Read about the Esperance / OtsAV 1.90 release here.
IMPORTANT: OtsAV 1.90 is a free update for the following licenses:
1.85.076 released on 15 Nov 2010.
This update is free to all OtsAV DJ, OtsAV Radio and OtsAV TV licensed users (including former Pro-licensed users).
OtsAV 1.85.076 is a maintenance release addressing the following issues:
1.85.073 released on 30 Nov 2009, 1.85.074 released on 2 Dec 2009.
This update is free to all OtsAV DJ, OtsAV Radio and OtsAV TV licensed users (including former Pro-licensed users).
Ots Labs has updated and re-worked the entire code-base of OtsAV and associated projects as well as much of their development systems and processes since the last release. Consequently, this update is not intended to be particularly major from a new feature perspective, however it does deliver several capabilities, fixes and enhancements—in addition to better facilitating the implementation and completion of numerous planned developments.
New OtsAV 1.85.073 release includes:
Released on 12 May 2008.
This is a major upgrade, free to all OtsAV DJ, OtsAV Radio and OtsAV TV licensed users (including former Pro-licensed users).
New OtsAV 1.85.064 release delivers:
Released on 12 January 2008.
OtsAV has been split into three separate product lines - OtsAV DJ, OtsAV Radio & OtsAV TV. OtsDJ Pro original customers now have an OtsAV DJ Pro-Classic+ license, and OtsAV Pro customers have an OtsAV DJ Pro-Classic license, with original entitlements at time of purchase (as will be noted in the My Licenses section at OtsZone.com here) and are highly recommended to upgrade FREE to this version.
Released on 9 September 2007.
OtsDJ has been renamed to OtsAV (click for details). This is the first release of OtsAV. OtsDJ Pro customers now have an OtsAV license (as will be noted in the My Licenses section at OtsZone.com) and should upgrade to this version.
Released on 15 November 2006 (latest version with important improvements).
Note: Originally 1.75.001 released 31 Oct 2006 (we delivered by the concrete date we set).
This new MAJOR release introduces Automated Beat Mixing (Ots Labs BeatMorph TechnologyTM), High-quality Time-scaling (Ots Labs ClearScale TechnologyTM), a host of other features, as well as compatibility with two major new modules - the OtsDJ Video Module (Ots Labs TrueSmooth TechnologyTM) and the OtsDJ Karaoke CD+G Module.
New features and benefits:
Released on 20 February 2006.
This is an all-inclusive maintenance release which provides even greater stability and robustness. All Boombox, Silver and Pro license-holders are able to upgrade to this release.
Note: If you're updating directly to this version from version 1.00.165 or older, it is vital you read the release notes below for each version inbetween, which contain important instructions.
Released on 27 September 2004.
This is an all-inclusive maintenance release which addresses the daylight savings issue affecting MP3 and WAV files.
Note: If you're updating directly to this version from version 1.00.165 or older, it is vital you read the release notes below for each version inbetween, which contain important instructions.
Daylight Savings Work-Around for MP3/WAV file support
Added daylight savings work-around for OMX files (allows +/- 1 hour offset) to cater for FAT-based filesystems which store timestamps in the user's local time rather than UTC.
Who will this help?: FAT-based filesystem users (mainly Windows 95, 98 and ME). Daylight saving changes on these systems would cause MP3 and WAV files to appear changed/edited to OtsDJ (due to the local time change). This made the songs unplayable in OtsDJ until an EasyScan was performed, which consequently re-analyzes the MP3/WAV (taking a few seconds per one) and updates the file's associated OMX file. The work-around makes this process unnecessary. File servers using a FAT filesystem are also affected, hence client machines of these servers will benefit from this maintenance release regardless of the OS/filesystem they operate on.
Released on 17 December 2003.
This is an all-inclusive maintenance release which addresses some known issues, and adds Hercules DJ Console support and other enhanced support.
Note: If you're updating to this version from version 1.00.165 or earlier, you will need to read the notes below concerning renaming your folders, etc., titled "IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CURRENT USERS CONCERNING THIS UPDATE" (under version 1.00.170 notes).
Hercules DJ Controller support
Full support for Hercules DJ Controller (more info here), including the ability to adjust bass/mid/treble independently per deck.
Enhanced MP3/WAV file support
Improved MP3/WAV file support to be slightly more compatible with malformed and non-compliant files, as produced by some recent encoders. Note: For some files you may have to delete the associated existing .OMX file for this to take effect.
Enhanced ShoutCast support
Improved ShoutCast plug-in support so that when used with the 3rd-party SAM Encoder DSP plug-in (http://www.spacialaudio.com/products/winamp/), title and artist info is able to be obtained by the plug-in (it uses a different method than the standard Nullsoft ShoutCast plug-in). Note: The SAM plugin allows you to broadcast MP3Pro, WMA and OGG streams, as well as standard MP3.
New version of Ots Studio
There was a possibility of Ots Studio crashing when the "Ots Media Successfully Created" message was played. This has been fixed.
Multi-language Quick-start Guides
Quick-start guides in English, French and German. Especially useful for new users.
