Sounds good. Will I be able to open the high quality mp3s in other programs to make edits? Or are they protected files that only Serato can play?

AWESOME!

You can open them in any audio program, but they will be low quality mono files if you open them in any program besides SSL.

Is this for real? Or to good to be true??

I mean seriously.. could there be a better hook up??

It's for real.

So if I use my 57, put it in internal mode, lock it to 0%, I can record the file and have a high quality aif without any loss? I hope we get instrumentals too. I always make my own 8 bar intro/edits.
I'm guessing if you have digiwaxx, you probably won't need this service, but it's really great to have just in case.

I get all kinds of music from all sources including directly from labels... it's just a matter of sorting out stuff and deciding what to keep and from where and why.

The qaulity of the files at whitelabel seems to be higher than other palces..

They're 320kbit :)

I noticed the 10 meg download .. I like.. I like... Hi five..

This is nice...$500 for the greatest DJ program and a free MP3 pool, you can't beat that.

Okay, one question. I read the FAQ's and everything, but I still don't understand how they are getting the type of genre you are playing. Right now when I log in, I only see Hip Hop and R&B releases. There's nothing wrong with that because that's what I play, but I was just wondering if anybody else has something different showing or are the songs showing right now are generic until the site is up and running and you can choose what you want.

BTW, its about to be alot more members in here soon because of this once the word gets out.

SERATO!
you are GREAT!

Thank you so much.

matt212, that's just what's in there so far. It's still early days, so the genre coverage isn't everything it could be. But it'll be ramping up and get more diverse over time as we get more labels on board.

question, will i have to give a review like digiwaxx AND will i be able the hear the B-side too

No reviews... and what the hell are you talking about a B-side... this is an mp3.. not an actual vinyl. :P

The files will be uploaded individually: meaning one song with different versions.

wish theyd support older versions of SSL.

on digiwaxx after your give your review you can download the main track and the bonus track(b-side)

No reviews necessary. There will be discussion areas for each release where you can talk about them, but only if you feel like it, and perhaps we'll add the ability to rate the tracks if that's a popular idea.

Each release usually includes multiple versions of the same track. ie a clean version, dirty version, a cappella, instrumental, and possibly some remixes.

which is not always true because sometimes you only get one single track, no instrumental, etc.

yeah i downloaded a instrumental and it was the dirty version

Oops. Which release was it?

i got one artist (unknown) from digiwaxx and the bonus track was better than the main track but you have to download it to hear it
that's what i was asking

Is Nice, the mp3's sound reall good!!

No review baby!!!!

Awesome...Best Christmas gift ever!

very very very nice........ deff a good step in the right direction for us DJ's dealing with the Record Lables and the RIAA!!!

This definetely needs to be included in the Ranefest reviews at www.skratchworx.com

let them know :)

SSL + whitelabel.net ...beat this FS2, Torq and others :D

I have the biggest smile on my face right now.....This is crazy....

where is this link or forms im supposed to fill out..i think i've missed a big chunk of this discussion

awesome!

let's hope the minimal/techhouse/techno labels will join sooner or later!!

Suggestion/Thought:

Would it be a good idea to lock membership down to hardware owning SSL owners ONLY. You must have the unit's serial # to be a member... [I'm stingy].

In the news area, dj720.

Agree with this idea! More labels will join if they know that there is only DJs using their promos. I think some people (not DJs) wouldn't care if they get a low-fi version to carry around in their ipod! But I doubt that normal people would buy and use SSL just to get free music.

QFT

the idea intrigues me. if you guys really do get some house or electro on there then we're talking about something to go nuts over. is this first case of a hardware company adding the option of content too? i can't think of anybody that's gonna sell me some tables then give me the records to play on them too.

there's gotta be some kind fo catch coming soon...

not with Serato :)

I think that's the reason why the tracks will only play in high quality in SSL. You can download them, but if you play them with anything other than SSL, they sound like shit.

...and yeah, what dj dawn said.

buhjeebus this is AWESOME. good job!

definately need some other Genre's of music though

And SSL steps up the game by another few notches. This is awesome!

Thanks team!

As matt212 has outlined... you can only listen to the music in a decent quality if you use Scratch LIVE. So it is kinda restricted to DJs.

Damn!! The SSL team just keeps delivering what DJs need!!! I can't even tell you how hard it was for me to find a pool with 320k files. Been trying to get by with the 192's. Thanks Team!!!

Downloading interface is awesome!!

house music please =)

I can't believe it is finally up. I remember when I mentioned this was gonna happen a few months back and everyone thought I was crazy.

Well, things havent changed a lot.. the only difference now is that people think Serato is crazy :)

how do you get internet web browser 7 (without validation?)

I dont think you can. Download firefox. wl.net works fine with firefox.

sick!

Thanks Serato! Just make sure you get some minimal-techno-tech-house please!

This was a great Christmas present.

but mom, I asked for SSL 1.7 for christmas!

nice!

brilliant!

i can't seem to access the site?? anyone post a link??

www.whitelabel.net

can't seem to access the link either

works for me...
try using firefox 2.0.0.1 (or whatever the newest one is)
also, make sure you're using the newest version of internet explorer (whatever it is, i dont use it).

It wont work correctly with IE6, you need firefox or IE7. Then try logging in here beta.whitelabel.net <- click.

i got the beta page to work...is that the only one working?? or does the regular whitelable.net work just not in IE6

whitelable.net does not officialy launch till the first of the year from what they posted in the news area...so i take it that thats when the regular one will be up and working!

Now we need to lobby more labels to hop onboard and add more genres.

Hi all, sounds like Whitelabel.net is going down well!! ... spread the word ;)

If you are using an old browser, you should see this page: beta.whitelabel.net
We're working on support for old browsers. Let us know if you don't see this page.

We definitely plan to have a wider range of genres early next year. This is just the beginning!

DON'T SUPPORT OLD BROWSERS.. move forward... not backwards.

Keep in mind that not every login will have access to every track. This is taken from the Whitelabel.net FAQ:

Why does my friend see different releases on Whitelabel.net?
Serato provides tools to record labels to allow them to send to a limited set of DJs, for example, the radio mix show DJs mentioned above. Serato will not be creating or maintaining these lists. If you want to get more new music, or if you want to get it sooner, you need to get on the label's VIP list! There many ways to do this - we will be working with existing promoters, digital delivery systems and record pools - being on their lists will get you more new music!

Wow... this is so much better than FutureTrax!!

Oh wait... they never got off the ground: scratchlive.net

TGFS!!! (Thank God For Serato) :-)

Have you noticed that when you download something the location shows:


FS2.somethingsomethingsomething?

FS2? Lol

Hahahaha. I never thought of that.

Of course, it stands for File Server 2 ;)

fs is a typical indicator of file server in the it world.
ns is a typical indicator of name server (dns) in the it world.

just an observation.

damn, matt beat me to it.

how do you guys disntinguish djs?

some serato users don't actually own a box, like if the club has serato installed. some resident djs don't actually have their own box. i know some serato djs who have no box.

Thank you so very much!!!!!

i was a Serato DJ w/o a box for over a year.

Yo Whitelabel is HOTT!!!
Just keep it updated, And close it to the General public..Only for Serrato users...

Let your favorite labels know about WL and they can make the music available.

What a great way to finish 2006 and start 2007!

/me thinking... what a great way to finish FS :)

I wondering if Torq is still worth the cheaper price. Hahaha

Is it Torq or Dork? I'm always confused.

SSL 1.7 + WL will rock 2007!

what he said ^^^^^

We can talk til we are blue in the face about whitelabel.net, but if it comes from YOU, the DJs, the labels will really take notice - that's why there are so many "hip hop labels" on there right now ... DJs were asking for it!

WORD ^^^^^^^

Do we have to upload the songs through Serato? Since I use itunes I noticed that the songs are on 32 kbps.....

If you are not using SSL to playback you wont hear a good version, only the preview 32kbps version. Also you *must* have SSL software version 1.6.3 at least.

DAMN! you guys (rane/serato) make feel like a 10 year old kid in toys-r-us

It just so happens I'm wearing my clown suit today.

and it is disturbing

lol

Damn...92 logged in and 164 guests over at WL.

first of, thanks for this, i like how you are using 320 kbps files

i am a little disapointed that you are using a protected format, but i guess you do what you gotta do

How do I download the tracks? I'm having trouble doing this; I don't know wheter to click on the down-arrow or "right click, save target as." Where do the songs dl to?

Just click on the arrow. That's what I did.

Click the last button (the down pointing arrow) to download. That will download the file through your browser's normal download process, which means it'll get downloaded to where you select (or where your normal downloads folder is).

The right pointing arrow is for previewing the tracks. It plays a portion of the track right in the page.

I already tried that, but it won't dl the whole song. I use IE7 and the green bars at the bottom of the webpage only upload to about 50% each time. Can anybody help?

Ok, there's a problem with downloading tracks at the moment, due to high load. We're working on it.

Wow... time to make some coffee.

Damn, this is the $hit like I was promised when i bought serato.
thanks for commin though.

I must say i Appreciate with all my heart Im tearing up as I type!

Way to go Serato!! This just made my day...I'm on cloud nine right now!

yeah this is crazy. thanks alot... its nice they included instrumentals for alot of tracks too. : )

Fack the site doesn't support my browser, and IE7 causes hassles with my PC. What's a man to do?

Okay I DL'd Firefox and went to the site, it says ny email isn't a real address. I'm using the same login as this site, anybody else having this problem?

hey i actually posted this in the WL forum but havent got an answer, so i'm posting it here hopefully i'll get one
"I'm a young dj in my city, 15 years old only right now, but i've been working with the big radio station out in my city doing the all ages club jams and some of the older club shows. Also, I've been djing on the radio lately too, but I dont understand how I'm suppost to get onto the promoter lists and other lists to get more new music from wl. Can one of the administrators fill me in."

So if we are registered here are we automatically registered on whitlabel? It said my Name was already taken??

Yep. Same email-address, same password.

try digiwaxx. they cater to radio djs. they're also free download service.

Listen to the B-side uh? Classic. lol!

i always put b-sides on my mp3s. i like them better that way.

and please do NOT bring up reviews here. that's the single worst thing about digiwaxx. the reviews! oh, and the quality too.

Agreed. Have the users upgrade to recieve the new stuff.

Agreed. Have the users upgrade to recieve the new stuff.

well if it aint broke dont fix it? i'm using firefox so i'm ok, but still, the fact remains... some people like it old casue it doesnt crash every 2 seconds like some of the new browsers out there.


and yeah, i'm on digiwaxx already.. just trying to get myself on as many pools as I can.

Correct. whitelabel.net isn't broke.. so don't fix it by trying to support old browsers...

See how I flip it on you? :P

This is like, 'WOW'.

Good Job Serate/Rane team.

i would like an option to rate the tracks ...
and what does whitelabel mean with "bona fide professional dj" (terms and conditions)?? a bit vague for me...

house, electro and techno please!!!

someone correct me if I'm wrong I think most promo records had plain white labels hence the name Whitelabel. correct?

^^^I think you misunderstood the question (though it, the question, could have been written a little better/clearer)

my bad, you right I didn't understand the question, actually I just read throgh this thread too quickly because of my excitment about the subject. LOL

ok can someone tell me whats all this good stuff about this record pool I got one song and played it... it sounds like sh** I got the same one from djcity.com and it sounds way better? help me understand whats so hot about low-fi... maybe I just don't know yet...?


myspace.com/djmarknonsense1

Let me know serato people, if you can thanks

are you guys working with apple to make a better macbook? if so will the leopard fix everything?

I also see that your saying that the mp3 are at 320kbps but when I look at it, it's saying that they are at 32kbps? whats that all about?

I use the 57sl and I think you guys should take a look at the efx-1000 when working on your next mixer..... if you had something like that in it I would love it way more! not that I don't but I've had it for about 1.5 weeks now and I got to say I'm thinking it's little hard to use but I know i'll get it with time.......


If you guy need more ideas let me know... lol

marknonsense1, are you playing the whitelabel tracks in Scratch LIVE 1.6.3?

www.skratchworx.com

The way I understand it is that the MP3 actually has 2 parts. One part is 32 Kbps which is what you hear if you play it in Winamp, WMP, iTunes, etc. The second part of that same MP3 is 320 Kbps and can only be played in SSL 1.6.3 or better. So if you play the file in any other audio app other than SSL, what you will hear is the low quality version!

It's an extra measure to help prevent piracy.

Reading is fundamental, ladies and gents.

Yes is that not good?

Are you playing them in the release version of 1.6.3, not a beta? The tracks will only play at 320kbit in the final version of 1.6.3 or in 1.7. Any previous versions will only be able to play the 32kbit part of the file.

I'm playing them in the 1.6.3 version I got from scratchlive.com and I use a macbook to play them with the 57sl. on jbl eong2's, As for beta I really don't know much about it but isn't it for pc?

