Copyright: OtsJuke DJ Help  v1.1
Citation: Copyright 2000 Ots Corporation


Introduction
OtsJuke DJ Help Guide

Introduction

This help file aims to address some of the frequently asked questions and detail some of the main areas of OtsJuke DJ and the OtsJuke Suite of audio applications.

Further information, and more up to date information, can always be found at http://www.otsjuke.com

OtsJuke is an actively developed and supported suite of applications. As such, it is not uncommon for new versions and/or upgrades to be released on a fortnightly basis. It is worth checking the site regularly.

Topics

Read answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions. (FAQ Main)

How to output to a WAV file. (Outputting to a WAVE file)

How to output to a SHOUTcast server. (Outputting to SHOUTcast)

Description of the toolbar icons. (Toolbar Description)

Description of the menu option items. (Menu Description)

How to use the Dynamics Processor. (Using the Dynamics Processor)

How to use the Graphics EQ. (Using the Graphic EQ)

Startup functions via command line switches (Command Line Options)

How to perform a search (Using the Search Facility)

Hints on using playlists (Using Playlists)

How to generate a random playlist (Generating a Playlist)

How to import audio files (Importing Files)

Changing the Output Configuration settings. (Configuring the Output Settings)

The answer to "What is OtsJuke in a nutshell?" (What is OtsJuke?)

OtsJuke DJ

Copyright 2000 Ots Corporation

All rights reserved worldwide.

Consult www.otsjuke.com for license details.

SHOUTcast is a registered trademark of Nullsoft, Inc.  All trademarks belong to their respective companies.


What is OtsJuke?
Q. WHAT IS OTSJUKE?

A. OtsJuke is a suite of audio applications developed for the Windows platform.

The applications enable the storage and presentation of audio.  These applications were designed with DJs, radio stations, and music lovers in mind.

Next: What is OtsJuke DJ?


What is OtsJuke DJ?
Q. WHAT IS OTSJUKE DJ?

A. OtsJuke DJ is a breakthrough application that allows you to manage, play and mix, pre-recorded music in a manner never before possible with a standard Windows PC.

Next: Minimum requirements?


Minimum requirements?
Q. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TO RUN OTSJUKE DJ DEMO?

- A Pentium II is ideal, though the program will run fine on a Pentium 166MHz and above.

- Cyrix chips do not feature too well, due to their relatively weak floating point capabilities. You can use a Cyrix CPU, but it will have to be fairly high-end, ie. a P300 or above.

- You will need to be running Windows 95 or 98.

- You will also require a soundcard with a DirectSound or WDM driver. Preferably you will have a DirectSound driver, as the WDM "standard" is still evolving and there are inherent problems.

- 64 or 32 MB RAM is preferred, though 16 MB is adequate.

Next: What is so good about OtsJuke DJ?


What is so good about OtsJuke DJ?
Q. WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT OTSJUKE DJ?

A. OtsJuke DJ heralds a new age in DJ / radio automation software, bringing the power to mix into the hands of amateurs, and allowing professionals to focus on the more important areas of creativity which distinguish them from the rest.

In allowing any person with Windows 95/98 to run their own personalised auto-radio-station with the click of a button, OtsJuke DJ has brought the impossible to life!

With extremely accurate automatic mixing point technology, hundreds of users have been amazed with the intelligent mixes between songs, enjoying that unique "radio sound", and always with their own favourite music!

OtsJuke DJ handles mixing, dynamics (volume management), beat, EQ, pitch control and also contains a pitch-preserving tempo control.

OtsJuke DJ boasts a practically zero-latency audio pipeline, meaning that audible adjustments are heard immediately, rather than the typical delays normally inherent in PC audio software.

OtsJuke DJ features an easy to use, logical user interface, incorporating powerful search facilities.

Next: What file types does OtsJuke DJ use?


What file types does OtsJuke DJ use?
Q. WHAT FILE TYPES DOES OTSJUKE DJ USE?

A. OtsJuke DJ handles MP3 files indirectly, via OTS Album files.

It also uses JFIF-standard JPEG files for cover art.

Audio CDs can be read directly into decks digitally (NO loss of quality).

WAV files are used to record output as an option (as well as Shoutcast).

Next: What are OTS files?


What are OTS files?
Q. WHAT ARE OTS FILES?

A. OTS Album files were developed to compliment the magnificent audio compression offered with MP3 streams.

An OTS file can be thought of as an album for one or many MP3 files, with the ability to contain additional data types, such as cover art, song lyrics, audio control information, beat/lighting control info, advanced genre and release information, etc.

Basically, the scope of data types that can be contained in an OTS file is not limited in any practical sense, but rather OTS files provide the backwards/forwards compatibility mechanism for introducing limitless data types in the future.

Next: Why would I want to use OTS files?