Minor fixes
Various minor improvements and fixes.
Released on 08 March 2003.
This is a pre-release of our next update coming in a few months time, although this pre-release itself contains some significant functionality which you will find well worth the download. This release has been made available early due to a bundling deal we are involved with.
Note: OtsJuke DJ has been renamed to OtsDJ.
MP3 & Wave file direct support
OtsDJ can now directly play MP3 and Wave files....
Ots Studio Windows XP bug fix and other fixes
The bug that caused Ots Studio to crash intermittently when playing audio on the Windows XP platform has been solved. Other minor areas have also been improved.
Miscellaneous Fixes
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CURRENT USERS CONCERNING THIS UPDATE
As this is the first release of OtsDJ, various filenames and paths have changed. If you are currently running an OtsJuke DJ installation, you will need to do the following if you wish to seamlessly transition to OtsDJ:
You will now be up and running, however, if your Ots files were in the C:\OtsJuke tree, then you will need to perform a re-linking operation once you start OtsDJ, in order for it to locate the files in their new location. When it prompts for a folder, specify C:\OtsLabs\OtsFiles\MyMusic (or wherever they are).
Note: If you are running Winamp visualizations you may also find that you need to re-install these to the new OtsLabs path using their respective installer, as some of them store absolute pathnames in their config files.
Released on 03 December 2002.
This release addresses a specific problem concerning the use of MP3 files created with a recent popular encoder. You DO NOT need to download this new release if you are not currently experiencing problems converting some of your MP3 files. There is NO NEW functionality in this release.
MP3 File Work-Around
This update contains a work around for converting MP3s created with a popular and recent encoder application. The MP3s produced by this application are faulty, and the company behind the product has just put out a new release which has resolved the problem. Nevertheless, we have decided to create a work around for these "bad" MP3s, so that you may successfully convert them to Ots. There are no forwards or backwards compatiblity issues. Once converted to Ots files, they will play perfectly, even in older versions of Ots software.
If you have not upgraded to the last few releases, you should read the important notes about them here under, as there have been some important major changes.
Released on 7 June 2002.
Virtual IRQ Compatibility
OtsJuke's audio subsystem is now compatible with the newest motherboards and chipsets which insist on configuring Windows with virtual IRQs (IRQs above 15). Ensure that you re-calibrate your sound card for the best setting after installing this update.
Windows XP Wave Device Bug Workaround in Ots Studio
Windows XP can crash when the Wave Device is started/stopped repeatedly. Ots Studio has been enhanced to use DirectSound instead of the Wave Device where necessary.
Miscellaneous Fixes
Minor bug fixes.
Demo Version Now Fully Functional
The OtsJuke Demo is now fully functional with the small exception of exporting lists. Scheduling & Logging module functionality is also available in the demo. Now is the time to recommend OtsJuke to your friends and associates!
Released on 19 May 2002.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This release, our most significant ever, heralds a new era for the OtsJuker! However, before proceeding please note that some traditional areas have changed. You are advised to uninstall your current version of the demo and/or registered version before installing this latest release. In additon, you will probably want to clean up most of the OtsJuke-related icons on your desktop, as OtsJuke doesn't use many of them anymore. Many command-line options are now redundant. The "My Music" system has been superseded by the powerful Ots Playlist Templates you will read about below. Please allow a little time to adjust to this release, and definitely do not install right before an important gig :)
DO YOU HAVE YOUR PRODUCT LICENSE?: Uninstalling your current version will remove both your "Product License" and "Machine License". Your "Product License" is what you were originally emailed out when first purchasing OtsJuke. If you have not printed out the email as recommended, and have not made a text file backup of your Product License, you will need to access your Product License from OtsZone.com now. To do this, log on to OtsZone.com with your registered email address and password. Select "My Licenses" on the left hand side, and then select your PDI number to show the corresponding Product License.
These are the core features and changes in this new release:
Media Library System -- Instant Startup
Media Library stores relevant information about all Ots Album files in your collection. Information is always at hand, and OtsJuke starts up instantly! No more waiting for thousands of files to import :)
Category, Rating Info, Etc,...
Powerful category system. Create up to 128 categories. Items can exist in any number of categories simultaneously. Combine with rating, and last play info, for excellent control over your music. Never be caught looking for "that" song again! Forget about having to export and import list files to maintain any semblance of a category structure :)
Excellent Navigation Between Albums/Items/Files
Ots Album format really shines! Easily search by album, or find out which album a given item is part of. Easily play entire albums if desired. Find out the underlying file on your hard disk that an item belongs to. Easily and quickly re-import/refresh your collection, or automatically import just those items which were freshly ripped, without specifically locating them.
Introducing... Ots Media Query Language (OMQL)
OMQL is a powerful query language that allows you to make full use of the information stored within the Media Library. Easily filter out items have been played recently, locate items based upon category, rating, length, BPM, etc! Create complex queries which combine all of these elements, and receive an instant response, even if your Media Library contains thousands of items!
