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Forum: VirtualDJ Technical Support

Sujet: Headless machine for Virtual DJ
By headless, I mean having a small box hidden somewhere, without a display or keyboard/mouse, and using only the hardware's display (such as the Pioneer DJ XDJ-AZ, or even the CDJ-3000 or CDJ-3000X). Is this anywhere documented, or are there any guidelines? The motivation is to use the club standard with more features, such as STEMs.
 
Posté 7 hours ago
You can already do this with those devices functioning as a software controller - just use the browsing capabilities and mappings for the device, while it's connected to VirtualDJ (which gives you access to VirtualDJ's featureset from the device)

Checkout their hardware manual for more info:

https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/hardware/pioneer.html

https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/hardware/pioneer.html

https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/hardware/pioneer/clubsetup.html

VirtualDJ can also export to the CDJ export format (Device Library, Device Library Plus/OneLibrary) with extra features like stem extraction to separate files, if you really just want to use the device in standalone mode:

https://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj/interface/database/cdjexport.html
 
Seems pointless to spend all that money for standalone decks just to use them with VDJ though.
 
@kradcliffe it's true but it's just another option.

Using them in controller mode with VirtualDJ allows for things that can't be done in standalone (e.g. Stem Swap Sampler use).
 
I own an XDJ-AZ and currently use it as a standalone 100% of the time. On some gigs, though, especially when streaming from home or at open-format events, I would appreciate the option to switch from standalone to Virtual DJ. Only on some decks, during the gig, and then maybe back. This is possible (I tried), but I would ideally like it to be transparent and require no interaction with the laptop or PC. I would like to have a small PC hidden somewhere, connected to XDJ-AZ and switch on the fly when appropriate.

So thanks for explaining how to use it as a standalone or connected to Virtual DJ, I know that and use it. I am more after some reliable headless (no monitor + no keyboard/mouse) setup.
 
I understand what your saying , but I'm also saying there is no current way to switch over the standalone gear to some other standalone type software with only the hardware's controls - the hardware's firmware/driver wasn't designed to allow for that.

Software controller mode is the way it was designed to give control to other software running on another computer. If you don't want to interact with the computer, then plug everything, start VirtualDJ, if using a laptop, organize for the OS to not sleep on close of the laptop and put it out of the way/close the laptop - all the control you need can be done from the device.
You'll still need to manually switch sources on the device (again a built-in, design decision).
 
Before I share my $0.02..

You can't go 100% "headless" these days.
You'll have to have a small display and keyboard (or use a touchscreen) somewhere that you can hide out of view when not needed.
The primary reason is that no system these days will allow you to boot and log on your OS without some interaction first.
So, you'll have to have something to interact with your system at a minimum level in order to enter your user credentials e.t.c.
Personally I would recommend a small USB C touchscreen. You can get a small and slim one at avery low price these days, and you can make it seem seamless to your controller's central display.
Also you'll be able to use it for SEARCHING since these controllers don't offer that ability.

Now, my personal take is this:
It all depends on which side of the coin you want to focus at.
If you just want a good controller for your software, then units like XDJ-AZ, Opus-Quad, or even CDJ's paired with a DJM mixer, make for a great control surface.
I repeat: That's if you're seeking a great control surface for your software.
If you're not after that, then yes, the primary function of the gear mentioned above, is stand alone operation.
But I hate the phrase/question "why would you use XDJ-AZ with VirtualDJ (or Serato or Rekordbox), it's a stand alone controller / designed for stand alone operation?"
NO. These units are much more than a stand alone device.
They are designed to be versatile and allow you to operate them on all possible ways.
If Pioneer/AlphaTheta (or any other similar brand like inMusic with Denon Prime) didn't want / meant these units to be used as controllers, it would remove that capability.
We (older people, aged 40+) spent the last 15-18 years trying to CLOSE the gap between "computer oriented" and "stand alone" gear by pushing companies to do just that.
We don't need the younger DJ's to be the gatekeepers of what it should be history by now..

