I'm seeking a feature and price comparison and recommendation for mp3j
software.

Here's what I mean by "mp3j software":  Mp3j software allows me to
beatmatch/beatmix 2 or more mp3 files, just like a DJ does with vinyl
or CDs.  The software might be stand-alone or might be a winamp
plug-in.

I'm only interested in a software-only options so don't bother
including/reviewing products that are designed for use with an
external interface: I'll do the beatmixing with the keyboard and
mouse.  I have two soundcards.

Since my main objective is to simply begin learning the listening
aspect of beat matching, the software I seek is probably free or not
very expensive.  But on the other hand, maybe something terribly
useful amd instructive is available for, say, $120 and it would be a
shame to exclude such software from the comparison just because of a
higher price.

Some software (either standalone or as part of a mp3j software
package) has some features I'd like included in your comparison: BPM
counting, categorization/library features.

Here are some random links to get you started.  (Don't read *too* much
into my inclusion of these links: they're just to prime the pump.)

______________________________
http://members.tripod.com/to_skripto/dj-helper/

http://www.visiosonic.com/ (included for completeness; I suspect that
all products here require external interfaces)

http://users.compaqnet.be/CubicCarrot/

http://www.carrotinnovations.com/

Hi donphiltrodt!!
I just searched for you DJ programs that support mp3 files and found
several that I think you will enjoy. I will list them sorted by price,
then I will give you the main features page of the soft and some
reviews comment if available.

Remember that you will probably need a PC with a 500 MHz CPU at least
if you like to obtain good results. Slower CPUs will still work, but
response will probably not be fast or exact enough.

The list:

-DJ Helper 2.51: Freeware

The DJ Helper is a plugin for WinAmp. Using the DJ Helper and a
standard PC with two soundcards, you can master performances like a
pro DJ.
At the DJ Helper web page you can find a very complete tutorial and
some tips to do your mix.
http://members.tripod.com/to_skripto/dj-helper/

The features page of this product is:
http://members.tripod.com/to_skripto/dj-helper/#features

Winamp Staff Review:
"Dj with Winamp Great plug-in packed with all the features you need to
mix like a CD dj without spending silly amounts of money on gear.
Automatic BPM matching and counting...manual pitch controls...
crossfade automatically...set crossfade time for abrupt or smooth
fades. This tool definitely has it all. New version with many many
updates... read author's description for a complete list."

Download link: http://members.tripod.com/to_skripto/dj-helper/dj-helper.zip

----------------------------------------------------------------
-MGC DJ 2000: Freeware

MGC DJ 2000 is a very basic DJ application that provides 3 players and
19 customizable sound effects. It uses Windows Media Player to support
a wide range of audio file formats.
Features:
3 independant music players with volume and balance control. 
Crossfader for mixing songs between two players 
Sound effects section which can load and play up to 19 customizable
samples.
Continue Playing Option - automatically loads and plays the next song
in the file list when the current one is finished.
Customizable interface (a few different background colors and
effects).
Automatically recalls the last song played by each music player on
next start up.
Supports many formats including: asf, asx, ram, rm, rmm, avi, mpg,
mpeg, m1v, mp2, mp3, mpa, mpe, mid, rmi, qt, aif, aifc, aiff, mov, au,
snd, wav.

Download link: http://files1.sonicspot.com/mgcdj2000/MGCDJ2000Full.exe

-----------------------------------------------------------------

-Tactile 12000: Freeware

The Tactile12000 is a 3-D, interactive simulation of a DJ setup - two
turntables and a mixer. It has a funny graphic interface. You can
crossfade, backspin, and speed up and slow down music, including
full-length WAVE, AIFF, MP3 and other QuickTime supported format
songs, on your computer. M3U playlists are also supported.