Advanced Playlist Generation
Forget about random playlists that always seem to play the same songs, or songs that you don't care for. Build powerful Playlist Templates that allow awesome playlists to be created instantly and begin playing, all with the click of an icon. Change playlists mid-stream by clicking a different template file, even while OtsDJ is already running!
Optional Scheduling & Logging Module
If you're a radio user, and really serious about playlist generation, get a load of the new Scheduling & Logging module (available from OtsZone.com as an add-on to OtsJuke). With this module you get full logging, but more importantly, you can schedule OtsJuke to run your station 24/7 with virtually no interaction. Get awesome song selection that you control, via advanced playlist templates. Most importantly of all, the Scheduling & Logging module can generate playlists that run for an exact amount of time, to-the-second! Time into the news perfectly at the top of each hour without prematurely fading out a song. The module does all of this for you, while respecting all of your rules about what kind of music to play, and when! The module knows how OtsJuke mixes, and takes all of this into account.
Remote Access Control (RAC) Server
Control your OtsJuke from anywhere in the world with simply a standard web browser. OtsJuke is now a web server! Intended mainly for office and home LANs, where it may be cool to be able to search your entire Media Library from another room (or country!) for a particular song, and send it to the top of the playlist. Simply enable the server, then go to "http://localhost" in your web browser (you may need to disable your proxy first). Note: RAC is not available with BoomBox registrations.
Visualization Plug-In Support
OtsJuke and BoomBox now support Winamp visualization plug-ins!! Run MilkDrop, Geiss, or Smoke, right from OtsJuke! Set up a dual monitor system and project visualizations to your audience during your gigs. Very effective. Note, some Winamp visualization plugins do not work due to them relying on peculularities of Winamp. The well written ones all work extremely well, MilkDrop, Smoke, etc.
Comprehensive Help Documentation
OtsJuke now contains proper help documentation! You'll find the new docs very detailed and informative. This is just the first incarnation of a new superior level of product documentation, and things will continue to evolve in this regard. We believe many will appreciate the time we've spent in this area.
Improved Audio Card Compatibility
The OtsJuke audio pipeline is now more compatible with some of the finnicky cards around. We still can't make any promises about any particular cards, but the new version is definitely a big improvement, and should resolve a number of issues some have had with particular brands. As always though, poor drivers will often cause problems, and as OtsukeJ is a highly optimized app when it comes to audio, it really does demand well-written drivers, not the sloppy trash some manufacturers seem to put out.
BPM Counter
Since the BPM value of an item can now be stored in the Media Library, we decided to create a simple beat counter. No, it's not automated beatmixing or anything like that... hold on for that! Just a simple tool to help you calculate a song's BPM with a few taps of your spacebar.
Better ShoutCast Support
Use the Nullsoft installer to directly install ShoutCast (and MilkDrop for that matter) to the OtsJuke directory. Ability to select any dsp filename, and ability to spawn ShoutCast automatically at startup! In fact, you can create 4 desktop icons, and have 4 OtsDJ-driven radio stations all running on the same PC, all with 4 differently-named versions of the ShoutCast DLL. Note: you will require multiple licenses if you wish to run simultaneous instances of OtsJuke.
Simple, Helpful Improvements
Right-click on the top of playlists (in their titlebar) to swap between playlist modes. Drag and drop an item to an empty playlist, and it now goes to the end of the list like it should -- you no longer have to get it exactly over the end-of-list marker.
Improved Menu Layout
Menus have been dramatically re-arranged. Makes more sense now and allows for more options. You can control things like air/cue switching from within a menu option, which may make the lives' of macro program users a little less stressfull, not to mention our ever-increasing user base of blind users. Fact: Did you know that OtsJuke has been particularly popular among blind users since it's inception in 1999?!! It's true...
Better Windows Shell Integration
Right click on an Ots file and have it instantly imported and played in OtsJuke, even if OtsJuke is already running. In fact, OtsJuke now has shell support for most of the associated files it uses, OTS, OIL, OFL, OTM, OML, OSH. Important Note: The old OJL files are now OIL (Ots Item List) files, the ASC files are now OFL (Ots File List) files, and OJS files are now OSC (Ots Scratch) files. Simply rename and exisiting files you may have, the formats are compatible, only the extension needs to be changed.
Ots Studio 1.00.010
Ots Studio continues to evolve. Minor changes, but very handy. You can now access the multiple lines of a title chunk from the Item Quick Edit area, without having to go right into the chunk level. Also fixed a couple of minor things.
TimeSync Directive Bug Fixes
Found a couple of issues with TimeSync directives. Most of these would never have happened naturally -- they were a result of special demanding tests with the new Scheduling & Logging module functionality -- but nevertheless they were problems, and they have now all been resolved. We have not seen any problems with TimeSync and directives in general since making these changes.
CD-DA Cache Bug Fixed
Minor but annoying bug was introduced into the last official release of OtsJuke which prevented it from reliably using the CD-DA cache that it maintains. This meant that CDs would often need to be re-scanned even though you had previously used that CD in OtsJuke. Fixed!
