Sign In:     

Forum: Wishes and new features

Topic: Stems waveform
Hi,

I miss one feature from Djay Pro (Traktor also has it) - waveform with the stems separation - it makes mixing and using effects on stems possible.
 
Posted Fri 10 Oct 25 @ 7:49 am
What you are describing is purely a visual thing (split waveform display):


  • VirtualDJ already supports pretty much all the audio processing you described on stems already
  • VirtualDJ does have a way of displaying stem change information that is similar to Serato - the main waveform can show stem level changes, given you select an advanced (non-frequency) EQ mode.


It might require a bit more processing power to show what you want too - VirtualDJ has 5 stem parts, and that would require drawing 5 waveforms per deck for up to 4 decks.

It still could be useful for mixing visually (especially if you came fron software that displayed things like that) - just saying it isn't a functional deficiency in terms of capability with stems audio.
 
For me I wish if this feature of muting and unmuting stems is added to color wave form like that of Serato cause Shapes wave foam looks boring and unusable to me
 
I've used shapes without any issues really.
It would be good to have waveform coloring of colored based on stems, and even have even Frequency mode show the frequency modifications and stems modification overlayed.
 
Atleast make shapes user friendly like stem wave on rekord box so that kicks ,melo and vocals can be located even before muting stems but when vocals are not muted they cover the all song on shapes and make it difficult for scratching using a kick yet kicks can be simply seen on colored wave or serato and rekord box waves for stems
 
DJTouchDan's skin Project X has a Stem Waves option...
 
Don't mean to sound mean but this statement confuses me:

Zeusmatic wrote :
....when vocals are not muted they cover the all song on shapes and make it difficult for scratching using a kick...


I've pretty much never heard a scratcher complain about scratching being difficult because they can't see stems clearly on the waveform - scratchers are almost always focused on the platter/mixer and knowing your songs, listening for changes and track prep (e.g. placement of cues), pretty much has the DJ in the know about what they would be scratching and when.
I'm guessing you play a lot on the fly (without cues).

I do agree that the stem support with waveforms can be improved in the default cases though.
 
groovindj wrote :
DJTouchDan's skin Project X has a Stem Waves option...

Ooh, I came here to say the same thing Groovindj. It has been available for over 5 years.
 
Okay but for me implementing Serato like Stem wave form on colors can work for me
 
DJ VinylTouch wrote :
What you are describing is purely a visual thing (split waveform display):


  • VirtualDJ already supports pretty much all the audio processing you described on stems already
  • VirtualDJ does have a way of displaying stem change information that is similar to Serato - the main waveform can show stem level changes, given you select an advanced (non-frequency) EQ mode.


It might require a bit more processing power to show what you want too - VirtualDJ has 5 stem parts, and that would require drawing 5 waveforms per deck for up to 4 decks.

It still could be useful for mixing visually (especially if you came fron software that displayed things like that) - just saying it isn't a functional deficiency in terms of capability with stems audio.


It's just a matter of Virtual DJ removing the red color when you remove the kick drum, removing the green color when you remove the vocals, and removing the blue color when you remove the hi-hat. There's no need for five different colors. I have several students who resist switching from Serato DJ to Virtual DJ precisely because of this visual detail.
 
DJ VinylTouch wrote :
Don't mean to sound mean but this statement confuses me:

Zeusmatic wrote :
....when vocals are not muted they cover the all song on shapes and make it difficult for scratching using a kick...


I've pretty much never heard a scratcher complain about scratching being difficult because they can't see stems clearly on the waveform - scratchers are almost always focused on the platter/mixer and knowing your songs, listening for changes and track prep (e.g. placement of cues), pretty much has the DJ in the know about what they would be scratching and when.
I'm guessing you play a lot on the fly (without cues).

I do agree that the stem support with waveforms can be improved in the default cases though.


Yes, and many DJs request RGB features for stems, just like Serato. Even the free software Mixxx has a feature where removing bass removes the red color from the waveform, removing mids removes the green color, and removing treble removes the blue color. This has been a standard in audio software for many years, and many DJs and producers use RGB colors associated with bass, mid, and treble frequencies. Therefore, it would only be a matter of following the same rule for stems. Remember that DJs, especially scratch DJs, don't need to look at laptop screens; waveform displays are on DJ mixers, controller jog wheels, CDJ screens... a good example is the Rane System One with a screen in the center above the mixer... In short, DJs are indeed looking at waveform displays, especially scratch DJs.
 
Which controller changes the waveform colors based on stems?
 
So I respect your viewpoint, but I do disagree, especially with saying it's being a standard for years.

VirtualDJ had stems way before Serato, if anything VirtualDJ set the standard for Serato to follow in that regard. Anyone who is that dependent on a waveform color change to make a sole decision between software imo is too dependent on visuals and needs to revise how they do the job, and imo, you should teach your students to not depend on this so heavily - as you said, DJs who are tenured have been DJing way before these kind of aids without an issue, and its just visuals, it does not affect stems functionality in any way that an audience can hear.

With that said though, I'm not against the request - I'm actually all for it, but you guys are making it seem like the DJ world would end without it and I don't agree with that at all (the DJ world was created and existed many years without it fine)
 
Driving a car without GPS is not end of the world but technology is added to make things easier.
Just because we're asking for a new feature doesn't mean DJing is impossible without it. Look at AI integration: it didn't exist before, but now that it's here, it improves our workflow. We aren't asking for these updates for the crowd; we're asking for them to improve our own experience behind the decks."
 
We’ve seen VDJ lead the way with Stems 2.0 quality, but the UI needs to catch up. Other platforms have already implemented 'dynamic waveforms' where muted parts disappear or turn gray. Since VDJ is known for being the most customizable software, adding a toggle for 'Stem-Reactive Waveforms' should be a no-brainer for the 2026 builds.
 
Zeusmatic wrote :
doesn't mean DJing is impossible without it


Earlier in the thread you said that the shapes waveform was "unusable".

There tends to be a lot of comments from DJs saying that something needs to be "like [insert name of DJ software here]" whether that's Serato, Rekordbox, Traktor etc. with no real context or explanation as to why (in their opinion) it "needs to be".

I recall a recent thread from someone complaining that one VDJ effect was not the same as Traktor and practically demanding that it be changed "or else". 🤣