Stuck in Cross 2.6

[FigDJ]

The new features released in Cross 3.1 are outstanding specially for VDJs. However I am to some extend disappointed with Cross 3.1.

Please let me explain…

I started as a turntable long time ago. Finally, I got tired of carrying all the record crates and decided to go digital. The criteria that I used to select the software was beatgriding capabilities and waveform display so back then I chose Torq. Well Torq died and I started searching for the replacement DJ software. I investigated

Traktor -- Had great effects. No stacked waveforms, limited beatgriding, limited to specific controllers and no MIDI learn= out

Serato – Had good effects, beautiful waveforms, stacked waveforms. Limited beatgriding, limited to specific controllers, limited MIDI learn= out

Cross/Cross DJ – Mono color waveform (but very clear), no stacked waveforms (but outstanding beatmatcher), incredibly flexible MIDI learn, not limited to specific controller, best beatgriding out there = Cross was my choice.

So I feel a little like bait, hook and then switch.

I got baited by how accurate and clear the waveforms were in the deck and in the beat matcher.

Once I started using it I was hooked and migrated all my files to Cross.

Switch—While many requested colored waveforms I was perfectly fine with the two colors (yellow and red. Please don’t get me wrong the colored waveforms are a great improvement but along with them some things got switched and it appears that there is no turning back or there is interest in providing options.

My specific issues had been constantly voiced since version 2.7 which never made it out of beta stage.

The deck waveform got sized down vertically. In my opinion it is too crowded and small. So I ended up using 2.6 for all my beatgriding and then transferring the file to use colored waveforms in 3.0 and now 3.1. Some screen real state was gained by this but it was minimal. I measured real state by the number of lines that are still available to display in the playlist. The resize of the waveform only gained 1.5 lines while it totally crowded the waveform display in the deck.

Some had suggested the possibility of a special display mode just for beatgriding shores. That would be awesome

The beatmacher – It used to be a clear representation of the beats with very distinct cycle markers (every 16 beats) and bar markers.

Now the beatmacher is just a slightly zoomed rendering of the top halve of the deck’s waveform and the markers are hardly visible. In my opinion there is no point to the beatmacher if it is not representing the beats clearly. The markers need to be brighter and truly the multiple colors in the beatchmatcher are just noise. Some may argue to use legacy mode but those options do not come close to making the beatmatcher as clear as it is in 2.6.

Another solution would be to make the decks smaller by taking the waveform out of the decks and displaying them fully across the entire top of the screen instead of having the beatmacher.

I selected this software for features that now seem to be abandoned. I expressed my concerns in what I think is a constructive way and I have been courteously thanked for my input with little to no results.

Let me qualify my previous statement, there has been some progress.
Option to choose between braised or blocked loop display.
Fixing of the transparency in the loop display
Brighten the markers in the deck waveform.
Bring back colored locator markers.
Some bugs related to beta testing.

It seems to me that it is time to re-start my investigation for software. I am a bit disappointed because I have put in time and effort towards making Cross good for me and others. I know that the next step for (an unnamed DJ Software) is be key detection and better beatgriding so perhaps I’ll start there.

I do certainly hope some of this things get addressed as I know I am not the only one with these concerns and it is on my best interest to stick with Cross rather than start another migration.

[FigDJ]

Nobody commented so I guess nobody cares. Point taken.

[wazza]

Nobody commented so I guess nobody cares. Point taken.

DJ fig my friend...just because nobody commented don't mean nobody cares

I have been using mixvibes for a long, long time....way back in the mixvibes DVS 6 days....which to me is still the best DVS software out

It took me a long time to move over to Cross...

I,v seen Cross grow from the ashes off DVS 7 with feedback from you and others user to be very stable ....very forward thinking...but still be simple to use
I love how mixvibes do thing there way....Thay don't try to copy what the other DJ software are doing

I do think that some off your suggestion would be helpful
So all I can say is don't give up on mixvibes....and the DV team are always listening ,always trying to make Cross better

[discopex]

I agree that the beatmatcher is messier looking than before and not as useful. I never even noticed that the deck waveforms grew smaller vertically.

