Would you pay double for faster core feature development & improved stability?

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22

Hi @nso!
Thanks and you’re absolutely right, the subscription model is more lucrative for software companies, and with the increasing complexity of software development, it’s understandable that they need to adapt. I agree that as long as the professional user gets enough value from it, it makes sense. As you mentioned, @PKtheDJ’s example with VDJ shows how the costs add up over time.

In a world that’s moving more towards subscription-based models—just look at services like Netflix, Spotify, or even cloud-based tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365—it’s becoming the norm.

For me, the key is having software that truly supports my professional needs, even if that means paying a subscription. It’s more about the value and long-term benefits than trying to save on initial costs.

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23

I’m a big fan of djay Pro and US$50/year is great for what it offers, but for me the their problem is not money - it’s about their priorities - are they focused on the customer or corporate games?

  • djay was introduced in 2007
  • I’ve been using it since 2014

So 17 years, and yet here we are missing several fundamental core features in 2024. So gotta ask - do you really wanna throw more money at it?

Notes:

  • My big fear is that their corporate strategy is to get bought by Apple. That vision would skew which features are prioritized for development. The last few software versions and press releases have not been encouraging.

  • And this isn’t just a criticism of Algoriddim (which I honestly think is the best of the bunch so far), but all DJ software companies seem to be stuck in corporate molasses when it comes to delivering features, performance and reliability.

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24

I wouldn’t say they’re all like that. Certainly Atomix is nicely independent.

25

I dream of DJ software that try to look at how things could be done with more freedom. To me, it seems all the DJ software available is stuck in re-creating two or more turntables, and a mixer.

I’v done my time with two turntables and a mixer. What i want to do now is break those patterns and mix in ways not possible with that setup.

So to me, subscription or one time payment (cheap or expensive), seems all the same. We are stuck with the fake vinyl setup that is so iconic. BUT it really isnt the best way to manipulate time . . .

If its in a VR headset, on an iPad or with an EXTREMLY expensive hardware unit, what does it matter. The sound of the mix should be where its at!

:orangutan:

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26

…such as? :thinking:

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27

Isnt that the fun with the impossible, you dont know it until its there?
Turned out it wasnt impossible after all . . .

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28

Maybe I’m missing something, maybe it’s already been discussed and I haven’t read it, maybe I just don’t understand it, but what fundamental features are you missing? I don’t think I’ve ever used DJ software with such an extensive feature set (although I stuck to vinyl for a long time and only went digital quite late), but above all I can use DJay Pro on the iPhone and iPad, even without a controller if necessary. This is something that simply doesn’t exist with other manufacturers, and it’s also what makes this product stand out in my eyes and ultimately makes it unique and without alternative.

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29

You’re answering my question with another question, which makes me think you don’t know the answer. :thinking:

You ask for something, but don’t know what it is. How are they supposed to provide it if you cannot describe it?

30

Sorry it wasn’t clear. essentially I would absolutely love comparable library management to Rekordbox! I would happily pay double for parity with their system. Why? Getting my library from the Mac app to iOS as is requires the Music app, but with a local files library only. Actually, take a step back even from this - If I want the Mixed In Key results in my files so I can easily see them in the iOS app, I first have to tag them to prefix artist name with key and energy level info. These files then get manually transferred to the Music app on my iPad, using a USB to lightning cable.

Hang on though…I then manually move the Mac database over to the Djay app on my iOS device. And then I can open up the iOS app and hopefully all is good. To transfer the data back, I reverse the database procedure. I appreciate I could do this via iCloud to some extent, but it hasn’t been completely reliable, hence using the manual method.

I mentioned a local files only library to transfer music files between the OS. On the iOS devices, if any of my Apple Music subscription or old iTunes purchases are in there, things get messy. It has to be a library containing only local files. It gets more frustrating though if I want to use Apple Music as a source - I have a sub, but to keep local and Apple Music libraries separate, I have to use my main, or original, Apple Music library for local files only and create a 2nd ID then sub to Apple Music using that. I then can log in to my 2nd Apple Music ID from within Djay on iOS - so that’s all good.

