Key Benefits of the Media Player Mixer Express™

The Media Player Mixer Express (MPMe), with SmartFocus™ technology, is a "virtual smart mixer" that blends superior search and play performance with live-assist automation and a bold innovative interface.  The MPMe delivers an unprecedented level of workflow coordination between its integrated catalog, search engine and media player.  The result is unmatched reliability and raw throughput speed:  FIND, LOAD and PLAY your chosen track in less than 1 second.*

Perfect for almost every live audio situation—and for users ranging from beginners to pros—the Media Player Mixer Express™ has an intuitive, easy to navigate, forms-based interface.  All major player functions (search, load and play) can be accomplished from the click of a mouse, or a simple speed-key command.  Beginners will appreciate the almost non-existent learning curve, and long-time audio professionals will be eager to take advantage of the MPMe with its powerful search and automation features.

Can YOUR current DJ software offer these important Media Player Mixer Express advantages?

 

THREE primary players

Now DJs can play, mix or cross fade up to THREE concurrent stereo audio streams—through ONE standard 2-channel sound card.  Step up to the flexibility of three discrete media players (side-by-side) featuring: enhanced track timing displays; tempo, transition and end style displays; independent controls for volume level, pause, stop, time-line, and variable speed assignment; plus, color-keyed track start latency indicator lights.

 

THREE effects players

In April 2010 and later releases, the MPMe will also offer THREE additional effects (EFX) players accessible from the same interface screen (best-viewed at 1280x1024 resolution).  This capability gives the MPMe a total of six active digital audio media players.  Unlike the full service media players, the EFX players (A, B and C) are not configured for automation behaviors, and do not present the full complement of visual cues available to players 1, 2 and 3.  The EFX players can be loaded with default files such as pre-sampled loops, sound effects, dialogue cues, or radio station jingles.  They can also accept any audio track selected for the primary media players.

 

Fast search

Ultra-Fast Performance: Search catalog, choose music track, then load track in ANY available player, in any desired order; the process takes less than 1 second* from title selection decision to Ready To Play state.

 

Multiple category search

Ability to search directly from Media Player Mixer Express™ (MPMe) screen via "predictive" combo box where DJs choose search options by group with simultaneous access to 5 primary search categories, permitting DJs to view the natural connections between hit music tracks in context, and in concise groupings—and this allows fast, intuitive selection decisions.

 

Alternating search sets

DJs can cycle between 4 different search option sets combining 8 standard and 8 keyword categories.  Locate one track by a specific Artist (for example), see all tracks from same artist, or same Music Type, or same Decade or same Tempo—without a requirement to input data for a new search—thanks to Codentity's patent pending Multiple Concurrent Relational Category Search Results (MCRCSR) design.

 

Match on mouse click

DJs can apply an assortment of one-click attribute MATCH filters directly from Media Player Mixer Express™ to further refine the search, and instantly see results showing tracks with common attributes.  For example, find one 1980s country rock track and then: click once to see all country rock tracks, or all tracks from the '80s, or all tracks in the same music set, or all tracks on the same named playlist, etc.—WITHOUT inputting new search data.

 

Integrated catalog

The MPMe hit-music catalog (content option) is completely integrated with search engine and mixer players, and it provides 4,000+ entries spanning more than 20 music genres and five decades.  It allows the user to edit data or add new titles and related information.  The catalog option allows DJs to get to work fast, because it pre-populates the important track attribute values used by the MATCH filter system.

 

SmartFocus™ workflow

Mixer automation workflow includes next event Auto-Focus that enables a loaded player to set itself for one button key press play activation, and then visually “cues” the DJ with its ready state information.  This smart feature helps the audio operator "know where to go", so he can start audio events on time and in the proper order.  With the MPMe, DJs and live audio producers can concentrate on WHAT they want to do, not how they need to do it, or when they should do it.

 

Ready player visual cues
and LARGE text displays

Event-keyed color borders and 3D object extrusion provide a bold visual indication of when a specific player is ready for one key press activation.  Plus, the MPMe display is rendered with LARGE text and over-sized play buttons that are easy to see and activate on small monitors or in bright sunlight.  The days of "super squinting", to decipher ridiculously tiny data text or figure out player status, are over!

 

Auto Fade and track
overwrite protection

MPMe Auto Fade permits DJ to automatically fade one track, and simultaneously start the next track.  With one mouse click or key press, the DJ can effortlessly segue through a set.  Plus, Track Load Lockout (TLL) prevents accidental load overwrite of a live track, because it blocks the DJ from inserting a new track in a specific player when that player is the active player.  (If desired, Auto Fade and TLL can be turned off.)

 

 

Volume Level Auto Load

Volume Level Auto Load (VLA) uses "situational awareness" logic in the MPMe to make sure that a track is never loaded with the fader at zero, and DJs can automatically set the correct level every time because each track's pre-determined digital audio file level setting can be entered in the database, so that its value can travel with each track as it loads into a fresh player.

 

True database performance

For unprecedented search and play performance, the Media Player Mixer Express™ (MPMe) is powered by Microsoft® Access™, the most widely-deployed desktop database in the world.   The technical advantages offered by a real database—features like interactive query searches, pre-indexed data values and intelligent workflow direction—create the foundation for a super fast search, load and play throughput mechanism.

 

Built-in Help

7 levels of HELP have been expressly written for the MPMe including "how to" topics, quick tips, and context sensitive messages that respond to anomalies or operator errors—and then suggest remedies based on the current situation.  Because the sophisticated "situational awareness" logic programming in the MPMe is hidden from the user, most DJs familiar with the Windows® interface will rarely need to consult the HELP options—but for those that do need it, just click and read.

*Performance claims require recommended hardware / software configuration on compatible operating systems.

Using the SmartFocus™ automation in the Media Player Mixer Express™, a DJ can manage a complete segue with one-click, and keep the other hand free to scratch turntable vinyl or ride microphone levels.  The MPMe always "knows" its LOAD / READY / PLAY state, and the current state of each other player in the mixer configuration... that's SMART.  And the MPMe uses its bold design elements to clearly communicate player object status to the DJ by directing his eye to the next ready player... that's FOCUS.

View MPMe screen shots, check out images that demonstrate the multiple player workflow sequence and visual cues. Read more about SmartFocus™ technology.  Check out MPMe hardware and software requirements and get tips on compatible operating systems.  Return to MPMe Fast Facts page.

©2010 Codentity LLC