Tango-DJ

Tango-DJ User Guide

Getting Started

Tango-DJ is designed to make DJ work easier with automatic tanda management and tablet display.

Installation

  1. Download the latest version from the website
  2. Open the .dmg file and drag Tango-DJ to your Applications folder
  3. The first time you open the app, you must approve it from an identified developer

System Requirements

  • macOS 15.5 or newer
  • Minimum 4 GB RAM
  • 500 MB free disk space

Basic Usage

Audio Equipment and Setup

Primary and Secondary Audio Output

One of the most important features in Tango-DJ is the ability to have two separate audio outputs:

  • Primary Audio Output: This is the main sound sent to the dance hall/speakers
  • Secondary Audio Output: This is the "preview" sound that only the DJ hears, for example in headphones

This allows you to preview the next song in your headphones while guests hear the current song in the hall.

How to set up audio equipment:

  1. Go to Settings → Sound
  2. Select your main system under "Main Output"
  3. Select your headphones under "Preview Output"
  4. Refresh devices when you do changes

Sound output

Music Library

Importing Music

  1. Click "Import" in the main menu
  2. Select a folder with MP3, M4A or FLAC files
  3. Tango-DJ automatically reads metadata (artist, title, album)
  4. You can set cue point by right clicking the file

Music folders

Organizing into Tandas

A tanda is a collection of 3-4 songs with the same orchestra and style played consecutively:

  1. Click "New Tanda" in the sidebar
  2. Drag and drop songs into the tanda
  3. The order can be changed by dragging the songs
  4. Give the tanda a descriptive name (e.g., "D'Arienzo - Vals")

Cortinas

A cortina is a short pause melody (30-60 seconds) between tandas:

  1. Mark a song as cortina by right-clicking → "Mark as cortina"
  2. Cortinas appear with a special icon in the library
  3. Cortinas are automatically placed between tandas in the playlist

Playlist and Playback

Building a Playlist

  1. Open "Playlist" from the main menu
  2. Drag tandas from the library to the playlist
  3. Cortinas are automatically placed between tandas
  4. You can change the order of tandas by dragging them

During the Milonga

  • Click "Play" to start playback
  • Current tanda and next tanda are clearly displayed
  • Songs in a tanda play automatically one after another
  • Preview next song by clicking the ear icon

Tablet Display

Tango-DJ can automatically display information about the current tanda on an external display or tablet:

Setup

  1. Go to Settings → Tablet Display
  2. Note the URL displayed (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:8080)
  3. Open this URL on a tablet or another screen
  4. The tablet display updates automatically when you change songs

What is Displayed on the Tablet?

  • Orchestra/artist
  • Song title
  • Music style (tango, vals, milonga)
  • Next tanda
  • DJ name

Advanced Features

Filtering and Search

  • Use the search field at the top to find songs, artists, or albums
  • Filter by music style: Tango, Vals, Milonga
  • Filter by orchestra from the dropdown menu

Automatic Tanda Building

For experienced users:

  1. Select 3-4 songs from the same orchestra
  2. Right-click → "Create tanda automatically"
  3. Tango-DJ suggests an appropriate name based on metadata

BPM Detection and Volume Analysis

Tango-DJ includes powerful audio analysis tools to help you create perfectly matched tandas and maintain consistent volume levels throughout your milonga.

BPM (Beats Per Minute) Detection

The BPM detection feature automatically analyzes the tempo of your songs:

  • Automatic Analysis: When importing songs, Tango-DJ automatically detects the BPM
  • Manual Override: You can manually adjust BPM values if needed
  • Tanda Matching: View BPM information to ensure songs in a tanda have similar tempos
  • Search and Filter: Filter your library by BPM range to find songs with matching energy
  • Tempo Visualization: BPM is displayed in the song information panel

How to use BPM detection:

  1. Import your music library - BPM is automatically detected
  2. View BPM in the song details panel (right-click → "Show Details")
  3. Use the BPM filter in the search panel to find songs within a specific tempo range
  4. When building tandas, ensure BPM values are within 5-10 BPM of each other for smooth transitions

Typical BPM ranges for Tango music:

  • Tango: 60-72 BPM
  • Vals: 56-64 BPM (measures in 3/4 time)
  • Milonga: 88-100 BPM

Volume Analysis and Normalization

Consistent volume levels are crucial for a professional DJ experience. Tango-DJ's volume analysis helps ensure all songs play at similar loudness levels:

  • Loudness Analysis: Automatic analysis of perceived loudness (LUFS) for each track
  • Volume Normalization: Adjust playback volume automatically to maintain consistency
  • Peak Detection: Identify songs that might clip or distort at high volumes
  • Dynamic Range: View the dynamic range of each track

How to use volume analysis:

  1. Go to Settings → Audio Analysis
  2. Enable "Automatic Volume Normalization"
  3. Set target loudness level (recommended: -14 LUFS for traditional venues)
  4. The app will automatically adjust playback volume for each song
  5. View volume information in the song details panel

Automatic Volume Normalization

Best practices:

  • Analyze your entire library before your first event
  • Set normalization target based on your venue's acoustics
  • Monitor volume levels during soundcheck
  • Manually adjust individual songs if needed in the song details panel
  • Consider remastered recordings may have different loudness characteristics

Technical Notes:

  • BPM detection uses advanced beat tracking algorithms
  • Volume analysis follows EBU R128 loudness standards
  • Analysis runs in the background and doesn't interrupt your workflow
  • Results are stored in the database for quick access

Tips and Tricks

For Beginners

  • Start with pre-made tandas from experienced DJs
  • Use at least 1 cortina between each tanda
  • Stick to well-known orchestras at first
  • Test audio equipment thoroughly before the event

For Experienced DJs

  • Create themed playlists for different types of milongas
  • Create backup playlists for different moods
  • Export playlists that can be shared with other DJs

Troubleshooting

Sound is Not Working

  1. Check that the correct audio output is selected in settings
  2. Check the volume both in Tango-DJ and system settings
  3. Try restarting the app

Tablet Display is Not Updating

  1. Verify that tablet and Mac are on the same network
  2. Check that no firewall is blocking the connection
  3. Try reloading the page in the browser

Songs Are Not Importing

  1. Check that files are in a supported format (MP3, FLAC)
  2. Verify that files are not DRM-protected
  3. Look for error messages in the log file

License and Trial Period

  • Tango-DJ can be used free for 30 days
  • After the trial period, you must purchase a license
  • The license key is activated in Settings → License

Support

Need help?

Good luck with your DJing! 🎵

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