But, say I want to listen to my Apple Music library on the go on my iPhone. I have to log on to my iphone in media and purchases using my 2nd Apple ID. Fine, but on my iPad, if I would like to use the 3rd party apps (Marvis, the Albums app) to integrate with my Apple Music library, I can’t. Why? Because on my iPad, I am having to use my 1st Apple ID to transfer my Djay music files from the Mac. This ID now doesn’t have a subscription, but it’s using that ID that I purchased those nice 3rd party apps…also, switching between Apple IDs on my iOS devices can lead to problems. If you try to play local files uploaded to the iCloud music library on one device - on which you have switched accounts, it will lock you out of the ability to play local files on your Apple Music subscription for 90 days. Also, keeping track of which ID you are using at any given point on your devices isn’t the easiest.

Why was all that even relevant? Because I wanted to transfer local files from Mac to iOS to use the Djay app on both. And I had to use the Music app to do that. I could ditch Apple Music for Tidal as my streaming service, but I quite like Apple Music. Plus it’s cheaper to integrate vs Tidal.

I did experiment with seeing if I could just store my files in a nice big 2TB iCloud account and then just drag them into both Mac and iOS apps. That would be no.

I don’t mean to sound negative here, but this process is (as someone else pointed out elsewhere in the forums) the opposite of a streamlined and simple workflow. I can see this is the experience of many others using Djay, hence the relevant feature request votes. This thread was about whether users would pay more for an upgraded functionality - I would, and specifically for a simple transfer process between devices, and cloud storage of my music files.

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31

THIS!
IS IT!

Is the bull’s eye answer.
Just quoting ao an admin can pin it on their wall :slight_smile:

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32

Basically, development has always been focused on Apple devices, especially iPhone and iPad. With Apple, completely different resources would be available. The other side is that users of other platforms would probably not benefit from this, but this is already the case to some extent, with some features only coming to Windows or Android later, or not at all. This is annoying, but the market for creative software (and therefore also music) has been dominated by Apple for decades. And there are good reasons for this. In this respect, I believe that a takeover by Apple would be the best thing that could happen to the app and ultimately to us users.

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33

Well, maybe the VisionOS and Meta (VR), might be a thing in future, but it should have been done a long time ago. Second Life was interesting concept and it would have been really interesting concept to be live in Second Life using Vision OS or Meta (VR).

On my top list:

  • faster integration of HW

  • faster bug fixing,

  • there are a lot of improvements what have been requested by community, some have been open for years so maybe some transparency what improvements are considered to be implemented

I might quess that some issues are under agreements between Algoriddim and hw vendors, so we won’t never get full response, why some hw integrations takes time, why some features might not be implemented like jog displays. To be able to fully support some features requires support from hw vendors. Like if the hw vendor doesn’t want to be iOS compatible, then we just wait for the support or use compatible hw like macOS.

We have neural mix, we have fluid beat grids. Things that I would have not been able to even imagine like 10 years ago.

So moving forward with AI

  • better channel volume balancing i.e auto gain, auto limitter

  • AI based automatic equalizator to balance major differences between tracks

  • AI based genre detection of tracks is needed for matching related tracks ( i.e for open format dj’s: like when playing house, the related tracks should not show rock tracks )

  • AI based automatic cue point placement

  • even better AI based fluid beat grid, which can handle different time signatures, or detect a 4/4 song which have some “just one beat silence”, or 2/4 time signatures inside track

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35

Thanks for starting this thread man.
I Dj professionally use RB and mixed in key.

  • Been testing DJP for months and while it’s fun I’m shocked at how syncing across macOS and iOS is a hack. (I avoid iTunes / music for database management)
  1. I can’t take it seriously if they don’t have a robust library management and sync system so yes > I think tiered pricing is something there’s a need for.

