Browser
The Browser Zone is where to navigate and organize files stored on a local, external, or network hard disk. The browser contains the compatible file types (i.e. whose extensions are associated with the decoders in VirtualDJ) to access the compatible extensions list. Click the "Config" menu then choose the "Codecs" tab. See the "Codecs" section of the manual for further details.
The Browser zone is divided into 4 key panels.
- File System / Folder Structure
- File / Search Results
- Automix Playlist
- Sidelist
File System / Folder Structure Panel (1)
VirtualDJ provides several application managed organizational groupings and a few third-party interfaces by default. Also provided is the ability to create additional navigation aid capabilities. To better understand the managed groups and interfaces click the "Config" button and view the "Browser" tab.
The "Browser" tab allows the selection of the various groupings that can be viewed. Each item 'checked' will have an associate entry on the File System / Folder Structure panel (1).
Volumes – shows the File System navigation option from the My Computer structure
Desktop – shows the File System navigation option from the Desktop structure
Napster – shows the integrated Napster search. Using this feature requires a Napster login. Login information can be provided by a right-click on the Napster Globe in the "Browser" panel interface and choosing "Login..."
Genres – provides a generated tree of Genre types based on the imported ID3 tag Genre field. By selecting on the various listed genres the file browser panel (2) only shows those entries that match the tag.
*POWER USERS – typically only one genre is stored in the ID3 tag; however, since VirtualDJ imports and stores this data in it's own database multiple genres can be assigned to a single file by separating each genre with a semi-colon ';' . This action is performed in the File Info dialog the Genre field for the file.
History – provides access to data stored about each session use of VirtualDJ. The data is stored as .m3u playlist files and it is stored in the My Documents -> VirtualDJTracklisting folder. History data is saved on the fly in order to provide running history of played tracks for each 24hr timeframe of use.
*POWER USERS – by default VirtualDJ will separate the history playlists at 9AM this is based on a registry entry titled TrackCutHour – change this value to have your history playlists split at a different time. Time is based on a 24-hour clock, so 9PM would be 21.
iTunes – displays iTunes playlists and use the information in the playlist for accessing files. If the files don’t exist per the playlists path, an 'Error' show up in the deck’s display when attempting to load the track.
Crates – allows access to the crates structure created and utilized by the Serato ScratchLive application.
Playlists – show or hide the contents of the My Documents -> VirtualDJPlaylist folder. This is where an Automix playlist is saved by default.
Favorites – show or hide any created folder favorites, created from a right-click on a folder in the Desktop navigation structure and selecting "Set as favorite" from the menu or by using the icon
on the panel’s right divider bar.VirtualFolders – show or hide any created VirtualFolders created from clicking on the icon
found on the right divider barFilterFolders – show or hide any created FilterFolders created from clicking on the icon
found on the right divider bar** To Learn More about organizing the tracks using Favorites, Virtual and Filter Folders, see BROWSER FOLDERS
File / Search Results Panel (2)
VirtualDJ provides several elements of information about each track. The information is a combination of ID3 Tag and VirtualDJ defined data fields. By default the title of the song and artist are listed for each file along with columns for beats per minute (BPM) and duration (Length) with additional columns, explained further in the manual. The width size for each column can be modified individually and by clicking on a column the contents are sorted. For example, clicking on the artist column sorts the browser by artist initially in ascending order. Click again for descending.
The tracks title and artist are automatically filled in, if the file is named according to two standard conventions, i.e. (artist) title.ext OR artist - title.ext OR the “Tags” option is set to "Enabled" in the "Config", "Browser" tab, Infos Gathering section. See the "ID3 tag Support" section of the manual for further details.
The BPM and length information are calculated automatically when a track is loaded to either deck. All track information is then stored inside the respective drive database files for later recall. And all data is stored and saved at time of discovery or data entry immediately to the database(s).
This title is unknown and was never played or scanned by VirtualDJ.
This title is known and has been scanned by VirtualDJ.
This title was played during this session.
Indicates an audio file with a linked video.
Indicates a video file.
Indicates a karaoke file.
Indicates that the BPM difference between the analyzed song and current playing song is too great. This is a track that you might wish to avoid playing next.Track Options (right-click on file)
Right clicking on a track displays many options:
File Operations like - copy, move, and delete files (a warning is displayed on deleting a file), File Info for modifying data field content, BPM analyze track options, add and removing songs from the search database, and removing the link to a video file for audio tracks. Several other options are presented and explained throughout this manual.
Playlist Panel (3)
Automix features work from one deck. By default it is Deck 1; however, prior to starting the Automix if Deck 2 is selected as the active deck then Deck 2 is used. By utilizing 1 deck this frees the opposite deck for staging the first song to be used once you decide to stop the Automix process.
In addition to drag and drop, playlists can be created. Playlists are groups of tracks prearranged in a desired order of play. To Access the playlist, move your mouse or drag songs over the "Playlist" panel (3) on the right side of the browser. The window automatically expands to show the working area and current list if populated.
Playlist Controls
Image:Icon_AutomixActive.jpg Activate / Deactivate the Automix modeImage:Icon_AutomixMenu.jpg Access the Playlist management menu
Image:Icon_AutomixPanelLock.jpg Lock the Playlist panel to a set width and block the auto-shut of the panel. You can also lock it and reduce its size to zero if you do not wish for it open automatically.
More on Playlists and Automix Management can be found here Playlist & Automix Management
Playlist Setup
Tracks to be auto-mixed can be placed into the Playlist panel from the File Browser panel (2) by using a drag and drop method. Also, predefined playlists can be used and auto loaded.
In the Configuration -> Options tab there is an option for "AutoLoad Playlists". The available values are Disabled, Smart, and Always.
Image:Options_AutoLoadPlaylist.jpg
- Disabled – a contents of the play list are displayed in the center File Browser panel only
- Always – when a play list is selected in the browser the contents are immediately loaded to the playlist
- Smart – doesn't change the playlist when you click on a playlist folder, if the actual playlist has been manually edited
Side List Panel (4)
VirtualDJ incorporates it’s own version of a waitlist called the Sidelist. The Sidelist panel (4) can be used to hold tracks that the DJ knows they will play sometime during their session. It also provides a location for VirtualDJ to moved tracks that were loaded but never played because the DJ loaded a new track to the deck. The Sidelist can also be use to stage and construct Playlists and VirtualFolders by drag-and-drop of tracks to the panel.
Image:Browser_Sidelist.jpg
To find out more on how the SideList can be used for Automix capabilities read more here - Additional Automix Capabilities like 2 Deck Automix
AutoSave Unplayed
When the option “AutoSave Unplayed” is enabled in the Configuration -> Options tab, all tracks added to a deck but then never played are added to the SideList when a track replaces it on a deck.
Image:Options_AutoLoadPlaylist.jpg
Keyboard Shortcuts load_fromsidelist and free_sidelist provide easy access to tracks for loading to a deck or clearing the entire list, respectively.
