Serato Software Feature Suggestions

What features would you like to see in Serato software?

Screw iTunes We Want "Smart Crates"

Dj BuddyLove 9:53 AM - 25 September, 2008
who's with me?
Smemtex (AoS) 3:26 PM - 26 September, 2008
+1
DJ-Phat-AL 4:06 PM - 26 September, 2008
+ 1

This should be a MUST for this application.
Would be nice to just add tracks to a crate that is associated with a folder and then it shows up as new tracks to build overviews for, etc.

I can't always remember which folder I added new content too.
Evil_banana 2:39 PM - 5 October, 2008
+1
nik39 11:11 AM - 6 October, 2008
+1
DJ KUTLESS 2:54 PM - 6 October, 2008
+1 you're right
Serato, Forum Moderator
Nick M 9:09 PM - 6 October, 2008
+1
Dj BuddyLove 11:38 PM - 6 October, 2008
^^ :OP
DJ_X_Trodinaire 11:53 PM - 6 October, 2008
+2

or is it in the works for 1.9? :P
illmatic 7:30 PM - 7 October, 2008
wurrrd
Rock 3:29 AM - 8 October, 2008
I'm with 1,000%. Just basically posted the same thing. Itunes & SSL just aren't jiving!!
DJ-Phat-AL 8:30 AM - 8 October, 2008
pretty funny when someone from the Serato Support Team says "+1"...

he could just lean over to the developer sitting next to him and say "+1" instead...
nik39 9:02 AM - 8 October, 2008
Quote:
he could just lean over to the developer sitting next to him and say "+1" instead...

If anyone of my colleages leans over and just says "Hey nik, plus one." I'd give him a very funny face expression :-P
Dj BuddyLove 3:06 PM - 8 October, 2008
^^haha

all they need to do is open up the itunes program data code (tweak it a little) and make it compatible and write it into the program..walla

instant ssl inteligant crates..

ohhh i guess that would work (dreaming)
Serato, Forum Moderator
Nick M 9:13 PM - 8 October, 2008
Quote:
pretty funny when someone from the Serato Support Team says "+1"...

he could just lean over to the developer sitting next to him and say "+1" instead...


I do it all the time.... :)
Serato
James 1:21 AM - 9 October, 2008
+1

Nick and I don't talk to each other :P
alexplicit 4:33 PM - 12 October, 2008
+1 we REALLY need this!
jonnyb 10:43 AM - 14 October, 2008
playlisting in SSL & itunes need to be integrated. you should at least be able to edit itunes playlists through SSL. this would be very useful, for example allowing to burn your SSL playlists to disc using itunes
Toby82 1:33 PM - 14 October, 2008
+1
baseline 11:41 AM - 15 October, 2008
I'd like the opposite, I can't stand the way iTunes manages files; that's what windows explorer is for. However, I do wish that I could just move my tracks into the folders I want them in and then when I start up Serato it scans them and adds any new ones to the appropriate crate.

That'd be churr as!
keilamym 3:45 PM - 16 October, 2008
i persoanlly dont like itunes but i think we can all agree that serato would benefit from better crate management....
Mic Terror 6:07 PM - 24 October, 2008
So does this mean that on 1.8.3 the crate management is going to be better? I-Tunes suck
Dj Wunder 3:40 AM - 25 October, 2008
+1. Buck iTunes.
AKIEM 6:22 PM - 27 October, 2008
+ 1
Dj Marc G 11:29 PM - 27 October, 2008
+1
DJ_ AfterShok 3:57 PM - 28 October, 2008
+651651651651651
Dj BuddyLove 4:09 PM - 28 October, 2008
damm its Alive, My Thread is Alive!!

Watchwww.youtube.com

hahaha
Snubber 11:37 PM - 28 October, 2008
+1

yes! yes! yes!