Minor Bug Fixes and Improvements
Other smallish things, but over time and collectively, they add up to a lot of enhancements. Put it this way... you'll never want to run the old OtsJuke after you get your hands on this release :)
This section contains the release notes for many, but not all, previous releases.
Ots Studio version 1.0.8 was released on 30 November 2001.
Note to OtsJuke/BoomBox users: This version of Ots Studio is newer than the version bundled with OtsJuke. Simply download the stand-alone Ots Studio setup package and install it on the same machine that has OtsJuke on it (make sure you install to the same folder). Download link is listed at the end of the following feature list.
Importing options completed : Ability to directly import Ots, Wave and MP3 files.
More shell integration : Right click on multiple Ots, Wave or MP3 files in Windows Explorer, even in separate folders, to import them into Ots Studio.
Ots File Validator function : Verifies the integrity of an Ots file.
Title/Chunk Filter function : Easily perform simple repetitive operations, such as swapping title and artist info, automatically capitalize fields, etc, when the data returned from the CD Database in incorrect.
CD-DA improvements : Additional settings for CD digital extraction to increase compatibility among more drives.
CD database bug : Fixed bug that sometimes prevented reliable connections to CD database server over slow modem connections, resulting in only some of the disc's title and artists being retrieved.
Download the latest version of Ots Studio here.
OtsJuke version 1.0.101 was released on 9 September 2001.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE (ONLY for non-OtsZone customers running versions prior to 1.00.081):
ONLY if you answer YES to BOTH the following questions does this message apply to you:
1) I have NEVER purchased anything from OtsZone.com
2) I have NEVER gone through the "Existing Customer Conversion" process.
As this release uses the new OtsZone licensing system, be aware that you should NOT install this update unless you have your original license email handy, otherwise you may not be able to use the program (DON'T install this version on your primary machine right before a gig). Click here to go to the "Existing Customer Conversion" web page to receive your NEW "OtsReg" Product License compatible with the new version (this is FREE).
Ots Studio Professional : Ots Studio 1.00.001 is now available and ships with OtsJuke and BoomBox. Ots Studio is purchasable as a separate product from OtsZone.com, but it is bundled free if you have an OtsJuke/BoomBox license.
With Ots Studio you can :-
Quickly and easily rip audio CDs directly to Ots files, and have track title and artist information automatically obtained from an online CD database.
Edit title, artist, genre, release, copyright, etc, information in your Ots files.
Adjust some of the mix points and variables OtsJuke uses to perform its mixing.
Easily add JPEG album cover art.
Manipulate most facets of Ots files.
Use as a stand-alone ripper, even for ripping straight to MP3 files.
WDM driver support : OtsJuke/BoomBox now works properly with WDM audio drivers! This will allow the use of a great many more sound cards. The requirement for true DirectSound VxD-style drivers is a thing of the past!
Windows 2000/XP support : OtsJuke/BoomBox is now supported under the Windows NT kernel, with full support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP!
Multi sound card support : You can now use separate audio devices for the "air" and "cue" channels. It is still advisable to use a 4 channel sound card for best results (since both channels are therefore crystal locked), but for some this extra flexibility will be much welcomed!
Multiple instances under Windows 2000/XP : If you are running on one of these platforms, you can run more than one instance of OtsJuke simultaneously on the same computer (subject to your license quantity) and route each instance through a separate sound card, or have them coming through the same card if you so desire. Output separate streams of high-quality audio to separate rooms all with the one computer!
Support for streaming to Shoutcast while primary sound card is disabled : You can now disable the main "air" sound card, and the timing of OtsJuke's audio pipeline will remain perfect. This means you can stream to a ShoutCast server, or listen via a second sound card receiving your "cue" with the main sound card disabled, and timing will remain intact!
Pitch/tempo bending : OtsJuke now supports pitch bending, and even better, tempo bending! Using tempo bending, you can sync two songs together live without your audience hearing the classic "wow" effect of using conventional pitch bending. Very smooth! Use the F3/F4 and F7/F8 keys for pitch/tempo bending. There are new Alt-key combinations for other functions.
Keyboard support for tempo adjustments : You can now adjust the tempo of each deck without having to use the mouse. Alt+F3/F4 and F7/F8 will now allow this. Alt+F1/F2 and F5/F6 (and Shift for smaller increments) now controls pitch adjustments (since the new pitch/tempo bend keys now occupy the old pitch adjustment keys).
Load directive supports 1000 files : The load directive now supports 1000 separate files (0 - 999) rather than just 100. This means that those using OtsJuke for radio station automation can now pre-program an entire month or more of hourly "clocks"!
Greatly enhanced stability : This OtsJuke is more rock solid than ever!
Minor bug fixes and other improvements : Always getting better!
LIMITATIONS/CAUTIONS/DISCLAIMERS: This release is certainly our best ever, but there are some things you should be aware of :-
Under Windows 2000 you will have to disable the "fade" effect Windows uses for displaying menus, otherwise you may obtain some audio skipping when opening some menus. This is due to the way Microsoft have implemented this effect -- it runs at the exclusion of other sensitive tasks. Fortunately they have resolved this with Windows XP, and it runs without any audio issues, even with all of its flashy graphics. Windows 2000 is rock solid too (a lot more than 98), as long as you disable the menu fade effect.
