anything like this available? I am running 6.30 B5, but did not see an option like this. For refference, here is the forum post on thier side: http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/165599/ ... tware.html

I assume the MIDI clock could be used to control the Drum button (Beat Tap) on the Live screen.

Thanks for any help you can give!

[support]

We are open to improve the software, in order to communicate with Virtual DJ software.
If possible, please inform VDJ people, and send us via private message the email address of the right VDJ person to talk with.
Then we will contact him, and we will see how to proceed technically.

[DHoude]

Awesome! Thank you! I just sent you a PM with his email.

[support]

We will contact them soon.
Before, we would like to chek all possible infos to transmit between both software.
We have understood first important info is "BPM".

Do you see other infos (like for instance "possible tags in VDJ, which could trigger buttons in our Live screen") ?
Our knowledge in DJ software is very limited ; please let us know us what would you like to have.

[DHoude]

The things I would like to see are (in order of importance):

1. Sync BPM through some kind of MIDI clock, local or across network. My lighting rig is on a second PC.
2. maybe some kind of speed control beat for beat, slower (every other beat, etc) or faster (flip a couple times per beat)
3. Trigger Macros, I have an iPad for this but I think many people could benifit from basic live screen macro triggering in VDJ, so a few buttons inside the VDJ plug in itself that link directly to Live buttons. So they don't have to flip screens all the time.
4. Scott has a way of advancing scenes off CUE points (like your idea), to change lighting as song CUEs progress

1, 2 & 3 will be used in almost every case I could think of. 4 would be nice... Of course I am greatful for whatever you will consider.

I think he just wants to avoid emulated key presses for button triggers and to avoid midi loop backs and such. So working with him on the approch is best.

VDJ plugins are his specialty though, so he should have you covered on the VDJ unfamilliar stuff. He just needs a way to talk with Show Express. He makes plug ins for VDJ very often, so he can either make it for you guys or get you started. But I suspect with his current DMX / VDJ plug ins, he probably already has an idea of the best way to do that too.

Thanks again!