Virtual DJ Studio

I don't know if anyone reads this anymore, but I'm throwing it out here anyway.

I've put together a website with resources for those Unemployed or out of DJ work (or any "gig work") due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

https://GetMyUnemployment.com/

This is a legitimate site I created, gathering the appropriate links for all 50 US states and DC, in an attempt to make it easier to find the relevant information.

Just because you may not report or file your income, does not mean you cannot get assistance! "Gig Workers" are entitled to money from the state and federal government.

It's still not too late as of the date of this post, and most people should receive back pay all the way back to March. So don't wait, it cannot hurt to apply in your state of residence!

Visit the site and check it out: https://GetMyUnemployment.com/

As it comes close to 20 years of Virtual DJ Studio, I figured it was time to share a brief history of how it all came to be. Thus my article:

Virtual DJ Studio: A Brief History

Check it out if you're curious how it all came to be.

I'm taking a short break while I work on some other, non-VDJ projects, but work will commence soon and I'll post any updates as they come along. For the moment, 7.8.0 has been rock-solid and is proving to be a good, long-lasting version. If you haven't upgraded already, be sure to do so now!

This new version takes Music indexing to a whole new level! Much faster initial index, while gathering more information about your files in the background. This means you can start using your new index within a minute or two -- far faster than any previous version!

It's still a free upgrade for all licensed 7.x users - so hit the Download Page Today!

*NOTE* You will have to reindex your files -- however it will take FAR less time than ever before.

New Feature: Karaoke Follow-Along
With the MyDjSongBook.com app, you can now allow your customers to follow along with the song lyrics on their phone or other device! This ground-breaking feature is EXCLUSIVE to Virtual DJ Studio, and you won't find anything like it anywhere else.

This one fixes a long-standing problem that I wasn't aware of. Some customers were complaining that the indexing wasn't working, or the program crashed before finishing, and I have pinpointed the problem.

VDJ creates temporary files when it encounters certain ZIP files - but it wasn't properly DELETING the temp files after it was done. This has now been fixed, and VDJ cleans up after itself.

This version also has some improvements regarding the MyDjSongBook.com request app.

This is a STRONGLY recommended update, especially if you've had issues with indexing in the past or if you use the MyDjSongBook app.

We've all been waiting for this day for quite some time. Version 7.7 is released, with a few new features and fixes, but most importantly it connects with your MyDjSongBook.com subscription!

    New VDJ: https://www.vdj.net/VDJSetup.exe

    Web App: https://www.MyDjSongBook.com/

The all new server-hosted app allows your customers to search songs, make requests, and even upload their own "selfie" profile picture for use on the VDJ Karaoke Screen!  It's simple to use, and makes life a lot easier for the DJ.

No more configuring the router, showing customers how to enter an IP address, or any of that -- just direct them to:

    your-name.mydjsongbook.com

    - or -

    your-name.mydjsb.com  <-- Short form redirect URL - easier to type, smaller to fit on Karaoke screen

The domain and username are not case sensitive so you can pretty it up:

https://JMan.MyDjSongBook.com/  <-- Click for a real live demo of what your customers will see

The app layout is completely customizable, features can be turned off or on, and so much more. Upload your own music database from within VDJ with a single click.

Note: You MUST have VDJ 7.7 or higher (still a free upgrade for any 7.x user) installed. From there, click "Requests", then "Server", and you'll see the all new feature with shortcut buttons to sign up, configure your app, or upload your music.

Introductory prices are:

$4.99/month - full app use with small ad appearing on user pages
$9.99/month - same but WITHOUT the ad
$99.88/year - no ads, and save $20 off the Monthly price!

You can change or cancel your subscription any time. PayPal is the only method supported at this time.

I know you guys have been asking about this for a while now, and with LOTS of beta-testing help from Fabio (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) we've put together a pretty nice system. It has been tested "in the real world" for over a month now, and we've worked out all the bugs and kinks we could find so far.

There is an entire discussion group here for talk about the app, so be sure to visit there if you have any questions, comments, bug reports, or anything else to say about this exciting new feature!

I have VDJ uploading the music database now. You click "Upload" and it first checks the last time you uploaded, and will inform you if you have already uploaded within XX hours. I have not yet decided on what XX will ultimately be, but for the time being I'm going to turn off the upload limit. I'll enable it once enough people are using it.