Why would I want to use OTS files?
Q. WHY WOULD I WANT TO USE OTS FILES?

A. As stated in "What are OTS files?", MP3 is an excellent form of audio compression, however two factors limit the MP3 "file format".

Firstly, there is no standard or efficient manner of storing the additional data types that the new generation of audio application obviously requires.

Secondly, MP3 is a 'streaming' format, and NOT actually a 'file' format. MP3 streams are designed for hardware decoders to receive frame by frame, and be able to lock on to with just a single frame's notice. As such, there is redundant data that is stored each frame.

OTS files do not store any redundant data, and therefore, an OTS file that encapsulates an MP3 file or group of files, will be shorter than the original MP3 file(s)!! That's even after including all of the extra data such as album graphics, mixing control info, etc, that OTS files typically store.

REPEAT: OTS files occupy less space than the MP3 files that they originate from, even though they store additional data. Also, there is certain software functionality that is not possible to perform, or at least not in an efficient manner, without the storage of additional data.

One classic example is the fact that MP3 frame lengths can vary from frame to frame, meaning that if an application needs to jump from one part of an MP3 file to another, it cannot precisely calculate the new file location, but rather must wade through some data just to re-synchronize itself to the new position.  OTS files were born out of these and many other demands which became obvious if any serious audio software was to be designed and implemented.

Next: How can I take advantage of OTS files?


How can I take advantage of OTS files?
Q. HOW CAN I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTS FILES?

A. Ots Corporation has now developed the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility.

This allows you to convert MP3s to OTS files as single songs or containing multiple songs, and with the inclusion of high quality JPEG cover art!

You can perform mass conversion with hundreds of MP3s in a truely automated fashion. The application has advanced artist/title interpretation which utilises ID3-tag information, and MP3 file naming standards, making the end result as accurate as possible!

This program allows you to create OTS albums with ease.  OTS albums empower you to represent an original CD with all of its songs, correct titles and artists, genres, copyright information, and original cover art - all in one compact file!!  Or, naturally, you can creatively make your own compilations!  These albums can be viewed and played with the OtsJuke Player program or easily imported and mixed in OtsJuke DJ as individual songs.

You can also convert OTS files back to MP3s if ever necessary in the future, with the click of a button!!!

Ots Corporation is currently working on another Windows-friendly GUI application called OtsJuke Studio.  This program will facilitate the ultimate power in creating OTS files, including time-coded lyrics, multiple album art, beat information for stimulating visuals and mixing, and much more!

A command-line program, MP3OTS.EXE, is also included with the demo for those wishing to use specialised batch-orientated integration.

Next: How do I use the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility?


How do I use the MP3OTS.EXE DOS command line program?
Q. HOW DO I USE THE MP3OTS.EXE DOS COMMAND LINE PROGRAM?

A. It is highly recommended you use the Windows-based OTS MP3 Conversion Utility for normal use.  OTS MP3 Conversion Utility gives a lot more power and control in creating OTS files.  See How do I use the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility?

However if you need to use the DOS command-line converter here is how you do it:

If you have a directory full of MP3 files, the easiest thing to do is simply type at the command line:

MP3OTS *.MP3

Obviously you need to reference the directory where your MP3 files exist, and optionally a different destination directory for the newly created OTS files.

Something like: MP3OTS c:\Mp3Files\*.mp3 c:\OtsJuke\OtsFiles

When no options are issued, MP3OTS will run totally in an automated manner, extracting any info it can from the ID3v1 tag on each file, if there is one. When you return after a coffee, all of your MP3 files will have been converted!

However, if you want to be prompted to enter title and artist info for files which do not contain an ID3 tag, you can issue the -p option, such as:

MP3OTS *.MP3 -p

Other options are also available for the advanced user. Simply type MP3OTS without any arguments to get a list of available options.

By default, MP3OTS will group files that begin with the same prefix and end in a two-digit number into a single OTS file. For example, if you rip 5 songs of an album, and they are named JOHNNY01.MP3, JOHNNY02.MP3, JOHNNY06.MP3, etc, then the program will group all of the files into a single OTS file. This is one of the features of the OTS file format, as data that is consistant between tracks, such as album graphics, etc, does not need to be repeated in several files. You can however disable this automatic grouping behaviour if you want to retain single files. Simply supply the -g option.

Also see: How can I take advantage of OTS files?

Next: How do I get OtsJuke DJ to play my music easily?


How do I get OtsJuke DJ to play my music easily?
Q. HOW DO I GET OTSJUKE DJ TO PLAY MY MUSIC EASILY?

A. You can simply import them into the program by using the "Import Ots Files" option.  After this you either generate an automatic playlist, or use the search facility to create a playlist manually.

The easiest and best method is by using the "My Music" system.