I despise using iTunes. We absolutely need something like MediaMonkey, where you can add folders to a list and it'll just automatically scan that folder and add/remove songs (actually Removing songs if not found should be a toggle, like it is with MediaMonkey; don't want the programming automatically removing songs just because the folder isn't accessible, like on a USB drive that isn't plugged in).

airdrawn 5:58 PM - 30 October, 2008
+1,000,000,000

this, IMO, right now is the most important feature. also it will fix the bug with itunes integration where it turns your whole collection white that I and a load of other people exprience.
airdrawn 6:01 PM - 30 October, 2008
just to add as well. SSL's strength is the awesome library manangement & workflow, something that traktor does very badly. if SSL just continues in excelling in these areas the whole traktor thing can easily be fought off until we get to the next stage (serato/ableton, SSL2 etc..).
djcide 4:55 PM - 3 November, 2008
+1000

I agree 1000%. It would be so good if you could somehow point crates to specific folders and just have SL grab the fresh tunes from the directory either by a button click and or optional on-startup feature. This would save radio djs like me tons of time
nik39 4:56 PM - 3 November, 2008
Quote:
I agree 1000%. It would be so good if you could somehow point crates to specific folders and just have SL grab the fresh tunes from the directory either by a button click and or optional on-startup feature. This would save radio djs like me tons of time

If that's all you need you should have a look at ScratchTools.
WarpNote 2:04 PM - 8 November, 2008
Quote:
who's with me?

I've been advocating iTunes ever since I went with SSL, but with the issues I'm experiencing now, I'M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!

Also if anyone has tips to get my library woes sorted with iTunes I'd be most grateful.
The help thread here -> scratchlive.net
(I do know how to use scratch tools, but still rely on iTunes smartlists...)
djkevinz 3:32 PM - 8 November, 2008
As long as a song can be automatically added to more than one crate based on multiple keywords in a ID3 field... i.e. 'progressive' and 'house' and 'classic'
that's why I use Itunes.
WarpNote 4:46 PM - 8 November, 2008
Quote:
As long as a song can be automatically added to more than one crate based on multiple keywords in a ID3 field... i.e. 'progressive' and 'house' and 'classic'
that's why I use Itunes.

Me too, however recently using iTunes in SSL loses display of: year tag, bitrate info, label and the color dots. Rescan id3 tags makes everything come back except bitrate info. And with a 40k+ library, rescanning before every gig is just not an option...

Understand, I use the color dots to mark any tune I think is something I'll use for the dancefloor...
Dj BuddyLove 9:10 PM - 8 November, 2008
^^ooh i hear ya!!
i just miss my color dots..if that worked id be ok.
DRUMSKANK 9:42 PM - 9 November, 2008
huge...figure it out n save me some grief.

just a matter of time .. hopefully sooner.
Dj.uno 5:07 AM - 10 November, 2008
+1 i have to have SSL Plus Multiple Windows open to copy From my Usb 1Tb.EXT to my 500 Gb internal on my laptop so i can remember to add the files to my ssl library!!
airdrawn 4:56 PM - 11 November, 2008
Quote:
Quote:
As long as a song can be automatically added to more than one crate based on multiple keywords in a ID3 field... i.e. 'progressive' and 'house' and 'classic'
that's why I use Itunes.

Me too, however recently using iTunes in SSL loses display of: year tag, bitrate info, label and the color dots. Rescan id3 tags makes everything come back except bitrate info. And with a 40k+ library, rescanning before every gig is just not an option...

Understand, I use the color dots to mark any tune I think is something I'll use for the dancefloor...

to get around this bug, unload your itunes before you exit SSL. have to say its hard to to after a gig, especially if you're pretty drunk, but if you do this you'll have no issues. i've made a little sign that i stick to the rim of my macbook pro near the top of the screen that reminds to unload.
WarpNote 6:37 PM - 11 November, 2008
Quote:
to get around this bug, unload your itunes before you exit SSL.

Thank you so much airdrawn!

That was what I was looking for, yeah might be hard to do after a gig, but re-reading tags the day after, is at least better than before a gig ;-)

So basically SSL screws up the DATABASE V2 file if exiting while the iTunes Lib is loaded?
Or does SSL try to write some into the itunes xml file?
keilamym 10:15 PM - 11 November, 2008
bump
airdrawn 9:23 AM - 12 November, 2008
Quote:
Quote:
to get around this bug, unload your itunes before you exit SSL.

Thank you so much airdrawn!

That was what I was looking for, yeah might be hard to do after a gig, but re-reading tags the day after, is at least better than before a gig ;-)

So basically SSL screws up the DATABASE V2 file if exiting while the iTunes Lib is loaded?
Or does SSL try to write some into the itunes xml file?

no idea really whether its SSL or itunes that's at fault, i expect a mixture of both, but this is the current workaround i figured out in my thread regarding this extremely annoying issue.

see here:
www.scratchlive.net
WarpNote 10:21 AM - 12 November, 2008
Quote:
no idea really whether its SSL or itunes that's at fault, i expect a mixture of both, but this is the current workaround i figured out in my thread regarding this extremely annoying issue.

see here:
www.scratchlive.net

Yes, after you told me about the work-around, I found that other thread of yours, thanks again!
I Also found this thread on beta 1.8.0: scratchlive.net
So maybe these issues are older than I originally thought?

