OTS' PLEA FOR HELP...?

[Tim Gainer]

OK, so how many of us got the email today from OTS asking for donations and 'assistance'?

I'm interested in hearing everyone's theories on this one.

MY TWO CENTS: It was only a matter of time. They've made no upgrades to the system in years, let alone any relevant advertising of the product. Now, suddenly they're behind the 8-ball?

Look, all the vets on this forum know I'm a HUGE OTS supporter and have been for the last 25+ years. But how can I get behind a company that can't get behind themselves?  I agree that the market and the world as we know it has changed but its up to the company to change with it. So far as I can see, over the course of at least the last *several* years...OTS hasn't. Hell, I've even started a new radio station using OTS - and it's the same software I've had for years. If I (and we - again, I'm interested in hearing what the rest of the community has to say) can progress with the times...why can't they?

How many of us have begged for little things - 3rd deck, for example - for YEARS...nothing. Nada. Bupkis. Now, suddenly, their backs are against the wall and...well lookie here! What are the plans?

Platform independence (OtsAV on macOS and Linux)
DJcloud integration (announced earlier this year, coming later in 2026, (allegedly))
OtsAV feature requests (whatever that means)

..does anyone even believe this cow swallop anymore?

I'm sorry guys; I know I sound like a crochety old man yelling at the clouds right now. But after so many years of holding on and supporting this company and getting so little in return, honestly...I feel  insulted and belittled.

Am I wrong? What are your feelings? Is there even anybody out there anymore?

Talk me out of this rage.

[Jigger]

I agree with you, Tim. I've been using Ots from the very beginning, and they are right — it has always been reliable and stable. Some of the features added over the years have been excellent.

Where things slipped, in my view, is that development didn't keep pace with changing times. Keeping the program evolving would have helped it stay relevant and attract new users.

They've run various promotions over the years so existing users could increase their licences, and I'm sure most people who wanted to take advantage already have. What Ots really needs now is new customers, not just recycling the same user base.

[Kev]

I saw this too and couldn't help but feel they let the world get ahead of them. A bit like Nokia with iPhone.

I forsee 'Ots 2.0' being released soon on a subscription model with no going back to 1.X downloads. So they can seek to get back some monthly income - but I feel the world of Serato/Rekordbox etc has already taken the market and people will be very unwilling to convert entire libraries etc nowadays.

[Dj Buik]

I'm an OtsAv user from the beginning. Back in 1996 it was a great piece of software (OtsJuke).
They didn't move forward, version 2.0 is never delivered.
I've changed to Virtual DJ about 10 years ago for my DJ gigs.
But I still have an private radio station running with OtsAv.

I think its a one or two man company and it is tough to compete with the big guys.

[milky]

I completely agree with you, Tim.
When Ots came out, it was up against Real Player, Windows Media Player and a couple of others, and it was streets ahead of them. It was a pleasure to use, and its stability was legendary. Yes, there was the inconvenience of having to convert all files to the Ots format, but we all became experts at that and basked in the benefits. The problem is, it never evolved past that initial design, whilst others added new features with every release.

I tried using Ots in a radio environment. It was OK for simply selecting tracks and dropping them onto a deck, but we had to have spreadsheets and Word templates to fill out all of the logging necessary in a modern station. The S&L module came part of the way to resolving this, but again, never evolved further than providing a simple list of tracks played.

We all pleaded for at least one other deck for stings and sound effects. It should have been an option for the DJ version, but built right into the radio and TV versions. Never happened. Some of us resorted to developing Auto Hot Key add-ons, whilst others like Lane simply commissioned their own developer to write code the way they wanted it.

It boasted a state-of-the-art DSP engine, but there are many far better ones now like Breakaway One which blows Ots out of the water.

By the time they get it running on all platforms, there will be no demand for it.

I still have two active licences which I use to stream music to the internet so I have my music anywhere I have phone reception, and for my music room at home, but I can never forsee the need to purchase more licences and, if they go to an annual  subscription model, I'll simply migrate to one of the many other playout systems that are now available.

Sadly, it looks as though OtsAV has run its race, but it's been a hell of a trip.

[Lane]

Milky: I chuckled at streets ahead.    (Community tv show fan?)

The most loyal to ots are still coming to this forum, at least occasionally. That's amazing considering the course Ots took (or didn't) with development and after Ots corp removed any mentions or links to this forum. A testament to the engine at its core.

I was honestly sad when I read that email. I once loved Ots. But it just never got some key features I couldn't live without. I ended up selling my free upgrades license to a nearby radio station that wanted it badly. I wonder what they use today?