If you like I can email one of my files from the site I get them from and you can take a look... thanks let me know..

Beta versions of the software are released for mac and pc... ALWAYS. If you think you might have the wrong version, download the new one... or 1.6.3 final and reinstall that.

It sure sounds to me like you are not playing the wl.mp3 files in a release version of 1.6.3 or 1.7 beta. I think people generally agree the files do sound very good in the correct version of SSL.

The 32kb preview is not very good though. It sounds like you are listening to that.

As sixxx says, try downloading 1.6.3 again from www.scratchlive.net

They sound perfect running in SSL on my laptop... You need to explore everything that could possibly be wrong. If that means downloading and reinstalling the software, then that's what you should do. If you downloaded the MP3 off of the beta site, then you have the correct MP3. There isn't 2 versions of it. It is simply 1 file.

Beta versions of the SSL software must be released on both MAC & PC for testing purposes on both platforms. This is to ensure you that when the final version of the software is released, it will run properly on either platform. All software (Mac or PC) goes through some sort of beta testing before the final product is released.

Make sure that you don't do something that strips the file's id3v2 tag data or converts it to unicode.

Good point. Editing the tags of a Whitelabel.net MP3 in a tag editor can possibly destroy the 320kbit portion of the file. Some tag editors won't do damage, but some might, so be careful.

DIdnt someone mentioned that some tag editors tried to convert the wl.net audio embedded into the tag into unicode?

Yes. TagClinic made a mess of the .wl file. I don't think many people saw that post because...

Then someone nees to warn them in the release notes or somewhere. Matt?

ok got it all fixed thanks.... are you guys going to put up some reggaeton?

Hm. I thought it was already in the FAQ, but it appears not. Adding now.

Thanks Matt. Maybe its also worth explicitly mentioning TagClinic and the version which makes problems, so people avoi using that app with wl.net files.

Rane and Serato Admins all I gotta say is: BOUT F*CKIN TIME, oh and GOD I LOVE U GUYS......

When I start making DJ AM money I'll take the entire Rane and Serato family out for steak and lobster dinner and we can wash down our food with whatever expensive alcohol is on the menu!

Cheers you bastards, you have yet to fail me and the rest of the DJ's here on this forum....

What J_Static said....
fo sho

You know no one ever reads those things.. they just see FREE MUSIC and start downloading.... just look at all the peps on the WL forum complaining about how LOW quality the tracks are b/c they played them in a regular mp3 player b4 hearing them in SSL

I like that name "AmphetaMARINE" Classic and original

nobody reads FAQs, manuals, agreement conditions, and sticky threads.

I can't seem to get the files to play in high quality. Does anyone know why?

:P

Sorry. I'm new.

hahaha

yea sixxx, ur new like this forums new....

U and Clark be getting off that "I'm new here" sh*t, messing with these newbie's

I read the terms and conditions, start to finish. Quite a few interesting things in there, especially when it comes to what you are agreeing to let Serato do with your personal information.

Really? Like what?

So this is like a really rookie question but I have to ask. I use a PC to do all of my preproduction and downloading. I then move it to my MBPro via CD/DVD. Will I still be able to do this with Whitelabel files?

Moving files is OK. Remember, as long as you play them through Serato, they'll sound as they should sound.

how do I start a new discussion, I didn't have the serato cd with me on new year and one of the djs wanted to use the 57sl... YES he had 1.6.3 on this computer but the mixer was not coming up, so I try to hook up the serato box and use the 57sl as a stand alone but it didn't want to work?

Why and if it makes a good stand alone mixer why can't you use it with the box ( just in case you know) let me know if 1.7 or whatever is next will be able to use the mixer for pc with out the cd.... thanks

Aww thanks J_Static..
I kinda like it too :)

Click on this:

scratchlive.net


This should start a new "thread" in the correct place, Amigo.

Stuff like this?
You can't backup the whitelabel files AT ALL.
All other rights excluded: For the avoidance of doubt, any Download or any part of any Download may only be used by the User personally for Promotional Purposes, remains the property of the Record Label, and may not be sold, rented, reproduced (in any manner, including for backup purposes), broadcast, distributed, adapted, in any form.

You better not lie on the original form you filled out for access to the Serato forum:
(d) all information submitted by the User with the User
s application for registration to Serato is complete, accurate and true.

Better be a professional DJ... but it's REAL hard to tell what's professional - check check out this thread:
scratchlive.net
(c) the User is a bona fide professional DJ; and

Better not try to reverse engineer the tracks so they can play in a 'normal' player - or give a track to anyone who might:
(b) not to copy, sell, rent, reproduce, broadcast, distribute, adapt, reverse engineer, reverse assemble or reverse compile any Download or any part of it, or in particular to do anything to circumvent the copy protection in any Download and the software that plays it, or to permit any other person to do any such thing.

[b]And your personal information? They can give it all (except your email address) to the record companies:[b]
4.1 Consent to use of information: The User agrees that any and all information about the User held by Serato may be used in the following ways:
(a) communicating the User�s public details to enable Record Labels to decide which Downloads to make available to a User;
(d) allowing Record Labels to see which of their Downloads have been downloaded and/or previewed by the User.

And if you do something stupid (like reverse engineer the track processing) and it costs Serato money you have to pay them back:
5.4 Enforcement costs: Serato may recover any reasonable costs incurred by it enforcing the provisions of this Agreement, including debt collection costs and any legal costs as between solicitor and client from the User.

And if they end up suing you, you better be ready to travel.... to NEW ZEALAND!
7.4 Governing Law: This Agreement will be construed and take effect as a contract made in New Zealand and will be governed by New Zealand law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.

Ouch..... here's a hint... follow the RULES...

Ouch.

Actually, those rules don't sound that unreasonable. Just don't lie about anything or do anything shady and it sounds like you're straight.

Although that "professional DJ" thing seems a bit wonky...

Just a thought:
Could I use the same code like on the whitelabel mp3s to my own remix mp3s? So that only Serato user can play them on full quality?

You'd probably need to start with a conversation with Serato Audio Research and/or Jeff Diones (who represents whitelabel.net in the US).
beta.whitelabel.net
Look for this section:
What is Serato's role in Whitelabel.net?

When is there gonna be some new music on there?

Thanks I'm new...

I'm glad you like it. I'll have a Laphroaig. Neat, thanks.

It says

You can't backup the whitelabel files AT ALL.
All other rights excluded: For the avoidance of doubt, any Download or any part of any Download may only be used by the User personally for Promotional Purposes, remains the property of the Record Label, and may not be sold, rented, reproduced (in any manner, including for backup purposes), ((((((((((BROADCAST))))))))))))), distributed, adapted, in any form.

CAN I PLAY THEM ON THE RADIO?

yeah just dont tell serato.
oooops

LOL

joking

Well, I'm sure everyone will be violating the backup portion of the limitations within whitelabel.net

I'm sorry fellas.. but I gotta back up my shit. I'm NOT going to be downloading everything again. Besides, I back up all my shit once a week. It's just the smart thing to do.

Sweet!!! Dave sounds kick ass!!!!!

I 2nd Sixxx's words on backing up things.....

So I take it theres not going to be any EDM / HOUSE Music on whitelabel.net? Just crappy/radio garbage hip hop records?

There will be far more variety of music on Whitelabel.net as the year progresses. Many of the labels only learnt about the site at the same time as you guys, so the lines of communication between us and them are only just opening up now.

Keep an eye out over the next few months. The breadth of genres will expand, as well as the rate of new releases.

uk dnb please :)

If we can DnB in there I will be like Charlie finding the WIlly Wonka's Golden Ticket!!!! " Ive got the Golden Drum n Bass" *whistlng in the background*

I 2nd everyone above me about D-N-B, and yes house will do as well.... Serato/Rane should take aim at alot of different records labels like: "Hey you wanna get your music heard around the globe, give us your tracks BE-OTCH!!!!

its sad that I spin hip hop and at the moment I have no use for any of this stuff on whitelabel.net .. it IS dead.

I have no qualms with WL, shi!t is free !!!

So lets say I grab a song from whitelabel but would like to use soundforge to edit, raise/lower the volume of said track before use in SSL, how do I do this without messing with its bitrate quality.... since outside of SSL the quality is shot to shit.

In other words if the downloaded track does not have the feel and texture of my other tracks (achieved through processing via acid soundforge etc) how am I suppose to process this whitelabel track, transfer it to itunes and maintain its bitrate? Bear in mind too that I dont use SSL crates .... all my music is organised in itunes from which SSL reads

You could use the track gain knobs in SSL - the gain setting is stored per-track, or use auto-gain in 1.7.

Also, if we modify the tracks in any way in say... audacity, like to extend instrumental sections for looping, will it affect the 320kb quality in SSL?
I see in there that the left channel is 32kbps audio, and the right channel is just noise, which I assume is some sort of encoded data to allow SSL to play the track at 320kb.
So if I make all changes to both channels, does it stop the file working correctly? or will this work?
I will be trying it when I get home, but an answer before then would be kinda cool ;)

What's good people!!! I organize all my tracks via iTunes also. Will running these files thru iTunes affect the quality (bitrate) while the file is playing in SSL?

It always seems like the labels HAVE to give away the new hip-hop stuff.

Organising the tracks in iTunes won't affect their high quality playback in Scratch LIVE. So iTunes users, no need to worry.

You can put the tracks in iTunes just like you would with any other track. The only difference is that when you play them in iTunes they'll only play at 32kbit. But in Scratch LIVE they'll still play 320kbit.

Word--they can't even GIVE it away! Just kidding...sort of.

I feel the same way--I love hip-hop but nothing I've seen makes me jump on that download button. Hopefully that'll change as the site/project develops.

This may have already been answered but...

All the tracks availble can be acquired from Diggiwaxx too, so whats the point?? On Diggiwaxx I get the files in a regular mp3 that can be played in anything. Are there going to be exclusives or any other thing that would intice us to use a propietary format that can only be played in Serato?

Do you have to pay for Diggiwaxx?

ummm...is that a serious question?

Digiwaxx is Free. Whitelabel.Net is NOT free.

Easy enough.

Why is digiwaxx free and wl.net not?

Gotta ask the guys @ Rane about that. When that little black box that says Serato on it is free.. well then whitelabel.net will be free.

Yeah, I've never been to Diggiwaxx...I wouldn't know.

Whitelabel is DEFINATELY FREE....well, at least the lo-fi files are.

But if you THINK about it...

If you're part of a record pool, and have to pay "X" amount of dollars a month for it, say, 50 bucks a month....Within a years time, you will have spent 600 bucks.

Now with Serato, you buy the Hardware for a little UNDER 600 bucks (just for the interface), and you cop the record pool FOR FREE. That's it... After a year, Serato will have paid for itself PURELY by the addition of the record pool compared to those that would charge.

That is a great deal, if you know you'll always use Serato in the future. Actually that's an EXTRAORDINARY PACKAGE if you ask me. You get the hardware, and you get access to songs to play on it, EARLY. Yeah it takes the "Digging" out of the craft, but hey.....From a business point of view, that was a grand move.

I haven't gotten a bill from Whitelabel.net yet. Is it quarterly? How much is the charge per song?

The tracks are still there for free. You dont have to own SSL to download them. ;)

Well, two things you gotta consider:

1. digiwaxx: feedback is mandatory and takes time to post, quality of tracks is often below average
2. wl.net: no feedback, but tracks are not unlocked, good audio quality so far.

You don't need to have purchased SSL to access whitelabel.net?

F&#@ing Rooney was grippin' us for $60 a month!

and for the record I'm not hating on either just offering up a different way to look at it. However I do agree that Whitelabel.net should be ONLY for SSL users.

No, you need INTERNET EXPLORER 7 or MOZILLA.....

LOL, You probably got the same page I did!

Johhny... there is *to emphasize* and to emphasize.. it would make reading easier, really, insted of USING UPPERCASE every SECOND WORD. Thanks.

But, yeah, as Johnny said, you dont need SSL to axs wl.net

So any chump DJ can use wl.net just like Digiwaxx? (well with references)

wl.net would be that much cooler if it was for SERATO users only.

Man Listen, that is my STYLE of typing. Everybody here knows that's what I do...I don't like to take the time to put brackets between everything I type, and this forum doesn't have shortcuts....

Actually, y'all are lucky I'm taking the time to type in both lower and uppercase letters...On my other forums, I type ALL caps, ALL the time.... ;-).

You are starting to contradict yourself. ;)

However... me too: It is sort of exclusive. 320kbps playback is only possible for SSL users.

Its really harder to read. Of course I cant force you, I can just kindly ask you.

oh ok, I thought most frequent board visitors knew the DL on Diggiwaxx by now. Its free but you have to "prove" you are legit, whatever that means. ;)

Ok damn I'm one confused mofo. So I was right? Wl.net is only for Serato users and not free (cost $500-600)? woohoo!

i.e. nobody is gonna go out and playback 96kpbs in public.