On your desktop will be an icon called "OtsJuke DJ (My Music)".  This icon launches OtsJuke DJ with all music contained within the "My Music" folder.  The "My Music" folder can be altered and accessed at anytime via the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility (see How can I take advantage of OTS files?).

Look at the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility Help file to learn more about the "My Music" system.

Alternatively, you can make as many shortcuts as you like to have specific music folders automatically imported into OtsJuke DJ. You use a special command line option to the OtsJuke DJ program to do this. For example, create an icon which references the following command line or similar:

C:\OtsJuke\OTSJDJ.EXE C:\OtsJuke\OtsFiles\ /play

At startup, the program will automatically import all items contained in all OTS files found in the specified path, and then generate a playlist and begin playing it.

Next: What is OtsJuke Player?


What is OtsJuke Player?
Q. WHAT IS OTSJUKE PLAYER?

A. OtsJuke Player allows you to easily examine your OTS files. It is designed as a quick and light-weight program to "surf" your digital audio assets. It is not designed for general purpose listening and enjoyment of audio, as why would you want to "play" when you can "mix"?

OtsJuke Player is a free-for-non-commercial-use application. It is ideal for distributing OTS files with a simple method for playing them. OtsJuke Player will run fine even on slow computers, and is also compatible with Windows NT.

Licenses can be obtained for the royalty-free right to distribute OtsJuke Player with your album or other audio.

Next: What is a Dynamics Processor?


What is a Dynamics Processor?
Q. WHAT IS A DYNAMICS PROCESSOR AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A. Everyone understands a graphic equalizer, though a dynamics processor is a much less understood device among the general community. Though in reality, a dynamics processor is probably more important than an EQ.

In short, a dynamics processor allows you to control the level (volume) of your audio. When set up correctly, it does this in a transparent way, not making hugely noticeable alterations to the sound, but nevertheless giving you the control that you may need.

All radio stations, television stations, pro club DJs, etc, use dynamics processors.

Some common examples of where a dynamics processor can help you:

* Ever noticed how CDs often vary greatly in volume? You have the volume set just perfectly, then another song comes on from another CD and it's either way too loud, or too quiet. A dynamics processor handles this problem with style!

* If you have background music playing in an office environment, or music during dinner, etc, that is not supposed to be too all-encompassing, then dynamics can present a problem. You want the music to be heard, but not annoying, or distracting to conversation. The normal dynamic range of a CD is almost as high as that of the human ear. CDs are mastered by audio engineers to sound great when you are fully focussed and the music is the centre of your attention. We don't always listen to music in this context however, and therefore there are many situations where a dynamics processor is of tremendous benefit.

* If you DJ through pro-quality gear, then the last thing you want to do is "blow up" your amp or speakers by inadvertantly emitting levels that are too high. Even a short burst of audio that clips badly can destroy high-end speakers in a matter of seconds. With OtsJuke DJ you need never fear this scenario!

* If you have an audio setup in your car, you may notice that because of the high road noise, etc, that you are continually turning the quieter parts of songs up. If you are doing this, then you need a dynamics processor! As stated, radio stations, as do all broadcast networks, use dynamics processing to their advantage. A large percentage of the radio stations' audience are people driving in cars! You may have noticed how "compressed" music on the radio sounds compared to the original CD.

OtsJuke DJ gives you a fully fledged, pro-quality dynamics processor comprising AGC, compressor and limiter. Full control is given to each of the characteristics of each processor section. You can duplicate a "squashy" or "punchy" radio sound if you like, but you can also obtain smooth, consistant audio that is not noticeably altered from the original, and yet all of a sudden your levels problems are solved!

Next: What are the presets for in the Dynamics Processor?


How does OtsJuke DJ know the beat?
Q. HOW DOES OTSJUKE DJ KNOW THE BEAT OF SOME OF THE DEMO SONGS?

A. We have developed an algorithm that can accurately determine the beat and rhythm of most music just by processing it digitally. Once this information is derived, it is stored in the OTS file format efficiently, and can be used for professional beat mixing, fully automated if so desired!

The next version of OtsJuke DJ will offer this full capability. Knowing the exact beat also allows for much better visual effects, etc.

Next: I like the music in the demo.  Where's it from?


I like the music in the demo.  Where's it from?
Q. I LIKE THE MUSIC IN THE DEMO.  WHERE'S IT FROM?

A. We have a page on our website which provides information about all featured artists, in some cases allowing you to even purchase a CD!  See the site for further information.

If you are a musician or band and are looking for new and innovative ways of gaining exposure in this ever competitive market, why not consider sending us some of your stuff!  We are always looking for quality music to compliment the release of new product versions and demonstrations. Benefit by being associated with a product that is definitely going places!