Although multiple sound cards are now supported, if the crystals between the two cards vary, you may occasionally experience a dropped or repeated frame (extremely short duration, and only through your cue -- not the on air device). This is generally not noticeable, but it is why we have always stressed the superiority of an integrated 4 channel card. With that said, multiple sound cards work very well with the tests we have performed.
WDM drivers are now fully supported, and our tests show an almost perfect success rate, however as always, the quality of the underlying driver may dictate that a particular card does not work perfectly. The only card we have come across in this situation was a very cheap one that had buggy Windows 2000 drivers (on 98 it worked great, even with its WDM drivers). As always, try the OtsJuke demo on a potential piece of hardware before making a major financial purchasing decision.
There are some "obvious" things we wanted to include in this release which have not been included, due to the additional time required for proper implementation. For example, although you can enter and edit all sorts of information with Ots Studio, OtsJuke is not yet capable of making use of some of this information. This is not an oversight, but rather a work in progress, as always! With that said, you will find Ots Studio very useful and it will certainly save you a lot of time. A maintenance release will pick up on some of the areas that didn't quite make it in time for this release.
OtsJuke version 1.0.90 was released on 2 March 2001.Live Input !! : This is a feature that we have received hundreds of emails about and was one of our core goals. It is now a reality! OtsJuke now includes a full live-input subsystem! Using this functionality you can route any external audio (live voice, news feeds, other music sources, etc) through OtsJuke's audio pipeline, including the EQ and Dynamics Processor! The Live Input subsystem includes its own limiter to keep live voices in check. The end result is an awesome sounding professional output of music/voice which you can broadcast via ShoutCast, Save as Wave, or broadcast live through your main amp. This feature builds upon the flexibility of OtsJuke, allowing you to do even more amazing things. For example, it is now possible to use OtsJuke purely as a dynamics processor. (Not included for BoomBox registrations.)
Live Input Directives : New directives have been created to control Live Input functionality. One powerful directive is "Live Input Trigger", which will enable Live Input and keep routing external audio through until a trigger event is reached, at which time Live Input will be disabled and the playlist will continue. A trigger event is either a CTRL+SPACE, or optionally, a detected period of silence below a certain preset threshold in the external audio stream. There are many possibilities using this new functionality, such as carrying satellite news feeds of variable or unknown lengths.
Keyboard shortcuts : Two simple keyboard shortcuts have been added. CTRL+A toggles Auto DJ mode. CTRL+Z or CTRL+M toggles Live Input mode.
Ability to disable the OtsJuke audio signature at startup : Simply supply the /NOSIG command line switch and the signature sound will not play.
Ability to hide real name from titlebar : Some customers have requested to be able to hide their real names from OtsJuke's titlebar as they are only known by their stage name and wish to conceal their real name. If your registration includes a company name (ie. it is not blank), then you can supply the /NONAME command line switch and only your company name will appear in the program's titlebar.
Information about freeze problem : We have still never had the "freeze problem" happen during any of our tests. This makes it difficult to track down. There is a remote possibility though that this version has addressed this "problem". This is based on theory only, so we make no guarantees!
See bottom of this page for download options
OtsJuke version 1.0.78 was released on 19 January 2001.Happy new year!! This 17th public release of OtsJuke features a combination of enhancements and fixes. OtsJuke Studio is not far!
Fixed freezing problem with Creative Ensoniq PCI : Determined that the DirectSound driver for this soundcard behaves slightly differently than the official spec in a particular respect, which was causing occasional freezes after long periods of usage. This problem has now been circumvented.
Added facility for searching within playlist, history and work area : This is quite a powerful little search tool. You can search from the currently selected item, or search for ALL items in a list that match your criteria. You can even search for something like "3:" which will match all songs that go for 3 minutes and something seconds. Once selected, you can of course drag and drop, or copy and paste, or whatever, the entire selection to somewhere else. Great for removing all songs of a particular artist, for example, from the playlist.
Live Protection mode : If this mode is enabled then certain functions will not occur unless you hold down the SHIFT key while choosing them. These are things that you wouldn't normally want to do live, such as dragging a song over a playing deck, clicking eject or "load next track from playlist" while a deck is playing, or exiting the program. This mode is optional, but is adviseable if you're doing a gig or broadcasting live. You simply hold SHIFT to force the function anyway, or go to Options->Live Protection to disable the mode altogether (it's disabled by default).
Enhanced Scratching! : After consultation with real turntablists, some advances have been made to the OtsJuke scratching ability allowing even better sounds! You can now simulate what a scratch DJ does with his/her crossfader while scratching (usually is muting the audio while the vinyl is moving in one direction only). Simply press and release the CTRL and/or SHIFT keys while you're scratching. SHIFT will mute the record while it's spinning forward, CTRL while it's moving backwards. The scratch sampler and .OJS file format have also been enhanced to sample/store this additional "mute" information. Also, the vinyl simulation has been altered to spin at 33.3 rpm, since this is what most dedicated scratch plastic is recorded at, and it allows for more maneuverability. Old OJS files are still fully compatible of course! If you think the scratching facility is a gimmick and haven't really got into it yet, then start playing around -- some people are doing some amazing things with it! Happy scratching, and start swapping those .OJS files!!