That would be cool, but there would be no way for them to insure that you won't share files (that would be played in performance), with others that didn't have Serato.

Think of their pitch to the record companies...

Serato to Record Co.:

Serato: Hi Mr. Record Co, we'd like to get promo songs from you and give them to our user's of Serato.

Mr. RecCo: Well Mr. Serato, how do you plan on preventing us from losing money by your users NOT distributing the files on P2P networks?

Serato: We will encode the files, so ONLY our DJ's that use Serato can TRULY use them. Anybody else will get a basically non-performance ready file. They won't be interested in that.

Mr. RecCo: Hmmm...so you've got a way to protect our investment! It's a go!

Wl.net IS free. However, tHe high quality files only play in Serato, effectively making it a 500-600 contribution due to buying the hardware.

Well, I guess I can appreciate you asking me vs. telling me, but I honestly don't think I use it that much...

You might need a bigger monitor...lol.

And again, that's my style...But thanks.

Yo i've always wondered that about this board.. how DO you DO BOLD on here? on other places its for bold

oh shit it worked.. now i wont get arrested. nicee

See the thing is that you pay AT LEAST 500.00 bucks for Serato.

That's not including the Whitelabel.net.

Now, all of a sudden, Whitelabel.net exists, and Serato users can get the OPTION to play the files in Hi-Quality, but only thru the Serato interface.

Non-Serato users can download songs, but can only play them at 32Kpbs.

The confusing part is that even if you're a Serato user, if you take the file and try and play it thru something OTHER THAN Serato, you too will be listening at 32Kpbs.

I was thinking more like that they are allowed to share your personal information to record companies, etc. I'm surprised no one else is concerned about that.

You don't have to personally own SSL to use Whitelabel.net. For instance you might play at clubs that have SSL installed, in which case it still makes sense to get Whitelabel.net tracks and take them to the club with all your other music on your laptop or external drive.

So someone could have a laptop with SSL installed (it's a free download), all their music plus Whitelabel.net tracks, all for free, and play that music out at clubs that have SSL. There's no clause that says you have to own your own SSL interface :)

There'll be a DJ profile form available on Whitelabel.net soon which will allow you to provide information about yourselves to the labels. They'll need that information to know who to put on their DJ lists (ie who to deliver their releases to).

The form won't be compulsory in any way, but the less information on it, the less labels will know about you (ie what clubs you play at, what genres, radio stations you have shows on, etc) to decide whether to deliver releases to you.

So the sharing of information with the labels is more of a matter between you (the DJs) and the labels, rather than between Serato and the labels.

Just curious if you have a time frame when the WL site is coming out of beta and going full on for downloads.

The low on Digiwaxx is: YES they will check on your DJ'ing being a LEGIT thang..... I got a phone call 5 minutes after entering my info into their website, just asked a few questions, asked if I had connections to Bay Area records labels and where I DJ'ed and that was it.....

Digi is free, yeah you gotta submit your opinion about the track, but it only takes a minute and sometimes the file unlocks other bonus material. Digi's been cool to me, plus they've had some exclusive Jay-Z freestyle's that where INSANE....

Whitelabel is GREAT, thanks Serato FAMILY

I'm not sure exactly when we'll call it "released" or "finished" as it's more of an organic process. Although we will drop the "beta" monicker at some not too distant point. We have a stack of new releases backed up, ready to go live shortly, and over the next few months the rate of new releases will be steadily increasing as we get more labels onboard.

i don't think whitelabel is gonna make it since we all need to edit all of our music..

What do you mean?

I would rather use whitelabel if they had music before everyone one else. Hopefully this shall be true some day :)

i mean we can't edit the songs due to the low quality..

Okay I got you.

aight them, whitelabel is good idea but not for us serato users we need to to do our own remixes , and intros .. u know what i mean....when there is other pool to offer mp3 songgs that we can edit ,... soorrrry im drunk noww.

I feel ya, but at least serato is offering this free service to serato users which is cool of them. Plus, I really don't edit all my tracks, only a selected few.

cool with that karrsin if you know how to scratch and cut all that shit im learning how to, it will be coo,l love the idea, im down with it , but i stilll need my inro i guess is personal ..

what did u do before u had serato?
have u been editing all ur vinyls with a knife and a lighter?

i never felt the need to edit any track.. but i dont spin hiphop so..

I am so mad you said "with a knife and a lighter".....

LOL! Some people just don't get it. HAhahaha

it's to hard to mix songs the without extended intros! Waaaaaa..

hahahaha

Hahahaha. So true. People and wanting to edit shit right away.

A waaaamburger and french cries to all the dj's that need extended intro's. =)

Waaamburger and french cries? hahahaha You made me spill my drink. :P

thats whythey have instramentals... so you can make you own inrto LIVE while you are mixing...i mean realy.. show a little DJ skill

"I mean really... show a little DJ skill"

No shit! +100000

^^^^ I think Inst are getting harder to find nowdays too!

damn, most of the songs I play are right off the album. There's a way to have intros if you must have them, it's called looping. Personally I thinnk it's more of a challenge to mix up the regular stuff people hear on the radio.

not if you use Whitelable.net or other record pools.... there are plenty of new songs with instramental vers. out there you just have to "DIG" wich is what all DJ should do.. either on the internet or the old school way and never drive past somewhere that has records for sale without stopping to look (even garage sales)

Don't get me wrong, I know they are out there. I still purchase mostly vinyl. I was at Good will on sat! whitelabel has them, wich is dope.... but I think it is getting more limited

i'm still hunting for an instrumental version for darude's "sandstorm"

it would be great for karaoke too

=)

LMFAO

Editing = remixing for example. You cant do this except if you do it live.

OR... you can play the whitelable track in SSL and record you playing that track.... then use it for remixing....

So what you guys are trying to say is....wah wah wah wah I can't edit wah wah wah wah...right?

LOL!

yup... thats what they are saying

I've never heard of Homemade editing of the mp3 to extend the into for DJ friendlyness. You learn something new erryday.

*the intro

My mommy and my daddy told me I can't be a DJ if I don't have extended intros and outros. Waaaaaah!! *gives the child some milk*

No worries. The waaaambulance is en route.

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

do you really NEED to extend the intro of an mp3 ever again, you have looping features!?!??!

Exactly!! learn to use this function and you may never need an extended intro again..

Love the WAAAAAAA routines Action, I second you and Sixxx

Well, I couldn't give a shit about extended intros, but remixing tracks at home is fun. It's a world-famous art that was started by DJs.

I hope you guys aren't ripping on remixing in general...

there's a difference between the art of remixing and simply extending intros because u can't mix

Yeah, I know, but I thought this whole tangent started because someone said editing whitelabel files is impossible or at least very difficult. Since people were saying,



and



and then nik39 pointed out



I just felt like chiming in and making it clear that not all editing is for cry babies or whatever. Although it's true most of the complaints have been about people crying for extended intros, I just wanted to stand up for other forms of editing.

Of course it doesn't really matter anyways because if we really want to remix, re-recording the whitelable tracks isn't impossible.

should combine forces with beatport.

actually... beatport you have to pay song for song 320's... this is free right? nm. im stupid.

before SSL I wished I had the cash to press shit, and sometimes I would use the DJ edited joints (most of them sucked tho)

now that Im digital, I like being able to extend intros or breaks, sometimes differently then you could do with just a loop function. I like to change the order of verses so the best shit comes first.

do I have the ability to, cue an off beat start? yes
do I have the ability to, drop in the middle of a cut? yes
do I have the ability to, manually extend the intro? yes

even without a cue point

I jus dont think those abilities speak to the artistry of what Im doing as a DJ (especially when Im playing commercial shit)

I didnt know that Im supposed to be meeting some kind off challenge, I thought I was just supposed to rock the set, by whatever means. only geeks and djs (like theres a dif) are up in my laptop looking my shit, everyone else is on the floor

AND if I do need to be meeting some challenge to keep my DJ manhood in tact: editing records can easily be seen as an art form, from simple arrangement to full remixes.

with digital there are a whole range new skills that DJs can use to express themselves or need to compete. everything from computer maintenance to remixing and editing, all types of shit.

maybe my thought on this subject is related to the fact the I DJ for rap groups too. I mean I am playing complete records composed by me. so editing an intro is just whatever b, I make whole records

If anyone believes that editing a track to play in the club is "lazy" or "cheating" should not use the REL mode, should not use cue points, should not tap out tempos, or make notes on tracks, or use mp3, only vinyl rips, hell shut your lappy off and go make a mixtape with Premo. the same sentiment is at work here.


Back in the day I used to believe that tempo clocking records and organizing shit into sets was cheating. I was thoroughly embarrassed to be seen playing records that were placed in the crates next to each other less some one think that I planned to play them shits together at home.

Back in the day I laughed at adat tapes and vowed to record all my shit to analog in a big ass studio.

I would be dead right now if I didnt get that crap out of my head. Yes, I often prefer the sound of analog situations, and I am still embarrassed to have sharpied tempos on my vinyl. But I was also board to death at one point, but this digital shit opened lots of new frontiers for me to explore.

also I realized that no one gives a fuck about how you do it, as long as you entertain them. I dont care what any hater DJ standing on the wall trying to formulate some pure philosophy against my set has to say. Or any computer illiterate so called "vinyl purist" tries to say on the mic or on a mixtape to get the crowd to recognize. I still get the chicks at the end of the night son.

AND as DJs, at least us seasoned ones know for a goddamned fact that we will absolutely get the party cracking more than any fucking mixtape out there. This is because the science of what we do as DJs is about on the spot, the performance, the connection with the people. It has nothing to do with how you set up or what equipment you use. How you set up is only the method, the vehicle used. And that would include looping up an edit.





anyway.
you cant edit white labels. if you have to you can send it through analog and re encode it, as nasty as that sounds, (havnt tried it yet) thats probably not as bad as using lower bitrate in the first place. I dont know yet.

thing is, doing that effectively "unlocks" the file. the whole point of the white label is that it is locked. actually its an ingenious solution for digital promos. makes the labels feel better about sending them out since you cant pop it into the ipod or trade it. I dont think they would have such a problem with a white label editor like this: www.scratchlive.net

think about it, you go rip all your vinyl or cds in the white label editor and it will still be "locked" it wont be free to trade with civilians and whatnot.

I understand that such a program would aid a hacker in being able to unlock the whitelabels.

But, who would really be trying to do that? I really dont see why anyone would bother. Wow, if you hack it, you get your hands on a 320 file two weeks before anyone else, wooooo. uh you could get a 128 version anyway, g. I really dont see the incentive to hack them for civilian use. I think there is a pretty big incentive to hack them for editing, DJ reasons. If we had an editor that incentive would go away.

here is a pitch for the RIAA guys:

Even though most things worth hacking eventually do get hacked (right?), lets assume that a whitelabel editor ensures that it happens (I dont understand the technical reasons, but) and lets assume that each and every whitelabel file will be immediately hacked and sent out to wherever pirates like to download them. (personally I dont see the incentive for these people to do it but for the sake of argument lets assume it will happen)

And at the same time thousands of SSL users will be actively locking up thousands of files from cd, vinyl and mp3, and even locking up illegally traded files.

It looks to me like this would be a net gain for RIAA. Have you ever heard of users actively locking files? usually its the other way around right?

how many illegal files originated as acc files? does anyone really encode to acc?
millions of files would be encoded into WL

^^ heh you lost me after the first 30 mins of reading that post

Yeah AKIEM... I stopped reading too.

But here's a response to what I read... the first 10 lines I believe. If you're changing the order of the verses, etc... then you're not just doing quick editing... you're actually pretty much remixing. lol

I can see why it's useful to be able to edit something. Seriously, I can... but that's not to say it can't be done with whitelabel tracks either. It's just more difficult or time consuming.

If you're editing something because you want it to be different, exclusive, or whatever... that's dope! But, you're editing something just cause you can't mix and you need an intro.. then you suck. Go back to the practice room.

Co-sign the whole thing!! :D

I was really just typing for my own fingers....

(are you okay society?)

but for real:
half the features in SSL you could tell someone to go back to the lab and practice for wanting. not just editing

I do everything from complete remixes to looping intros

I have the skill to start an off beat record from before the song comes in, trust I got records I can cue from the cueburn if they dont start on the one.

but hardly half the DJs on this board would care about that, let alone drunk mfs on the floor.

and I will take them records and change the intro for the ease of cueing [not because I lack skill]

who cares

do I really want to learn and practice each offbeat intro that I find on WL? no, I got better things to do



Im just going to re encode it or get it someplace else anyway. keeping WL locked really does nothing in the end (if you ask me)

I agree fully. It just causes unnecessary trouble for the users. We all know, if we really wanted to spread those files, we could.