Credits for the music in this release are:

SIMEON,

Stratum Management,

simeon@mediawave.com.au

http://www.otsmedia.com/simeon/

RICHARD VAUGHAN,

Euphonic Creations,

euphonic@mediawave.com.au

http://home.mediawave.com.au/euphonic/

NOTE: credit for cover art on "Sentenced To Exile" album goes to:

Stephanie Law, stephlaw@plumtree.com

MUSIC 2 HUES

Music 2 Hues Publishing

http://www.music2hues.com/

Back to FAQ Main


What are the presets for in the Dynamics Processor?
Q. WHAT ARE THE PRESETS FOR IN THE DYNAMICS PROCESSOR?

A. We have designed a range of presets in the Dynamics Processor to give the best results in varying audio situations.  In broad terms, from left to right the presets increase in their use of compression on the audio. Here is a description of which each is suited for:

"Lounge"

Lounge is best for situations where you are giving your full attention to the audio and want to hear it in the exact way the artist intended.  That is, without any compression or variance in volume.  This preset still utilises the "Limiter" module which protects spikes in the audio from potentially damaging your speakers.

"DJ"

DJ uses the "Limiter" and "Compressor" to control excessively loud audio, such as bass beats during beat mixing, which are going to be too loud in volume.

This preset is good for doing manual DJing and beat mixing where you want to have more manual control over the volume, and particularly don't want the "AGC" enabled, but still want compression of excessively loud portions of audio as well as protection from spikes, etc.

"Party"

Party is the default preset and is probably the best to use in most situations.  It utilises the "AGC" in addition to the "Compressor" and "Limiter".  The AGC is the yellow gauge which actually turns the volume up and down in realtime in response to a songs' dynamics.  This preset alters the volume very steadily, in order to make it difficult for listeners to even notice the change.

The benefit is that you will have nice, smooth, consistant audio levels flowing from your system without having to worry about manually adjusting anything. The original dynamics of the music are still preserved very well, and therefore this preset is usually the best compromise when all things are considered.

"Radio"

The Radio preset delivers the typical compressed radio sound you hear on FM stations, but obviously the quality is superior due to the direct use of CD-quality audio files.  "AGC" volume adjustments, as well as overall compression, are made more agressively which makes it perfect for applications in low-volume environments.

For example, in the office you want the volume to be loud enough so you can enjoy it, but quiet enough so that it does not interfere with normal office activities.  This calls for tight volume handling, and this is where the radio preset excels.  No matter what music is playing, you can be sure it will stay at the volume you want.

Also, many people simply love the compressed radio sound! We are so accustomed to it from listening to FM radio for so long, that it seems to have a kind of magical "air" about it!

Next: What do the Dynamics Processor gauges mean?


What do the Dynamics Processor gauges mean?
WHAT DO THE GAUGES MEAN IN THE DYNAMICS PROCESSOR?

A. On the left hand side of the OtsJuke DJ interface are four gauge bars - green, yellow, blue and green.  These are instaneous gauges that show specific audio characteristics that are currently true. The first is the input level, second is AGC (Automatic Gain Control), third is the Compressor and Limiter, and the last one is the output level. There is also an oscilloscope underneath these bar gauges.

All number markings on the gauges are in the standard audio measurement scale of decibels (dB).

Here is a description of what each gauge shows:

Input level (Green)

This gauge reflects the volume of the audio input going into the Dynamics Processor.  It is useful to note the difference between this input gauge and the output gauge, which shows what has happened to the volume.

AGC, Auto Gain Control (Yellow)

The yellow AGC gauge shows whether the AGC is currently boosting or cutting the volume of the audio.  If it is a negative number, it is bringing the volume down.  If it is a positive number, it is boosting the volume up.  This is done first before the audio passes through to the compressor and limiter.

Compressor/Limiter (Blue)

The Compressor and Limiter clamp down any audio which goes over a certain threshold of loudness.  This protects speaker equipment, and keeps the audio level inside a tighter range.  All radio stations use compressors to ensure the audio volume is kept within reasonable bounds and because of this, many people have grown to enjoy this unique sound of music.

Volume Output (Green)

This gauge shows the effect the AGC, Compressor and Limiter have had on the original audio volume represented by the Input Gauge.  You will notice, in a preset like "Radio", the Output Gauge stays tightly within a set range, regardless of natural volume fluctuations of the input signal.

NOTE: There is an input level control in the Dynamics Processor dialog box. The input gauge shows the input level of the audio before the it passes through this input control. Therefore there can be a difference between the input and output gauges even when no AGC or compression is currently taking place, simply as a result of the current setting of this input level control.

Oscilloscope

The oscilloscope underneath the bar gauges tracks the instaneous overall alteration in audio level that is being applied as a result of the AGC/Compressor/Limiter. That's why, when you are in "lounge" mode, the line is usually perfectly flat, however in "radio" mode the oscilloscope shows a lot of activity.