So to sum up the library bugs/issues I found using SSL 1.8.2. with iTunes 8

If quitting SSL with iTunes Library loaded you will:

#1. temporarily loose year tag, bitrate info, label and color dots
(rescaning id3 tags, brings everything, but bitrate info, back. That one will need to load load the track or rebuild overview.)

#2. previously green tracks will turn white next time SSL starts up.

As airdrawn pointed out, you can work around these two by making sure You unload the iTunes library before exit SSL.

Also found another iTunes library related bug:

#3. If you have tracks only included in the Itunes library that is not normally added to SSL (dragged in or imported), those tracks will stay in SSL even after iTunes Library has been unloaded from SSL! (I would expect these tracks to go away after iTunes Library is unloaded..?)

So even If there are bad stuff happening to the new version of iTunes, Im guessing there is something broken in the "load/unload iTunes Library routine" inside SSL too. As loading/unloading the iTunes library manually, (by checking the box in setup) behaves differently than leaving it on, there's something fishy going on.

Man, I've got a headache...
WarpNote 10:45 AM - 12 November, 2008
Quote:
no idea really whether its SSL or itunes that's at fault, i expect a mixture of both, but this is the current workaround i figured out in my thread regarding this extremely annoying issue.

see here:
www.scratchlive.net

Yes, after you told me about the work-around, I found that other thread of yours, thanks again!
I Also found this thread on beta 1.8.0: scratchlive.net
So maybe these issues are older than I originally thought?

So to sum up the library bugs/issues I found using SSL 1.8.2. with iTunes 8

If quitting SSL with iTunes Library loaded you will:

#1. temporarily loose year tag, bitrate info, label and color dots
(rescaning id3 tags, brings everything, but bitrate info, back. That one will need to load load the track or rebuild overview.)

#2. previously green tracks will turn white next time SSL starts up.

As airdrawn pointed out, you can work around these two by making sure You unload the iTunes library before exit SSL.

Also found another iTunes library related bug:

#3. If you have tracks only included in the Itunes library that is not normally added to SSL (dragged in or imported), those tracks will stay in SSL even after iTunes Library has been unloaded from SSL! (I would expect these tracks to go away after iTunes Library is unloaded..?)

So even If there are bad stuff heppening to the new version of iTunes, Im guessing there is something broken in the "load/unload iTunes Library routine" inside SSL too. As loading/unloading the itunes library manually, (by checking the box in setup) behaves differently than leaving it on, there's something fishy going on.

Man, I've got a headache...
KMXE 11:25 AM - 12 November, 2008
+1

I can use iTunes - but i'd rather an intergrated system within SSL instead
keilamym 4:47 PM - 12 November, 2008
i think it would be sweet to manage ONE location.... it would be sweet if i could simply manager a desktop folder, and serato automatically updates.... the issue i see is having a single file in two locations... i would only want a copy or virtual location...

dont know if this explains it....
airdrawn 11:45 PM - 13 November, 2008
smart crates would really save me A LOT of time and simplify my entire music organisation.

the possibilities are endless also, imagine for example having prep crates set up to filter only music that is 4/5 stars, added in the past 2 months and is of a certain style, bpm, etc. etc., catered for certain gigs. its incedibly powerful, and would really bring fruits to my year or so of solid detailed tagging of my 23k collection!

anyone that hasn't starting tagging their music properly i suggest you start now, putting in as much detail into the genre tab as you can, as this will all be of huge benefit in the future when we eventually see smart crates with ssl.
WarpNote 9:08 AM - 14 November, 2008
Quote:
smart crates would really save me A LOT of time and simplify my entire music organisation.

the possibilities are endless also....

Yes, that's why I'm annoyed by the broken function of reading read iTunes Library.
-> scratchlive.net -Either fix that or implement smart crates, I say...
WarpNote 8:31 AM - 25 November, 2008
Just a quick word on iTunes 8.0.2. Installed yesterday. I deleted the iTunesLibrary.xml file, forcing iTunes to create a new one. And oh joy: Now IT WORKS LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO! All tags are read, no need to toggle switch the read iTunes option in SSL anymore. So fingers crossed, guess we'll see in a few weeks if it keeps on playing nice.

