Serato Software Feature Suggestions

Forum
 Serato Software Feature Suggestions
Self containing crates
What features would you like to see in Serato software?

Self containing crates

SGNL 3:04 PM - 8 March, 2012
Hi. I have a feature suggestion that I believe would prove to be very useful.

As a dj, I occasionally have to use another dj's laptop to perform, either because we have to tagteam or because it would simply be less hassle than to switch out laptops mid set.

Serato crates should be self containable, where a person can essentially export the entire crate to a usb drive as one zipped package. All of the information regarding categories would be self contained, and all of the music files used could be copied into the package from their source(s).

A DJ could then import the crate into another dj's library. This could also save from djs concerned about keeping their music independently from another collection.

I don't know if you folks at Serato realize how silly and awkward it is for 4 djs using Serato to have to switch out their laptops during a night, having to unplug from one and plug in to another with a regular vinyl or cd track playing in between to keep out dead air. And that's on a good day. More often things DON'T transition smoothly and we have to apologize to the crowd.

Having self containing crates on usb drives would eliminate that issue. We could bring all of our music on little thumb drives and share one computer. PLEASE consider this.

And thanks for such a great product. Game changer for sure!
Konix 3:18 PM - 8 March, 2012
You can already do this.
SGNL 3:25 PM - 8 March, 2012
The only thing I've seen is to do a bunch of roundabout steps to compile the music manually.

I'm talking about a full on integration, where all of your crate sort information is contained with the song files.
phatbob 6:35 PM - 8 March, 2012
You build the crates using the tracks on the drive. The crates stay on the drive with the music automatically already.

I don't really see how it could be any less complicated.

People do it all the time.

The main reason for NOT doing it is if the DJs don't want to 'share' someone else's laptop. Or if the owner of the first laptop needs to leave or something. I've played parties where half a dozen DJs have played on one laptop, each with their own USB stick.
SGNL 6:49 PM - 8 March, 2012
So you're saying I would have to build the crates out from the bottom up? I would have to physically locate the files that are already listed in an existing crate and place them on a usb drive, right? Thats what I do now. No, its not complicated, its tedious.

Why is it too much to ask to have a function developed that will export a crate outwards from a current library in a self contained object?

And yes, keeping my music seperate from other djs sharing the laptop is important to me. I have a lot of exclusive material that I definitely don't want to have float around on random laptops.
phatbob 6:56 PM - 8 March, 2012
You don't have to manually find files anywhere... You just drag them from the crate (or even the whole crate) onto the second drive, and they will be copied over. Ok, you then have to import that folder again and make a crate out of it, but that's hardly time consuming, surely.
SGNL 7:01 PM - 8 March, 2012
Hmm, are you sure? So you're saying you can drag an entire crate from Serato's interface onto the thumb drive, and it will bring with it all the songs? Interesting, first I've heard of that. Will it save all of the sort fields that you also created?

I will try this tonight, but looking through this forum, I've never heard of this solution. Every solution I've seen has been a roundabout thing. Thanks for the info.

I do still think a proper export function to a contained file should be considered though. There would be a lot of benefits.
Konix 8:14 PM - 8 March, 2012
Watch this... Watchwww.youtube.com

Basically, open the Files panel. Drag any crate to the drive/folder/location you want (flash or external drive in your case). You'll get a popup asking if you want to Copy or Move. Select Copy. Done. Repeat for other crates now.

What it's doing is copying all the files in that crate to the location your dragged to, the folder will be called the same name as the crate. It's puts all the songs in that one neat folder (even if the songs in the original crate come from different folders). This also make a crate as well of the same on the external/flash drive. So once you're done, you can plug this external drive/flash drive into anyone's computer and all the crates will pop up.
SGNL 8:23 PM - 8 March, 2012
Sick, thanks! Definitely can't wait to try this out.