Crossfader stepping keys : You can now use the "0" and "." keys on the numeric keypad to "step" the x-fader left or right while you're holding down the keys. Of course, make sure you have x-fader keys enabled in Options->Mixer.
Auto DJ and manual cue point fix : Fixed an oversight whereby if you set a cue point and allowed Auto DJ to mix into that track, it would sometimes start it slightly prematurely (based on the usual mixpoint info that would have applied had you NOT set the cuepoint).
Save as Wave split into tracks fix : The "split into tracks" option causes OtsJuke to begin a new wave file whenever you start a new song playing. The problem was that if you started a song only through your cue channel in order to preview it, OtsJuke didn't distinguish and would begin a new wave file at the point. Now, the points at which a new wave file is started are more intelligent considering that OtsJuke now has full cue channel and mixer support. Basically, if the song is not going to air, or is totally muted by the level controller or xfader, then it is not deemed as a new song beginning and will not cause a new wave file to begin until it is actually put to air (could be as simple as raising the level for that deck).
See bottom of this page for download options
OtsJuke version 1.0.73 was released on 28 November 2000.This is a maintenance release, addressing a number of issues as detailed below:
OTS MP3 Convertor bug fixed when processing corrupt MP3 files : Previously when a corrupt MP3 file was encountered, the convertor would close down (if the corruption was a certain kind). It will now continue processing all files as best as it can (obviously if you have corrupt data in your source MP3 files, then you may hear audible glitches where the corruption lies, but at least now the convertor will still convert these bad files).
Ots streaming routines more robust : The above fix applies to OtsJuke and Ots Player also. Ie. if somehow some of your Ots files become slightly corrupt (normally occurs when you tranfer data over a poor network card with bad drivers or have faulty RAM), the program will not crash or close down, but continue operating as best as it can. Note: if you do have any data integrity issues with your network you should fix these rather than rely on this behaviour. Corrupt data will eventually mean software crashes and/or erratic behaviour no matter what software you are using.
Save as Wave mono bug fixed : When saving to a MONO wave file, OtsJuke saved only the left channel of audio, rather than the sum of the left and right channels. This has been corrected.
Possible time column problem fixed when running for long sessions : Although we have not been able to recreate this problem, a few users have reported that when running the latest release with the time column for long periods of time (greater than 24 hours) they would eventually get a crash or lockup. We can not guarantee that this has been fixed as we have never been able to recreate the problem. However, we have altered a couple of things that may help on some machines. Feedback to this will be interesting.
See bottom of this page for download options
OtsJuke version 1.0.72 was released on 9 November 2000.Time column in playlist : The exact second an item will play is now shown for each item. The times are dynamically updated, meaning you can drag and drop items all over the place, alter the speed of a playing item, etc, and the precise play times will be reflected immediately. The times are highly accurate, even taking into account the way OtsJuke mixes between different songs. Ie. it is not just a simple list of all of the song lengths added together!
Counter mode : The clock can now be used as a counter, referenced from 00:00:00, instead of a true reflection of the current time. This mode, combined with the new time column, makes it much easier for people using OtsJuke to prepare wave files for burning to 74-minute CDRs. Hint: right-click on the clock/counter to change its mode.
Playlist directives : You can now include directives in the playlist as well as audio items. These directives can automate a whole range of tasks, including loading additional list files, creating a fixed length pause, stopping and recueing the next item (for an announcer break), and time syncing a particular item to the clock. In short, these new directives make OtsJuke a much more powerful and flexible application for radio automation.
Auto-DJ status line : Added status line which assists in understanding what Auto-DJ is about to do, or has just done. This was necessary with the new directives, in order to make it clear to the user what is going on at all times. This status line is not intended to be a comprehensive log of all events that can possibly happen, but simply to make it clear to see what is happening at any given stage. For example, when play stops because you inserted a [Stop] directive in the playlist, you will see in the status line that the [Stop] directive was processed.
Playlist configuration modes : The repeat playlist option has been made obsolete by the new playlist configuration mode option. The first two settings for this option have the same meaning as the old repeat playlist option, enabled and disabled, respectively. The third setting, "Do not place played items in history", prevents the history list from being used automatically. Ie. OtsJuke will never place any items in the history. In this mode you can use the history list as a second "work area", essentially an additional dumping ground. This mode is great for automated radio stations that run months on end and would otherwise build up a huge history. Also, with the new directives, having a history does not always make sense, as it will not necessarily be ordered correctly in all cases.
Improved Auto-DJ : Auto-DJ is now exponentially more complicated than before, due to the addition of directives! In the process of handling these complexities, we believe that we have further improved Auto-DJ, and it's ability to always do what you would expect. No mean feat considering OtsJuke allows full manual override at all times during the running of the program!