You mean the way you spread herpes around? :P


Seriously though, like I've been saying, it's just a hassle to have them locked but nothing that can't be bypassed much like file protected in iTunes.

sixxx, did you ever think what will happen when you choose to use wl.net files and rely on them?

One day you decide to dump all Serato products and spin with a different DVS solution. All your wl.net files are useless. The time and effort you put into maintaining, sorting your library is worthless now.

This is why, along with the wl files, I still keep / burn copies of the same tracks from other music pools I am in. The wl tracks sound great in SSL but ya never know when you may have to go without.

TC, but whats the sense of wl.net then? If I need to keep another copy... wouldnt it be more economic to go with the tracks from the other pools which do not restrict the usage?

If I could get the 320's from other digital pools, yes wl.net would be redundant. However it's usually 192 (or less) from the other chop shops. The ones I rip myself from a hard copy I do at 320 and don't bother with wl.net.

OH SHIT! This is a first for ME to see....Nik39, you actually aren't endorsing wl.tracks and they're affiliated with Serato? Somebody shoot me now....before I capitalize everything sporadically in the next thread...

But seriously, we're on the same page, and I haven't even GOT Serato yet. As a matter of fact, I'm still dilly-dallying on converting vinyl to mp3's. Still working on just the right config for the laptop, because once I decide on a road to go down, I'm not doing this again...(converting).

But yes, investing (time) in a song that may become obsolete in the future is a waste of time for me. No thank you. I can see all the time associated with maintaining 1 set of files for music, do you think I'm gonna double that with the history of digital music thus far? Hellz no...

But hey, Rane/Serato offer it FOR FREE, and there's no fucking with that...You can't complain about free shit...

Lol, if you think I am a Serato fanboy and I eat everything they do... you dont know me well. I have outlined these points before, ask TC... but, well, I dont make the decisions.


Exactly.


Noone forces us, thats correct. But to me, its not free with possible doubled work I'll have. Now if they gave us the option to "unlock" those files after a certain time (free or for money...) automatically ... that would be awesome.

Well I'll be damned...I seriously thought otherwise the way you hawk these forums...lol. Aittee, so he does think independently of Rane/Serato team....interesting.



The ability to eventually unlock or convert would be da shitznit...but again, they're doing exactly what record companies want to do with promo copies....having the ability to restrict them to the DJ...(sort of). I actually admire the thought process.

You'd be surprised. Ask your friend :)

LOL or castle's in the sky ? LMFAO.

Jaydee - Plastic Dreams would be sweet for Karaoke! Anyone got an instrumental of that?

with all ur "we want to edit" and "we can copy them anyway" trashtalk u are destroying the whitelabel ship before it even has seen any water..

labels reading ur leet comments will think twice about ever joining wl..

Forget the instrumental, I need the acapella. haha

Then maybe it would be good to rethink the whole idea? I dont think there is anything wrong with giving constructive criticism. This is not plain trashing here.

Nah Nik,
It's a good plan to keep the promos exactly where they belong. And not every DJ is reverse code savvy. There's always gonna be someone hell bent on crackin' shit, so that day will come. Until then, getting free promos is a plus. And remember, the idea of the promo is to entice the listener to BUY the song, which, believe it or not, includes the DJ.

no label in the world will put all their tracks free to download for everyone in this quality at a public place >without< any copy protection.. this ain't utopia ;)

True true. But you know that we have FREE services like digiwaxx, which offer UNPROTECTED audio files FOR DJS ONLY directly FROM THE LABELS. So it IS POSSIBLE.

(Sorry to hijack your style JOHNNYM ;) )

Its not that I understand the labels concerns... locking wl.net files down will not stop p2p leaks. As said, those who really want to distribute those files will find a way pretty easily. Very easily. So in the end, you dont gain much... but you burden an unnecessary hassle to the DJs AND restrict their creativity in a way. No remixes possible.

I just want an unlock feature so I can use those tracks later with any other audio product.

no what i said is not possible.. digiwix ain't a public place for everyone like whitelabel.

digiwax' copy protection is to authorize the djs so only they have access to the downloads, i guess u have to sign in and so on..

my solution would be that only people who got a serato serial number can access the download area..
in this board for example u are able to save your serial number with the preferences.

but this would still make it easy to spread the files to p2p and i guess that's why it won't happen.





btw in german this system is called "besitzbasierte authentifizierung" .. u need to have a hardware to use sth.. that's the future as u can see nowadays with most new software which needs a hardware dongle in order to work. ssl is the hardware dongle for the "free" music..

The way I look at it is: Digiwax verifies that you're an actual DJ by asking you to provide names of venues, radio stations, etc; Whitelabel does the same with a different system. They assume that if you're spending hundreds of dollars on a DJing system, you're likely going to be performing those songs in public.

I assume the record labels consider the money lost through illegal distribution of the free files is worth it in what they gain back through exposure.

exactly

and this system is even more efficient because it doesn't allow to share the music with unauthorized people

Well, it doesn't really restrict sharing, it just makes it so that if you REALLY want to share, you've got to put in that extra time and effort.

So it doesnt really lock it down. Side effects are all those negative things about locked files which have been mentioned in this thread.

The system is working. The HI QUALITY files are restricted to Serato users by default. That was the purpose. All that whining about the files being locked is just that..whining. If you want to remix the song, buy it...simple. The labels didn't ask you to REMIX the song for them. They put it out the way they wanted it. Just because we have the ability to do something, doesn't mean we're entitled to do it. There is extra effort involved in doing a remix, and just extending the intro. So now, you've just got another step...Trust somebody right now is working on a crack...not only for these locked files, but for Serato "dongle" security also....It's only a matter of time.

It takes the IQ of a monkey to get around this protection.



Just because you dont agree with the criticism, its pretty unnecessary to call this whining.



WHERE can you buy instrumentals and acapellas? Show me.
WHERE can you buy tracks which havent been released on CD/iTunes yet?



Then why not leaving the protection out?

Plus you totally ignored that once you move to a different software, your library which may be swamped with wl.net files is worthless. Have fun hunting those tracks again.

well we dont get the music to collect it.. we get it to promote it

but this discussion is going to be endless cause it's pretty philosophical.. so i'm out :)

So whats up with the vinyl promo releases? I still can play those vinyls which are ten years old, on a stanton turntable, on a vestax turntable, not only on a technics turntable.

yes but the labels wouldn't care if you were not able anymore :p

and when getting sent vinyl promos you have usually more proven a status in djing as when u only own ssl.. so it's maybe a different kind of promo (+ the labels actually spent money on the vinyl)

well like i said.. the discussion can be endless.. there's always different viewpoints to every fact

Oh, trust me. I don't have a SINGLE whitelabel song for this reason. I downloaded a few to check them. That's about it. I can find everything that's on there somewhere else.

If you're out, why did you post again? ha!

some ranting:

"free" is not what I would call them, like upgrades, part of the product purchased. no one is whining or complaining, this is constructive criticism in the effort to improve the product. Im sure the feedback is highly valued.

reliance on WL would mean migrating from SSL will be a bitch, like migrating from vinyl. that is until someone comes with a hack which I think would be guaranteed by the time there is a large migration. I actually dont have a problem with Serato not facilitating easier migration, I mean I wouldnt ether. but...

personally Im not going to bother keeping doubles, I will just dub, unlock or p2p [(legally) I think?] the slim amount of these records that might even have a chance of making it into my "classics" crates.

that is if I even use the WL in the first place, Im only going there if the quality of individual tracks is unacceptable wherever else I get them.

the "timed lock" sounds like a good solution, a little murky about some things... I dont know. I heard of a time locked mp3 back in the 90s but never seen it manifest. I think a mirrored sight with older "unlocked" joints would be almost as good, at least in the r&d department. but I dont see that happening ether, I mean Serato has no reason to do it, no real incentive, kinda like the "time locked" I think. I mean the time locked mp3 mentioned self destructed the mp3 after a promo period, and so on.

actually I would be satisfied if "looping" and "cues" were a hell of allot more sophisticated like www.scratchlive.net
at least I would be happier


but what if we had a full fledged editor like this:
www.scratchlive.net

imagine that you can do whatever editing you need to for a WL, blam
or you rip your stacks of vinyls and cds right into the WL format, blamo (riaa would love that right!!!)
or maybe they would be nice (open to civilians) and let us export to mp3, blizamo (product for non-ssl-users)
or only exports time stamped WL after the promo period, cablizamo!!!
okay, pimp it out with a nice chunky dongle berry on the side and you are managing your shit offline, cablizamolini g!!!!


actually, I think they are trying to make SSL more able to accomplish most of these tasks by some means in the future. I just think that a second editing app could be huge, even for non-SSL personnel. dont sleep on it g.

and to the riaa characters- you fools need to come the fuck out of the 90s, thats the last millennium fella. you were scared of cassette tapes but they made you millions after you realised that a DUB is not equal to a copy. dude that era is over, one D/A/D aint protecting shit especially when you are trying to keep it from the millions of cheap ipod headphone listeners. they could never in a million years tell the difference. none of them, not one of them will ever feel the slight disincentive to p2p.

you know how many times Ive had to sit in a car with the bass distorting with lo grade mp3s blaring? or get an ipod shoved in my ear "listen to this, it rocks!" no it doesnt g, it sounds like it was recorded by Edison. or some crapy high school performance blaring obviously p2peed shit over a 40 year old pa system. Im the only one sitting there looking like they brought out the chalk board to raw finger nail scratch.

they just dont give a fuck, trust me. I wouldnt be surprised if some knucklehead somewhere would be happy with the 32k even.

the only people the lock is ever, ever, ever, going to bother is the SSL user who has to fiddle with it. I can guarantee that not one single person who gets their hands on a WL dub could ever tell the difference, or would ever even care.



so what Im saying is give us more incentive for using the WL format.
I would gladly convert all my shit to WL, lock it all up if I could get a benefit, otherwise Im going to be unlocking it for my own needs.

all my joints are "legal" and will stay that way, by the way (I think).




okay, thats my ranting for today, my girl has put the law on me, one rant a day or else...

Thanks for all the feedback, we are listening and will take your feedback with us to the record labels we are dealing with.

There are lots of interesting ideas here, keep them coming.

Good idea.


Exactly.

Another - to keep those files of p2p - :
Use mp3 format with watermarking technology. You can convert these watermarked files to different formats and the watermark will still keep intact.

This is a good point. It's no offense to Serato or the record labels to point out that only a slim percentage of the releases will end up becoming classics--many probably won't make it past the 6 month mark. Which is why this whole idea of the longevity of these "locked" files is somewhat moot; ok, sure, maybe in 10 years time you won't be using SSL and all these files will become obsolete, but how many of them will you still be droppin on the regular? We're DJs--it shouldn't be too hard for us to tell which tracks we'll need far into the future. So if you come across a whitelabel classic...well...you know what to do...

Watermarking mp3s wouldn't keep files off p2p, it just allows tracking of the files to find the source of the leak.

You're on the money society. What % of your promo 12s are obsolete now? I'd say more that half of mine were crap.

That said, I hear what you're all saying. When there is a classic track on WL.net, you'd rather have an unlocked version.

In that case.. I would say... JUST RECORD IT AS YOU PLAY IT... then you can put it in any format you want from that point!!!!

^^^and you already have the computer.. and there are PLENTY of free apps you can use to record with.. and most computer have a line in on them

dj disturbed


That is a clear violation of 3.2 (b) in the user agreement:

You're correct. It would keep *myself* from putting these files on p2p networks assumed I have any intention to put them on p2p netwroks ;) I wouldnt dare.
To be picky...: Technically wl.net files cant be kept off p2p networks either.


I dont mind paying for it, seriously. If it means less work for me, I'm fine with it.

Man... I don't know what all this is about. So what the songs are in a certain format.... This is a huge added bonus for SSL. It was never a feature or something Guaranteed with the purchase of the program. I am greatful the SSL team even gave us this site. I will just get what tracks I can off WL, and be as creative as possible with what I have. Thank you Serato team for all the hard work!

scotty, I dont think those who are critizing arent thankful or something. We're just discussing if there are any ways to improve the current offer.

Thanks for the kind words scotty B.

I'm enjoying your thanks and the constructive criticism.

Ahhh Maybe I read it wrong. No disrespect intended.

Yeah, I'm very thankful too! :D I just think it's important to bring all the variables to the table to help Serato work out as many bugs/potential issues as early in the game as possible.

I forgot about how this was worded, I thought I would be safe by owning "using" other copies. guess not

+ yes, thanks for the white labels.

I mentioned the heavy limitations earlier in the thread... you also can't back them up in any shape, fashion or form. Which means a single hard drive failure puts you trying to download all those tracks again.

