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Rekordbox v6 topics

Issues of the V6 Rekordbox migration - Major

update 2021-05: v6.3 added the XML export feature again. Well done. https://rekordbox.com/en/support/releasenote/

1) Vendor Lock-in:

2) Perpetual bought licenses do not transfer to subscription model:

The XML vendor lock is a deal breaker for me.
The dead V5 license is quite annoying (there will be no V5 improvements and I don't expect any support moving forward).

How did the industry commenters reacted to the v6 XML export issue?

(Post to be updated periodically. Please send updates to pedro.estrela@gmail.com)

My own comment is the following:

Issues of the V6 Rekordbox migration - Minor

Besides the XML export and the v5 licenses problems, there are additional smaller issues:
no search box on the explorer node; no midi mapping with modifiers, multiple actions and CFX selector;
Cannot physically delete files inside RB. Still hotcues do not move the floating cue.

Also there is a bug since 5.6.1 when importing XML.
(note: do not confuse the v5.6.1 XML import bug with the v6 missing XML export issue.)

On the plus side, it now automatically auto-relocate renamed and moved tracks. This is a major improvement.
It also has shared audio and video playlists.
It also has a Day skin, which is something all OS already support

The other functions I either do not use (streaming, ableton link) or have my own solution (automatic sync using a NAS).

What is NOT unlocked in the Rekordbox V6 hardware options

With v6 there are combinations of equipement that unlock some functionality.

Combining both lists, this is what is NOT unlocked:

  • DVS (except DJM-750Mk2, 450, 250MK2, interface2, DDJ-RZ, XP1, XP2)
  • Video (except RXZ)
  • Sampler sequence saving
  • RMX effects
  • Lyrics
  • Cloud Sync

All these need either the 10eur/mo or the 15eur/mo subscription (August 2020 new prices)

For example, this is how video looks like with my DDJ-1000 connected:
"You cannot use this function in your current plan."
v6_video_watermark

Same story for DVS:
v6_dvs_with_ddj_1000

How to ignore Rekordbox upgrades completely

The last usable Rekordbox is version v5.6.0.
Later versions either have a bug on XML import, or they lack XML export at all.

However, you will be nagged with an upgrade window every time you start RB.

to remove this, simply rename this file to something else:

C:\Program Files\Pioneer\rekordbox 5.6.0\Upmgr rekordbox.exe

Conversation with ProfBX from Pioneer:

I've participated in a reddit thread with ProfBX from PioneerDJ. This thread covers a lot of ground on my contributions, so its a good summary of parts of this knowledge base

bome: I hit the limits of BOME itself a couple of times. This is how I made some workarounds:
https://pestrela.github.io/dj_kb/bome_mappings/#some-limitations-of-bome-mappings

regarding exclusivity: Its a pity that Serato (the company) allowed MIDI mode on the ddj-1000,
but disallowed MIDI screens like the original DDJ-1000
https://serato.com/forum/discussion/1736390

NI having a copy of each controller: I see your point. I guess this was the case for the DDJ-SZ and DDJ-SX2 that had official pioneer mappings.
Would the solution, to focus on ONLY the best selling controllers and send NI a demo unit?

Your traktor mapping on the DJM-S11 / Djay CDJ-3000:
understood of course. I was asking for the proper company decision.
This would be driven by the business decisions to sell more devices. At the time this was certainty the case for the SX2.

Industry standard quality:
fully Understood. Again, this will only work when Pioneer sees the business case. I believe it exists, but of course I do not see the numbers.

Faster MIDI messages:
Please see this short video. I've found that I would create massive slowdowns in macOS catalina by sending too many .back to back messages to the device. Windows is not affected. Bootcamp in mac is not affected.

Solution was only to slowdown messages with bome timers. As you can imagine this made the bome code a lot more complex. https://youtu.be/Us0gS__qR7c?t=93

Platter message rate:
I actually measured this in bome - see a graph in slide 83 of this pdf. This enabled to improve the latency a bit by combining messages and making it predictive, but it doesn't reach HID feeling of course.
https://github.com/pestrela/dj_maps/blob/main/ddj_1000/1%20-%20BOME%20version/2%20-%20Documentation/Installation%20Guide%20-%20BOME%20mappings.pdf

BOME programming vs GUI:
fully agreed. I've made a lot of on the CMDR TSI editor, but I rarely use it these days.
Instead my TSI is basically remote control, and all logic was moved to BOME which is far easier to program.
https://cmdr-editor.github.io/cmdr/

preferences window slowness: this was also the solution to the extremely disturbing slowness of the preferences window, that happens when you create more pages to have more than 8 variables
https://pestrela.github.io/dj_kb/traktor_slow_prefs/

Pioneer MIDI bugs: The biggest bug is that the DDJ-800 has no MIDI jog screens, even tough they are described in the documentation.
https://pestrela.github.io/dj_kb/free_mappings/#missing-jog-screens-on-ddj-800-and-ddj-1000srt

Other Pioneer Bugs: This is a list of smaller tickets / bugs. Only one was successfully fixed.
https://pestrela.github.io/dj_kb/free_mappings/#list-of-ddj-1000-firmware-bugs-open-tickets

How to enable day skin in any software and any OS

If you are playing on the bright outside you will not see a thing. Some softwares provide a really convenient skin for this situation.

But this feature is already native to the OS:

Windows 10:

  • Press Win + Plus / settings / Invert Colors / Turn on magnifier
  • guide

MacOS:

  • “System Preferences” > “Keyboard” > “Shortcuts” > “Accessibility” > “Invert Colors"
  • guide

Second, there are freeware programs that are better, by only inverting the brightness and keepng the hues as they are (ie, green, yellow, red colors are unchanged). See NegativeScreen for Windows

How to map the color FX (CFX) parameter knob

to map the color FX parameter in the DDJ-1000 in Rekordbox:

a) using the mouse: see 12:09 of this video
https://youtu.be/PyHq4kSupHw

b) using midi mapping for Mic EQ Low:
1. Go to the MIDI screen and export your current mapping 2. Open this mapping in a text editor 3. Add new a line at the end of the file: CFXSubParameter,CFXSubParameter,KnobSliderHiRes,B60F,,,,,,,,,,Fast;,CFX sub parameter
4. Save your new mapping and import it back in to the MIDI screen

If you want to use the SAMPLE VOLR button use this instead: CFXSubParameter,CFXSubParameter,KnobSliderHiRes,B603,,,,,,,,,,Fast;,CFX sub parameter

NOTE: This control still won't appear in the MIDI list screen but it will work
source: Paul Sayer