— we’re all here because DJP is an innovative software and best in class Ui but is missing pro features which means they can’t scale to professionals or be recommended, and yes some of you have workarounds but for newer users like me I’m not trying to add to my plate and I’m willing to pay for solutions.

  • even Lexicon has posted in the community asking if they should integrate so there’s a clear need.
  • in terms of optics for a newer user it’s not a good look that they’re doing niche feature like VR without giving solutions for quality of life solutions ALSO it’s the only app that has frozen on my 2024 iPad so yes
  • stability
  • library management and flexibility
  • syncing across devices seamless
    I’d pay a higher tier for that.

You can’t use an Apple approach and business model in the Dj ecosystem, companies that are interoperable will always win, there are too many relative options that are nearly as good if not better.

Thanks again everyone happy Djing.

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36

Sorry man have to disagree

  • Djing and creative industries are not the same
    You’re right Algoriddim started as an Apple only product but had to expand because clearly that’s not a scaleable business model in the Dj ecosystem.
  • let me be clear I’m an Apple power user (sounds pretentious lol but I mean I get their highest spec models in every category)
    Apple is a good platform as it’s reliable and while being bought by Apple could be amazing for the company it could hurt the users.
  • Apple doesn’t play nice with other formats and platforms
  • innovation is slow
  • they don’t even proritize Apple Music as a vertical in the business

To your earlier point about what core features are missing

  • it’s great to have the futuristic neural mix, and Fx but when your gigs are back to back you need
  • stability (as in not crashing)
  • library management /cues and syncing
    Without these basic features it’s a deal breaker and not even competitive in today’s market.
    Anyway good chat bro :clap:t5:
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37

We need to get more new users on board so the software has a strong base. People need to try it to find out it’s the best software. Raising the price would have a negative impact on this.

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38

The yearly subscription has already gone up by 60% in the last couple of years - so no - I wouldn’t pay another $80 a year. Maybe if the software worked seamlessly, butt that’s not happening now huh.

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39

Algoriddim is a very small software development and innovation company looking to push the bar and create.

I see no interest from them in recreating what already exists on other platforms, it’s not the nature of their business and I do not believe it is their mission statement to become an “industry standard” DJ software company. Why would they? Apart from anything it would be equivalent to a corner shop trying to take on Walmart.

If they did wish to be a global force we’d have seen a lot of the requested standard features but we haven’t and I don’t believe we will, they’re not interested and don’t get paid to do that.

Right now they’re looking into ways to break through and find the next big thing, probably something they can stick a patent on and then take to the bank. Good on ‘em, it’s their company and they can do what they like.

I’ve had an odd gripe or two on here sure but if you hit problems you find a way and work it out yourself.

It’s an exciting platform and going places all the time so there will be the odd stuff missed and the occasional bug but if you back up a good version properly and get to know it’s workings i see no major problems with the current model.

40

Thank you very much for sharing your valuable insights, Daniel (@daniel_curley)!

This really gives me a different perspective on the company’s direction. The fact that Algoriddim is now heavily investing in the Meta Quest platform definitely aligns with your view.

That said, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed. I still hope they will (also) focus some more on developing features that cater to the everyday needs of the average DJ. Ideally, it would be great to see a balance between their innovative projects (which current professional users could also benefit from) and practical improvements for daily use.

What do you think?

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41

There’s big money in innovation if you get it right. Don’t think there’s a lot in satisfying everyday needs.
It will be interesting to see the results of the DDJT census this year. Djay’s share in overall users was incredibly low last year , if the figures are similar this year i don’t see them investing heavily in areas they currently don’t concern themselves with

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42

I think they should focus on what they were good at from the start: Supporting mobile platforms, and in particular the iPhone and iPad. This is also what makes the software really interesting and unique, because the competition simply doesn’t offer this level of functionality. The laptop sector has been well occupied for years and I don’t believe that Algoriddim can gain any significant market share there.

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