But I agree with nik39.... The limitations put on the use of the whitelabel files is just not practical for those people who sometimes play out at places where they don't use Serato (gasp!). It's damned inconvenient to have to maintain unlocked files and non-unlocked files. Keep in mind that even editing the TRACK NAME or other portions of the ID3V2 tag in some software you loose the high quality portion of the track.

Even if I accept the buy in on limiting the playback to it having to come through a Serato approved hardware device (SL1/MP4/57SL) and Serato software some of us listen to the tracks in the car or on portable devices to become more familiar with them or to weed out the crap before a gig. Sure I can listen to 32kbps mono files in the car... but I don't even record my spoken word tracks (comedy) at that rate.

I like what Serato is offering but the price is just too high to pay... The minute I decide to go with a Mackie d.4 and mixvibes I'm screwed. If that hot joint I've been jamming for weeks is a WL track I've got to find it from someplace else and quickly.


On a side note... the only thing you can't unscramble is eggs... HBO learned it (Captain Midnight!), Showtime learned it, the MPAA learned it (DeCSS), and Microsoft has learned it (X-Box)....

If the rewards are great enough someone somewhere WILL violate the terms of use and make a tool to read the ID3V2 'hidden' information and create the MP3 frames. Even if you're using a 2048-bit public/private key pair to associate the files with Serato it can break one day.... just ask Microsoft about X-Box games and PKI...

And no, I'm not interested in breaking the encryption.....


On a side note... has the Serato team considered licensing the process to other manufacturers? Opening up the availability of the tracks to more than one solution could make the offering more appealing to the labels...

Disclaimer: I don't own Serato. I use Julls when we play gigs together. I do use a TCV solution... and I'm happy with it... And I've love to use WL.net with that solution... or other solutions that I might use from other manufacturers... and maybe even within Ableton (as I progress closer to the possibility of using it)... So before you go hatin'... I like Serato, but it didn't offer what I needed when I bought... when it catches up I'll consider it them...

Esp. since you can access the software, and in the software there should be the keys. On a closed platform this is much much harder to accomplish than on a an "open" platform like windows XP is right now.



That poor guy ;)

hehehe... yea... he just hates it when I try to convince him to let me use my SLDZ's and Tor...er, some other software...

I hope you meant q not rent. ;)

out of the discussion i meant.. but it was too interesting

i just keep all my whitelabels in a seperate folder,

I'm not saying to do it.... but I'm just saying for all those bitching about they can use the tracks to do remixes.... there are ways... It a free download of the music.. If Serato and the Record lables want to have this copy protection on it...then its up to them saying you cant use the tracks... b/c clearly you can. Am I going to change the format of the WL tracks.. no.. I have no need to.. If i need the track for use in a remix.. I can go out and buy it/download it from a pay-for site..

And to be technical about it.. Doing remixes is illigal in the USA if you dont have permission from the legal owner of the rights to that track.... But we can argue that statement for days.

I'm spinning while all this is going on .....
look !!! I can do a baby scratch !!!!!!!!!!!

lol w0000000000t

www.iht.com

geez....give them an inch....

thanks, good info

it makes me laugh when all these suposed super rich, killers, drug dealers, thugs, gangster and the people who push them cry when people make an "illigal" copy. where is the moral ground that they stand on? sure legal but... maybe thats why they like to kick in doors.


if they quit pushing all that crap to such extremes maybe people would feel a little different about stealing from suposed super rich, killers, drug dealers, thugs, gangsters!

All good.

nice article, thanks

LOL! So are you saying all those DJ's who haven't figured out how to get around the protection are dumber than monkeys?

No offense by the whining comment, but what would you call complaining about free shit?

I guess you could get accapellas and instrumentals from the same place you purchase the songs from, if available. If you CAN'T get it from there, write the record company, tell them you feel like REMIXING the song, and for them to send you the instrumentals and accapellas. At the point they give you permission, I'm sure they will supply you with the files. THAT'S the way it's SUPPOSED TO BE..

Why not leave the protection out? Because they have to show a reasonable attempt at trying to secure the product. If somebody stole your car because you left the KEYS in it...You're negligent.

Yes... you're right but it's a 'dirty' word around here so I had to stop myself... ;-)

Man, you don't get it...I DO agree with YOU about not having to duplicate efforts with your library...

But I disagree with you saying that Serato should change up the files...

This.
is.
free.
shit.

You can't put stipulations on free shit....

Just know what you're getting into before you embark on it...that's all.

EXACTLY!

That is because they didn't have the technology to restrict you to certain turntables back then. But I bet that if they could somehow code into the vinyl that their record was "Copy Protected", that they would have. Plus not too many people I know had a record printing press in their basement.

Everybody's got a damn CD Burner and internet connection. Times have changed, but the philosophy behind it is still the same.

Stop playin.

On that same note about promo-only vinyls: there was a finite amount of pressings and the label could account for where each copy was originally sent. That number (whatever the number is) of promotional copies sent out, the record company does recoup an actuall dollar aount for each one. Usually in that little cut they take of the top from each artist until all advances, promo costs, manufacturing, etc. are paid.

complaining: no one is
White Labels are "free" the software is "free". Just suggestions for improvements.
If the bit rate was too low, say 32k in ssl for example, you wouldnt be satisfied, even if it were "free" right?
Is everything said in the feature suggestion a "complaint"? no, its about improving the product.
Anyone why purchases ssl from this point forward can factor the "free" white labels into the cost of the product, a continually improving product.

remixes: are legal to make, and play, just not sell

As culture and technology changes, the laws have to also change, as well as the way business is done.
this is a fact that is always been true
"intellectual rights" have always been handled like "property rights", but the technology is showing a real and actual difference between the two. That philosophy is old and flawed. it doesnt work, and it doesnt make sense. as painful as it is for companies and people who rely on "intellectual property laws" (me being one of them) things are different now. adapt or parish

Basically everyone here agrees that it is nice of Rane/Serato to offer the record pool. That, we all agree is a generous effort. We start to take sides when we discuss the media that's being distributed. The argument seems that if you own Serato, you should have access to the Hi-Quality mp3's, and manipulate them the way you want, just like any other mp3. The idea of limiting promo media has always existed...but the technology wasn't there, instead it was self contained simply because an exact duplication method didn't exist, save someone having access to a record pressing machine.

Our and record stores eventual USAGE of said promos have nothing to do with how it was INTENDED to be distributed. "For Promotional Purposes" means just that....Who really cared? Nobody, the stores would SELL the promos, get the money, and we and we as DJ's would eat it up. Cool. We've been getting over FOR YEARS. It became rountine and accepted....

Now the copy protection technology exists(somewhat), and it's a problem. Only because we were used to doing what we were used to doing. It doesn't mean, simply because it was overlooked and uncontained, that what we got away with was right...

It's a new age folks. I KNOW that if I actually created a joint, that I'd want every single penny I could GET from it, if possible. I might not want my shit mased with Justin or Michael.....I might hate their guts...

djdisturbed, just because its free it doesnt mean you can do everything you want with it. What I mean is, you have signed a contract before entering WL.net and agree to the previously menioned point, about not reproducing and circumventing the copy protetion. So its not like Serato didnt tell us ;)

Johhny, that one's for you...

Thanks Akiem.

I dont think anyone feels as if the files are deserved or have some sort of an expectation about them or feel entitled to have them be high quality, and unlocked. Its a mater of what people would like.

[as cool as these guys are] I dont think Serato is being "nice" or "generous" by offering WLs. To me its part of a market strategy, a smart one. Its the same as improving the product.

I dont have a problem with limitations on promos, but if the limitation causes it to not be used in the first place then whats the point?

Everything is a trade off. If they are too much of a hassle for me, I wont use them. If they are too large they wont be downloaded. If they arnt protected labels wont give them and so on...

Its about finding a balance



Well the only vinyl promos Ive ever purchased were rare oop. All the crap I was getting was for free, mater of fact I just dumped a huge stack of it into the dumpster out back. I was never getting over, they want me to play it.



I still dont see where we were "getting over", labels wanted you to play shit so they gave it to you. piriod.

no, you are not suposed to sell it, but thats not at issue here. no one is asking to be able to sell it. no one is asking to be able to p2p it. no one is asking to use it for personal entertainment.

all the suggestions have been about using it to work with.



If you dont want it mashed then dont put out acapellas and instrumentals. Isnt that obvious? If you want every single penny from every single copy, then dont give out promos, isnt that obvious too?

If you are putting out acapellas I am assuming that you would like it to be mashed or remixed. Never in my life have I heard of an acapella being straight up playd in a club, on the radio, in a car or in, in an ipod, or wherever else. Ive never heard of some underground basement scene where people are partying to acapellas, or trading acapella mixtapes.



I have absolutly no problem with any company doing whatever they need to in order to protect their "property". But at the same time if they want me to promote it then they are gonig to have to make it sufficiently attractive for me to use it. If vinyl promos were all mono and low level I would put them straight in the trash.


This is a trade off. Thats why Im explaining what it is that I do with files, and giving feedback on if I will even use them.


DJJOHNNYM, let me ask you, do you have a problem with any of these?

a. WhiteLabels become unlocked several months after the release date.
b. unlocked WhiteLabels are placed on a mirror site several months after the release date.
c. WhiteLabels are able to be edited with a WL editing application that also rips to the WL format.
d. WL are "unlocked", but watermarked with a user code that would end your privilege to use the service if leaked.

DJJOHNNYM, if WL were 32k mono when played in SSL would you suggest something better?

lol. I ♥ AKIEM ;)

AKEIM always coming With some Knowledge, or Constructive criticism! Points well taken

^^ Lest you forget ... this is the fella who integrated his SL-1 into his TTM-56

Akiem, how's the TTM-56SL doing ?

I know.... Not to mention Metal Face's DJ! there is obviously a Method to his Madness.

does this whitelabel thing work with the mp4 mixer?

Yes. With any SSL hardware.

my 2 pennies.. lol.
I think the whitelabel is good.
I dont think they really need to worry about people reverse engineering them and putting them up on p2p networks or the other "DJ ONLY" sites (not p2p) that list the songs illegally. Those sites get the songs leaked way before record labels will place them up on whitelable anyway. so by the time whitelabel offers them, the deejays that use the illegal services will have had them already. the instrumentals and accs are the only thing people may want to try to get if they cant find them anywhere else.

so whitelabel is cool, like the other dj said, we promote their music.. its not arrogant for a DJ to suggest that we go hand in hand with labels - we are their advertising. and they know it too. It may be arrogant however for me to say that DJ's are not the target audience (consumers).. we are the marketing department for labels. lol

We are the music industries dirty secret. LOLOLOLOL
ok, so i had 3 pennies worth. LOL

by the way, any hip hop DJ's in NY? remember what white labels were? lolol

You dont want to know what I read instead of "pennies"...

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL aw man your funny! if i had two, i think i would be the man for real.. no matter how freaky it was. LOLOLOLOL Plus I would have a new DJ name. LOL

Dj Double Shlong

works perfectly, Ive taken it on tour, and probably 20 or more flights, still in effect. Even tho, Ive got my 57 I bring it out from time to time.

what should I do with it?

OF COURSE, there is an expectation or feeling of entitlement because if there weren't, people wouldn't be mentioning what they "like". But that's how people are, give an inch, they'd want a mile (me included)....

Look at all this "Free Shit" you get...

1.) The updates are free. Don't most other companies charge you for updates?

2.) The message board is free, and you get to connect directly with Rane/Serato developers. And they're cool about shit.

3.) Now the .wl files are free.

Per the connection of this board, didn't somebody even get some Digital Ortofon carts for free?

You can't complain about free shit.

Don't you THINK Rane/Serato thought about this process before they put these files out? They are locked for a reason, not to just make your DJ life difficult. It's simple, they supply you with promo copies of files for "FREE" , but the tradeoff is that you hear them in high quality through their product. Simple. That's a brilliant marketing strategy. Of course there are ways around it, but that's just it...You have to work (or invest "time") to get to that point.



Ok, we agree on something. There's a method to the madness. Now say they promote Serato with access to a FREE record pool. The Serato price tag doesn't seem so bad now...does it? Say you belonged to a record pool that charged you say 50.00 bucks a month. Over the course of a year, Serato just PAID for itself. Now anything over a year is cake.



I doubt that the entire Serato community would unite and boycott the .wl files, just because they can't be played thru other software packages. And so what if they DID, does that hurt Rane/Serato pockets? NO! Why? Because the shit is FREE! LOL.



But what exactly is the "HASSLE" here? That you can't listen in Hi-Quality through another product? It's designed that way. Plenty of people will listen through Serato, and not think twice.



Sure you've gotten over. You can't tell me that you've never gone into a record store, and wanted a record that said "For Promotional Purposes Only", (meaning that the store was supposed to KEEP IT), and they sold it to you. Would you have rather them told you, "Sorry son, that record is for "Promotional Purposes Only", we can't sell it to you? LMAO...Stop playin.