Improved internal architecture : Some areas of the program have been slightly enhanced to make way for the new directive architecture, etc. Some minor bugs have been fixed.
Important Note: Please refer to our documentation page for documentation and comments on some of the latest enhancements.
OtsJuke version 1.0.64 was released on 21 August 2000.NOTE: Please also visit our documentation section for comprehensive information on the OtsJuke audio pipeline / cue channel architecture.
Support for separate stereo cue channel via SB Live 4-channel soundcard : If you have an SB Live soundcard (other DirectSound-compliant 4-channel cards may also work), OtsJuke now supports a full stereo cue channel via the rear outputs. Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Support for mono cue channel with all standard stereo soundcards : Even if you only have a standard stereo soundcard, you can still have a cue channel via the right channel (mono), and have your "on air" content go via the left channel (mono). If the main purpose of your presentation is to save as wave or upload to SHOUTcast, this option may be quite viable for you as the audio saved as wave/sent to SHOUTcast will still be full stereo. Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Integrated mixer : OtsJuke now has a flexible mixing console, allowing the routing of audio from decks to "on air" or "cue" channels, or both. Naturally the on-air content is sent via our EQ and Dynamics Processor. The cue content is sent via a limiter to prevent it's levels from peaking too high, then you would normally feed it into your headphones for cueing/monitoring purposes.
Cue channel split by deck : If you use this mode, Deck A audio will appear mainly in your left ear, and Deck B mainly in your right. This makes it much easier to beatmix, for example. Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Cross-fader : A super-smooth cross-fader is built right into the mixing console! You can even fire off automatic sweeps with the number keys on the numeric keypad (be sure you have selected this option in the menu and that your keyboard's NUMLOCK is on).
Precise pitch shifting : It's now possible to adjust pitch in 0.1% increments rather than just 0.5% (simply hold down the shift key while pressing the F3/F4 or F7/F8 keys).
Seek-by-frame cuing, cue point set/jump : At any time, press CTRL+F3/F4 (Deck A) or CTRL+F7/F8 (Deck B) to enter seek mode. You will hear the audio frames repeat just like a Denon CD deck would do. Skip forward and back a frame at a time with these keys, or hold down SHIFT also to move in increments of 10 frames. To set the cue point, press CTRL+F2 / CTRL+F6. At any time, press Stop (F1 / F5) twice to jump back to the cue point. See keyboard shortcuts in our support section for full keyboard layout. Of course you can also cue using the virtual record (scratching) functionality. Simply drag the record to it's desired point, then press CTRL+F2 / CTRL+F6. Even if you don't cue this way, having the record showing while cueing, makes it visually much easier to see where you're at! Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Deck positioning : The OtsJuke decks (and the centre square between them) can now reside at the top of the screen instead of the bottom. In fact this is now the default, though you can set it any way you like.
Settings saved : All expected settings are now saved and restored next time you load the program.
Improved Auto DJ : Fixed some obscure problems with Auto DJ whereby it would not always behave as expected if you did crazy things with the decks. It is now always very predictable, while still allowing full override and intervention at any time without any problems.
Optional deck reset at eject : Deck settings (pitch, direction, tempo, level) can now be reset to their defaults automatically whenever a deck is ejected. This used to be the default behaviour in previous versions of OtsJuke, then we took it away for the last release as some customers wanted the settings to remain constant. Now you can choose your own preferred behaviour.
EQ gain restoration bug fixed : The gain in the graphic equaliser was not correctly restored next time you loaded OtsJuke. This problem has been resolved.
OtsJuke version 1.0.55 was released on 28 July 2000.Scratching! : OtsJuke now provides a virtual record for each deck which you can manipulate just like you would a real vinyl record! Yes, you can scratch backwards and forwards at any speed, and you will obtain the exact same sound you would hear with vinyl! Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Scratch Sampler : Record you scratches for instant playback with a single key press! It is your pattern of movement of the virtual record that is sampled, meaning you can apply this to any underlying track! Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Deck directional control : OtsJuke decks can now play at any speed in either direction! That's right, play a song (even direct from CD) forwards or backwards from anywhere between -200% and +200%. All of this is achieved with the zero latency you have come to expect from OtsJuke! Not available with BoomBox registrations.
Search bug fixed : A rare obscure bug that could cause the program to lock-up while using the search dialog box has been fixed.
Note: Please see our documentation for full details of OtsJuke scratching implementation.
OtsJuke version 1.0.53 was released on 13 July 2000.Ability to disable audio alert in OTS MP3 Convertor.
Can set the artist and title separation in Generate Playlist dialog.
More command line options to better control automatic playlist generation at startup : You can now specify the separation rules from the command line, as well as whether you want the list length shortened if the rules can not be enforced for all items. (This list shortening was on by default with version 1.0.52 but is undesirable behaviour for people who may want to hear a list which contains primarily one artist). See our support area for more info on using the command line with OtsJuke.
More flexible command line : You can now specify an OTS file, ASC file or OJL file on the command line and OtsJuke will behave as you would expect (import the relevant items and begin playing, etc).