Yes, it's a good thing that "higher end" units at this age can be used both as stand alone devices and as controllers with relative ease, and we should
a) Embrace it
b) Ask to make it even easier to switch modes (looking at you Denon that some units require a full device reboot to switch operation mode)
c) Ask for even greater homogenization, where "functions" (such as display views and on screen keyboard) that are available in stand alone operation, are available to controller mode too.
AND MOST IMPORANTLY
d) Support it and encourage it on a user basis.
So, when you see a guy like me in a club using the XDJ-AZ or the Opus Quad with my laptop, instead of asking "why do you use a laptop" come and comment, "wow, what a nice controller, what a nice peace of gear you've got there"
BE POSITIVE, not negative!
Enough with the computer shaming on DJ Booths! :P

That's my $0.02..
Thanks!
 
Let me first respond to DJ VinylTouch: Once Virtual DJ is running on my PC, I can switch between standalone and Virtual DJ using the controller exclusively. I tried this today, just before asking my request.
 
Here comes my response to PhantomDeejay:
I am not here to shame anyone nor anyone's approach. I believe everyone should DJ the way they like. My goal is a little different—I am after simplicity and space constraints, as I have already made my life too complicated. I usually need to set up too many things:
1. Electricity
2. Network (modem, router, switch)
3. Sound (speakers, cables, etc.)
4. Lights (computer #1) - in planning, not yet part of my setup
5. ProTools link to show the track that is playing (computer #2)
6. Microphones (field monitoring)
7. Cameras
8. Yololiv Yolobx (the standalone streaming production box).
9. Virtual DJ (computer #3) - in planning, not yet part of my setup
I want to merge all three computers into one box that I turn on and don't have to touch.
I have to disagree with the claim that it is impossible to have a Windows PC that starts automatically and launches a program. I am already doing it with the ProTools link PC.
* I haven't tried running Virtual DJ on a PC without a monitor.
* I do not know how to suppress Virtual DJ pop-ups related to available updates.
* I do not know how to "get rid" of the sound card pop-up that appears after I connect my controller.
* I do not know how to turn off the PC whilst closing Virtual DJ gracefully.
* I might run into other issues that I am not aware of yet.
The idea of attaching a small touchscreen to my PC is a good one, but I still want to avoid having to click anything (i.e., use the screen).
 
user31499820 wrote :

I have to disagree with the claim that it is impossible to have a Windows PC that starts automatically and launches a program. I am already doing it with the ProTools link PC.
* I haven't tried running Virtual DJ on a PC without a monitor.
* I do not know how to suppress Virtual DJ pop-ups related to available updates.
* I do not know how to "get rid" of the sound card pop-up that appears after I connect my controller.
* I do not know how to turn off the PC whilst closing Virtual DJ gracefully.
* I might run into other issues that I am not aware of yet.
The idea of attaching a small touchscreen to my PC is a good one, but I still want to avoid having to click anything (i.e., use the screen).


I don't know about ProTools, but since I have some experience with audio/console servers, remember that VirtualDJ does not run as a service.

Now:

1) Turn automatic updates off
2) Click on "Don't show again"
3) You can execute close script to close VirtualDJ
4) You'll have to turn off some things like "Load Security"
 
DJ Bowie Groove wrote :
Let me first respond to DJ VinylTouch: Once Virtual DJ is running on my PC, I can switch between standalone and Virtual DJ using the controller exclusively. I tried this today, just before asking my request.


This isn't what the issue is. That switch is a hardware control switch to allow DJ software to take over the MIDI aspect and provision of audio sources to the device.

The real issue is that the device is not a general purpose input/output peripheral for the OS itself, to allow for that kind of control you want (e.g. it can't serve as say a touchpad or keyboard or screen to the OS itself). It's a device that deals with MIDI and audio, which has functionality mapped to VirtualDJ functions, not the general OS. Because of this, and because you are running a computer with an OS that runs VirtualDJ as one of the applications, you need input/output devices to interact with the OS itself, even if it's just to boot, login and then start VirtualDJ.
 
OK, thank you both. I will try to implement it and get back here with the results (for anyone who wants to achieve the same).