[FigDJ]

DJ fig my friend...just because nobody commented don't mean nobody cares

I have been using mixvibes for a long, long time....way back in the mixvibes DVS 6 days....which to me is still the best DVS software out

It took me a long time to move over to Cross...

I,v seen Cross grow from the ashes off DVS 7 with feedback from you and others user to be very stable ....very forward thinking...but still be simple to use
I love how mixvibes do thing there way....Thay don't try to copy what the other DJ software are doing

I do think that some off your suggestion would be helpful
So all I can say is don't give up on mixvibes....and the DV team are always listening ,always trying to make Cross better

Wazza I appreciate you commenting on this part of my problem is that I choose this software for the specific visual features that continued until 2.6 and now are loss without any hint of alternatives options.

I hate to put anything negative to the public, as a Moderator and Betatester I feel I have an obligation to bring my concerns in those sections of the forum 1st, I have brought my concerns in the betatesting and moderator sections. However, I get a feeling that while some have been at least aknowledged those concerns don't carry any weight as I got no real feedback except for a "note" or 'thank you" but we are moving forward.

I guess I shoul not complain as I payed for the software that I chose and all subsequent updates were/are free. So my choices boil down
1. Stick with Cross 2.6 and by doing so forego some of the additional awesome features that have been added..
2. Use 2.6 for beatgriding, moves the files and use 3.1 for live mixing (as I am doing now) and hope the Mixvibes Team bring back waht was lost in the beatmacher.
3. Continue operating as mentioned in 2 but also look for alternatives elsewhere and if I decide to switch then weight the posibility of wasting all my time and effort, preparing tracks and mapping controllers.

The Mixvibes Team is moving fast and furious with awesome features there is no denying that, however, in regards to the vertical size of the deck's waveform and the beatmacher I think they moved in the wrong direction at least for my needs.

Word of caution to those in the software development bussines. I quote but don't remember who said it
"When moving in the wrong direction, speed is a disadvantage"

Once again, I appreciate you commenting which shows that we are having a conversation. It may just my perception the Team may be listening but I can't truly verify that. I feel that I get a "noted" "yeah, whatever" type of feedback for my input. Pointing to the fact that only fellow DJs commented here.

[FigDJ]

I agree that the beatmatcher is messier looking than before and not as useful. I never even noticed that the deck waveforms grew smaller vertically.

Discopex

Thank you for commenting

I can live and adjust to the deck waveforms being smaller as I can work around that, however, the beatmacher is another story. The beatmacher was one of the main features that sold me to this software and now is not useful to me and I don't even know if there any plans to fix it.

In another thread I saw a moderator mentioned a to do list and how some things were done or removed and others added. I don't have visibilty to whatever that list is or any encouraging feedback about my concerns.

I do have insight in other companies software upcoming features but I am bound by Non-disclosure agreements.

[RoJeC]

I think your comments are right regarding the major change. Manual beatmatching is not really my cup of tea; I am just glad the triangle loop and color markers are back; next would be to have them stacked again...
Haven't understood yet by any comment what would be the (functional) advantage of the new(/temporary ) beatmatcher.

I guess your remarks are another mark to the 'same' issue mentioned a couple of times.

Maybe they can 'fix' it together with bringing back the great grey layout of version 1.7...

I don't know if you did, but if you go to the detailed change list on a new release, you'll notice many reported issues and suggestions mentioned in the forum taken into consideration and somehow worked into the release.

Working ahead of the troops in nomansland easily leads to a wrong direction. Once mentioned and noticed a U-turn is not necessarily the fastest way to the main road. Pretty sure 3.0 to 3.1 required other focus points for the devteam. Just maybe they have some time now...

[FigDJ]

I think your comments are right regarding the major change....