And that's the EXACT SAME THING HERE, they want you to play the shit, so they GIVE you the files for FREE. No difference.



See, you're not looking at the BIG PICTURE HERE...Maybe YOU aren't gonna sell it or P2P it...but you don't think somebody who owns Serato ISN'T gonna stick it on a P2P Network? Get real. And pretend that the mp3 was a piece of vinyl...What would you do in THAT situation? You couldn't alter the vinyl...all you could do was double it up, or save it to tape, in a remixed version.



No it isn't obvious...Do you think accapellas were created for the sole purpose of mashups? Ummm...no.



Ummm...NO AGAIN... Promos serve a purpose. There are supposed to be in limited quantity and already factored into the big picture. Technology nowadayz will turn a "Promo" into a million copies, and no album sales for the artist.



I don't know what clubs YOU'VE been too, but PLENTY of them play accapellas...and mix and match them with other things. But guess what? The club isn't selling a mix of the night at the front door, now are they?



All you're saying is I want my file a certain way , but I'm telling you the shit is free....you really shouldn't have anything to complain about...

But let's flip it real quick...

1.) How much would you be willing to PAY SERATO to have these files unlocked?

2.) Let's take it a step further, how much do you TRUST your fellow Serato DJ's to not distribute the unlocked files? Or make sure they don't wind up on ANYBODY'S P2P NETWORK?


Let's really freshen it up...

Would you be willing to subscribe to Serato/Rane's record pool where they send you the files, WATERMARKED, and then, say that if they found a file that they sent YOU on a P2P network, that not only would you be kicked out of the Pool, but Mandatory Copyright infringement charges would be filed against you?

Would you PAY to take that chance?

You didnt understand the part of Akiem...



Free updates? SSL is being advertised with free updates. So its not something which is "free" and we have to prais serato for it. (Though I am still thankful)


Assuming mashup=remix... what do you think is the reason that labels give out acapellas?


Jesus... nothing in life is for free. Except for love. And even then, some people gotta pay for it.


Me, without any hesitation I would agree.

Yes, I would PAY to take that chance...
I already download files that are watermarked in one way or another from a number of subscription sites.

But I also get files from more than a dozen sources already so whitelabel would be nice for the stuff I don't already get from somewhere else or if it was something I would pay for anyway.

But all that aside... I'd be willing to accept watermarked files that used stegnography where the watermark was IN THE AUDIO so that a simple burn/rip from CD wouldn't remove it like the DRM on iTunes files.

But there's a good chance I'm in the minority...

What is there not to understand?



The point is that other companies CHARGE you for those updates.


So you can LISTEN to it...Hell, a lot of times, an acapella is used to decipher the actual words or lyrics of a song.


Ok, well if nothing is free, then just consider the PRICE you're paying for these .wl tracks is the fact you need to play them thru Serato to hear Hi-Quality....




You agree to what? Trust your fellow man?

See? You're a stand up guy...

The record companies wouldn't mind giving shit to you, cuz they could TRUST you not to distribute it. WHY? Because you'd be willing to PAY for the service. On top of that, knowing that you would instantly be kicked out and sued if your joints make it into enemy territory is a big step....

Most cats swap shit so much (me included) that they would be in front of Judge RIAA tomorrow.

ITs not just free. Serato is not a charity organization. Its a company to make profit. Yes, the good thing is (which I dont take as granted) they are not orientated to *maximize* profit.



Not at all. If Mercedes advertise their cars as "warranty 15 years, it will not break, if it does we will replace your car with a new model", I truly dont care what the other companies do. Thats MErcedes offer... you can bet they have added all potential future costs into the price they charge you now for that car.



Right... thats okay for some non-american dumba$$ like me, who understands sh!t. But do you really think *that* is the reason why labels add acappella versions? Dont make me laugh ;)


Thats what I wrote:


Yes, I would even pay for watermarked audio files without DRM protection. Of course I would pay.

All things considered, the day you bought Serato, you PAID for the hardware. That's all you were entitled to. Some time passed, and now due to the fact that you own (or have access to) that piece of hardware, you are now able to obtain an additional service at no cost to you. That my friend is a freebie. Ok, let's put it this way, it might not be "free" because somebody is putting out some dough to get it into our hands, but...

[B]
IT
IS
OF
NO
COST
TO
YOU.[/B]



But where in Serato/Rane's warranty can you infer that all updates will or should be free? As a matter of fact, I'm not sure if it's happened, but I do believe they will have some type of "plug in" that will be available for some type of price. So they COULD charge you for updates, but it seems to me, that most times they don't.


What are you talking about? Mashing JUST started getting popular mainstream wise. They've been releasing acapellas and instruments since disco singles. Sometimes the listener wants to just hear the music, no vocals....Sometimes they want to examine the words, do you know how many times I wished I had the acapella to something, JUST so I could understand what the vocalist is saying? Sometimes the instrumentals could be used for background music to showcase various elements of the song. Y'all got it twisted. The Artists aren't releasing the various versions of these songs, that's the studio (engineer), who would appreciate the different versions for distribution.



But that's just it...YOU might pay, but most cats can get this stuff for a lot LESS than what you'd pay. So, somebody at the helm says, Ok, let's throw these loyal Serato DJ's a bone. We'll give them access to these files, BUT they can only play the Hi-Fi ones on Serato. The majority of Serato DJ's look at it as a bonus. A few complain about not being able to edit the songs...(which they're technically not supposed to do in the first place becuz they legally don't have permission from the labels in the first place), but one thing is certain....It increases the ATTRACTIVENESS of Serato overall. Like I said, the pool would basically pay for Serato by ITSELF in about a years time.

You need to read up on economics, mate.


Thats a feature they use to advertise their products with. So when a customer wants to buy it, he knows that free updates are a part of the package.


Have you been living under a rock? I have records from 93 with blends/remixes/"mashups".


So what? That doesnt proof anything. We are speculating. From my POV your argument doesnt make a lot of sense. Record labels add this so you can understand the lyrics better? They can always provide the lyrics on the record sleeve. Doh!


What? The studio engineer decides which version to be release?


Pardon, whats your point?? You asked ME, and ME replied. Now you come up with "its only YOU.."? What?


You asked ME. And BTW, I also know where to get this stuff for lot LESS. Thats not the point of the discussion.

Why? It's simple. There is NO COST to you to get the files from the pool. Hell, there's no cost to ME to join the pool, and I don't even HAVE Serato yet, and I already see it as an added value. I'm not buying Serato because of the affiliation with the .wl files, but because it is a great product. The .wl files are an added bonus. You don't need an economics course to understand that one homey.

What are you talking about? Where does Serato advertise FREE updates?

You didn't pay attention to what I said, I said Mashing just started getting poplular MAINSTREAM WISE. We all know remixing has been there forever...Now you have Granny talkin' bout did you hear that MASHUP.



On the contrary, YOU are speclulating LOL... Suppose the listener is blind...and the record sleeve doesn't have braile? They have to LISTEN to it...

I'm sure they advised them as to how it may benefit the sale of the record.


My point is that you are taking the stance that this "Locked" issue is a BIG DEAL for the majority of Serato DJ's...when in fact, it only effects a few of them...And those few already KNOW how to get around it....



Ok, so if you already know where to get this stuff for less, why try to impose upon Serato for them to change their files, when you already HAVE a source for the same files?

Obviously *you* do.



Search the forum. Talk to the moderators.



It doesnt make a difference whether its mainstream or not. DJs have been "remixing" all the time. Dont you think acapella versions influenced them and influences vice versa the labels?

Did you ever ask yourself why you often find acappellas on vinyls (which are DJ tools) and rarely on CDs? Your reasoning doesnt make any sense at all, sorry.



Ryte. Good point. *sigh*



Maybe b/c these other sources are illegal? I am looking for a legal way. WE ALL ARE LOOKING FOR A LEGAL WAY. Otherwise you could stick to your p2p crap.

Nope, you're the one who can't put 1 and 1 together...and that's just straight math...lol.


No AGAIN, you did not read correctly. I said where does Serato ADVERTISE FREE Updates....They do NOT advertise it. They may offer it, but it is not part of their Ad Campaign to get you to buy Serato, try again.

Sure it does, because now that a lot of people LIKE MASHES, that makes DJ'S want to have the tools to create them more. And since the files are locked, you can't create them in their native form. That's the argument.

What are you talking about? On almost EVERY CD SINGLE I see, there are accapella versions and instrumentals. You are talking about ALBUM VERSIONS.

Vinyl Singles = CD Singles - Both mostly have acapellas and instrumentals.



***chalks up 2 more points for me*** lol.




So why did you even mention it? So basically you're saying you CAN'T get these same files LEGALLY from somewhere else, so now the .wl pool looks inviting, but you don't want to do the extra work to "make it work" for you...

But yet, you have a backup plan of going to P2P environments.

Nik, you just proved my point...This is exactly why those files are locked, because lord knows, you could accidently leave one of those files in a shared directory on your pc, and the next thing you know, it ends up on Limewire...

Shame on you.

I've gotta go with nik39 on the instrumental/acappella thing.

If you look at the history of remixing (check out "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life"), instrumental versions of songs started with dub music in the '60s. Disco producers did the same thing, and made the important step of releasing them on 12" vinyl instead of 45s. The fact that you can almost only find instrumentals and acappellas on 12" singles (and not on albums) tells you that they're intended for DJ remixing use, just as they were in the disco era, except that back then the primary intended remix use was live remixing.

Of course the Accapellas were ULTIMATELY used by DJ's to "REMIX" OR EXTEND the song a certain way, but that was just it....It was to be used solely by the DJ..He didn't give that record away, he played it and remixed it live...

What's the difference here? You get the wl. file, you PLAY IT or REMIX it LIVE and everybody should be happy. And to prevent you from GIVING IT AWAY, it's locked.

You didn't have the ability before to extend the intro of a song unless you had 2 of the same song, and actively extended it....

aka DJ'ing.

Ryte. Have you ever been to a CD store? I mean, no offense, but didnt you say (I am not 100% sure...) you download from illegal sources anyway?
Maybe its different in the states, but in Germany CD singles in the store have rarely acapella version, its just the promo cds which may have ac. versions.
Feel free to proove that I am wrong. Check the current billboard top 40, check the commercially available CD singles and check how many of those tracks have ac. version if you go to walmart.



Are you kidding me? If YOU are using limewire, I could just give a fuck. If they bust your ass, good, one idiot less sharing the music. Esp. if you "accidently" share it, in other words you are too dumb to keep your stuff straight and sorted.

For myself, as said before, add watermarks. I have nothing to hide, I dont freaking put songs into P2P networks. Period.

Hell, I stay on LimeWire ALL DAY..lol...No shame here...BUT that's just it...They don't want to take the chance of someone like ME, who doesn't have Serato YET, going to that FREE POOL and downloading some shit, and then sharing it. The plan works great.

As for CD singles here, I see Acapella versions all day, everyday on CD singles in RECORD STORES...Again, we're not talking album versions, but CD singles. I don't buy music at Walmart.



Ummm...are you ***NOT*** being nice to me? Are you referring to me as an 'idiot', or dumb?

I think you owe me an apology before I start hitting "Report" buttons....this conversation was very CIVIL until I hit a nerve...

No, it was 'you' as 'you in general'. You = anyone who does that. So I dont owe you anything ;)

Aight.. I'll have to go out anyway now, on the way... I'll check the local recordstore and tell you how many cd singles from the top40 have acc. versions over here. It would surprise me if the results would be very differen to the results you guys in the states have. Later.

You still owe me an apology!

fore the sake of argument only because I dont really expect reasonable responses anymore



Yes I believe that Serato thought out the situation, but I do not believe that they are infallible GODs ether, otherwise it would be perfect from inception, but its not. And thats why they need feedback from users.

I, as the user I am giving suggestion and feedback about what would make the product better. I am not demanding, that it be done my way, Im not even demanding that I be listened to, I humbly set these words out for the Serato proto-gods to read at their own leisure or not at all. I would hope that they take my words into account but expect it not. It would be really cool if they would implement any of my suggestions (as they may have in the past) but I demand it not.

I do not expect, demand, or feel entitled to have any of the great suggestions that I have made so far ever be implemented. period end of story.

also, this is not in any way shape or for connected to the "price". In other words, I would be making the exact same suggestion having paid $1000 for it or if they gave it to me and paid me to use it as endorsement.

so the mater of any part of it, or entirely "free" has absolutely no baring here, none.

the "price tag" is not part of my reason for wanting it to work a certain way. I just happen to believe that WLs are not entirely "free" and for the sake of argument

Free

5. exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, action, etc.; independent; unrestricted.

that does not describe WLs

6. able to do something at will; at liberty: free to choose.

that does not describe WLs

9. exempt or released from something specified that controls, restrains, burdens, etc. (usually fol. by from or of): free from worry; free of taxes.

that does not describe WLs

11. provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment: free parking; a free sample.

that does not describe WLs because if you do not own SSL then you can not use WLs, but if you purchase SSL then you can use SSL. you must purchase in order to use.