Features:
Support for multiple sound cards on Windows.
Support for mixing music from your hard drive, including MP3 files. 
Cueing with headphones (it can play back the cue record on the left
channel) .
Keyboard controls for the turntables and mixer .
Precise control of the mixer and records .
Pitch bending and cue points .
AutoMix: automatic mixing of your playlist .
http://tactile12000.sourceforge.net/features/index.html


Product Homepage: http://www.tactile12000.com/

Download Page: http://tactile12000.sourceforge.net/download/index.html

--------------------------------------------------------

-MixVibes : There are three versions Free, STD (U$ 39), and Pro (U$
99)

MixVibes Free:
This version of Mixvibes is for personnal use. It only supports one
soundcard, but it will be a source of great entertainment. It's
absolutely no cost, and it has no time limit.
Main Features at:
http://www.mixvibes.com/pages/mixvibesfree.html


MixVibes STD:
All sound formats are supported including mp3 and wav. 
Each mixer channel offers controls for equalization, gain, pitch,
volume, pan, in and out position, automatic fade in/out, and bpm.
Compatible with all 32-bit Windows platforms (98/ME/NT2000/XP).
Manage 4 audio cards and can switch on the fly.
Cue Mode (like hardware dj cd player)
Pitch bend slider and 8 customizable  pitch bend keys (default -+4%
-+2%)
Beat matching
Beat Counting
Voice removal.
Very low latency.

http://www.mixvibes.com/pages/mixvibesstandard.html


MixVibes Pro:
It is a professional program for mixing live on your computer like a
DJ.
It includes all items of the DJ deck:
A mixer fully customizable (up to 16 channels). 
Virtual CD Pro players (up to 16). 
3 sound effects for each channel and DirectX plug-ins. 
20 seconds sampler for each channel. 
A database for managing your music and a sequencer for recording your
mix .
Real-time Auto Bpm counting with Auto Beat Synchro. 

Technical description:
Customizable number of channels (2 to 16). 
Skins .
Sampling 20 seconds .
Instant Looping .
Switch audio out on fly and monitoring .
Auto and manual Bpm Counting .
Batch Bpm Counting .
10 locations .
Tempo real time audio effects : echo, reverb, chorus, flanging,
phasing, modulation, filter, voice removal, cut, delay, auto pan,
resonant, distorsion .
DirectX plug-ins .
Auto Cue .
Auto Gain .
Jog & Shuttle .
Auto Beat Synchro and Auto Beat Matching .
Speed (-90% +90%) .
Vinyl brake .
Master Tempo .
Pitch Shifting (-+1 octave) .
Parametric equalization (bass/mid/treble), killer frequencies,
resonant equalization .
10 bands stereo equalizer .
Database .
Sequencer .
Edit and save your mix in mp3 file or wave .
Scan function for a quick search of all music files in hard drives .
Auto-Fade with adjustable time .
Manage up to 4 audio cards and can switch on the fly .
Midi controllable .
Mix Video in full screen and supports multiple monitors .
Visual Plug-ins compatible Winamp and Sonique .
Talk over .
Digital voice .
Auto run and radio programming .
Quick Start (<3ms) and Seek (<15ms for mp3 file) .
Low latency for pitch and volume change (<5ms).

http://www.mixvibes.com/pages/mixvibespro4.html


You can see a comparative table betwee this three programs at:
http://www.mixvibes.com/pages/compare.html


MixVibes Professional and standard are shareware.
When unregistred, the version is limited to 30 minutes without save
functions.
For version PRO, you will receive the full version when you will order
it.
MixVibes Free is a freeware (without any spy).
Download links:
http://www.mixvibes.com/pages/download.html

------------------------------------------------------------

-Discotheque Sound System DJ: Shareware (U$ 29.90)

Discotheque Sound System DJ is much more than an audio player, it's a
professional, live mixing software. The program was special developed
to use and experiment DJ's technics without turntables.