In essence, the AGC, Compressor and Limiter all do the same thing: control/alter the volume of the audio. The difference is in the speed at which they excercise their control. For example, the AGC has a slower, more gradual control. It will allow very rapid increases in audio level to pass through unaffected. The Limiter is at the other extreme, within 1 millisecond it can clamp down on a passage of audio that is too loud!

The use of all three processors make for the best overall audio quality, in terms of faithfullness to the original signal, and yet desired control and effect.

Back to Using the Dynamics Processor

Next: How does OtsJuke DJ know the beat?


How do I use the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility?
Q. HOW DO I USE THE OTS MP3 CONVERSION UTILITY?

A. The OtsJuke DJ download includes the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility.  This is the best way to create OTS files from your MP3s.  Have a look on your desktop for a shortcut to this program.

This program has its own online help explaining its operation.

Also see: How can I take advantage of OTS files?

Next: How do I use the MP3OTS.EXE DOS command line program?


Toolbar Description

This section explains the function of each button location on the toolbar (the row of icons starting with the PLAY button and ending near the clock).

Transport Buttons (the blue ones):

These buttons are great global controls. For example if you just want to skip to the next track it is a lot easier to use the global NEXT TRACK button than use the FADE button on one of the decks.

PLAY - Plays the current loaded deck, or the last deck played (if both are loaded).

PAUSE - Suspends all playing decks.

STOP - Stops all playing decks..

PREVIOUS TRACK - Fades out current track into last track in history list.

NEXT TRACK - Fades out current track into next track in other deck or top of playlist.

AUTO-DJ MODE ENABLE/DISABLE - Changes status of Auto-DJ mode. Auto DJ mode handles all the mixing automatically and will continue to play through the playlist seamlessly.

Miscellaneous Buttons (the red ones):

These are convenient shortcuts to common functions you can also access in a menu if desired.

IMPORT OTS FILES - Opens a file dialogue box to select and import some OTS files. Once files are imported, they can be accessed in a flash via the search facility. See Importing Files.

GENERATE PLAYLIST - Replaces or adds to the current playlist by randomly sorting all imported OTS files. See Generating a Playlist.

VISUAL FX - Opens the Visual FX control panel.

CYCLE WINDOWS MODE - Cycles between COMPACT, NORMAL and EXTENDED display modes. (Note: Extended mode requires min. 1024 x 768.)

SEARCH - Opens the Search facility dialogue window, allowing quick access to songs. See Using the Search Facility.

Black Box Buttons (the black ones):

These are shortcuts to each "black box" processor device.

FX - Opens the Audio FX control panel.

GRAPHIC EQ - Opens the Graphic Equalizer control panel. See Using the Graphic EQ.

DYNAMICS PROCESSOR - Opens the Dynamics Processor control panel. See Using the Dynamics Processor.

OUTPUT CONFIGURATION - Opens the Output Configuration dialogue window. See Configuring the Output Settings

Playlist Buttons (the green ones):

These buttons give you a quick control over the display mode of lists.

PLAYLIST - Displays the main playlist across the entire area of the screen.

HISTORY - Displays the History List.

WORK AREA - Displays the Work Area.

See Using Playlists.


FAQ Main
Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of some of the common questions we get asked. It is a good idea to start from the beginning and skim through all the question/answers to get a good overview and understanding of OtsJuke DJ.

What is OtsJuke?

What is OtsJuke DJ?

Minimum requirements?

What is so good about OtsJuke DJ?

What file types does OtsJuke DJ use?

What are OTS files?

Why would I want to use OTS files?

How can I take advantage of OTS files?

How do I use the OTS MP3 Conversion Utility?

How do I use the MP3OTS.EXE DOS command line program?

How do I get OtsJuke DJ to play my music easily?

What is OtsJuke Player?

What is a Dynamics Processor?

What are the presets for in the Dynamics Processor?

What do the Dynamics Processor guages mean?

How does OtsJuke DJ know the beat?

I like the music in the demo.  Where's it from?

Click below to go back to the main page.

Back to Main


Importing Files

OtsJuke DJ currently uses a few types of files:

- MP3s indirectly via OTS Album files. (See What are OTS files?)

- JFIF-standard JPEG files for cover art (intelligently incorporated into OTS Album)

- Audio CDs can be read directly into decks digitally (NO loss of quality).

- WAV files are used to record output as an option (as well as Shoutcast).

However in relation to importing you will only need to import OTS Album files.

OtsJuke DJ is designed so that all audio files are imported at the start of a playing back session, allowing them to be quickly accessed later for instant searching and fast playback.

However, you still can import files during a session if desired.

