The 12 things Serato needs to improve.

I recently swapped over from Virtual DJ to Serato at the request of the new club I'm spinning at. While suprised at the hard to use interface, I was also shocked by the features that are absent. I spent time going through the forums and doing multiple searches for each point I'll address. I have not seen any committed release or version build announced for any of these features.

So, I write this with two things in mind:
Make things faster and easier for DJs when spinning.
Make things faster and easier when preparing to spin.

1) The ability to use folders (and History) DIRECTLY as crates.
Since I store all my songs in folders anyways, this takes all the micromanagement out of dragging to crates, reducing time spent preparing before gigs. In addition, my laptop is actually a backup of my real music HD, I use Allsync Pro to sync the 9,200 or so songs back and forth. Again, this means if you sync it up, it's exactly where you need it to be, with no extra effort.

2) Waveform window. "Holy, they expect me to use that? That's tiny!" Please make it dynamically resizeable (in chunks, if need be), top to bottom or sideways (how wide is the screen? that long!) and shrink the song title area... thanks!
(Somewhat addressed in Sept 2007 www.scratchlive.net)

3) Searching, no matter how you search, should bring up results in the current folder first, then all other results below that after a divider. DJs jump between crates all the time, so doing Ctrl-F and clicking in the search field should have the same function, search all.
(similar to March 2007 www.scratchlive.net)

4) When you choose which song info columns you want, move and resize them, the settings should be kept for ALL crates. I shouldn't have to delete all my crates and re-create them for these to be the same. Nor should Serato decide to resize each column for me; I shouldn't have to put up with columns widths jumping around. I've selected the info I want up and the way it's displayed for a reason. It's the "harmonious GUI" idea... I'm surprised to have to request such a basic thing.
(somewhat covered in (Sept 2008) www.scratchlive.net)

5) Tracks actually remaining on a deck for longer than 30 seconds should be marked played, not immediately (use the A/B rule), with a feature to individually unmark them.
(April 2006 www.scratchlive.net)

6) Songs need to have last played time, and favorite / play count indicators.
(requested as of August 2004 www.scratchlive.net)

7) Auto save history on exit in a History folder. You guys deal with usb controllers, live audio and timecoded CDs and vinyl. I doubt it's harder to dump songs played to an ASCII file on program exit.
(Feb 2006 www.scratchlive.net)

8) The ability to cancel "Scan MP3 tags". If you have around 10,000 songs like me, clicking on Scan MP3 tags can pooch a set live. Yes, there are workarounds, but you shouldn't have to shut down the program to make it stop. Make the "Scan MP3 tags" button a toggle. Very simple.
(March 2008 www.scratchlive.net)

9) Make removing missing MP3 files automatic, either when you scan MP3 Tags, or with a button to do that.
(time consuming manual method addressed in www.scratchlive.net)

10) Serato needs a 5 button sampler/play on demand customizable effect box.
(Feb 2007 www.scratchlive.net and Aug 2007 www.scratchlive.net)

11) I know you guys just got loops implemented, but there needs to be an easy loop repositioning -and- lengthening / shortening wheel.
(May 2008 www.scratchlive.net)

12) Serato really needs the abillity to use skins (not everyone likes cookie cutter, and some layouts are easier on the eyes / easier to use than others)
(March 2005 www.scratchlive.net)
"After some time, you will learn to appreciate..." No, actually, we won't.
We want skins, when do we want it, now.

And a small request, a toggle to remember last window setting (fullscreen/windowed) for those people who write down notes, songs combos, chicks names and numbers in Notepad or what have you. Notepad comes up the way i want, SSL should too.


I really like the sticky about "the summary of feature suggestions that have been made on this forum". As a tech company worker in the trade, we jokingly call this "The Run-around." However, it did help me to get started and organized about the things Serato needs, so I appreciate the help. ;)

The deal is, yes Serato is useable. And, it could be much better. So, you guys have my $600 US, and a a lot of these features have been requested already, some for over several years. Support please.


Sincerely,
DJ Kris Fresh
A new, bit disappointed customer

ha ha ha ,why dont you just go back to Virtual DJ?
if SSL hasent got what you need i.e skins!!!!!!

sorry sounds like your more a programer that a dj!!!

"Make things faster and easier for DJs when spinning" what the fuck!!!!!!!!!!
ha ha ha ha

1) sure,
It could be nice, still scratchtools by nik39 will do it. Or just have iTunes take care of it. Ive got about 50 k of tunes, and no problem.

2) -1
I think it works very well as it is.

3) -1
Keep the search as it is, works fast and easy...

4) Agree to some extent, uniform sizes would be good.
Again, scratchtools by nik39 can set columns for all crates

5) Yes, still there are ways around it now.
Mac - Inklen Mixlist: www.inklen.com
PC - Nik39 Tracker Tracker: scratchlive.net

6) ok....

7) see #5

8) Agree

9) -1
no way, its quick to delete them anyway, and I want to se all tracks in crates even if I moved it by mistake.

10) Sample Drops are supposed to be coming down the line....

11) Ok, I guess.
I never missed it, why not get that "other" program then? (ie traktor)

12) -1
Absolutely not, skins will make make SSL less stable, I'm for modular GUI and ambient light mode (ie dark text on light background) but that's it.

I still do use VDJ, for where the club doesn't have standard equipment. As a new Serato user though, I can see easier methods to use the interface, whereas someone who has used it for some time is used to the interface and has found workarounds. I'm not a programmer, although I have done that previously. I like things to work for me without fiddling with them :) For a GUI, the word "intuitive" comes to mind, and at first use, when you -first- got the program, there is a learning curve, like how to delete, and how to get files into crates for your playlist. The thing is, it shouldn't be your second or third try to make things work which is successful, it should be your first.