To clarify what Milky said. I didn't commission development for features on another product. I and a few others became beta testers providing development feedback and testing of a product that wasn't yet feature rich enough for commercial station use. It was a very different experience than the secretive Ots. I said what my must haves were and out came a beta. For simple things it was sometimes the next day. That product had audio engine issues for a while but were worked out in time. I had to put faith in the developer that he'd solve them, but because he was so responsive, I trusted.

I believe if Ots had a better relationship with its users, one that was more two way, they wouldn't be in the place they are now and sending that rather sad email. They would have better moved with the market.

Typed on my phone. May not have caught all typos.

[milky]

Thanks Lane for setting me straight. The real point is you created a feedback loop with a developer and he/they responded accordingly. By comparison, we occasionally heard from Ots Adam in the early days, but, other than that their planned development curve was very secretive. Who knows where they would be if they had only listened to the feedback and responded to at least some of the more sensible ones.

For DJs, one of their clever parts of the original program was their scratch wheel. It was not something I would ever use, but it had a clever interface and (sort of) sounded like the real thing. Fast forward a few releases, and the scratch wheel stopped working. There were promises that it would be back, but I don't think that ever happened.

About the same time as I purchased OtsJuke, I also bought a digital editing program called "Goldwave". It was pretty primitive at the time, particularly compared to Cool Edit/Audition, but it had the bones of a good program and Chris was happy to receive suggestions.

As a similar marketing ploy, they offered their early attempts at a "buy now for life" price, and they have continued to honour that. I don't use it very often, but, when I do, almost inevitably, there is a new version with added features, new codecs and recently, a completely re-designed GUI. I have never seen a fire sale or "60% off if you buy now" from this company, and certainly not an embarrassingly begging letter like the recent one from Ots Corp.

Like my old 1984 Nissan Patrol, I will continue to use Ots because it suits my simple needs, but, the moment she fails to deliver, I will move to a different vehicle in a heartbeat.

[Jigger]

If I remember correctly, didn't Adam move to Sweden (or somewhere else in the Nordic region)? 
From what I recall, that's roughly the point when development of Ots started to slow down. Before that, things seemed to be progressing at a steady and exciting pace — regular updates, clear communication, and a real sense of momentum.
Once the relocation happened, everything appeared to taper off. Maybe it's just coincidence, but looking back, the timing feels hard to ignore.

In those early days, development was moving along nicely, and it really felt like Ots was heading somewhere special.

[milky]

I have a feeling that he was from that area in the first place. Ots is an unusual surname. At one stage they were living on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but then created their office in the US and went dark.

[DJ_Zath]

has anyone ever realized that where/when ever Ots set up an office, there has been a heist of some sort in the vicinity?? hehe

First off, I never received this letter!  (I wonder if its buried somewhere in my mail client; I will look a bit more deeply for it!)

One of my admins- no! a couple of them have asked me "why do you STAY with this buggy, obsolete program?" and I have asked MYSELF this very same question many MANY times, as well! for YEARS I put up with its less than precise DEMAND for specific resources which I TRIED to provide for it; even dedicated constructs and architecture JUST for Ots EXCLUSIVELY.. and all-in-all, I never DID solve the audio crackling issues in-time.  BUT, by that time I reached the point where "it doesn't really MATTER anymore" and so I kept up with it. I also integrated an entire system- a custom layout that allowed Ots to be used in a capacity beyond its initial design... and, that design STILL works today (though, again, there is really NO point to it anymore!).

I guess I'm a Ots "Dedi" after all!

but, thats where it ENDS.. I do NOT plan to continue with Ots once they switch to subscription-based licensing. sorry! Ots simply IS NOT WORTH IT! when compared to whats available out there, today, Ots  really is "Micky Mouse/Fisher Price" in features, interface, (lack of) support for sound interfaces other than sound blaster, etc... when compared to other solutions available.  I TRIED- I really DID try to get Ots to SHINE and, in a way, I HAVE.. (to the point that I proudly-display it on my video feeds whenever I access it or when its playing as the auto-DJ on my station).  I even expanded its capabilities such as a SECURED search and request system over IRC and audio DJ switchover (NOT using its input, of course), auto ID/bumper insertion, auto metadata insertion, override, etc... and, so I have a UNIQUE and dedicated system that wraps all around the thing (Ots)!  and for that, I guess I'll stick with Ots to the BITTER end...  (but MY time on this planet is fast-approaching and so, even more, my time while on the internet as a "free entity"(and, is FAST approaching the END.) but, for now.. I am still here, for what its worth.

I will go now and look to see if I got this letter in the spam folder or wherever Gmail puts things... and, then I can further comment.  it sounds like its going to be a doeser!

-DjZ-