12. given without consideration of a return or reward: a free offer of legal advice.

that does not describe WLs because the labels expect that the DJ will promote the song, not simply enjoy it for personal use. And Searato expects that WLs will raise the value of the SSL system. Both, I would consider return, or reward. Labels are not just being "nice"

13. unimpeded, as motion or movement; easy, firm, or swift.

that does not describe WLs

14. not held fast; loose; unattached: to get one's arm free.

that does not describe WLs

21. not subject to special regulations, restrictions, duties, etc.: The ship was given free passage.

that does not describe WLs

23. that may be used by or is open to all: a free market.

that does not describe WLs

29. at liberty to enter and enjoy at will (usually fol. by of): to be free of a friend's house.

that does not describe WLs

31. easily worked, as stone, land, etc.

that does not describe WLs

36. without cost, payment, or charge.

that does not describe WLs because if you do not own SSL then you can not use WLs, but if you purchase SSL then you can use SSL. you must purchase in order to use.






dude thats a straw man. the only one who keeps bringing up the price is you. its moot.
yeah that would be a great deal, but no one in this thread, and seldom on this board are people having problems with the price.

the price of the SSL system, is reasonable, at a decent price point, and an excellent value. my second greatest purchases after my 1200s, so far.



um, I dont think anyone would "boycott" WL ether, nore has anyone suggested that anyone would, for any reason. so bringing that up, then knocking it down is pretty meaningless.



cmon guy, if you are going to argue against my position then you have to make a little effort to know what my position is!

I will find it only a little anoying when going over my set on my ipod. Altho this is not a major concern for me, I can understand how it would be for other people

My issues are not being able to edit the files, and not being able to back them up. It is emparitive without reservation that I be able to back up my system and my files by several means. And as an artist I need the freedom to edit my records.



Out of the seven to eight thousand records I have now, maybe twelve thousand that I have owned, Ive probably purchased less then ten promos. I purchased them because they are rare and oop. If you want to call that "getting over" be my guest, if you ask me who ever got it for free might have gotten over by selling it. But almost all the promos that Ive gotten have been given to me for "free".

Its funny how you think you know what happens when I walk into a record store LOL.

I quit excepting promos years ago before owning SSL even, because it was too much of a hassle for me. Most of them were worthless crap and I had way too many records already. I found it more efficient and effective to just purchase the records that I needed because trying to extract the one record out of thirty that I wanted just became too much trouble. Besides my sets have always been mostly "classic"

if you call that "getting over" fine, whatever.



right, no difference, I wasnt "getting over" then, and Im not getting over now. piriod, end of story




cmon g, you keep arguing against things that I havnt, nore has anyone else said.

like I said before: when I used vinyl I wished that I could have made my own edits and pressed my own shit, I considered cutting dublates but never got to it. when the vestax vinyl cutter came out I wanted to buy one bout didnt have the money and had no desire to go into that buisiness. when cdjs came out I got some for shows, but didnt like them for clubs and parties. I ended up using some real white label DJ joints from time to time. But now, I have SSL and very excited to be edeting cuts. This is just he beguining of the "edit era" trust me.

As far as remixes, I was doing those way back when I had to mix down to cassette, couldnt play those at the club.



okay then, what was the perpouse, enlighten me because I dont know why or when it becase common paractice.

But I do know that anyone with any common knowledge understands pretty clearly that putting out acapellas makes it possible for people to remix and mash it up. If they dont want to let it happen then they shouldnt put them out. period, end of story.


LOL for blind people to learn the words????????? cmon g, if your point dont make any freaking sense at all, just give it up. where are all the acapella CDs? why only 12s? dont tell me that possibly blind people prefer the format over CD just like DJs? LOL



well, we were talking about vinyl first. and second, it would still aply if you want to squeze every single peny out of every single unit then dont give any away for "free".
LOL I never said it was a good strategy! In fact I will guarentee you that you will not do as well. UNLESS all you are worried about is net per unit, ha.

AND, not only could every "free" promo turn into a million free copies, but so could every single legitimatly purchased, not only that but they will probably be better quality TOO!



word, so we agree then, they are for blending and mashing, what other perpouse would there be for them?

but selling them? I didnt say anything about selling them, Im trying to get to the bottom of what they are for. [reading the rest of this thread, obviously we wont get there]

like I said, no one plays an acapella straight up without mashing it, only when you are flipping the other record do you hear it, acapella

Blind DJs learning the words perhaps?

dude



cmon g, you arnt going to answer my questions.......




for petes sake, how many times do I have to type out "I am not making a complaint, I am making a FEATURE SUGGESTION you see that whole section of this site over there entitled FEATURE SUGGESTION???? what I am talking about is equal to most of the items over there. otherwise it would be called the "complaints"

....but go ahead and ask your own set???? lame stud, lame




1.) I would pay $1.00 each as a base price + $0.20 for 320 (or +$0.50 for wav/aif) unlocked meaning only the (c)(p) restrictions, and not any of the other "promo restrictions". Thats if I want them for my own personal entertainement as well. so about $1.50 But, if you want me to aid in your marketing then knock that dollar off and I will go along with more restrictions. And I will go half on the money you save by only making digital copies, and not pressing vinyl for me. That knocks it back down to 0 or less.

so between $1.50 and less than $0.

in all reality you would have to pay me to even bother DLing most of those tracks, and a hell of allot more money to play them

2.) No, I dont trust any of them to not share. BUT I dont expect the protection to stop any of them ether, not one (save the most backward case) will be stopped from striping the protection with relative ease.







yes absolutly! I might like to be given a warning first for dealing with cases where my files could be stolen or misused by someone other then myself. but yes, that is an exellent SUGGESTION DJJOHNNYM, great!!!

oh look that was point d., the questions you skipped. LOL


DJJOHNNYM, let me ask you again, do you have a problem with any of these?

a. WhiteLabels become unlocked several months after the release date.
b. unlocked WhiteLabels are placed on a mirror site several months after the release date.
c. WhiteLabels are able to be edited with a WL editing application that also rips to the WL format.
d. WL are "unlocked", but watermarked with a user code that would end your privilege to use the service if leaked.

Any of these would be good for me, I especially think d. is a good answer. And I would pay a nice initiation fee to regester and facilitate. I would even be willing to pay a larger deposit, say $100 to be forfite in the case of breaking the rules. + it could be combined with the others (maybe its already in effect, hmmm)

But my favorite is c. I think it would not only satisfy the most people but also be a net gain for riaa. And a would pay at least $100 for it.

I would be good with a. but I think nearly the same thing is acheaved with b., less r&d.

what do you think DJJOHNNYM?????????????

Yawn........ lost me mid way through the deff's of Free

thanks for the feedback!

Now kids, settle down....

People have been asking for a record pool and they have done what they can based on agreements with record companies to "protect" their files from free floating out there in the world. These are promo copies to be played by DJ's to increase exposure of songs and artists with the hope of generating sales.
For the DJ it could be considered a "ty before you buy" type of thing. If you like a joint enough to give it good rotation and want to remix etc. then it's worth buying the version(s) that work for you as they are available.
(remember that for most of us creating a remix version without permission is illegal anyway.) Though I understand wanting to edit to make some songs more user friendly for mixing.
I also understand them making it so that the high quality version only plays through ssl... it's their product and that's one way to help insure it is being played as intended - by working DJ's, specifically working DJ's using ssl.

This thread should be about people's opinions, questions and requests about the added value this free service give to ssl.
It has turned into a sniping back and forth. Some of you kids should be put into timeout until you can play nice...

Can't you just say I like this or I'd like it if you could do this, or put it as a question to the Rane/Serato team asking about your interest in editing etc?
Instead you're calling each other names for a different opinion or having a different understanding of what the WL offering is about.
Let's take a deep breath and act like professionals.

someone disable the quoting feature please :p

how about being able to preview tracks but only dl if you are a registered user?

but here is a hint: Quit Fucking Stealing Shit.
The problem is that YOU are stealing shit, not that it is easily stolen!




and those are for the blind people who want to learn the words? LOL
I guess blind people have a preference for rap and dance music?

If people don't like the Whitelabel stuff, I would like to say...

YOU'VE LIVED WITHOUT IT THIS LONG!!!!! If you don't like it, don't use it. I think too many people are being ungrateful; I wouldn't play most of these tracks outside of Serato anyway.

Those who bitch can go elsewhere and get the tracks. Deal with it. Serato has tried to do something nice for us and I can't believe we're using THEIR resources to complain about it.

This 80's Pop band that sung Wake Me Up Before You Go Go..

^^grammar police are gonna get me for that one.. but I anxiously await the correct answer

wow.

summary for late-joiners.

johnnym 'personally im just glad to have it free'

nik39 'its great that its free, but itd be nice if i could get actual mp3s for them. i dont want to do illegal sharing, but i might want to burn a cd with them, or decide to play with pcdj (he didnt say this) that night, and pcdj wont know what to do with a .wl file'

johnnym 'i think youre being ungrateful'

nik39 'im not being ungrateful, itd just make things like remixes and mashups easier'

akiem 'how about if after the release of a track, a .wl promo is available as an mp3 download'

nik39 'sounds good. id pay to be able to get a quality set of mp3s early as the .wl's come out tho'

.....

everythin else is just waffle because people arent listening.

============================

personally, dead grateful for .wl, but would definately pay for a quality mp3 service where i can get acapellas, remixes, radio edits etc - and be able to do what i like with the mp3s. if they were watermarked, thats fine - im not going to p2p with them.

tastes great.............less filling.

settL, lol. You lef a couple of important points, but hey... with threads like this one scratchlive.net <- click, what can we say, right?

left out, I meant.

This thread has got too big for me to keep up with, but I did notice this one thing:



Technically you don't need to personally own SSL. You could have a laptop with SSL installed and play out at clubs that have SL1s or 57s and you could play Whitelabel.net tracks at those clubs just fine without ever having purchased SSL for yourself.

PS could we try and keep this friendly. Nik39, calling anyone an idiot doesn't help keep the tone of the discussion positive.

PPS I wrote some thoughts on the DRM issue over here: [www.scratchlive.net] There will be more to be said on the subject in the future, and hopefully some of it will make people here happier.

cmon Pete you could paste this on EVERY SINGLE thread in the FEATURE SUGGESTION area.



I dont think it is ungreatful to suggest an improvement.

Me, Im very greatful for the entire SSL+WL system. And I do think that it can be improved.

also: I dont think they are doing it to be "nice", I think that it is a "nice" addition to the system. I think they are doing it to improve their product.

also, I like WL, I just think I would like it more if.......

AND I thank them all the freaking time!!

Matt, I have already clarified that I didnt mean to call JohnnyM an idiot.

well since Ive already got my shirt off all crazy, I dont care who steps in now. Ive got to set it off with Matt too!! rrrrrgggaaaahh!



ah, maybe not you yourself, but someone has to buy it. So there is a cost, or payment made, just not by you.

Its like when you barrow your home boys car to take some chick to the movies and try to get some cut in the back seat at about 2am or something like that. Uh, your homie still paid for the car, and you dont get to keep it forever. And that would be even if you are the one that brought the weed, beers, and jimhats that your cousin did in fact give you for free earlier that day. And dont try to keep the car two long because your home boy is going to call your house and talk to you wife. Then she will go pick him up and they will drive around together looking for your ass.



cool thanks for pointing that out because now Im going over there to mangle that thread too, rrrrggggggaaaahhhhrr!!

hey Matt, thanks for expanding the SSL system to include WL, I appreciate it greatly. No lie, when I get to NZ, I dont care if you are all ugly and male, Im going to hug and kiss each and everyone of the staff. Probably bake a big cake, and buy everyone a round of top shelf shit at the bar.

check
www.scratchlive.net

Personally I view Whitelabel.net as free for customers who bought Scratch LIVE before it was announced. Surely getting something extra that you didn't pay for initially counts as free?

And yes, like Scratch LIVE, there is room for improvement, so please, keep the feedback coming.

AKIEM - can you bring MF DOOM with you?

Man, y'all lucky I'm at work and can't respond yet...

Wait till I get home!

Did Nik apologize yet?

This thread is now quote restricted.

riiiiiiiiiiiiiight

lol

I can tell you that it would be far from free, very far.
pm me for the real talk g

okay, I will keep complai... er, um, keep suggesting crap.

well, is the value determined by the state of the system as it changes, or only at the point of purchase?

not that it maters because it was only a straw man argument to begin with

yeah, i wasnt trying to be rude... apologies if it came off that way

Wow.... it's been a while since I've heard that reference...

...


:)


Yeah, cool, PMed. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one but I'm looking forward to hearing more of your viewpoint.