You will have to reindex. Even though the 8.x has a completely rewritten database, it isn't compatible with the 7.x code, but I had to add a "duration" field (currently 7.x doesn't calculate and store that number, it does it "on the fly" eg as you load the file into a list). I like having that number in the server-side database, so I added that field to VDJ7 code.

Note that just because the two series (7.x/8.x) are very different, they communicate with the server in exactly the same way. Therefore, when I release 8.0 down the road, you will never be "forced" to upgrade from 7.x if you do not want to. The file it creates to upload to the server is a simple flat-file, with specific information, and then zipped up before uploading (to save on bandwidth/time).

So now you can index your music, log into the server, upload your database, and receive requests. Once you have an account that is.

I've still got to finish that part up - when one "subscribes" preferably they'll do so using the button in VDJ, or link in their (new) license email, so that their "full name" and "license key" fields are pre-populated, saving the hassle of typos. Once set up with PayPal, it will automatically start working with no intervention by myself necessarily -- ideally that is.

Grabbing the profile pic isn't there yet but it's next on the list. The server-side of that is fully complete, just not the VDJ side.

I've also got a list of bug fixes I plan to include in the 7.7 update, but for the most part it should be about the same, with the added ability to use the server-hosted app. For now I will not disable the built-in, and I may still allow requests from either one while people transition to the new setup, and for those who simply don't want to pay for the service. In 8.0 I may remove the built-in part entirely, but I haven't decided yet...

So, just a few things left... I was really shooting to have it ready for St. Patrick's day but I'd rather release this on like a Monday (a week from tomorrow is what I'm shooting for) so there's time to play with it and work out any kinks before the weekend...

I also plan to put together a series of videos. Rather than just one "howto" video, I think they should be split into specific areas of the usage of VDJ. One could watch them all in order, or simply watch the newest ones relating to new features, like the hosted app.

Anyway, I'm done for the day... I had forgotten how slow Indexing was on the 7.x series - but trying to back-port the new system to the old code would be too much work, so the faster indexing will just have to wait for 8.0

I'll try to have something this week to play with "live", again without the upload restriction so you can just re-upload whenever you like until everything is rock-solid.

I'm going to unleash the MyDjSongBook app very soon. At this moment, requests go into VDJ's queue same as any other request. You (the DJ) choose whether to use the hosted app, or the direct IP version currently out there. In either case DJ control features will still be available *using the direct IP*.

At some point in the future I may eliminate the direct version all together (except for DJ control) but that will be a while. At that time I'll improve on the DJ control quite a bit (this will be for the 8.0 release).

SO: Requests go into VDJ automatically. Any request over 24 hours that VDJ hasn't scooped up yet, is deleted.

If a person requests a song that is either:

- Already in the Request Queue
- Already in the Playlist, or
- Already in the Karaoke Queue

they receive a message automatically to that effect, without bothering the DJ at all.

For your side of the app: If the "auto-enable/disable" option is selected, the app becomes "enabled" as soon as VDJ contacts the server. After an hour of inactivity from VDJ, it goes to Disabled (showing your "away" message). If you do NOT use the automatic option, you would manually turn the app on and off.

However, in either case, if VDJ hasn't contacted the server in an hour, your location will stop showing up in a general "find a DJ" search, though the app will still function until turned off.

So - I need volunteers. Hit me at Justin@VDJ.Net with:

- Your licensed name
- Preferred email address (should be same as your licensed email, for verification anyway)
- Your chosen username (letters & numbers, 4 to 20 characters, hyphens allowed but not as first/last character)
- Your chosen password (no real specific rules on that yet, I'll get to that later, just use common sense)

NOTE: Your "username" is your URL; your "display name" will be something you can type Case Correct and change any time.