To import some OTS Albums simply select the red musical note icon on the toolbar, or alternatively go to FILE -> IMPORT OTS FILE(S).

Then navigate to the the location of OTS files and select the ones you wish to import.

You can also have files imported automatically when OtsJuke DJ starts up. See Command Line Options for how to do this.


Using the Search Facility

This section explains the different areas of the search facility. You can raise the search dialogue window by choosing the red magnifying glass in the toolbar, or by selecting EDIT -> SEARCH...

CHOOSING THE SOURCE:

IMPORTED OTS FILES - Search criteria will be based on all OTS files you have imported.

CD ROM DRIVES (AUDIO CDS) - Display current Audio CD contents in each drive.

SEARCH OPTIONS AND FUNCTIONS:

TYPING IN THE CRITERIA FIELD (IMPORTED FILES ONLY) - Up the top you can type in the white rectangle your search criteria. If you type nothing, and hit the SEARCH button, ALL imported items will be displayed. If you type "love" for example, all items with those four consecutive letters in their "title" or "artist" fields will be displayed.

SELECTING A CD-ROM DRIVE (CDs ONLY) - You can select either drive 1,2,3 or 4. This will depend on how many drives are installed on your machine.

CD CACHE... (CDs ONLY) - Allows you to delete the stored detected mixing points and volume equalization determined when you first inserted the audio CD. This can be useful if detection occuring on a poor quality drive allowing possible inaccuracies.

REFRESH (CDs ONLY) - Refresh contents of CD ROM drive.

DRAGGING AND DROPPING - You can easily drag and drop any appearing items straight into a deck or list. You can also drag and drop multiple items, or right-click and COPY items into the clipboard.

SEND TO (where an item goes after clicking the SEND button):

PLAYLIST AS NEXT - The very top of the Playlist.

WORK AREA - AT END - The very end of the Work Area.

CLIPBOARD - Into the clipboard's memory.

DECK A - Straight into DECK A.

DECK B - Straight into DECK B.

./ KEEP OPEN - This option will keep the Search dialogue window open until you click CLOSE (useful for searching and preparing a long list).

SEND - Sends the currently highlighted item to the destination specified in the "SEND TO" radio button box.

CLOSE - Exits the Search facility.


Using the Graphic EQ
Using the Graphics Equalizer

This section explains the functions of the Graphics Equalizer, a unique zero-latency, instant response audio processer included in OtsJuke DJ.

LEFT CHANNEL EQ and RIGHT CHANNEL EQ buttons - These large buttons enable/disable the equalisation on that channel. If the button is outlined in black, EQ is switched ON.

SLIDERS 32 to 16K - Simply alter each slider and hear the instant response on the audio.

./ GANG CHANNEL ADJUSTMENTS - Have this option ticked if you want to apply slider changes to both the LEFT and the RIGHT channels.

LEFT -> RIGHT - Duplicates LEFT slider settings to the RIGHT channel.

LEFT <- RIGHT - Duplicates RIGHT slider settings to the LEFT channel.

FLAT (preset) - Sets all sliders to 0dB.

BASS BOOST (preset) - Sets all slider to give a little extra bass.

CLOSE - Exits Graphic EQ control panel.


Using the Dynamics Processor

Most areas of the Dynamics Processor are answered with the following three questions.

Soon we will have full details explaining the sliders in the Dynamics Processor and what each is useful for.

What is a Dynamics Processor?

What are the presets for in the Dynamics Processor?

What do the Dynamics Processor gauges mean?

Back to Main


Configuring the Output Settings

This section outlines the output setting options.

You can select the Output Configuration dialogue window by clicking on the speaker icon on the toolbar, or alternatively going to OPTIONS -> OUTPUT CONFIGURATION...

PRIMARY AUDIO OUTPUT:

ON AIR OUTPUT DEVICE - This shows the device (sound card) set up to handle "ON AIR" audio. You can reset it by unticking the enabled option, and then re-ticking.

In this version the secondary sound card support feature has not yet been completed. See the web site to check for the latest version.

SECONDARY OUTPUT OPTIONS:

This section allows you to do two things:

OUTPUT TO A WAVE FILE (RECORD) - See Outputting to a WAVE file

OUTPUT TO A SHOUTCAST SERVER (BROADCAST) - See Outputting to SHOUTcast


Outputting to a WAVE file

This section outlines the WAVE file recording options.

You can select the Output Configuration dialogue window by clicking on the speaker icon on the toolbar, or alternatively going to OPTIONS -> OUTPUT CONFIGURATION...

FORMAT:

Choose between...

- 44,100Hz, 22,050Hz and 11,025Hz.

- 16 bit and 8 bit.

- Stereo and mono.

Note: All sample rates are correctly low-pass filtered for optimum sound quality.