New dynamics processor preset : The old "radio" mode is now known as "office". There is a new radio mode which has much more agressive compression and gain levelling, more similar to most contemporary FM stations. (Of course you can still totally customize the dynamics processor to your liking -- these presets are mainly intended for people who do not have a firm understanding of dynamic compression but desire a particular result.)
Many settings are now saved and restored between program runs : Your dynamics processor, EQ, current scheduling configuration, and some other settings are all saved on exit and restored the next time you start OtsJuke (unless you specifically override a particular setting using a command line option).
Better file menu : Rearranged the file menu to allow easier list importing and exporting. Renamed "Import Ots Files" to "Import files to database" to be more clearer and avoid confusion with the other type of importing, list imports.
OtsJuke version 1.0.52 was released on 6 July 2000.Better Import/Export capabilities : You can easily import or export directly to/from lists, without having to use the clipboard. You can also import/export ASCII file lists! Great for those who use third party programs to generate playlists and want to import them into OtsJuke.
Enhanced Search Dialog : Realtime searching with each keypress, sorting ability (click on column headings), import database information.
Improved drag'n'drop : More intuitive, can scroll list while dragging, don't have to have mouse exactly over items.
A lot more list right-click options : Sorting, shuffling, etc.
CD-DA subsystem now supports Plextor CD-ROM drives : unlike most drives these are non-MMC compliant, so additional coding was required.
New keyboard shortcuts : Added keyboard shortcuts for "Fade" (SHIFT+F1/F5), "Eject" (CTRL+SHIFT+F1/F5) & "Load Next Item" (CTRL+SHIFT+F2/F6).
Slightly better Generate Playlist functionality : It now respects artist and title separation (40 each). Next release will allow actual values to be set to anything.
Improved audio stability
New command line switch for playlist generation : You now use the /GENLIST=x option to have a playlist generated automatically at startup. If you do not specify this option, no list will be generated (however your files will still be imported if you have specified the appropriate options). The value 'x' specifies a maximum number of items to include in the playlist. This value defaults to 100. Specify '0', as in /GENLIST=0, if you want the playlist to include as many items as you have imported (no limit). Artist/title separation is also respected in the generated list (no songs with the same artist ir title will appear within 40 songs of each other).
Developed our own new setup program -- some users reported problems with InstallShield : Better setup, more robust, quicker and easier for us to bring new releases out, will also allow more flexibility with some future OtsJuke functionality.
OtsJuke version 1.0.46 was released on 21 March 2000.Station ID Scheduling : OtsJuke now has basic station ID scheduling built in. It can be configured to insert your station IDs between every 3 or so songs. (This option is not available for OtsJuke BoomBox registrations.)
Import folders : You can now import entire folders or folder trees from within the Import Ots Files function.
Additional sound card support : Improved the range of sound cards supported.
Additional command line options : You can now set the desired dynamics processor preset mode from a command line option, as well as some other things.
Save as Wave : A minor bug was fixed in the Save as Wave facility.
OtsJuke version 1.0.45 was released on 8 March 2000.Save as Wave : You can now save your mixes as wave file(s) for burning to CD or archival purposes. Make your own non-stop party mix CDs of your favourite tracks. Burn CDs in the "radio" dynamics processing mode for use in your car where road noise is louder and a punchier sound is better! OtsJuke will even prepare individual wave files per track ready for burning, but which will mix seemlessly when played continuously on a CD player! Please note that you need to have a full OtsJuke registration (not BoomBox) in order to use this feature.
Upload signal to SHOUTcast : OtsJuke now integrates directly with Nullsoft's SHOUTcast plugin! Start broadcasting the output of OtsJuke (including mixing, dynamics processing, and all!) directly to a SHOUTcast server for all to hear! This process is entirely digital so quality is preserved. Also, you do not need any additional sound cards to use this! With perfect mixing and that punchy sound, you'll be the best sounding SHOUTcast radio station out there! Again, this feature is only available for full OtsJuke registered users (not BoomBox). Please see our documentation page for our broadcasting guide.
OtsJuke version 1.0.44 was released on 18 February 2000.CD-DA Direct : You can now play standard audio CDs directly in the OtsJuke decks, without any need to first rip and encode. The CD tracks are played digitally, as opposed to analog, like other programs. This means that they go through the superior OtsJuke audio pipeline, including the dynamics processor! In addition, you can apply pitch/tempo adjustments to these CD tracks, just as if they were a digital audio file. In short, these tracks are treated just like a file. They even mix correctly, just like OTS files! You can even play or mix between two tracks from the same CD at the same time!
Increased audio stability.
Auto DJ mode will now handle short files that are less than 10 seconds (spots, jingles, etc).
You can now freely import files / generate playlists, while the decks are playing.
Keyboard shortcuts : These are only a few temporary shortcuts -- we are still developing our new architecture.
F1 - Deck A Stop
F2 - Deck A Play
F3 - Deck A Pitch down
F4 - Deck A Pitch up
F5 - Deck B Stop
F6 - Deck B Play
F7 - Deck B Pitch down
F8 - Deck B Pitch up