TIDAL Support needed to keep up...

I waffle between TP3 and RBDJ, and since the US is still pretty much on lockdown for weddings, clubs, and events, that means I've really been digging into the beta releases of both. Keep in mind, I've used Traktor in some form or another since the days of Final Scratch.

I have to say, the 3.4.x update has been a great improvement overall in a number of ways (I'm already rocking Smartlists in ways I don't even do in other software). The browser UI improvements are fantastic, though I'd love the ability to add color to my playlists folders to make them easier to see on the fly.

But honestly, aside from a solid DMX lighting integration, the ONE THING that I feel is still missing is integration with a primary T40 streaming platform. TIDAL seems to be the best I've toyed with, and the integration that RBDJ just dropped is one of the best I've seen. I'd absolutely love to say that Traktor Pro is my primary software again, and that might just do it. TIDAL's audio quality is far superior to Spotify, though I wouldn't mind seeing you be the first to incorporate Apple Music subscriptions.

 

according to the NI, Traktor pro 3 has outdated code, because of which they cannot integrate streaming services, but they wrote that they are working on the architecture of the application to make this possible

 

Tidal (and spotify) do not support the use of their services for public performance because the royalty payment scheme is not designed that way so you don't have the rights to use their content in a public environment especially if you are charging for your time, hence it would be unlikely that it would be supported as a service.

https://tidal.com/terms

Section 8:

Most streaming services have the same limitations which is why many are not included in things like Traktor, Serato etc.

It has to be licenses in a certain way which normally means higher user cost for the licensing, a standard user subscription offers only personal use and not public broadcast.

 

I'm still surprised and don't understand why the music companies are so shortsighted. They could make money from our DJ streams, but their limited thinking prevents them from doing it

 

I understand the Tidal terms and understand what you are saying. Clearly they are willing to look the other way (or have some other legalese that we don't see) in their allowance of software like Serato, RBDJ, VDJ, and Djay to access the library. You are required to have the higher priced premium account (which helps pay the royalties), and other limitations are in place. You generally cannot record your stream, store files locally (beyond downloading to the loaded deck), and in the case of RBDJ they don't even include it in your playlist history, though that's kinda weird.

I'm a heavy advocate for legally owning music. I've also got a head start of 25 years vs the next bedroom DJ that can't even go out and buy a CD to own a physical copy of a track. I've subscribed to numerous music pools, including Promo Only since 1995. I won't say that I'm entitled to stream a track once in a while, but if I need it in a pinch, I'd rather know I can play it from a reputable source like Tidal than some janky recording uploaded to YouTube that spawns an advertisement at the 2 minute mark.

FWIW, I think that Traktor needs to draw in MORE users and not continue to drive them away. If add an FAQ that basically says check with the streaming provider for official policy on public performance (as both Serato and Pioneer have done), so be it. Heck, I'd be willing to tryout a track or mix from Tidal in the privacy of my own home then seek out remixes of that tune later in order to own it.

As to the "outdated code" that Almaz reference, I thought they said the same when it came to implementing smart playlists, but they got that done. Where there's a will, there's a way -- And honestly, if they really convert the Traktor 2 app into a Traktor Pro 4 app it might be a while before I'm really looking to flip that switch.

 

theres no reason traktor cant have tidal, in the same way you download a track from a payed provider and then drag it onto your deck. tidal is the same thing. the browser just needs a little update to show the search (thats all done tidal side) and temporary download (windows or mac), traktor need to take that temp file and load it onto the deck as if it where any normal downloaded mp3. wtf is the problem?

 

There is a lot of cool stuff in Traktor which will not be compatible with streaming services. Think only on the capture functionality of the Remix Decks.

 

Pretty sure traktor can play a song, not to difficult is it? dont complicate the matter.

 

It all comes down to copyright and what is considered fair use. Same as purchasing a movie, you cannot then just play that in a public theater for others to enjoy. The cost you pay is for personal use unless you have specifically signed up for a commercial use account which often is higher in charge. Much higher. Even tracks you download from some sources don't actually allow you to perform them in public but who will stop you. Here in Australia, even though I have a load of LPs, CDs and MP3 tracks I own I still have to pay the PPCA $200 a year to legally perform these in public anywhere. Fun fact too, you actually need a separate license from this if you want to make an MP3 copy of your CDs as that is classed as a reproduction and against copyright terms, and a separate license again if you want to play video clips!.... Almost 100% of DJs out there are operating against the terms in some way and can be fined if someone does a spot check, which happens, I have heard of clubs DJs shutdown on the spot for it but it's rare.