FILENAME/PREFIX:

You can use the SET... button to select destination of .WAV files, and the prefix can be typed in. For example OtsJukeOutput* will save all WAV files as OtsJukeOutput1, OtsJukeOutput2, OtsJukeOutput3, etc.

./ PAUSE WHEN NOTHING IS PLAYING:

The WAV file will only write when a deck is playing. This means you could click the STOP button and resume 5 minutes later without it missing one milli second in the WAV file.

./ SPLIT INTO TRACKS:

This amazing feature allows you to easily make a mixed-style audio CD. OtsJuke DJ will automatically make a new WAV files each time the next song plays. The end result is seamless production when listening straight through, but fast access indexing for individual CD tracks.

./ WARN OF ANY GLITCH:

OtsJuke DJ will warn if there are any problems with writing files or there are gaps in WAV file writings.

Note: Even if OtsJuke DJ happened to skip due to a system hold up, it is likely the WAV file will still write correctly as it has an extra buffer.

START and STOP

Starts the recording, and stops the recording.

Note: You can start the recording and then click a deck to play for it really to start, if you have "pause when nothing is playing" enabled.


Outputting to SHOUTcast
Outputting to a SHOUTcast server

This section outlines the SHOUTcast server broadcasting options.

SELECT YOUR SAMPLE RATE:

- 44,100Hz

- 22,050Hz

- 11,025Hz.

This MUST match the sample rate set in SHOUTcast.

Note: DO NOT enable low-pass filtering in SHOUTcast, as OtsJuke DJ does it automatically and a lot better too!

SPAWN:

Select this button to start broadcasting to the server.

Note: For more information on this topic see http://www.otsjuke.com.

This address has a full guide explaining how to set up a SHOUTcast server, what files you need, etc.


Using Playlists

This section explains how to easily use the Playlist, History List and Work Area.

All lists have the capability to:

- Drag and drop single or multiple items to and from lists (and to and from decks).

- Cut, Paste, Copy and Delete items.

- To be copied to the clipboard and saved for later use. (Saving functions are under the FILE menu. See Menu Description section).

WORK AREA:

The Work Area is great to use as a dumping ground. You can use the Search Facility to bring up all imported OTS files in alphabetical order and send them straight to the Work Area.

HISTORY LIST:

This serves as a handy record of what has been played.

(Note: This section will be expanded in future versions).


Generating a Playlist

This section explains different facets of the Playlist generator.

To generate a playlist go to the red icon on the toolbar representing a List with a yellow star on it, or alternatively go to OPTIONS -> GENERATE PLAYLIST....

At the moment there are just three options, but these will grow extensively in future versions.

REPLACE EXISTING PLAYLIST

INSERT AT BEGINNING OF EXISTING PLAYLIST

ADD TO END OF EXISTING PLAYLIST

Each do exactly what they say.

(Note: This section will be expanded in future versions).


Menu Description
Menu Option Description

This section explains the function of each menu option under FILE, EDIT, TRANSPORT, OPTIONS and HELP.

FILE MENU:

WORKSPACE ->

CLEAR ALL - Clears all imported OTS files, all playlists and all decks. Allows you to start with a clean slate.

OPEN... - Opens a previously saved workspace.

SAVE - Saves currently open workspace.

SAVE AS... - Opens a dialogue box to save workspace under a different file name.

SAVE AS DEFAULT - Sets current workspace as default one to open on startup.

(Note: Most of the above options are not available in this version. They are currently being developed.)

CLIPBOARD ->

LOAD - Allows you to load an OJL (OtsJuke DJ list) file into the clipboard. Once loaded in the clipboard you can EDIT -> PASTE the contents into any list desired. Note: Only items with corresponding imported OTS files will be successfully pasted.

SAVE AS.. - Allows you to save whatever is currently contained in the clipboard, as an OJL file. Note: CD Track references will be stripped out of any saved clipboard. You can save highlighted items in the clipboard by selecting EDIT -> COPY.

IMPORT OTS FILE(S)... - Opens a file dialogue box to select and import some OTS files. Once files are imported, they can be accessed in a flash via the search facility. See Importing Files.

EXIT - Shuts down OtsJuke DJ.

EDIT MENU:

CUT - Cuts the currently highlighted items and stores them in the clipboard.

COPY - Makes a copy of the currently highlighted items into the clipboard.

PASTE - Pastes the contents of the clipboard where the cursor is currently located.

DELETE - Removes the currently highlighted items from the list.

SEARCH... - Opens the Search facility dialogue window, allowing quick access to songs. See Using the Search Facility.

TRANSPORT MENU:

PLAY - Plays the current loaded deck, or the last deck played (if both are loaded).

PAUSE - Suspends all playing decks.

STOP - Stops all playing decks..

PREVIOUS TRACK - Fades out current track into last track in history list.