I'd love to chat in person, sort out that trip to NZ would ya!

howbout this: for the sake of this argument, this thread only, the value of the system increases? and for everything else it is free?

honestly Im not explaining to people about the value increasing over time and so on "...and you get the updates and promos for free" is what I tell people, when I get them to switch and go pay cash money the very next day :)

hope this crazy thread brought out some ideas

unlock after time, or rip to WL format and edit

thank you, yes

Man Listen, I haven't finished commenting yet, I'll be back sometime in 24 hours....

Stay tuned.

That poor guy ;)

For reals! I got used...hahahaha!

I went to a big CD store today, the results Jonny:

Top 25: No, none, nada, nothing, keins, niente... acapella version on any CD. The closest version was an acoustic version.

I digged harder and about 50cds later I found one another 5 later I found another, that was from Fergie and from Chingy. Other than that... no acapella.

That says it all I'd say (assuming you guys in the states dont have totally different results). The average listener (aka not DJ) is not supposed to get acapella versions.

For all of you who THINK I've given up on this thread....

THINK AGAIN!

My JOB has just decided to make me work for a living for the time being, and I haven't had the time necessary to pick each and every quote in this thread apart yet....

but STAY TUNED....

I'll be back....

lmao! @ y'all thinking I GAVE UP....

Stop playin...

Imagine that...I thought I got PAID to post....geesh.

Johnny the point you're missing and the one akiem and everyone else has been trying to make isthat by limiting the files to wl they are actually restricting their use to the DJ's who only play a record and then play the enxt . Those that play their own mixes, edits, use Serato in conjucntion with other Programs like Abelton are limited to not using the WL files.

Not everyone is a play one record then the next DJ.

This thread has turned into the most turgid stupid thing i've read in years... Nik just walk away and leave this thread to die.

I'm already gone ;)

Monk-A, I'm not missing any points, and will point that out later, (I don't even have time to read errything you just said) I'm just saying, I haven't had time to get back at you guys in this thread...

And NIK, you're not dead until I kill you...lol.

Stay tuned.

lol :) I meant I've walked away already... not that I passed away ;)

I got some time, Im waiting... hmmmm hm hmmmm, laaa la laaaa...

Johnny you ARE missing the point, you seem to think that free equates no reason to complain, or even offer constructive cirticism which just isn't true. Demanding something isn't on but suggestions to improve something is, and is openly encouraged on this site - Beta testing anyone? Features Forum?

Hence it's all the more reason to offer up thougths and comment son ways to improve the product and or make changes.

The fact not everyone DJ's int he same way means it's even more important that Serato get the feedback form all quarters, and saying that a file they provide us with is mainly unusable for me is reasonable feedback imo, even more so when people are offering a suggestions in how to make it a more comlpete and arounded product butmeeeeeh! whatever.

Or... how about... pay me & send me the wavefiles with artwork & info & the video on DATA-DVD.

WTF @ Monk, I'm not missing the point! I haven't had time to RESPOND! And I'm only writing this because someone came into my PM and had the nerve to tell me I GAVE UP! (On this thread) LMAO.

Stop playin...and no it wasn't Thundercat.

Why y'all starring at me?! It wasnt me neither!

cmon DJJOHNNYM, all these nonresponses you could have answered with something.

try answering the questions you skipped first

Man Listen,

I am hitting my PC real RANDOMLY, but rest assured, that I will tackle each and every comment posed to me....I didn't forget.

TRUST me on that...

Somebody ratted me out that I spend all day postin' with y'all...

how bout just answer this since you skipped it

Look AKIEM, I didn't SKIP anything...I've got 5 Windows open on my PC at work and am on hold with somebody's lazy azz helpdesk...

I got you and EVERYONE ELSE here covered....

I like how you guys look forward to my opinion though!

nah g its a chess game,

but you did skip those questions, flat out ignored them and went on to ask your own instead of answere em.

Fella, you missing the point has ntohign to do with how long it takes you to respond it, it does however have everything to do with HOW you respond though. ;)

I would tend to agree with AKIEM on this one. Someone pays for Scratch LIVE and effectively built into the purchase price are various portions that pay for warranty repairs, phone support etc. Of course you get what you pay for, so if you see cheap products with flashy advertisements you know they're skimping somewhere that might not bite you until you get ground loop hum at your gig.

When it comes to whitelabel tracks there is also a transaction at work, even if it does not involve money. The DJ gets pre-release tracks, and in return the label gets their tracks promoted. On its own, that might not be enough for a label. However it is worth noting that the promotional department of any label has a finite budget to work with, so it is crucial that they "cut their losses" as soon as possible in the lifetime of a release. If using whitelabel helps a label to do that, then it becomes a worthwhile transaction. So to cut a long story short, whitelabel may need to place more emphasis on gathering feedback from DJs (as painlessly as possible) before certain labels will feel comfortable uploading large volumes of music.

I´m getting promos from different labels. They all want a feedback. Thats for sure the keynote of a record pool.

I´ve seen different systems. But in my eyes the best system, that makes few work: You click the track for prelistening. After that you make some short assessment of 4 or 5 criteria and perhaps a short somment.
After that you´re able to download.

If that does not work you could make a bonus-system. Restrict the maximum downloadable tracks per month. Everyone who´s bothering in giving feedback gets points to his account and is able to download more tracks than the others who are giving no feedback.

Thats a relativly painless program. I don't really download anythign unless i know thetrack, if ic an' hear it first i generally pass it buy until i catch it somewhere else anyway.

I don't care about this thread anymore... but this is what I would like very much.

Steve, can I borrow your animated avatar for a day? It's awesome!


... and when I hear of whitelabel.. I can't help but think of "White Devil" in reference to Ace Ventura's When Nature Calls.

lol

Man Listen....

SHIT! I gotta go again!

Msut admit - I've only read about 15% of this thread - props to AKIEM tho for what must surely be the longest single post on the forum ever (although I'm sure nik39 will post a link to prove me wrong! ;) )

Just thought I'd chip in and express my surprise at all this bitchin' that's going on here. Personally I think this whitelabel.net is a f*kin brilliant idea.

The SL1 / 57 has served as the ultimate dongle for the software for years now, and it's being promoted to record companies as a good way to ensure your promos are going into the hands of real DJ's who might actually play the tracks and give them some promotion.

and for those moaning about editing the track - there's nothing I can't do with a whitelabel.net file that I can't do with a standard old stylee white label vinyl record (other than use it as a frisbee...)

If it wasn't that these files were locked down to a piece of hardware that pretty much identifies it's owner as a DJ the labels wouldn't even give this idea a second glance. They're here to make money at the end of the day - not to work hard producing tracks to then give them to any kid with an MP3 player.

This is NOT a free music for all screatch live users service, it's a PROMOTIONAL TOOL for RECORD LABELS. The upside for you as DJ's and SSL users is that you get access to these tracks without having to pay any fees.

The ability to fuck about with or unlock these tracks is not really in the intrests of the record labels. If you start doing that, they may as well just stick em on LimeWire themselves...

So - all I'm saying is just UNDERSTAND it for what it is - then take it or leave it. If you're happy to listen to the tracks, give a bit of feedback then play them out and promote them if you like them then all is good. That's what it's here for, that's what it does.

If you're looking for a service that gives you free music that you can stick on your IPOD, use as a sample source, mashup and reedit, toast bread, keep hot things hot and cold things cold, well, it doesn't do that. It's not a thermos. It's not a toaster. It's not a label-sponsored peer to peer music sharing network. It's a white label. a promo.

ok. rant over... NEXT....

Why do labels issue promo digital files via other sites? Because it reaches Club DJ's, Mashers; Mixtape DJ's and so on...and via that it gets to people. How many tracks have only broken AFTER they've been remixed or Mashed on the sly?


that means their product gets out to the public in many different forms: CLub, radio, mixtapes and so on. As a personal example I have three mix tapes on line, each mix was downloaded over 6,000 times and further to that played on radio stations around the world; and I'm not even that well known in the big scheme of things; - thats advertising you cannot buy at any cost record companies recognise that. So imagine what it can do in the hands of mainstream DJ's who use programs like Abelton and do tehir own re-edits. It's COMPLETELY in the Interst of the record labels to get it to mixtape tape DJ's and the such whetherthey USE Serato or not..



Again thats not true, you can't effect the files/vocals etc.. in the way you can using an advanced DAW/Wav Editor th way you can if you record in a record and edit it to how you need.

I agree that whitelabel is a great idea; but this company's (serato) reputation is built on an excellent product whith a development team that LISTENS to it's users. If you don't wnat those features in Whitelabel.net files fine, but other peopel do, if they want to give feed back and request somethign then whats the harm in that nd why do peopel have to get on their case about it?

I don't see anyone form Team Serato bitching? I see them listening and discussing it sensibly instea dof saying "Take it or Leave it"

ARRRRRHHHH! I can't stand skimmin! Somebody lock this thread until tomorrow!

Back to topic, when can we expect to see new material and any changes on whitelabel.net

Ive written more for more important issues.


could you, or anyone quote this so called bitching, moaning, complaining???



right. that was a limitation of medium. a limitation that CD for example does not have, so its not about the format.



thats not really the issue at hand ether, the only so called complaints about where it can be played is not about using them for entertainment, rather methods of organization and preparation



and what if the limitations make them useless in the first place? what would the point be?




or how about enhancing the system in a way that would satisfy the most people, the users, the labels, riaa, and Serato?


AND, the lock is so "unlockable" the ONLY people it will ever bother is the people who want to play by the rules in the first place.

LOL! Looks like somebody took the torch and is running with it! **can't wait until I get some time to chime in***

hey DJJOHNNYM, why dont you just anwere the quick questions I asked you?

NdB:

Two words... promo-cd's.


Why do you want to lock it down to a certain hardware? Lock it down to my person - watermark.
The way it is done right now, it doesnt take much effort to still rip the songs ... and put them to P2P. The criminals will find a way - for the honest ones this makes working with it hard.


I wouldnt mind paying.


Monk-A:

You forgot one important thing - did you really "promote" the song? This means... did anyone buy one of those songs (or transfer money to the record company/artist in any way (visiting live gig etc)) after listening to your mix? Are you sure that there are some people who wanted to buy the music but then decided not to because instead they downloaded your mix?

I mean in the end this has to be a win-win situation. If not then wl.net wont be a success. Make DJs unhappy - they wont use the service. Make the recordlabels unhappy - they wont promote their tracks through this service.

Because the promo departments feel like they have no alternative. And you can bet the release of those files has not been signed off at corporate level. So the promo guys are stuck in a legal limbo doing something that is a breach of their own corporate policies. BTW, I'm only talking about the majors here. The indies are far more at ease with electronic distribution.

Because I don't want to answer anything out of context.

new context:

DJJOHNNYM (or any one else), let me ask you, do you have a problem with any of these soluions to the problems that I have with WL?

a. WhiteLabels become unlocked several months after the release date.

b. unlocked WhiteLabels are placed on a mirror site several months after the release date.

c. WhiteLabels are able to be edited with a WL editing application that also rips to the WL format.
d. WL are "unlocked", but watermarked with a user code that would end your privilege to use the service if leaked.


DJJOHNNYM, if WL were 32k mono when played in SSL would you suggest something better?

I would not have a problem with a, b, c or d. I would not have a problem if a, b, c or d never happend. If WL files were 32k mono in SSL I would not use WL files. I use them now. The quality is much better than that of other digital pools (when played through SSL). However, I do keep a copy of the files from the other pools as well. Space isn't an issue and my library is organized enough that it isn't a hastle dealing with multiple copies of the same track.

Not really, they have realised that the cost of distributing a Digital file to dj's is a LOT lower then Pressing WAX/CD'S and doing the mail outs and can reach more target DJ's. Sites like Digital Wax and White noise are NO different to companies likes zzzonked who used to handle Promo's and premarketing for a lot of the majors and indiependants in the UK.

As for it being signed off at corporate level? well i know it is at sony.

Thats also why Small indies are much more at ease iwth it because it puts us on a level playing field with the majors we cna hit the same people for the same effort and cost.

Well my own example is not about promoting the song it is about how easy it is for a company to get a taster of their product to a large group of peoplevia DJs.

I dont know how many people went on to buy stuff i used in my mixes, i've only got the stats from my own webspace, but my point is if you restricted me to only using my files in serato those mixes wouldn't ever have been made and 6000 people may not have heard certain things that are in my mixes.

Gotcha.

Thundercat, might you let it be known that you are not using WL because of the low quality? Might you suggest that the quality be boosted to a level where you could use WL?

I thought about including a statement to that effect in my previous response, but I could not definitively decide how I would react. I would probably just keep moving along and look for another source for my tunes. I would likely say "that stinks" or "you get what you pay for" out loud to my monitor but not bother posting.

even if you knew that your input could effect a decision to release better quality files?





ot statement:
I never vote, never in my life.
but I still say my piece.