RoJec

Thank you for your kind comments, I certainly don't want to give the wrong vibe here. I appreciate your comment above and others comments in yours posting which i will get into. Good conversation.

I am just glad the triangle loop and color markers are back; next would be to have them stacked again...

As you I am very happy that the triangle loop came back. As far as the color markers, I like their visibility, however, as you mentioned they would be better stacked. During testing I place them very close together and noticed the detail for which one is which get lost specially on long duration track. As you I hope they come back stacked.

Haven't understood yet by any comment what would be the (functional) advantage of the new(/temporary ) beatmatcher....

It sounds to me like you have additional knowledge as to what is going to happen with the beatmacher. If you or someone else does perhaps that information would be useful to help me placate my concerns.

Perhaps my comments about the beatmacher are not fully understood (no effense to anyone) because I am not expresing them correctly. For me the beatmacher used to give a clear indication of the beats by being precise, with bright markers and colored marker evry 16 beats.

Looking at the beatmacher and decks 1 and 2 for example.
Take the waveform from deck 1, cut the bottom halve off then zoom in a little bit, There, that is the beatmacher.

Take the waveform from deck 2, cut the tophalve off then zoom in a little bit, There, that is the beatmacher.

In my oppinion that is not what the beatmacher used to indicate. It used to indicate the peak levels which in most cases corresponds to the beat. It is muddle (not clear) with frequency colors which actually detract from clear beat indication. And as mentioned the markers need some work.

I guess your remarks are another mark to the 'same' issue mentioned a couple of times.....

My problem is that I get no feedback concerning this other than "noted" and "Thank you". Perhaps is not a big deal to anybody else but it is a big deal to me so I express it and have been expressing it everytime I can since the Beta testing after 2.6.

Maybe they can 'fix' it together with bringing back the great grey layout of version 1.7... .....

I get what you are saying, just don't remember athat far back, although I have been here since 1.4.

I don't know if you did, but if you go to the detailed change list on a new release, you'll notice many reported issues and suggestions mentioned in the forum taken into consideration and somehow worked into the release.

I know they are working on the suggestions and other that the points that I mentioned I think Cross/ CrossDJ from 1.4 to 2.6 has been fantastic. Even 3.0 and 3.1 versions makes me say wow! but(yes here is the but) The way the beatmacher is right now might end up being a deal braker for me.

Working ahead of the troops in nomansland easily leads to a wrong direction. Once mentioned and noticed a U-turn is not necessarily the fastest way to the main road. Pretty sure 3.0 to 3.1 required other focus points for the devteam. Just maybe they have some time now...

Well said. Believe me I understand. All I can add is that my comments have always tried to steer this software to be better than the rest with the knowledge of what is coming for on other software packages without breaking non-disclosure.

[RoJeC]

Thanks for your response.

To avoid misunderstanding (in general chat forum) I just guess that beatmatcher will be changed following the formula:
New version + Good Comments + New General Hard-/software + MixVibes Team =
New version + ...

[daniel clark]

Thanks for your response.


New version + Good Comments + New General Hard-/software + MixVibes Team =
New version + ...

part of the reason for this topic is that you havent gotten any feedback for your inquiries ,,weather negitive or postive ,,no comment on my part was due to two issues ,one you expressed your concerns properly ,politely, and purposeful,,
second reason any comment on my behalf would probly muddled up the conversation ,,we were listening ,, waiting to see the responce ,,
so since the responce hasnt come from one side then its time to suggest we get a responce from the other side ,,,


to be proactive and get feed back at the same time ,,
suggest a user poll be set up to have a topic on the fourm expressing the concerns about the beat matcher ,,and any opions and thoughts about improvements ,,
i think this would give the dev team some more feed back and also maybe get a change and a responce ,,
would like you to set it up because i probly will muddy it up in the process,
have been on this fourm a little miniute and havent seem the composure , concern and helpfulness you bring with your input ,, much respect ,, so let get busy

nothing beat a failure but a try