NEXT TRACK - Fades out current track into next track in other deck or top of playlist.

OPTIONS MENU:

./ AUTO DJ - Changes status of Auto-DJ mode. Auto DJ mode handles all the mixing automatically and will continue to play through the playlist seamlessly.

GENERATE PLAYLIST... - Replaces or adds to the current playlist by randomly sorting all imported OTS files. See Generating a Playlist.

./ REPEAT PLAYLIST - Ensures non-stop audio by shifting the History List contents back into the Playlist once it is empty.

WINDOWS MODE ->

./ COMPACT - Sets to display to compact mode.

./ NORMAL - Sets to display to normal mode.

./ EXTENDED - Sets to display to extended mode (requires min. 1024 x 768)

./ ALWAYS ON TOP - Keeps OtsJuke DJ always on top when in "compact" mode.

./ SHOW TOOL TIPS - Displays helpful tooltips when mouse cursor is placed over button, etc.

EFFECTS PROCESSOR... - Opens the Audio FX control panel.

GRAPHIC EQUALIZER... - Opens the Graphic Equalizer control panel. See Using the Graphic EQ.

DYNAMICS PROCESSOR... - Opens the Dynamics Processor control panel. See Using the Dynamics Processor.

OUTPUT CONFIGURATION... - Brings up a dialogue box allowing selection of sound card devices ("ON AIR" and "CUE"), and secondary output options (Shoutcast and WAV). Note: Dual sound card support is not operable in this version (check website for latest version). See Configuring the Output Settings

./ CD-DA SUBSYSTEM ENABLED - Enables the CD-DA sub-system if it was set not to automatically startup initially. See Command Line Options.

./ CD-DA AUTO-PLAY MODE - Turns on/off the CD-DA Auto-play mode. This mode when switched on allows you to take Audio CDs out of the CD-ROM drive, and insert new ones with the audio always automatically starting. This lets you treat the computer and OtsJuke DJ more like a lounge room CD Player, except of course with OtsJuke all your tracks nicely mix together radio-style.

VISUAL FX... - Opens the Visual FX control panel.

LIST DISPLAY ->

./ SHOW PLAYLIST ACROSS FULL WIDTH - Just as it says.

./ SHOW HISTORY ON RIGHT- Just as it says.

./ SHOW WORK AREA ON RIGHT- Just as it says.

LIST COLOURS ->

./ VANILLA - Set list colour mode to Vanilla.

./ LCD - Set list colour mode to LCD.

./ TUBE - Set list colour mode to Tube.

PREFERENCES... - Bring up the main preferences dialogue windows. (Note: This is not present in this version and is currently under development).

HELP MENU:

HELP... - Starts the online help (what you are reading now).

TAKE THE OTSJUKE DJ TOUR... - Starts the OtsJuke DJ Tour

ABOUT OTSJUKE DJ... - Version and license information of OtsJuke DJ.

REGISTRATION INFO... - View registering information on the OtsJuke.com web site.

CHECK FOR UPGRADE... - Automatically check for a new version on the OtsJuke.com web site.

OTSJUKE ON THE WEB... - Load and point browser to OtsJuke.com

OTS FILES ON THE WEB... - Load and point browser to OtsMedia.com

OTS CORPORATION ON THE WEB - Load and point browser to OtsCorp.com


Command Line Options

This section outlines the various command line switches you can use to control OtsJuke DJ on startup.

HOW DO I USE COMMAND LINE SWITCHES?

First go to the OtsJuke DJ shortcut icon you wish to add the switches to.

Note: If you need to create a new one then explore to your OTSJDJ.EXE file (probably located in C:\OTSJUKE). Right-click on it and select CREATE SHORTCUT. You can now drag this shortcut to an easy access place.

Now right-click on your shortcut and select PROPERTIES.

Under the target field it should have something like C:\OTSJUKE\OTSJDJ.EXE

After this you can add any switches. e.g. C:\OTSJUKE\OTSJDJ.EXE /MYMUSIC

COMMAND LINE SWITCHES:

/MYMUSIC - Automatically imports all OTS files located in your MyMusic folder (see OTS MP3 Conversion Utility Help file for more information on the MyMusic system).

/[PATH] - Automatically imports all OTS files in the specified PATH without the [] square brackets. (e.g /C:\OTSJUKE\OTSFILES)

/RECURSE - Imports all sub-folders recursively when the /MYMUSIC or /[path] command line is used.

/PLAY - Automatically creates a random playlist and starts playing OtsJuke DJ.

/NOCDDA - Starts OtsJuke DJ up without the CD Sub-system initialised.

/AS=[x] - Substitute [x] with either an "A" or a "B". These are the two stability modes we currently have. Depending on your hardware you may find one works a little better that the other. A is the default. (e.g. /AS=B).