Oh, and that's OSX 10.5.5 with SSL 1.8.2
DJ-Phat-AL 10:27 AM - 25 November, 2008
you did read what this thread was about?
"screw iTunes"
nik39 11:36 AM - 25 November, 2008
Quote:
you did read what this thread was about?
"screw iTunes"

*chuckles*
ekwipt 12:46 AM - 26 November, 2008
Songbird is now available for the MAC, it's basically going to be what firefox to IE

Songbird is to itunes

It's open source so basically Serato could make it's own version and have it supported 100%
WarpNote 7:46 AM - 26 November, 2008
Quote:
you did read what this thread was about?
"screw iTunes"

He,he. did your read my first post in this thread? (and the others..?)
Quote:
Quote:
who's with me?

I've been advocating iTunes ever since I went with SSL, but with the issues I'm experiencing now, I'M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!

Also if anyone has tips to get my library woes sorted with iTunes I'd be most grateful.
The help thread here -> scratchlive.net
(I do know how to use scratch tools, but still rely on iTunes smartlists...)

I'm assuming more people have the samme issuse.
So I wanted to let people know the last 8.0.2 update solved it, at least for me.

And yes, I still want to see smart crates in SSL.
But until they are here, I will use the smart lists already available ;-)
diablodigital 3:48 PM - 27 November, 2008
+1

This would definitely be a big help
Danny_DJ 11:37 AM - 24 January, 2009
+1

We all know that there are problems with Itunes Lib in SSL and that is a problem by design (won't be solved).

I have smart playlists in itunes and like them very much (esp. that they update automatically).
I don't need all my itunes smart lists in serato, but serato shows all itunes lists at once or none of them. so i'm loosing the overview.

I need specific serato lists and specific itunes lists.
It would be great to create smart crates within serato on the fly with criteria of my need and an auto updating functionality. There is no specific need to send them to itunes (which is not always possible by technological limitations - you cannot copy lists from SSL over to itunes that contain files that aren't imported in itunes)
charlee1985 12:37 PM - 26 January, 2009
+1
damixx 2:49 PM - 2 March, 2009
+10 whe want this automatic uptade of the crates when whe put new tracks in a folder!!
Culprit 5:18 PM - 2 March, 2009
+1
DJ GWG 5:56 PM - 2 March, 2009
In my opinion, iTunes is a resource hog and slow on older systems, hell even on my quad core system it's a little slow (with 8gb memory), but granted I use a PC, not sure how it is on the MAC side of things. Maybe when they I7 laptops are available...

I suggest creating a stand alone music player, much like winamp (www.winamp.com), in which your average everyday person can download and use and that would be fully compatible with Serato Scratch Live...especially the playlist portion. This way people can get their feet wet with Serato and can learn a lot of the keyboard commands, and you get your name out there even more. I realize that Serato Scratch Live can be downloaded an it has an editing mode.

But anyway, my suggestion for features is to have a keyboard command to pop up a little search window for all songs, be able to scroll through with your arrow keys (or keep typing to narrow down the search more), and when you hit enter after selecting a song, it adds the song to your prepare window or to either deck you wish (maybe set in preferences). Sometimes it's a little hard to click in the search window, type your song in, click on the song you want, drag it to a deck, prepare window or double click while doing three other things at the same time before the song ends.

Lastly, I'm new to Serato and I'm still learning, so if this feature is already there, just blame it on my noob-ness :)

GWG
Culprit 7:43 PM - 2 March, 2009
damn noobs.. =]

All those features are present currently.
WarpNote 7:31 AM - 3 March, 2009
Hey GWG, as Culprit points out, these features are present.
I recommend downloading the manual, get it here -> www.scratchlive.net
Also try to click the question mark besides the Scratch Live logo at the top, then mouse around.

Quote:
I suggest creating a stand alone music player
Have a look at this -> Watchwww.youtube.com

Quote:
keyboard command to pop up a little search.
press <ctrl>+<f> for search.

Also if you have "playback keys uses shift" on in preferences you can click any tag header (ie artist/song/album etc) then press a key and it will jump to the first entry starting with that letter. (Once you get up and running with Serato you'll probably turn that feature off anyway, as triggering cues/loops is a lot easier without..)

