Forum: General Discussion

The VDJ's way is very restricted...

Just add it as an option please

A very common way to use Reverb is to, basically, cut the input signal to the reverb but still allow it to continue processing until the output completely decays off. This enables you to do things like toggling the input on and off in quick succession as though you were taking a snapshot and then the reverb tail goes on for a while, effectively extending the sound the input captured. This is a very tasteful way to use reverb if you manage to catch a vowel or a particular chord. Delay can too be used this way. The problem I encountered in VDJ is that when I turned off the reverb it also turned off also the output, which sounds like ass. That may have changed since.

If my memory doesn't fail me, the other problem was that the longest reverb and delay decay times were also too short, and the effect was to grainy. I like long smooth creamy reverbs and TBH the stock VDJ ones were utilitarian at best. If you are new to reverb and delay maybe you might think they are ok, but I use professional reverb plugins for music production (e.g. Valhalla, Lexicon, etc) and I know much better, but I don't really need to use these plugins as a benchmark because, as I probably said in an earlier post, the reverb in Traktor, Rekordbox and every other paid DJ application is objectively better.

At the time I couldn't find any 3rd-party VDJ FX that would do this. I did try going the VST route but VDJ wouldn't remember my plugin settings and having to dial in the plugin each time I fired up VDJ was a huge PITA so I gave up on the idea.

If the situation has not improved, my kind advice to the devs is to stop adding fancy features and do first the bread-and-butter stuff. I know I'm going to get flamed by the fanboys but I don't give a toss as I am no longer interested in VDJ. Just doing the right thing by pointing the elephant in the room.

@DJCannonball IIRC using third-party plugins it can be done BUT there is a catch, firstly, the plugin has to have an input bypass button. While searching for such a plugin back when I was checking out VDJ, I couldn't find one. Most reverb plugins have at best a Mix knob.

DDJ-1000 (The Rekordbox version, not the SRT) does not use hardware but software effects for Digital Audio channels. So, if you have DDJ-1000 then you're using VirtualDJ effects.

@DJCANNONBALL VST host plugins don't work well because you have to configure everything from scratch every time you fire up VDJ. This happens because, as I said, VDJ won't remember the plugin state. If the VST host plugin can load presets that will reduce the number of steps/actions required to get up and running, but it's not like built-in FX, which are remembered.