Here below you can see what features does DSS DJ 3.03 include:

- mixer (cross-fader, volume/gain, punch in, mute, talk-over)  
- two decks fully independent ( MP3 and WAV supported)  
- CUE support (8 CUE points, search on play)  
- pitch control (+/-24%) with Master Tempo, bend and slow reset  
- 3 bands equalizer with kill  
- cut-off filters (low / high)  
- DSP effects  
- real-time beat/rhythm display  
- beats offset display  
- precise automatic BPM counter (on the fly)  
- automatic one-click BEAT MATCHING and synchronization  
- beat-aware LOOP engine (on the fly)  
- master equalizer with eq faders  
- Automatic Volume Control (like AGC)  
- userless auto-DJ mode (with beat-match)  
- advanced playlist support including search and preview + 3 cases
(for song database purposes)
- real-time monitoring support with cue mix and preview  
- dual sound card output support - master (connected to speakers),
monitor (connected to headphones) or one deck on each output (requires
external mixer)
- sound engine with latency setup (ASIO, DirectSound and MME WaveOut
supported)
- live recording of your mix (to make your own CDs)  
- highly intuitive user interface (hardware dual CD-players
compatible)

http://www.myxoft.com/features.html


The demo version will run only 30 minutes with ALL features enabled.
For unlimited use you have to buy it.

Download link: http://www.myxoft.com/dssdj.exe

--------------------------------------------------------

-DeeJaySystem : Two versions MK-I Free and MK-I (U$25)

MK-I (non free version):
Deejaysystem Mk-I is a very good player for professional discjockeys.
It can play MP3, WAV and audio CDs (available on Windows 95/98/Me
only) with pitch adjusting, exact positioning, and precise playing
control.

Deejaysystem™ Mk-I details:

-Controls
Denon DN2000F standard
Play, cue (with status leds), seek, track, pitch bend, time, open
buttons and pitch slider. Additional zero-pitch led (emulating
Technics SL1200 turntable).
 
Sound
Volume slider, panning wheel and mute button. Graphic vu-menter with
optional peak level indicator.
Positioning
Position slider. Graphic display for relative song position.
 
Playlist
New list, add files, add folder, open, save, delete buttons. File
count and total length display.
Additional controls
Configuration, quick help, close, minimize, show/hide playlist, true
time and playlist size buttons. Pitch-bend drag control (Touch Bend).
 
-Playlist
Multi-thread processing (does not interferes with the player) 
Recursive directory search / .m3u files auto-expand 
Full drag&drop support (songs/playlists/folders) 
Intuitive select/drag/move mouse functions (Ctrl-Shift keys support
for multiple selection)
Load / Save Winamp-compatible .m3u playlist files 
Dialog boxes to add files / add folders functions 
Height - width dimensionable window 
Common function buttons 

-Pitch
Customizable precision: 0.01% or 0.001% 
Customizable range from ±8% to ±40% 
Precise adjusting in any range with the Ctrl-Shift keys + pitch
buttons (+/-)
Pitch bend functions performed by buttons or by drag (Touch Bend
control near the pitch slider)

-Positioning
MPEG indexing, allows exact positioning with precision lower than 1
millisecond even in VBR (variable bit rate) files
Exact song length calculation in any mpeg file 
Precise position adjusting with Ctrl-Shift keys + seek buttons 
Position bar, allows to jump instantly to any song position 

-Display
Elapsed / remaining time 
True time option: show the real pitch-based song time 
Current numeric pitch value 
Current song index in playlist 
Numeric pitch-bend value (optional) 
System messages


The free version is in essence the same program with the same internal
engine. This will allow you to feel all the power of Deejaysystem™
Mk-I and to test the program's agility and response.
Deejaysystem™ Mk-I free doesn't have some of the possibilities of the
complete version.