The problem is, why as a user, should I have to deal with workarounds? I paid a good bit of cash for this program, other programs have these features, why should I have to go to a lot of time and effort to go and make something work, when it should work this way out of the box? Serato is pretty much the industry standard, and full props to that; however, other programs have it down without sacrificing stability, and honestly, considering the power of processors, sounds like a cop-out to me. For the dev team, it's wonderful that the samples are coming down the line, great, fantastic, but how long has the competition had it running and stable for?

My point is 4 years of operation of selling units and doing updates should have an amazing product, not one with a GUI you still have to mess with to understand and still lacking basic and mid-range features. It's not an attack, but a request to step up the game. After all, how good is the Dev team if they are just releasing stuff like loops recently?

"Make things faster and easier for DJs when spinning." Yup. You're used to it, so you don't see how it could be. I'm looking at this with new eyes, and an open mind... and a wallet less $600 USD ;)

just take some time out to read the manual,if you've just come over from using records SSL is great.i'v never used any other DVS system and DJ with records and fill like i'm a better DJ using SSL

i also payed good money for it,because it works very well at what it can do.thats why its the industry standard.

sorry about being out of order in my 1st reply, i just love what SSL can do.

I agree with this. I'm sure that most of us are already storing our music in folders and our crates are just mirroring that. So this extra step of creating crates would reduce time. Furthermore if you delete a file or move a file it would be updated live. You almost wouldn't need the SSL option to locate missing files.



No problems here. You can resize it and change the direction too.



No problems here. Leave it as is.



I agree that the columns need some kind of work. Maybe some kind of preference setting or something. The fact that you have to use a third party program that uses Java scripts to achieve this should speak volumes (Scratch Tools). Unless I'm missing something, but if one of the users of your program goes out of his way and creates a tool to make your program better by basically allowing other users to do tasks they want but simply can't do than you should look into adding these features directly to the program. The moment Scratch Tools was created I would have assumed that they would try to implement these directly into the program. But it just seems that they're content with the way things are, it's even suggested that we use the tool. Strange. Maybe Scratch Tools is somehow tied into Serato/Rane and I don't know.



Agree, however I would suggest 10-15 seconds.



Hmm... personally I would pass on this.
I play as close to old school DJ'g as possible.
I never had a record that maked as favorite, when last I played it or how many times I played it. I'm sure this may have uses but just not for me.
If feature was added I would just hope that I could turn it off.




OK... but i don't like any 'Auto' anything. Optional.



Never used it... but if this is really how it currently works than I agree.



See #1.



For a straight DJ program it's great. 2 Tables and a Mixer. Everything else are add-ons. If I isolate my thinking to the core purpose of this program than personally I don't think they should add it anything else.



Don't use loops but I do agree.



Some kind of personalization would be great. Not necessarily skins. Maybe just some kind of slight colouring options. I'm sure that there's some kind of branding reason that's behind this decision, which I completely agree with. How many times have we gone somewhere and the DJ is using a laptop. It takes less than a split second to look at the laptop screen and determine "ya he's using Serato".

he got a point...some of the features need to improve.

-1

I don't want SSL to work on folders. This can cause various side effects. I want to have crates which are synced with folders. ... therefore I coded ScratchTools which can do this. It works nicely.


-1
I am agains an adjustable GUI or skins in any way.



-1. Keep it the way it is now.
I would suggest something which enables a shortcut to search within a crate. Like SHIFT+ctrl+f.


+ 1. ScratchTools can do this.


+1


+1


+1. TrackTracker/MixList can do this.



Sounds reasonable. I'd rather have a function which enables you to scan just certain files or crates.


This is just a few clicks. ... And ScratchTools can do this. ;)



+1. So that this other stupid company stops sending stupid spam mails about their stupid app with a ridiculous price tag.


A wheel? You can already adjust a loops in/out point. What else do you need?
BTW loops been there for some time.


Hell Naaaaah! No skins please!


Uhm...? Why didn't you try SSL out before you bought it? Then you would had saved the money, time plus you would not been disappointed.


I agree.


The GUI *is simple*. That could be one of the reasons why some functions have not been added yet. Because only a small fraction of the users would use those more advanced features.

He's probably looking for a way to shift loops/autoloops a specified amount of bars/halfbars/quarterbars etc either forward or backwards dynamically while playing that particular loop? (like you can in traktor...) Could be quite useful imo.

You know, I am also a programmer and a usability specialist and I have to say the Serato for DJing is probably the best UI out there. It's not cluttered, simple and once learned very effective for the power user.

In the software application world, you typically have two types of users: power users, and non-power users. Essentially in my ind every DJ should be a power user, now with interface design for power users, you want to make the UI fast and efficient to allow for quick access to key features. Now Virtual DJ looks like a circus to me. I think it would do beter having two monitors then trying to shove the clutter onto one.

The one thing I would like though is that the waveform stretches when horizontal, the lack of usable real estate is somewhat annoying, but that's my worst complaint.

It does, if you have a widescreen laptop/monitor and set the audio cache setting to 60. The horizontal waveforms will stretch out and fill up most of the screen.

Well, 4 out of 12 is certainly better than zero!!! I admit swapping to Serato has a bit of a usability curve, hehe....

i agree with the 3, 4, 6, 8, 9

:)