Once I get a few things tidied up -- before the weekend -- I'll send each of you a login and a link to the updated VDJ (7.7) which will be a "quick install" if you're on at least 7.4 already (you will not lose any data or settings). From there you can customize your account, upload your index, and start accepting requests from a live, truly hosted, fully secured web app

Things I need to finish before this weekend:

- Setting *your* location. Will be automated but you will be able to use an interactive Google map to pinpoint your exact location (or where you WILL be)
- Uploading custom backgrounds. I have two up now, I'll throw some more in later to choose from.
- VDJ retrieving uploaded user photos. The app-side of that works beautifully, VDJ just has to download the photo associated with a user ID and allow you (the DJ) to choose to use their latest pic or not

Other than that, it's so close to being ready...... I'm going to leave my PC on with VDJ running so if you want to play around the customer side:

https://jman.mydjsongbook.com/

This is what people will see when their location or ZIP code is used (I used my zip so it shows the one DJ actually online):

https://www.mydjsongbook.com/finddj?lat=&lon=&dis=25&zip=46303

Tapping the little point and/or letter "A" next to my name shows a small popup description, and of course there's the map and the link directly to the app itself.

Note that the domain portion of a URL is Not CaSe SeNsItIvE so when you have your custom URL, you can print it however you like. And since the server auto-redirects to the HTTPS version, you can simply put a nice friendly:

JMan.MyDjSongBook.com

And if that's still too much for people to type, that's what QR codes are for

To avoid confusion and keep things grouped, I've created this board just for discussion regarding the HOSTED MyDjSongBook app. I will have some updates soon, but I'm taking today off from working on it.

Latest news so far (some of this is repeated in other areas):

- Using Geolocation you can show where you are at. Soon you'll be able to fine-tune this by literally dragging the "pin drop" thing on a Google Map to ensure your location is reflected accurately

- Also using Geolocation on the user (customer) side, customers will be able to find DJs/KJs in their area currently working

- There's a mobile-friendly page for DJs to enable/disable the app, and set certain features using a mobile device. Major modifications (layouts etc) will require a PC to get the full feature-set but the basic day-to-day functions can be done with your phone

- Soon, I will be enabling the app integration into VDJ 7.7 for a limited number of "test users". Once all the bugs and kinks are worked out, I'll unveil it for everyone with the subscription option

- Later, I will release a stand-alone "indexer" PC app, that will index your music as well as pop up requests which can be drag 'n' dropped into any DJ software; the goal is to allow use of the server app without necessarily being a Virtual DJ Studio user

On that last point, to avoid piracy issues, the stand-alone app interface for the PC will refuse to work with Virtual DJ Studio. This is because, if you were a licensed VDJ user, you would naturally use the built-in feature. The stand-alone app would be intended for those wanting the web-app features but prefer a different DJ program. I believe I'll keep the subscription price the same in either case, and the indexer/background "listener" app would be a free download as part of the subscription.

In this way, I can expand the user-base of the web app to everyone, and hopefully become the "go to" place to find a local DJ or KJ, regardless of whether they are a VDJ user or not. I can see on a Saturday night or a holiday, customers looking to MyDjSongBook.com to find out where Karaoke is happening in their area, all pin-pointed on an interactive Google map

For the time being, my release goal is going to be at least a few days before St. Patrick's day. This way I (and other selected testers) can field-test the app and hopefully get all the kinks worked out by Wedding/Graduation season

Any feedback is welcome. At this point many features are functional, including uploading a "selfie" from your phone or PC, and at least on most phones you can select an existing photo or take a picture (some browsers just open the camera without the "gallery" option... still working on that).

At a future time I may give customers the option of creating a customer account (for free) which will let them save multiple pictures, recent searches/requests, and even communicate with other registered users - a social platform in itself. However the "anonymous" option will always remain as well, with no need to "log in" or "register" to send a request (unless a DJ requires registration).

You can see the main idea at https://j-man.mydjsongbook.com/ with the "default" theme, and then a Spanish version (not ALL areas are translated *yet*) using a custom theme at https://el-barto.mydjsongbook.com/ (points to those who get the Simpsons reference )

Also note that I've been getting carried away with using Emoji as normal font characters. Ever since I did the Spanish thing, I realized I had to change my server to utilize UTF-8 encoding (multi-byte characters) and Emoji is actually part of the global standard... hence the little headphones in your title bar right now   Even license emails have a microphone and headphones in the subject line. I was going to post something in true UTF-8 Emoji but these forums don't seem to accept the characters... I didn't write these forums, so there's apparently nothing I can do about that... but even Notepad shows the characters correctly...