Djs Mk-I features not included in the free version:
-Direct audio CD reading 
-Integrated playlist editor 
-Advanced options, some of which are:
           Precise pitch (0.001 resolution)
           Extended pitch range (up to ±40 %)
           MPEG indexing (exact positioning and duration estimation)
-Professional usage license

Download Page: http://www.avatarcreations.com/djs/download.asp

---------------------------------------------------------------

AtoMix MP3 : Shareware (U$ 59.95)

AtomixMP3 provides you with the usual 2 track MP3 player, pitch
control, crossfader, BPM counter, etc. It has a one click BPM beat
matching feature.

AtomixMP3 software features:
- v2.1 -

Twin independent zero-latency players with:
Standard controls (play, pause, stop, cue) 
Volume control 
Pitch control (from -34 to +34%) 
3 band equalizers with Kill + gain
One-click beat matching and synchronisation (FAME algorithm) 
Automatic beat-matched crossfading 
On-the-fly automatic BPM calculation 
Automatic pitch matching 
Automatic Level mathing 
Automatic beat matching 
Dynamic beat visualizer for easy "drag'n'drop" beat-matching 
Real scratch simulation 
Automatic beat-aware LOOP function 
Master Tempo pitch algorithm 
Automatic first beat and last beat detection 
Up to 5 cue points 
12 sample slots 
3 beat-aware effects slots (included: flanger, cut, brake) 
External beat-aware visual plugins 
Playlist (M3U or PLS compatible) 
Song database engine with easy-to-use search feature and automatic HD
or CD scan
Ready-to-be-burnt file recording to burn your own CDs 
Optional 3D sound card, 2 sound cards or Y-splitter for real-time
monitoring or external mixtable use
Fully customisable (skin engine and shortcut macro engine).

The product Homepage:
http://www.atomixmp3.com/index.html


HispaMP3 Review (translated from spanish):
"AtomixMP3 is a program focused clearly to the accomplishment of
mixtures with MP3 audio files.
It has a module of mixtures attended by computer that will make the
delights of any fan to this type of technology, with it everybody can
make mixtures of quality and without hardly effort.
It has the habitual characteristics in this type of programs, to which
its comfortable, elegant and functional interface equips with the
great simplicity for the end user."
http://www.hispamp3.com/programas/programa.php?programa=31


The demo allows to work with all the functionalities of the program
during 15 minutes, after which you will have to close the program and
re-run it to be able to work with the other 15 minutes.

To download a demo: http://www.atomixmp3.com/download.html

----------------------------------------------------------

This list of products fill your requeriments as a begginer DJ. All of
this do their job. All have BMP features included, so you don´t need
add-ons. And also manage playlist.
But you want some recommendations, well I think you must start with
the DJ Helper, and if you find a version of Winamp older than 2.6 (for
better results).
This program has all the features, advances ones included to do live
mixes. Please visit the product homepage.
Try this to become familiar with this kind of tasks, and then you can
do a quick evaluation of the very time-limited demo versions of the
non free softs.

I guess that the DSS DJ software is the one with better price-featured
ratio (followed by the DeeJay System MK-I), and you can evaluate this
only if you have some practice, because the limited demo.

The MixVibes Pro is a very good option, but it is expensive for your
intentions.


I hope this helps you, and I still looking for more options to you,
and I will post them as an Answer Clarification.
Please Fell free to request any clarification that you need.

Regards
livioflores-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 24 Sep 2002 22:25 PDT

Hi again, I am back!!

More Products:

-OtsJuke DJ: Shareware (U$ 99.95)