This differs between countries too which is why some streaming services can offer commercial replay of some services (at an increased cost) and others cannot. Also, in some countries these services cannot be offered at all. It's never a simple case of "why can't they just update this or do that". Copyright and artists rights are a complex mess and unless you have a keen interest to know more, most will never bother and simply play whatever they can get their hands on.

I'm not a traktor user myself, I use Serato and that supports streaming... in some countries on some services. I used a VPN to access one of their first attempts years ago because it was not available in Australia, no idea these days since I personally don't like to trust streaming tracks for a live performance, i've had issues and I would prefer to use what I have on hand. Problem with allowing streaming is NI would have to partner with another company to do it and I don't think that would help push their own agenda, so prob will never happen especially as I would assume their user base for Traktor is pretty small.

 

If you pay flat fee to use musical copyrighted materiál publicly, it should cover also streaming services. If they decide so...

In Czech Republic one may pay flat fee for gyms, restaurants, cafes and so on. But it differs if it is radio, reproduced music, youtube, ..... And adds up...

In club DJ should make play list for each gig and also report number of people and average price of entrance fee. From that is calculated how much he should pay a what he pays is somehow distributed to the artists. (But it is not that money he payed is divided between artists he played..... There is some kind of obscure relocation scheme. And also payments from sold HDD, SDD, flash-sticks, CD/DVD-R/RW, printers, copy maschines, .... are somehow distributed ).

 

we are already past the legality of weather or not dj software can use streaming as all the other dj software can do it.

the question is, why does the traktor team say they can not code it in when they can??

 

JesterMgee Access to the online library can be used not only to play these tracks online, but also to select music before buying a home. For the last two years, I have been compiling all my mixes in the dj program of online tracks and then when the mix is created I buy only these 15-20 tracks, which is very convenient.

About copyright - I think this is a separate topic. It is impossible to justify NI that they do not make streaming services to the Traktor, because they will violate copyright. DJ or club must resolve this issue among themselves. Who pays for licenses, DJs or a club - this must be spelled out in the contract. I am not very good at this topic, but probably in every public place where music is played, a box should be installed that reads all the play compositions and then billes the owner of this institution, club, bar.. etc. If there is no such box in this place, then the DJ should do it himself, based on his playlists.

DJ Companies can also embed this functionality in the future inside the DJ program

 

Maybe it looks like a conspiracy theory? Among Traktor employees implemented secret agent from the Rekordbox to end the 20-year history of DJing for NI. Pioneer wants to continue to create a monopoly on the market and introduces secret agents into different structures of music companies.

 

Well, it is not that simple...
Spotify wants to 'protect' the copyrighted content. So, it should be prohibited to make data available to user, only play them is acceptable for Spotify. But Traktor allows to save music played. So would make protected copyrighted materiál accesible to public.... So, NI could be sued by Spotify that it breaks copyright protection.... So, first there would have to be some kind of contract allowing NI to 'export' data, or NI would have to restrict output of Spotify data from recording.

 

But tracks can be made without saving, but only loading into a temporary cache

 

I speak about recording feature of Traktor. One may record what he plays... NI could block this feature for Spotify. Maybe. But generaly it would mean if Spotify is used, no recording. And users woild complain, they cannot record their mix..... Or in worst case would consider it a bug.

Maybe that is one of the 'infrastructure' things NI speaks about. For sure there are solutions, but things are not, most probably, so simple as they seem to be....

 

But this does not make much sense, those people who want to get around the system will go around it. There are many ways to write a mix using third-party applications or a separate sound card. Of course, in the dj program itself - the recording of mixes will be disabled if at least one online track is used, as it works in other dj programs.

 

We do not know much about internal structure of Traktor. It simply may be tricky to do online support and comply with copyright rules of online service in current Traktor infrastructure. If it is so, it is better to redesign the structure, to 'tweak' things within current infrastructure.

Yes, NI could possibly incorporate online now, but it might result in program that is difficult to maintain.... If NI sees it like that, it is better to change internals first and integrate online sources later.

 

your talking absolute nonsense mate, it would work like all other dj software.

 

Well, offer NI, that you will do the job for them. That it is easy for you.
Or you may create the program that gets streams from Tidal/Spotify and save it as mp3 for use of Traktor. ;-)