Quote:
be able to scroll through with your arrow keys
Did you even try this? just make sure the orange bar is in the list, (use tab key) then scroll for miles and miles....

Quote:
drag it to a deck, prepare window
<shift>+<left arrow> loads left deck, guess which one loads rignt ;)
<ctrl>+<p> puts at track in the prepare list, the prepare list do not have to be open for this to work.

Congratulations on getting Serato, give it another week and you'll be running smoothly.
In the meantime RTFM -> en.wikipedia.org
WarpNote 7:33 AM - 3 March, 2009
and yeah also make sure you have the updated version (1.8.3, probably an older one in the retail box) www.scratchlive.net
DJ GWG 4:41 PM - 3 March, 2009
Thanks everyone, I guess I just wanted to jump right into the conversation. I'll dive in a bit more before commenting in the future ;)

noob GWG
WarpNote 12:02 PM - 4 March, 2009
Sure GWG, Next time you need help, check out the help section.

Let's keep this thread focused on discussing "smart crates" (ie like iTunes "Smart Playlists") for SSL, cause will still want it ;-)
airdrawn 9:42 PM - 4 March, 2009
just got word from the NI forums that they will be introducing smart playlists before the end of the year.

i've just sacked off itunes as my main music organizer because of problems with ssl so i'm need of smart crates more than ever.

race is on.
Snubber 12:50 AM - 11 March, 2009
Let's beat NI to the punch!
airdrawn 2:23 PM - 12 March, 2009
to be fair I think they've got enough on their plate in getting 1.9 out of beta before we get anywhere near smart crates. and also smart crates would be too good to give away, it would be part of v2 no doubt & a unique selling point for the package.
serkan 3:26 PM - 22 March, 2009
+1

I REALLY don't like itunes but I want those intelligent playlist stuff!
- I want SL to recognize new files in my folders
AND
- I want smart crates that also recognizes new files by tags for automatically updated crates for year, rating, comment, etc.
Dj BuddyLove 6:44 AM - 1 November, 2009
*bump*


????
any news mods
serkan 10:37 PM - 1 November, 2009
Still screwing hard but nothing happens :)
RogerRabbit 12:33 AM - 2 November, 2009
+1
This is a necessary feature for scratch live..
Holden Caulfield 5:29 PM - 2 November, 2009
pleeeeease!

+1
JEM 357 5:57 PM - 8 November, 2009
+1
DJ_Breeze 6:09 AM - 11 November, 2009
This would be a great feature to add. I know that I add a lot of songs to a folder and it is easier right now to delete that crate and then rebuild it. Having smart crates would just eliminate that annoying problem.
welly 11:48 AM - 11 November, 2009
+ 1

I don't even have iTunes installed on my SSL laptop, F@#K that!
Dj BuddyLove 11:57 AM - 11 November, 2009
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

whats up serato???
THE PEOPLE (INCLUDING MODS) HAVE SPOKEN!!!!

NO SMART CRATES, NO PEACE - NO SMART CRATES , NO PEACE

LOL

Quote:
More than half of your message contains capital letters. To many forum users this means you are SHOUTING your message, and is considered bad forum etiquette. Please consider editing your message so that there are fewer capital letters.
JaredF 8:11 AM - 12 November, 2009
-1 yes -1 iTunes FTW.. but would like to be able to have the two integrated more.
DJ Dub Cowboy 6:51 PM - 14 November, 2009
I was wishing for smart crates last night as I was tagging almost everything I played with codes.
Dj BuddyLove 8:36 PM - 14 November, 2009
^^i know that feeling all toooooo well!! :(
Deejaysk 4:53 AM - 6 January, 2010
You know I can live without Smart playlist, but live update would be so better when you add new tunes.

+1
Basster 5:11 PM - 8 January, 2010
+1
Culprit 5:34 PM - 9 January, 2010
My only concern with live update is its stability in Scratch Live. I use scratchtools for all my live updates and then boot up serato and make sure all my new files are present and then play it for an hour to check the database integrity. If i find anything fishy or unstable, I just revert back to the backup scratchtools or scratchlive has made.

Again my only concern is stability. I might be going against any previous statements I may have posted here or in any thread on this one :)
Dj BuddyLove 11:06 PM - 17 January, 2010
Gracias, thank you,
too all that supported this requested feature & to serato and developers for implementing it..

:)
mmxbreaks 11:13 AM - 23 January, 2010
Smart Crates feature in v2.0