This is a great DJ software, fully featured and it is one of the less
resources eater. This is a program intended for professional DJing.
The main features are:
-Continuous flow auto-mixing with world's most accurate auto mix point
detection.
-Smooth audio dynamic volume processing with AGC/compressor/limiter. 
Responsive and predictable with zero-latency instant response controls
.
-Unprecedented control : Play CDs (and MP3s) backwards, forwards,
time-stretched or pitch shifted with CD-DA. CD tracks will appear in
the normal OtsJuke decks, you'll be able to adjust their pitch and
tempo, etc.
And get this: You can even play or mix between multiple tracks from
the same CD at the same time!
-Enjoy reliability and efficiency with the lean & mean architecture:
OtsJuke actually is a suite (OtsJuke DJ, OtsJuke Player, Ots Studio,
Various conversion utilities for handling MP3 files, etc.).  All of
this applications are programmed lean and mean, to load up fast,
occupy little of your disk space, and make the most efficient use of
whatever speed processor you have. Though its system requirements
recommend a Pentium 200Mhz or higher, OtsJuke DJ will successfully run
on a good quality Pentium 133 with a genuine Intel chipset, even while
playing two songs at once!
-Experience the real vinyl feel with realistic virtual scratching.
-Mix in live input from a microphone or record player / tape deck.
-Broadcast to the world with the Shoutcast plugin.
-Record your mixes with Save as Wave.
-Multi sound card support - use a totally different sound card for
your cue channel.
-Media Library with OMQL support. Organise your media and powerfully
query the Media Library with the Ots Media Query Language to aid with
finding suitable items and creating incredibly intelligent playlists.
-Remote Access Control, enabling control via network or internet.

Visit the following page to obtain more details (and navigate it):
http://www.otsjuke.com/about/overview.html

HispaMP3 review (translated from spanish):
"One of the most powerful programs for mixing that exist at the moment
in the market.
If we had to emphasize something of this program without a doubt it
would be the high degree of automatization that reaches in most of the
functions; in fact, I would say that in this facet he is the best one
of all the existing ones.
OtsJuke provides an enviable quality of sound and in addition to the
typical functions for DJ the program also comes prepared so that you
can emit your mixtures from Internet."
http://www.hispamp3.com/programas/programa.php?programa=47


You can download a 30 day fully functional demo from this link:
us.download.otszone.com/static/otsjukedjdemosetup.exe
or
au.download.otszone.com/static/otsjukedjdemosetup.exe

--------------------------------------------------------------

I want to add some comments to the products:

One thing you will like to do is to create your owns CD´s with your
mixes, but this feature is not supported for all Mp3j software.

From the list of softs that I gave you the ones that have the "Record
Mix" feature are:
Discotheque Sound System DJ (DSS DJ)
AtomixMP3
MixVibes Pro version
OtsJuke DJ

If you choose another software there you can record indirectly using a
utility such as Virtual Audio Cable or Total Recorder. My choose here
is Total Recording.

"Total Recording" Homepage:
http://www.highcriteria.com/


"Virtual Audio Cable" Homepage:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Software/Windows/virtual-audio-cable.html


A page that you will enjoy:
"Recess", a web page dedicated to DJing:
http://www.recess.co.uk/start.html


I want to add the homepage of DeeJaySystem MK-I that I forgot to give
you:
http://www.avatarcreations.com/djs/products.asp


So now I leave you, I hope you find the soft that you need and enjoy
the DJing, let us know about that!!!

Remember to use the request of clarification feature if you have any
doubt or if you find some dead link.
Thank you for asking to Google Answers and good luck.

Best Regards
livioflores-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 24 Sep 2002 22:37 PDT

Well, here again, one more time.

As you remember I recommend you, for best results with the DJ Helper
(WinAmp Plugin), to use WinAmp versions 2.5 to 2.65. Older 2.x
versions still work but are not as exact, and 1.x versions probably
will not work with the DJ Helper at all. Versions 2.666 and newer have
a completely new mp3 engine that is not as fast and responsive as the
older versions.

I was looking for this old versions of WinAmp, and, lucky you, I found
them; please visit "Old Version.com" website:
http://www.oldversion.com/

and you will find the old versions of Winamp at the page:
http://www.oldversion.com/winamp.shtml

Good luck, donphiltrodt!!!

The advice of which Winamp version to use was especially remarkable.  Thank you.

ok have a look at this I know you listed their site but

http://www.visiosonic.com/Products/RED.htm that dont need anything external.